Jiang Chan ignored his stare. When a series of loud growls filled the room, she set down her pen and turned to him. “The food should be ready. I can hear your stomach from here.”
Qin Fen sprang up energetically. At this age, his body was full of strength. The memory of how alcohol and excess had drained him in his later years made him shudder.
Decision made. The second thing he would do after being reborn was to exercise properly and eat well. Being reborn was truly wonderful, he thought with a grin.
Teenage boys had enormous appetites. Even Jiang Chan, who looked lean, ate three full bowls of rice. Qin Fen added another, pouring braised pork gravy over it and eating noisily.
Jiang Chan averted her eyes. A rich second generation acting like he had never seen braised pork before.
After eating his fill, Qin Fen wiped his mouth and slouched in his chair. Jiang Chan kicked him lightly. “Get up and walk around. Sitting right after eating will give you a belly.”
Qin Fen immediately stood and began pacing around the living room like a peacock. Jiang Chan could not help twitching her lips. How flamboyant could one person be?
She walked slowly while reading her programming book. Watching her study like a bookworm, Qin Fen pursed his lips.
He began reflecting again. If he had been given another chance at life, was he really going to waste it fooling around?
He had sworn he would grow the family company and properly honor his parents. Yet in less than a month, he had already slipped.
When people more capable than you are studying hard, what excuse do you have not to work?
He finally said, “Xiao Huihui, lend me your book. I haven’t gotten my textbooks yet.”
Jiang Chan waved a hand. “Take whatever you want from upstairs. Just don’t damage it.”
At 12:40, Jiang Chan tapped Qin Fen awake. She had watched him go from nodding like a pecking chick to snoring within five minutes.
“Wake up. Wipe your drool.”
Qin Fen instinctively wiped his chin. When he caught the fleeting smile in her eyes, he realized he had been teased.
He lunged playfully and knocked Jiang Chan back onto the sofa. A flash of panic crossed her eyes. She was still adjusting to sudden physical closeness.
Then she reminded herself she was currently in a male body and calmed down. She pressed a finger to his shoulder. “Time to go. I left you a few minutes to move your desk. Let’s head to school.”
Having already ridden once, Qin Fen climbed onto the back seat of the scooter without protest on the way back, looking oddly pleased.
Jiang Chan wondered if he had simply accepted his fate.
That afternoon, while teachers lectured passionately, Qin Fen grew drowsy. He had assumed that a top student like Jiang Yuhui would listen attentively. Instead, Jiang Chan kept her head down, reading her own book, not even glancing at the teacher.
If Jiang Yuhui could do that, could he as well?
With no psychological burden, Qin Fen nodded off more frequently. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a piece of chalk struck his head precisely.
He shot upright. “Who threw that?”
The physics teacher smiled kindly. “I did. The new student should pay attention.”
For some reason, Qin Fen felt intimidated by the elderly teacher’s smile. Respecting elders, he sat down sheepishly.
Then he protested, “Why only me? He’s not listening either.”
He pointed at Jiang Chan. That was unfair. He had only dozed a little, while Jiang Yuhui had been reading another book the whole time.
The classroom fell silent.
The physics teacher continued smiling. “If the new student can consistently rank first in the entire grade like Jiang Yuhui, I won’t call on you.”
Qin Fen’s eyes widened. All sleepiness vanished. “First in the grade? That impressive?”
The teacher cleared his throat. “Pay attention.”
After class, Qin Fen bombarded Jiang Chan with questions. Outgoing and articulate, he quickly bonded with the boys behind them and even arranged to play basketball together during physical education.
Hearing his laughter behind her, Song Miao lay face down on her desk, her expression twisting.
Why was Qin Fen here? She remembered he had always been in the capital. Why was he suddenly in this city?
Seeing how close Qin Fen and Jiang Yuhui appeared, she felt a deep sense of unease.
First Jiang Yuhui no longer behaved like the loyal puppy she had expected. Now Qin Fen, who should not have appeared at all, was here and getting along with him so well. What was happening?
“Song Miao, we have PE next. Are you not feeling well? Should I help you ask the teacher for leave?” the class monitor He Ya asked politely.
Song Miao quickly adjusted her expression. When she looked up again, she wore a sunny smile. “It’s fine. I’m just a little sleepy.”
She sat several rows ahead to Jiang Chan’s right. Qin Fen heard the name clearly when she spoke.
He raised a brow.
Jiang Yuhui had mentioned at noon that Song Miao was in this class. He truly had not recognized her earlier.
Now, looking at her again, Qin Fen felt unconcealed disappointment.
A clean uniform, a thin face, a faint sallow complexion. Nothing like the wealthy lady she later became. It seemed elegance was often decorated by money.
After studying her face carefully so he would not mistake her later, Qin Fen looked away.
Even though he missed Qin Xiaobao, he had no intention of rekindling anything with Song Miao in this life.
Yes, staying away from her meant that Qin Xiaobao might never be born.
But Qin Fen was confident. He believed Qin Xiaobao had been outstanding largely because of his own good genes.
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