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

After the group's escape room adventure, Peng Xue and Liu Xiaoyu had completely resolved their misunderstandings.

The next day during a meeting, the two deliberately sat together arm-in-arm, displaying their newfound closeness—much to Xiang Bingbing's astonishment.

"What exactly did you two do last night?! How are you so different today compared to yesterday?"

"This… is our little secret~"

Peng Xue smiled sweetly while clinging to Liu Xiaoyu's arm in an intimate display.

"What secret?! Damn it, keeping me out of the loop? I'm being excluded!"

"Tell you what—if you can lift YuanYuan for over a minute, I'll spill the beans—"

"Deal! Too easy for me."

"Hey hey! Don't actually try to lift me!"

Horrified, Peng Xue immediately intervened, "Okay okay… no need to prove your strength! We get it!"

Later, Peng Xue decided to recruit Xiang Bingbing—who had openly admitted her crush on Mei Fang—into their "defeated rivals" alliance. "After today's event, I'll tell you!"

"Yay!"

Meanwhile, the flustered Xia Yuan clapped her hands to refocus everyone. "Alright alright, time for the important band name discussion! Let's vote from our shortlisted options!"

Xia Yuan's first proposal was[Summer Snow Rain Ice], simply incorporating all their names. This spawned the alternative[Summer Days Band], but the latter was vetoed for being too generic.

After heated debate, the English name was finalized first:Summery Band—a portmanteau of "summer" and "memory," evoking nostalgic warmth.

Xia Yuan was undeniably the group's core. She had initiated the band, united everyone through her friendships, and remained the unwavering heart—though she personally disliked the hierarchical implication, preferring equal standing. Democracy overruled her objections.

The Chinese name, after deliberation, becameMemories of Summer Band, a direct translation of "Summery."

Mei Fang's primary role was chauffeur, shuttling the group to Yuanxi Music's studio to familiarize them with recording processes and practice ensemble performances. Though Yuanxi Music provided professional managers and sound engineers, Xia Yuan had long expressed her wish to earn success through the band's own efforts rather than nepotism.

Their biggest hurdle? Xia Yuan's celebrity status under Mei Fang's cultivation made anonymity impossible. Even with sunglasses and masks, she'd be instantly recognized—rendering the others' talents invisible.

During the ride home, Mei Fang broached the issue:

"So… about your idea to have Xiaoyu sing lead to mitigate this… but your image is already heavily promoted. Unless you wear a full mascot headset or something—"

"No need for such extremes~"

Xia Yuan seemed unworried. "I've got a plan—just wait!"

"What plan?"

"You'll see~ As one-third of Yuanxi Interactive's leadership, I may ride your coattails but I've got skills!"

Her mischievous confidence left Mei Fang genuinely curious about her solution.

Later, during a university lecture with Zhang Ming, Mei Fang discussed progress onSalty Fish Survivor. Mid-conversation, a shapely girl sat beside Zhang Ming and cheerfully greeted Mei Fang:

"Hi Station Master! Remember me?"

"Uh… yeah! You're that… person, right? Haha!"

The girl puffed her cheeks. "You totally forgot! I'm Yang Xiaomo—YuanYuan's roommate!"

"Ohhh, right!"

Mei Fang nudged Zhang Ming while eye-signaling him. "You're working with Zhang Ming onSalty Fish Survivor, yeah?"

"Yep! I handle music and sound effects—impressed?"

"Surprising someone like you enjoys game dev—"

"Someone like me? Is that discrimination?!"

"Of course not! Yuanbao and Young Miss love games too."

"True…"

Zhang Ming finally interjected irritably, "Why are you here? We're in class."

"I told you—I want to audit your game design lectures!"

Yang Xiaomo playfully smacked him. "Heartless jerk, always forgetting about me!"

"Stop manhandling me!"

"We always interact like this! Why get shy in front of your bestie?"

"Uh…"

Mei Fang smirked. "Should I… give you two privacy—"

"Station Master, don't leave! Judge this ingrate! I recruited his whole team through my campus connections—"

"Yeah yeah, credit where it's due…"

Watching his once-reclusive friend banter so naturally, Mei Fang felt relieved. Though Yang Xiaomo had initially seemed like a "fish" [potential romantic interest] trying to reach Mei Fang through Zhang Ming, she'd genuinely joined the project—possibly drawn to Zhang Ming's personality.

Given her outgoing nature, Mei Fang doubted shy Zhang Ming could handle her. But his level-headedness was reassuring—he wasn't a lovesick fool, and after a year without ulterior motives surfacing, Yang Xiaomo seemed sincere.

From then on, whenever Mei Fang saw Yang Xiaomo in class, he'd tactfully exit to give them space.

With Xia Yuan busy with the band and Lin Youxi immersed in AI conferences, Mei Fang's couple-time dwindled.

During their early polyamory days, he might've felt lonely.

But even post-honeymoon phase, his need for affection—

Remainedintense!

Eating alone in the cafeteria today,zerowives available!

Calls revealed Xia Yuan was rehearsing at another campus, while Lin Youxi was at a tech summit. Just Mei Fang, solo.

…

Ughhhh!

Usually decent, the cafeteria food now tasted like cardboard.

This existence… waspainfulwuu…

He missed his wives.

But he couldn't seem clingy—as Yuanxi Interactive's CEO, skipping work to laze on campus was already pushing it. Distracting them from their careers would be downright unprofessional.

Yet lately, Mei Fang genuinely had little work.

Project: Eschaton's framework was complete, with execution delegated to junior designers for a year-end release. Other departments ran autonomously under Uncle Xiang's oversight. With middle management matured and no imminent funding rounds, his hands were shockingly free.

New projects could launch, but current bandwidth was maxed. Given the timeline's proximity to his past life's "overwork death," further expansion seemed unwise.

So… just enjoy college life?

But my wives are still off-duty!

Wandering campus, Mei Fang nostalgically recalled biking to school with Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi. Back then, though less physically intimate, their innocent camaraderie and shared academic drive created irreplaceable memories—

Now I'm just a horny dog named Mei, forever chasing that lost puritywuu—

Sulking on a bench, he chugged water while observing passing couples. Suddenly—

Ring ring!

Smack!

His bottle went airborne as a bicycle collided with him. The girl rider tumbled straight into his lap, then scrambled up apologetically.

"Huff… So sorry! Are you okay?"

Her voice was sweetly high-pitched as she frantically brushed dust off him—until he stopped her.

Upon seeing her face, Mei Fang blurted out:

"YuanYuan?"

"Wh-what YuanYuan?"

The girl blinked confusedly. "Did you mistake me for someone?"

Mei Fang studied her—short, perky hair, glasses, an earnest student vibe—then shook his head. "My bad."

"Anyway! Are you hurt? Let me check—"

She reached for him again, but he waved her off. "I'm fine, really."

"I'm such a terrible cyclist… I'm Lin Wanwan, Class 1501 freshman from the Management School. You're a senior, right? If you feel unwell later, add my WeChat—I'll cover medical bills."

"Freshman? School doesn't start for another month. Show me your student ID."

"Uh…" She backpedaled. "I mean, I got admitted early and came to practice biking… I live nearby."

Lin Wanwan stuck out her tongue. "Local rich girl, huh?"

"Not rich! Just… convenient." She then peered at him. "Senior, you look familiar."

"Like your ex?"

"Eek! What a thing to say! I've never dated!"

Blushing, she whispered conspiratorially, "Actually… you resemble that famous CEO—the 'create our era' one—"

"You can't even rememberMei Fang'sname? Suspicious."

"Yes!Mei Fang!"

She scratched her head. "So… do people often mistake you for him?"

"IamMei Fang."

"Pfft—nice joke, Senior!"

Lin Wanwan giggled. "No way the Yuanxi CEO actually attends class—he'd just pay for credits!"

"…Fair point."

Mei Fang nodded. "Guess I'm not him then."

"See? Anyway…"

She fidgeted. "To make up for crashing into you… let me treat you to dinner?"

"One bump and you're asking me out? Pretty forward."

"N-no! I just feel guilty… Come on, I'll bike you there!"

As she limped toward her bicycle, Mei Fang stopped her. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing… just a tiny sprain…"

She bashfully added, "But… ifSeniorwants to ride me—I mean, ridewithme—"

"We can walk. It's close."

"But my bike—"

"Should I escort itandyou home?"

"I-I might recover by then!"

"Sure, whatever."

Thus, Mei Fang pedaled with Lin Wanwan clinging to the back.

"Senior rides so steadily~ So cool!"

"…"

"By the way, someone as handsome as you must've had tons of girlfriends, right?"

"Nah, just broke up with them recently."

"Them?Them?!Wow, Senior plays around…"

Perched sideways, Lin Wanwan sighed dreamily.

"But being your girlfriend must've been heavenly—you're so gentle and sunny~"

"Yep, they were very happy."

Mei Fang nodded. "I was theirperfectboyfriend!"

"You meanex-girlfriends, right?"

"Right, exes."

"Sooo… is Senior single now? Any new targets?Curious."

"Basically… yeah, single."

Mei Fang glanced back with a smirk. "Want to climb into my bed?"

"Seniorrrr!So shameless! Such dirty talk~"

Covering her face with one hand, she weakly pummeled his back with the other.