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

The ever-trusting Xia Yuan never expected Peng Xue to dive straight into such scandalous topics, immediately flustered:

"Th-that's not interesting! Why discuss—we have a child here!"

She gestured toward the 1.9m "child" Xiang Bingbing, who instead leaned in eagerly:

"Don't look at me! I'm 21! What child? Though… I don't get whatdoing itmeans… but sounds fun!"

"Classic Peng Xue—graduation unleashes your true colors…" Yue Xinyi sighed, only to be pinched by Peng Xue. "Playing innocent? Not curious? Or did Youxi already spill?"

"…"

Peng Xue instantly recognized Yue Xinyi's guilty expression. "What? The 'designated bestie' never got girl talk? Pathetic!"

"You're one to talk—you never discussed it with YuanYuan either!"

"I was busy studying! Didn't want distractions! But I'm making up for it now!"

The prudish Liu Xiaoyu empathized with Xia Yuan's embarrassment. "Personal matters shouldn't be public…"

"Xiaoyu~ We're not asking for play-by-plays! Just general experiences—you're our senior!"

"WHAT DOESDOING ITMEAN?!"

Xiang Bingbing nearly smashed the table in frustration until Liu Xiaoyu whispered an explanation—leaving her red-faced but enlightened.

Though reluctant, Xia Yuan eventually capitulated to collective curiosity:

"The experience… is… blissful. Our Ah Fang's amazing."

"Didn't it hurt?"

"Too long ago to remember… just very happy now."

"Wait…" Yue Xinyi spotted an anomaly. "When exactly?"

"Ah Fang's 18th birthday—we were all adults—"

"WOOOAH—"

Their collective teasing made Xia Yuan bury her face in her hands, basking in the envy.

Peng Xue pressed further: "How's Ah Fang's… stamina?"

"Oh,verylong."

Xia Yuan beamed with pride.

"Bullshit…" Yue Xinyi muttered.

"Why lie?"

Liu Xiaoyu flushed. "D-do you always… together?"

"N-not every time… but usually."

Xia Yuan explained earnestly. "Balancing three requires no neglect…"

"True… imbalance causes trouble."

Yue Xinyi pondered. "Does Mei Dog treat you equally? Favor you more? I bet—"

Meanwhile, the normally lively Xiang Bingbing short-circuited, overwhelmed by the risqué lexicon unfamiliar to her pure mind—now understanding why others treated her like a child.

"I feel so inexperienced… never even dated…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Her innocent remark silenced Peng Xue, Liu Xiaoyu, and Yue Xinyi simultaneously—until Xia Yuan unknowingly twisted the knife:

"Has everyone really… never liked anyone?"

Peng Xue answered first: "I have—only your Mei Fang."

Her blunt confession stunned the group—Xiang Bingbing barely stifled her "same here!" while Xia Yuan awkwardly clarified:

"B-besides Ah Fang… no one else?"

Peng Xue shook her head, then barked at Yue Xinyi: "Check the fridge—any beer left?"

"What? Drowning sorrows?"

"Just thirsty! No? Call room service!"

Xia Yuan intervened. "No alcohol! We have band planning! I'll stop asking!"

Yue Xinyi sighed. "'Once seeing the ocean, other waters seem unworthy'—Peng Xue's obsession runs deep."

"Obsessed? Your whole family's obsessed!"

Peng Xue glared before targeting Liu Xiaoyu: "You claim not to like Mei Dog—why single? Many pursued you in high school—what's your type?"

"Th-that… we discussed camping…"

"Not past crushes—current preferences."

"…"

Liu Xiaoyu hesitated. "I… don't know… not interested now."

Xia Yuan defended her: "Xiaoyu's always been this way—never dated."

"Really now?"

Peng Xue eyed Liu Xiaoyu. "Zero feelings for Mei Fang?"

"No… truly none."

"Not even slight attraction?"

"…"

Even gentle Liu Xiaoyu grew irritated:

"Xue, as YuanYuan's best friend, why provoke discomfort?"

Her moral high ground isolated Peng Xue—but the latter remained unconvinced:

"At least I don't hide my feelings—that's true deception."

Liu Xiaoyu countered: "Some affections must stay unspoken. Voicing them destroys trust between friends."

"Bottling it up just preserves false hope."

Peng Xue argued, "Confession brings closure. I've been there—I understand…"

"You can't understand—everyone's different."

As tensions escalated, Xia Yuan nervously intervened:

"Xiaoyu, Xue… no fighting! Honestly, I don't overthink this. Loving Ah Fang is understandable—he's extraordinary…"

"But admiration is one thing—as long as no one acts on it, our friendship stays intact. Let's drop this, okay?"

"Fine by me."

Liu Xiaoyu agreed readily—she'd prefer this secret buried forever.

Peng Xue reluctantly nodded, though visibly upset.

"Now! Band name brainstorming! I've drafted options…"

Despite Xia Yuan's efforts, only Xiang Bingbing and Yue Xinyi participated halfheartedly—Liu Xiaoyu with her "whatever works" and Peng Xue's "don't care" stifling discussion.

Yue Xinyi salvaged the mood: "First day back—too tired for work. Let's feast!"

"Feast! Feast!" Xiang Bingbing thumped her chest. "YuanYuan promised BBQ buffet! I'll eat my weight!"

Though the ideological clash left Peng Xue and Liu Xiaoyu coldly polite during dinner, they spared Xia Yuan further drama—dispersing quickly afterward.

Escorting Peng Xue back, Xia Yuan fretted:

"You barely ate—want homecooked food? I can… well,I'llcook! Meet our cats—Da Ju's adorable—"

"No need." Peng Xue declined. "Your love nest isn't for intruding."

"Don't say that… still upset?"

"Not really…"

Peng Xue hesitated. "YuanYuan… hypothetical."

"Hm?"

"If I could redo things—would you prefer knowing I liked Ah Fang, or not?"

"Hard to say…" Xia Yuan scratched her head. "Fundamentally, I trust Ah Fang would never leave me and Youxi—so knowing changes nothing."

"You've… never feared losing him? Even to rivals?"

"I did worry… mostly about Youxi initially. But we communicated—fair competition for Ah Fang's choice…"

"Lucky you—even your 'love rival' was kind…" Peng Xue smiled bitterly. "But with Ah Fang's appeal… less scrupulous women might scheme against you… I don't want to see you betrayed…"

"Worried about Xiaoyu? Don't be—we've been close for years. She'd never hurt me."

"Your fatal flaw—too trusting…"

"I only trust the trustworthy." Xia Yuan hugged her. "Like you… if Xiaoyu loves Ah Fang, she'll take it to her grave…"

"Fine… if you insist…" Peng Xue sighed. "Just me being nosy… 'The emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is'…"

"You care! I appreciate it." Xia Yuan embraced her. "I know I'm blessed—surrounded by love. So I cherish every friend…"

Overcome by her warmth, Peng Xue suddenly glomped onto Xia Yuan:

"YUANYUAN YOU ANGEL! MARRY ME! SCREW MEI DOG!"

"Xue! Stop! I'm Ah Fang's—"

Exhausted, Xia Yuan returned home to find Mei Fang freshly showered in pajamas:

"What's this cutie doing here? Oh right—my wife—"

His greeting was cut short as Xia Yuan collapsed into him, whimpering—kittens mewling at her feet.

"Whoa… bad gathering?"

Between sniffles, Xia Yuan recounted the day's drama—leaving Mei Fang baffled.Band meeting or gossip session?

"Team-building's tough… As leader, you'll mediate conflicts. Today's tension needs resolution…"

"Now I understand your recruitment struggles… wish I'd helped more."

"My situation was simpler…" Mei Fang caressed her cheek. "Want my help?"

"No… this ismyband. I'll handle it… though youcanhelp…"

Her fingers crept into his shirt. "Nodoing itfor days… reward me?"

Her coquettish plea startled Mei Fang—just as Lin Youxi emerged, pristine from her shower:

"Back so soon? Thought I had Ah Fang till night…"

"? Your 'busy work' wasthis?"

Xia Yuan's smile turned dangerously sweet.