Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

On the road returning from Baimei County to Pengcheng, after finishing her chat with her mother, Mei Fang looked toward Lin Youxi, who was sitting beside her happily listening to music, with a complicated expression.

"You told my mom about your dual personality?"

At this moment, Lin Youxi was still immersed in the music. Seeing Mei Fang looking at her, she hurriedly took off one side of her earphones.

"You want to listen together with me?"

Before Mei Fang could speak, Lin Youxi had already stuffed the earphone into Mei Fang's ear.

Immediately, a roar of heavy metal rock music blasted into Mei Fang's ears, jolting his scalp slightly numb.

"Seeing how calm and relaxed you look… why are you listening to such intense rock?"

"Of course, it's because I like it. I purely like it. There's no other reason."

Lin Youxi said this and lightly patted Mei Fang's cheek.

"……"

Mei Fang took off the earphones and gently pulled down Lin Youxi's other earphone as well.

"Why were you in such a rush to tell my mom about that?"

"Aunt Xiang told you about it?"

Lin Youxi smiled.

"Did she tell you not to be with me anymore, to stay away from me?"

"My mom's not that kind of person."

As Mei Fang spoke, she showed Lin Youxi the chat records.

[Youxi told me everything herself]

[Mom thought about it for a long time on the way back too]

[Even though she said she has that what's-it-called mental illness that I don't understand, after spending this time together, I think deep down, Youxi must really want to be with you]

[Otherwise, she wouldn't have confessed all of this to me directly]

[Besides, Mom can tell that you really like her too]

[Our family might not have much money, but I think it's really hard to find a girl as outstanding and kind-hearted as her. And her background is so pitiful. We can't abandon her just because of that.]

[If you truly want to be with Youxi, then no matter what difficulties arise, your dad and I will support you both together.]

After reading Xiang Xiaoxia's messages to Mei Fang, Lin Youxi was stunned for a moment. Then she scratched her head and laughed.

"Your mom is really a good person… But that's because she hasn't seen me have an episode. Once she sees that, she won't be saying this."

"Did your mouth twitch just now?"

Mei Fang tilted his head and smiled.

"Were you moved by my mom?"

"Of course, I'm definitely moved… But my mouth twitched? Wasn't that your imagination?"

"I definitely saw it."

As soon as Mei Fang finished speaking, Lin Youxi suddenly pounced like a hungry tiger, grabbing Mei Fang's chin and began playing with him.

"Pervert… You've been staring at my lips this whole time, haven't you? Wanting to get intimate again?"

"Mm, yes."

"I knew it—huh?"

Before Lin Youxi finished speaking, Mei Fang cupped her face and kissed her.

Mei Fang's sudden offensive move caught her off guard, and she smacked him a few times before he finally stopped.

"What's going on now? You've gotten pretty bold, huh?"

Lin Youxi pinched Mei Fang's cheeks.

"We're on a high-speed train, you know. Aren't you afraid of being caught red-handed by the train attendants like last time and embarrassing yourself?"

"I've already lost face once. There's no reason to pick it back up again."

Mei Fang's expression was calm.

"If you don't want to be with me, then I can only think of a way to make you surrender and accept my pursuit first."

"If that's what you're planning, then I can only say… you might be disappointed."

As Lin Youxi spoke, she slipped her hand into Mei Fang's shirt.

"We're not even in the same league. What do you have to compare with me? I don't care what others think anyway…"

"I can also not care."

"Really?"

"Really." Mei Fang nodded.

"Then how about this?"

Lin Youxi pinched Mei Fang's waist. Mei Fang's face flushed red, lips pressed tight, still gritting his teeth and enduring.

"Still not surrendering, huh? Then I'll have to use some hard tactics…"

Lin Youxi stared at Mei Fang, observing his reddened expression while exploring—

"……"

"……"

After experiencing some unprecedented maneuvers, Lin Youxi suddenly blushed, biting her lip with an extremely rare shy expression.

Before Mei Fang had time to even look at her, she had already pulled her hand back and sat properly in her seat, putting on a very demure posture, murmuring in a grumbly voice:

"That felt kind of…"

"Mm, it did."

Mei Fang nodded, then awkwardly looked at the ahoge (sticking-up strand of hair) on the head of the man in the row ahead.

Lin Youxi again reached into Mei Fang's shirt.

"Let me… let me touch again."

"You've had enough, haven't you!"

After returning to Pengcheng, the two of them entered a new phase.

As spring arrived and the ice melted, the reskinned pay-to-win mobile game that Mei Fang's company had been working on was finally launched, achieving a result that was neither good nor bad.

It barely covered the cost of operations and development, but there wasn't much left for bonuses.

But in any case, everyone finally made it through the crazy busy period. Mei Fang no longer had to frantically work overtime to push out version updates, and the company entered a relatively "chill" phase.

At this moment, the boss brought up a piece of news that lifted the spirits of the entire company.

"Thanks for the hard work, everyone. Next month, let's all go on a group trip together!"

"Yay!"

"Finally we get to go have fun!"

Hearing the news made Mei Fang happy as well.

After all, this kind of symbolic event also meant the company could step out of the brutal overtime phase.

Everyone's morale went up — even if there was no bonus, at least the urge to quit could be suppressed for now.

To be honest, Mei Fang quite liked this company and his current boss.

Saying that after being exploited might make him sound like a corporate bootlicker, but his boss Xu-ge really was a special character.

Xu-ge was a highly representative "Peng-2nd Gen" (second-generation wealthy from Pengcheng).

His father ran a fresh meat transport business for Chaoshan beef, holding significant capital in Pengcheng.

But Xu-ge had loved games since childhood, so when he grew up, his dream was to make the games he wanted.

When Mei Fang first joined the company, Xu-ge was still striving to develop well-reviewed, content-driven single-player Steam titles.

But due to technical limitations and subpar art, projects were often shelved midway.

At that time, the company's finances were still healthy, and Xu-ge could fund passion projects while also developing mobile games.

He tried to realize his dream of making indie games, and Mei Fang happily contributed lots of suggestions.

But when the license freeze and internet recession came, Xu-ge's company had no choice but to make cuts to survive.

They laid off a portion of staff with pain, and only then did the company show some signs of revival—this was all due to everyone's overtime effort.

Though Xu-ge was the boss, he wasn't a hands-off one.

As a developer himself, he not only led the projects but also handled part of the development himself.

He frequently went out to find outsourcing gigs and small freelance jobs that brought in extra cash.

So the two people who worked the hardest in the company were Mei Fang and Xu-ge.

He even once came in to work the day after his wedding — truly devoted to his job.

Mei Fang saw Xu-ge's efforts and hardships, and being someone empathetic, he naturally followed Xu-ge's lead and worked overtime too.

Though their hard work didn't lead to any shocking success, at least it made all the previous struggle worthwhile and preserved a shred of hope for the future.

[This time, we plan to go to a hot spring town in Yangcheng for a 3-day, 2-night trip.

Since it's a bit long, please prepare in advance.

Also, everyone can bring their significant others too.

If you're in a relationship, feel free to bring your partner along.]

The company's sole HR and resident rich lady, Panda, made the announcement, which was met with cheers.

Xiao Cao immediately replied:

[Does the partner have to be a girlfriend or boyfriend? Can I bring my best bro?]

[Technically, you can, but that would look pretty pathetic.]

Panda's reply got agreement from some of the female artists.

[Xiao Cao, have you still never dated? Must feel great being single forever, huh?]

[W-What nonsense! Ihaveheld a girl's hand before!]

[Was it during a kindergarten game of "Drop the Handkerchief"? Was it?! Hahaha—]

[Ah! Can you guys not be so savage?! I held a girl's hand back in college too!

During a team-building event in our class meeting, I held one!]

[Ha, hahaha… that's basically the same thing!]

Xiao Cao was the team's clown in the best way — always cheerful, always making fun of himself.

He had such a good personality that no one ever felt guilty teasing him.

After getting roasted, Xiao Cao shamelessly @-mentioned Mei Fang.

[Fang-ge, Fang-ge! Aren't you bringing your girlfriend? I wanna meet Sis-in-law!]

[Xiao Cao, the chicken feet are showing!]

[You really lived up to your surname's legacy!]

(*"曹贼之志" refers to "Cao the Bandit" – punning on his name and flirting/ambition)

[Damn, no wonder you haven't dated, Xiao Cao. You've got the ambition of a Cao bandit!]

[Hey hey! Enough already! That's not something to joke about!]

Xiao Cao shouted in the group:

[I'm just thinking—since there are so many pretty girls at Penguin (Tencent), maybe Sis-in-law can introduce some to me?]

[Some?! You wantsome?! You think you get to pick? Hahahaha!]

[Go ahead and laugh! Once I meet Sis-in-law and connect with all those Penguin beauties,

you'll all be begging me to introduce people to you! Hmph!]

Mei Fang quietly watched Xiao Cao bickering in the work group, and couldn't help but smile.

He clearly enjoyed being teased like this.

This wasn't like the old him.

The old, upright and proper Mei Fang would've already clarified he and Lin Youxi weren't a couple.

But after returning from home with Lin Youxi, Mei Fang's mindset had changed a little.

Because if he just stubbornly stuck to his usual ways and values, he wouldn't be able to coexist with Lin Youxi.

Love is something that requires both sides to walk toward each other.

Lin Youxi's mental world was chaotic and twisted.

If he didn't make more effort, they wouldn't be able to take the next step.

Even though they'd already admitted liking each other and done things even most couples wouldn't do,

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were still in a "real without a title" relationship.

Lin Youxi didn't want to drag Mei Fang down, so she'd never accept his confession or pursuit.

But Mei Fang wanted to save her future, to be the one always by her side.

Their conflict would eventually explode.

But… maybe not just yet.

That day, Mei Fang returned home with Lin Youxi and told her about the company trip.

After hearing it, Lin Youxi tilted her head and said:

"This is the kind of trip where you bring your partner, right? I'm not your partner, so I won't go…"

"You don't want to?"

"It's not that I don't want to…"

"Then I'll sign you up."

As Mei Fang spoke and opened his phone to register, Lin Youxi quickly grabbed his hand.

"I don't know how your coworkers view our relationship, but I don't acknowledge us as a couple.

If people ask, I'll still tell the truth. That okay?"

"Yeah, it's not that big of a deal… as long as you're happy."

Right after Mei Fang said that, Lin Youxi thought for a moment, then added:

"If I go, they'll definitely ask all kinds of questions.

And if I tell the truth, they might think you're just deluding yourself."

"Iamdeluding myself. That's not wrong."

Mei Fang nodded.

"Didn't you say you don't care how others see our relationship?

Then what are you hesitating for?"

"I just don't care howIam seen.

As for your mom, that's different — lying about that has too high a cost."

Lin Youxi thought for a bit, then rubbed her cheeks, trying to clear her mind.

"Mm… how about this — for this company trip, I'll pretend to be your girlfriend.

I don't want you walking around with your head down, with everyone thinking you're some love-struck idiot.

That would make me feel sorry for you."

"Oh, then I really have to thank you."

"What's with that half-hearted thanks! You're so annoying."

Lin Youxi snuggled into Mei Fang's arms for a while. Mei Fang didn't avoid it and instead twirled her a few times, the two of them playing around joyfully.

"There, that's more like it."

Lin Youxi smiled at Mei Fang.

"You finally figured it out, huh? That you don't care about whether or not I give you a title?"

Mei Fang smiled and said nothing. Then added:

"Also, when we go to Yangcheng, there's some official business we can handle."

"Official business?"

"Didn't we outsource the art forWhite Plum Time?

The artist's also from Baimei County.

We can meet and talk about the next phase of development and the outsourcing price."