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

Twenty-something rich kid Li Andi had attended international schools in Pengcheng his whole life. After failing to study abroad due to abysmal foreign language skills, some string-pulling landed him at Pengda University as a freshman.

Tall and basketball-loving, Li Andi had dated numerous girls since elementary school—a true playboy.

Yet among all his past relationships, not one girl had captivated him like the one before him now—

His soul was hooked.

This senior had delicate, refined features. Her thin frameless glasses perched atop a nose that led to eyes as clear as mountain springs veiled in mist.

Beneath that unassuming demeanor radiated an intellect that dwarfed ordinary minds, wisdom shimmering in her gaze.

Even amidst the campus bustle, she moved with the grace of a piano sonata—a swift breeze gliding through seas of books.

Li Andi wanted to woo her, to paint his college life in vibrant new colors.

To do so, he needed to remove the excess man beside her.

Having missed Mei Fang and Lin Youxi's earlier intimate moments, Li Andi assumed they were merely seatmates. Both currently dressed in casual student wear, devoid of any "CEO" aura, Mei Fang woke up bewildered, first scoffing at the meager bribe.

"Just… 100 yuan?"

"What… too little for you?"

Never one to haggle, Li Andi whipped out a wad of cash and slapped it on the table.

Mei Fang nearly explained the situation outright, but a pinch from Lin Youxi and her meaningful glance made him play along. Pocketing the money, he relocated.

Li Andi smugly took the vacated seat—only for Lin Youxi to gather her things and join Mei Fang at his new spot.

…

Wait…

Was I… scammed?

Before Li Andi could process this, Lin Youxi whispered to Mei Fang:

"That guy seems into me. Notice?"

"Obviously."

Mei Fang grumbled, "Give back my money!"

"You paid me 1,000 to swap seats, no?"

"You didn't say you knew her!"

"You didn't ask…"

As Li Andi fumed, Lin Youxi addressed him sternly:

"Please lower your voice. This is a library."

"Uh…"

Chastened, Li Andi fell silent while Lin Youxi told Mei Fang:

"Return his money. Don't escalate."

Raised spoiled and prideful, Li Andi hated losing face more than losing cash. Had Mei Fang kept the 1,000 yuan, he'd have made a scene; but returning it voluntarily made Li Andi balk at reclaiming it.

"My word is bond. A gift is a gift."

He then said earnestly to Lin Youxi, "I just wanted your contact info."

"For what? I don't gym or need cards."

Her joking smile melted Li Andi's heart.

Such a witty woman!

"Do I look like a salesman?!"

Li Andi declared sincerely, "I admire you and wish to know you better."

"Ah-Fang, hear that? He called me charming!"

Delighted, Lin Youxi draped her arms around Mei Fang's neck, flaunting their affection—nearly sending Li Andi into conniptions.

"You two… are together?"

"Yep, she's my girlfriend."

Mei Fang hugged Lin Youxi possessively as she turned up the PDA.

"Ohhh, so I'm your girlfriend~"

She kissed Mei Fang right in front of Li Andi, radiating bliss.

Goddammit!

Get your filthy lips off my goddess!

Gritting his teeth, Li Andi clenched his fists so hard they trembled.

But he knew his advantage over this penniless loser just hadn't been showcased yet.

Feigning embarrassment, Mei Fang gently pushed Lin Youxi away.

"We have company… behave."

"So… you're taken." Li Andi forced a smile. "No harm in friendship! I'm Li Andi, Sports Academy freshman. Love basketball, clubbing, street dance…"

As he prattled on, only Mei Fang pretended to listen while Lin Youxi whispered to him.

"Mm, got it."

Mei Fang nodded sagely. "Kid's got potential."

Who the hell are you to patronize me like my deadbeat dad?!

Bristling internally, Li Andi pressed, "May I have your name and contacts, senior?"

"Sorry, no can do."

Lin Youxi leaned on Mei Fang. "My boyfriend's the jealous type."

"Jealous?!You think I'd feel inferior tohim?"

"Well, heistaller…"

"—!"

"Friends, then?" Li Andi pleaded.

"Not today. Next time~"

Lin Youxi smiled. "Oh, my name's Xia Zaozao. Call me Senior Zaozao."

Zaozao… what a lovely name!

Ecstatic, Li Andi chirped, "Will do, Senior Zaozao!"

After dispatching Li Andi, Lin Youxi busied herself on her phone.

"What's up?"

"Making a side account like YuanYuan—for contingencies."

She grinned. "Gotta commit to the bit. This studious glasses girl is now Xia Zaozao."

"Zaozao and Wanwan… you're mirroring YuanYuan!"

"Isn't it fun?"

"You'reevil!"

With both cars in the shop, Mei Fang and Lin Youxi biked home post-library. En route, a shiny newPorsche 912 Cabrioletpulled up beside them.

Li Andi leaned out, whistling at Lin Youxi:

"Senior, biking in this heat? My Porsche has AC—care for a spin?"

"No need! We enjoy biking~"

Rather laugh on a bike than cry in a Porsche?

Such conviction!

Wasted on that pauper!

Li Andi vowed to rescue her from squalor.

At home, Xia Yuan was feeding the cats when they recounted the day's events.

"Wow, Youxi! Even makeup-free, you've got guys chasing you—thataura!"

"You'rethe national idol boys pine for."

"Yet no one actually confesses… I've been glued to Ah-Fang since childhood. With him around, who'd dare?"

Lin Youxi mused, "But you're 'broken up' now… still no admirers?"

Xia Yuan pouted. "Youxi… are you saying I'm undesirable—"

"Never! Our YuanYuan's the most captivating."

Lin Youxi hugged her until she cheered up.

Mei Fang interjected, "That Li Andi probably isn't done. I'll escort 'Zaozao' to campus—rich kids lack impulse control."

Lin Youxi arched a brow. "Ah-Fang's jealous?"

Xia Yuan mimicked his pout. "So envious… Ah-Fang's jealous~"

"Bullshit! My whole family's jealous!Sour grapes!"

"Ah-Fangisfamily, soyou'rejealous."

"Ugh… you're impossible."

In the following days, Mei Fang's vigilance left Li Andi no openings. Daily offerings of bubble tea and fresh flowers wound up discarded.

With "Zaozao" inaccessible, Li Andi shifted tactics—targeting Mei Fang instead.

I'll show this pauper he can't make Zaozao happy!

Ambushing Mei Fang outside the library restroom, Li Andi blocked his path.

"Hey, got a minute?"

He gestured grandly. "Man-to-man talk?"

"Sure." Mei Fang nodded. "About?"

"Life choices."

Strolling campus with hands clasped behind his back, Li Andi launched into his spiel while Mei Fang humored him.

"Your major?"

"Game design."

"Pfft—games?" Li Andi sneered. "Know your starting salary?"

"Haven't checked…"

How much will Yuanxi be worth by then?

Mei Fang genuinely had no estimate.

"Top new designers earn maybe 10k monthly."

"That's not bad?"

Mei Fang played naive.

Li Andi smirked. "Know what my Porsche 912 costs?"

"About a mil? Yours is the base 3.0T—barely over 1M."

"…"

How'd he know specs?

This was Li Andi's graduation gift from Mom!Base model?!

Faker!

Undeterred, Li Andi continued:

"This? A casual birthday present. But it'd take you100+ monthsto afford—400 monthsat full price. Adecadeof starvation!"

"So?"

"So you'llnevergive Zaozao the life she deserves."

Li Andi declared, "If you loved her, you'd let her go."

"She loves me too much to leave me unhappy."

"Cut the crap—it's about money, right?"

"Wow, rich bro!" Mei Fang extended a hand. "Send me 50to prove it."

"Fifty?!Don't insult me—"

Money's nothing to the Lis!

Li Andi produced a blank check. "Leave Zaozao, name your price."

"Seriously?"

"My word as a Li."

"Okay."

Mei Fang uncapped a pen and began filling the amount line with 9's.

…

As the digits piled up, Li Andi's eye twitched.

[99,999,999,999.99]

Snatching back the check, Li Andi sputtered:

"Are youmental?!"

"You saidany amount." Mei Fang scratched his head. "Romance novels do this all the time—wanted to try."

"Cheques max at 500k!"

"Ah, good to know."

Mei Fang nodded. "So TV tropes are fake."

Stuffing the check away, Li Andi sniffed, "Point is, our families are worlds apart. Zaozao deservesbetter—me."

"My folksareaverage…"

Mei Fang smiled. "But why not ask Zaozaoherfamily's status?"

"What status? Youbike-sharetogether—"

A honk interrupted them.

Turning, they saw a sleek silverPorsche 912 GTconvertible roar up—immediately drawing gasps:

"Holy shit!The new 912 GT!Triplea standard 912's price!"

"Socool!"

As Li Andi gaped, "Xia Zaozao" removed her shades, her sharp business-chic look utterly transforming her previously bookish image.

"Ah-Fang!Making me wait so long—don't love me anymore?"

"Of course I do! Just chatting."

Mei Fang exchanged sweet nothings with Lin Youxi, then boarded the supercar.

Nearby whispers erupted:

"Damn, that gigolo's living the dream!"

"Mommy?Hungry!"

"Wait… don't they look familiar—Young Miss and Station Master?!"

Li Andi stood frozen, tuning out the chatter. Stumbling to his Porsche, he called his mother, berating her for gifting him an "entry-level" model.

In a final fit of rage, he kicked the bumper—

Then collapsed, howling with a broken toe.