Vol 2 Chapter 7: You Can't Like Him

Class was about to start.

An Yuanyao, who had collected the homework from the class, carried a thick stack of notebooks to the teachers' office.

After placing them on the teacher's desk, she prepared to leave.

But as she turned around, she noticed something unusual in the corner.

Seeing the boy standing in a horse stance facing the wall, An Yuanyao's steps slowed as she was about to exit the office.

The back of his head gave her an intense sense of familiarity.

She felt like... she'd seen that head somewhere before.

She stood there dumbfounded for a while.

After realizing, she quietly approached. When An Yuanyao saw his face, her expression immediately turned to shock.

She couldn't help but exclaim.

"It's you!"

Her shout attracted the attention of other teachers in the office, and of course, Liu Changqing's attention as well.

He turned his head gloomily to look at An Yuanyao standing beside him.

An Yuanyao, who had encountered Liu Changqing again, also seemed happy. For a moment, she seemed to forget she was in the teachers' office as she asked:

"Did you do something wrong again?"

"......"

"Don't pay attention to him."

The teacher checking student homework completion looked up and said:

"This kid bullied a female classmate. His homeroom teacher punished him."

"You bullied a female classmate? Why would you do that?"

"......"

Hearing the teacher slander him like this, Liu Changqing couldn't be bothered to explain, nor did he want to engage with An Yuanyao beside him.

After asking a few more questions without getting a response from Liu Changqing, An Yuanyao's initial excitement faded into disappointment.

As if embarrassed, she closed her mouth.

After waiting a while longer and confirming Liu Changqing wouldn't respond, she turned to leave. Just as she was about to exit the office, she suddenly remembered something.

She first glanced back.

Making sure the teacher wasn't looking this way, she turned back and secretly approached Liu Changqing again. Bending down, she covered the side of her mouth with her left hand.

She whispered:

"Yesterday... thank you."

The warm breath from her mouth hit Liu Changqing's ear. Being particularly sensitive there, he immediately broke out in goosebumps all over.

He nearly lost his balance, only steadying himself by grabbing the corner of a nearby desk.

Seeing this, An Yuanyao was also startled.

Before Liu Changqing could react, she hurriedly fled the office.

Afraid Liu Changqing might scold her.

Noticing Liu Changqing's movement, the homeroom teacher simply said:

"Add five more minutes."

"......"

Sigh...

Liu Changqing sighed inwardly. Teachers in this era had absolute authority.

Even his current body's doting parents strongly supported the teachers' education methods and corporal punishment.

Spare the rod, spoil the child - they believed only under high pressure could good students be educated.

That seemed to be the couple's philosophy.

Liu Changqing wasn't being disobedient.

Nor did he have thoughts of dropping out to start a business.

Most importantly.

He had no money.

In fact, after the initial excitement of transmigration passed, his mood quickly sank.

His mind... began recalling all aspects of his previous life.

In this era, having a television at home was considered impressive.

Let alone a computer.

Who had seen such high-tech gadgets before?

Starting a business... soaring...

The thought alone was laughable.

In his previous life as just a graphic designer, with no money or knowledge...

how could he possibly soar?

Transmigration.

It seems... wasn't as simple as imagined after all...

——————————————

An Yuanyao returned to the classroom.

On her way back to her seat, she noticed Li Wanran spacing out, tightly clutching that bottle of yogurt in her hands.

Seeing this, An Yuanyao's footsteps slowed.

She asked with concern:

"Wanran..."

"......"

"Wanran?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

The other girl seemed deep in thought. An Yuanyao's first call got no response, only answering after the second call as Li Wanran looked up at her.

Seeing her good friend so absent-minded, An Yuanyao couldn't help but worry.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No."

Responding briefly, Li Wanran's gaze shifted away from An Yuanyao.

Looking at the yogurt in her hands.

She didn't understand what was happening. According to normal circumstances,

before high school, Liu Changqing and An Yuanyao shouldn't have had any interactions at all. And that girl who ran out to find the teacher when she went to his class earlier...

there were no memories of her either.

Thinking about how completely different Liu Changqing's behavior was compared to her memories of high school, Li Wanran couldn't figure out what had changed.

Why had he become so similar to the Liu Changqing from many years later...

The Liu Changqing who seemed like a completely different person after divorcing her...

Meanwhile, An Yuanyao felt relieved after hearing Li Wanran's response, but after a while,

she inexplicably asked:

"By the way, that boy who used to harass you all the time... which class is he in?"

"......"

This question brought Li Wanran back to reality, her previously averted gaze now refocusing on An Yuanyao's face.

Seeing how the other girl was looking away, avoiding direct eye contact...

Her tone lacked confidence.

"He helped me yesterday. I wanted to thank him in person, and also tell him... to stop following you around..."

"......"

"Wanran?"

"Yuanyao... you're not starting to like him just because he saved you once, are you?"

"Wh-what nonsense are you saying!"

Hearing Li Wanran's words, An Yuanyao's voice rose noticeably.

This caused surrounding classmates to look over in unison.

Her cheeks slightly flushed, An Yuanyao's hands seemed out of control as they kept fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

Her head lowered slightly.

"He's so dark-skinned and always getting in trouble... I just wanted to thank him, that's... that's all."

"......"

Looking at An Yuanyao saying this, Li Wanran remained silent.

Only the hand holding the yogurt tightened slightly.

The bottle deformed somewhat.

She took a deep breath.

Before she could respond, the class bell rang at that moment.

"Ah... class is starting."

Muttering to herself, An Yuanyao then said to Li Wanran:

"Tell me after class, I'm going back now."

Having said that, An Yuanyao prepared to leave, but as soon as she took a step, her arm was grabbed by Li Wanran.

Immediately, her footsteps halted.

She turned to look.

At... Li Wanran.

For some reason, An Yuanyao saw an unusually serious and solemn expression on the other girl's face.

As if... she was about to say something very important.

Their eyes met at that moment.

Li Wanran looked at her...

Images from her previous life flashing through her mind.

That woman who married Liu Changqing and had three children with him...

The one who was happier than she had been...

Her eyelids lowered.

Her voice grew much quieter, as if feeling guilty.

She spoke:

"You... can't like him."

"......"

"Because..."

Pausing for a moment.

Her eyes fixed on An Yuanyao, her tone becoming exceptionally firm.

"Because I like..."