Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

This feeling of being recognized makes Chai Wei feel like a strategist from the Warring States Period, able to destroy enemy warships with a mere laugh.

The invincibility of being in control deeply fascinates him, as if using the world as his chessboard to play the game of the century.

After all the discussions were completed, Chai Wei returned to his seat, feeling refreshed, even using his crutch more lightly and smoothly, as if it were truly part of his leg.

Song Sheng noticed this inadvertently and was slightly shocked.

He had broken a leg before and used crutches himself; he knew that it was actually very difficult to use. But Chai Wei, having only used them for a day, could already use them with such ease—it was truly amazing.

'He's simply a genius, if he joins a competition...' Song Sheng couldn't imagine how much glory he could achieve!

Chai Wei sat down contentedly, taking out beads from the desk to start rolling them.

His desk mate, Bai Yuxia, wasn't reading as usual but was pondering a difficult problem.

The day before yesterday, Jiang Ning brought some fruit to school again—a box of cherries that tasted exceptionally good.

Bai Yuxia's mother had once bought cherries at 120 yuan per jin, but compared to what Jiang Ning brought, in sweetness and texture, they fell short by more than just one level.

Price, of course, didn't need to be mentioned.

Having taken advantage of someone, especially Jiang Ning, without repaying it made Bai Yuxia feel very uncomfortable.

She initially planned to take Jiang Ning out for a nice late-night snack, but unfortunately, the place she had in mind offered a two-person meal, which wouldn't be enough if Xue Yuantong joined...

What if... she didn't bring Xue Yuantong?

Then the question arose: 'How could she invite Jiang Ning out for dinner after evening self-study without bringing Xue Yuantong?'

Bai Yuxia tried to solve the problem, thinking hard, but couldn't come up with an answer after all; there seemed no way to separate the two.

Bai Yuxia suddenly realized how close their relationship actually was.

For the time being, Bai Yuxia abandoned this plan and decided to choose another place, bringing Xue Yuantong and the twins along as well.

...

The bell for the last evening self-study session was about to ring.

Jiang Ning and Geng Lu walked in the spacious music room, which was built with the sponsorship of Evergreen Liquid at Fourth Middle School.

After the initial excitement, the once noisy music room fell silent. Learning to play an instrument incurs some cost; starting from scratch can be quite difficult, especially for busy high school students.

The two walked from the back of the music room to the front door in an exceptionally quiet atmosphere.

After class, Geng Lu and he wandered around the playground together, and halfway through, she suddenly decided to check out the music room, which turned out to be empty.

Usually bold Geng Lu found herself timid when alone in a closed space with Jiang Ning.

The two walked along the route; the music room had been converted from an ordinary classroom, with large glass sliding windows on the outer wall. These special sound-proof glass panels effectively reduced the sound of music, preventing it from disturbing other students.

Through the glass, one could see the inky night outside, deep and enchanting.

Under the inky hue, the glass resembled a mirror, clearly reflecting Jiang Ning and Geng Lu.

Geng Lu stopped, looking at the reflection, her gaze sweeping past the glass and getting caught up in Jiang Ning's profound eyes.

Jiang Ning also stopped, looking at her, both staring into each other's eyes in the mirror.

Geng Lu broke the silence, raising her hand lightly as if to gesture: "You're really tall now."

Jiang Ning, looking at his mirrored self, was now 183 cm tall, a full 10 cm taller than he was in his past life, making his figure much more refined.

"It's alright," Jiang Ning said.

After he spoke, Geng Lu suddenly moved a bit closer.

Her face, slightly round with a touch of baby fat, carried a hint of pink, almost giving off a faint fragrance as she refused to make eye contact with Jiang Ning, but stared at the glass, her breath quickening slightly as she stood on tiptoe, slightly tilting her head:

"See, I can lean on your shoulder."

She said so.

However, in Jiang Ning's ears, the sound piercing through wasn't merely her voice but also the rapid "thump-thump" of a girl's heart, as if it was about to jump out.

Jiang Ning glanced at her nervous appearance and chuckled: "Won't that be tiring for you?"

He lowered his palm, and the image in the glass slowly descended by 10 centimeters, exactly his height in his past life, going from refined to moderate.

"Isn't this better?" Jiang Ning teased.

Geng Lu stopped tiptoeing, leveling her body as if she were a butterfly alighting, tilting her head like before, joyfully saying:

"This is perfect."

Saying that, she quietly leaned closer, trying to make the two reflections merge, her shy face slowly approaching with her movement.

The moment her cheek touched Jiang Ning's shoulder.

Jiang Ning felt a surge of warmth, but this lasted only a second as Geng Lu quickly withdrew, the shyness brimming in her eyes almost overwhelming as she hurriedly said: "I'm going first!"

Without giving Jiang Ning any chance to respond, she fled out the door, clutching her pounding heart, leaving behind just a message hanging in the air "See you in class!"

...

At the same time.

Tang Jing and Huang Yuzhu were walking on the track in the playground, heading to the east gate of the playground as class was about to begin.

Pang Jiao hadn't been expelled, so Tang Jing had to keep currying favor with Huang Yuzhu, using him as a spear for the last powerful blow to drive Pang Jiao out of Fourth Middle School.

'Of course, if Huang Yuzhu could also receive some punishment, that would be even better.' The long years of flattering caused Tang Jing to become very fed up with Huang Yuzhu.

In the past, she was playful, but now, her mood swayed intensely because of Huang Yuzhu.

Like tonight, she invited Huang Yuzhu to the playground to chat to cultivate a closer relationship, but Huang Yuzhu was almost as quiet as a stone, talking less than a calabash doll!

Tang Jing racked her brain, actively starting many topics, yet still couldn't pique Huang Yuzhu's interest, and she was almost tempted to strangle him!

With class imminent, the hard-found opportunity slipped away again, and Tang Jing was very discontent.

She forcibly calmed her chaotic heart, gradually coming to peace, as countless strategies to charm guys crowded her mind.

The surrounding noise dwindled significantly, a chill unique to early winter permeating the air, tightening one's skin as the breeze swept by.

Tang Jing thought of a method.

Walking beside Huang Yuzhu, she suddenly crossed her arms, putting on a frail appearance, her voice weak:

"I'm so cold, shaking all over, unable to move."

The fragility Tang Jing portrayed at this moment was like that of a terminally ill young lady from ancient times, seemingly about to meet her end at any moment.

Huang Yuzhu contemplated, empathizing: "It is a bit cold."

"Right?" Tang Jing glanced over with relief:

'Did he finally realize to lend me his jacket?'

As long as she could get Huang Yuzhu's jacket, she would immediately have ways to quickly close the distance between them.

Huang Yuzhu said: "Before, during winter, my clothes weren't warm enough, and it was freezing on the way to school. My way of keeping warm was very simple."

The next moment, Tang Jing saw Huang Yuzhu raise his hand, energetically motioning: "Run, run, and you won't feel cold!"

Huang Yuzhu shouted vigorously: "GO! GO! GO!"

He stepped forward, running ahead, constantly cheering Tang Jing on.

Tang Jing almost passed out from anger: 'If you're so good at running, why not compete for the sports committee!'

...

After evening self-study dismissal.

Chai Wei stayed in the classroom for five minutes to chat with Liu Chuandao, then picked up his crutch and left swiftly and energetically.

After he was out of sight, Duan Shigang came over: "What were you guys talking about?"

Liu Chuandao grinned: "Hahaha, I asked him to get the recording ready!"

He walked over to Shang Caiwei's desk and knocked on it.

Reluctantly, Shang Caiwei had to follow him out the door.

Zhang Chi, having been paid, followed closely behind.

...

Outside school, in a milk tea shop.

Bai Yuxia ordered several milk custards, and she, along with Jiang Ning and the twins, sat on the long bench in front of the store.

Xue Yuantong, holding a spoon, tasted the milk custard: "Yuxia, are you planning to treat me and Jiang Ning to claypot chicken and braised perch?"