After being scolded by Chen Xu, Ji Chunxiao was oscillating between gloom and fiery anger.
He was now fairly certain that the main issue in his repeated life stemmed from Song Ming.
Ji Chunxiao had always considered him his number one romantic rival, and now he felt even more like a thorn in his flesh, wishing he could separate his wife and that wild man as far as possible, never to interact again.
The math teacher on the stage was tirelessly lecturing about geometry and functions, like some sort of arcane scripture, while the relentless chirping of cicadas outside the window annoyed Ji Chunxiao to no end.
In his previous life in high school, he shared a desk with Chen Xu. When class ended and Ji didn’t understand the lesson, Chen would patiently explain it to him over and over.
After a year, during the college entrance exams, Ji barely scraped by the passing mark, managing to attend the same university as Chen Xu.
From a young age, Ji Chunxiao’s family had hired many tutors for him, all of whom resigned soon after, saying it was difficult to teach the temperamental young master. Only Chen Xu was patient enough, never getting angry when Ji couldn’t understand something, instead comforting the frustrated student.
Chen Xu used to like me so much.
Recalling his past life, Ji Chunxiao couldn’t help but feel lost and despondent. Why was everything so different this time around?
It definitely wasn’t his wife’s fault!
It was all Song Ming’s fault!
In the afternoon, the sky turned a bit gloomy, and the air felt suffocatingly hot and damp. The geography teacher, pointing outside the window, reminded them of a key concept: “In summer, when the air pressure is low and the moisture content in the air increases, people feel the oppressive heat and humidity as a precursor to an impending storm.”
The classroom’s air conditioner and fans droned monotonously. Chen Xu, unusually distracted, reminisced about that day he spent with Ji Chunxiao, which was also marked by a heavy downpour.
As evening approached and it became noticeably darker, everyone hurried out, fearing they’d get soaked if they stayed too late.
Before leaving, Chen Xu glanced at Song Ming, who was on cleaning duty that evening. If luck was against him, it would start raining by the time he finished.
So, just outside the classroom door, Chen Xu turned back, suggesting, “Why don’t I stay and help you? That way, we can finish faster.”
Song Ming looked at him, surprised but smiling, “Hmm… okay.”
He didn’t refuse Chen Xu’s offer, not because he really needed help, but because he knew if he didn’t let Chen Xu do something in return for his kindness, Chen Xu would feel indebted to him.
He didn’t need Chen Xu’s gratitude; he was just doing what made him feel comfortable. If it hadn’t been Chen Xu who was hungry back then, he would have helped anyone else just the same.
Working together indeed sped things up. Chen Xu went outside to wash the mop while Song Ming swept the floor.
The fluorescent light cast a stark contrast on the classroom’s clean, pale floor, making the gloomy outside seem even darker.
A gust of wind pushed open the unsecured classroom door with a loud clang, and turning around, Song Ming saw Ji Chunxiao leaning by the door, watching him.
Song Ming didn’t have a good impression of him, fearing he was here to cause trouble for Chen Xu, so he coldly said, “Chen Xu isn’t here.”
Ji Chunxiao, expressionless, with several lackeys behind him, looked every bit the stereotypical school bully.
“I’m not looking for him, I’m here for you.”
Song Ming frowned, “We don’t seem to know each other.”
“It doesn’t matter whether we know each other,” Ji Chunxiao stepped forward, using his height advantage to loom over Song Ming, warning, “Stay away from Chen Xu.”
Master Ji stressed each word, “He’s my wife.”
Everyone present was taken aback, and both Song Ming and the lackeys shared a collective moment of confusion.
What’s going on?
Ji Chunxiao likes men and got together with Chen Xu?!
Song Ming simply wore a disbelieving look, and just as the two were about to argue, the tense atmosphere was interrupted by Chen Xu at the door.
Water dripped from the mop in his hand as he had just reached the doorway, hearing only Ji Chunxiao’s last few words. His expression darkened.
“Ji Chunxiao, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Ji Chunxiao causing trouble and throwing tantrums was one thing, but his coming after Song Ming truly angered Chen Xu.
Unable to repay Song Ming, yet always dragging him into his messes, Chen Xu felt genuinely guilty.
If this dragged on, who knew what else Ji Chunxiao might do. He told Song Ming to leave first, then took a deep breath and, with a stern face, pulled Ji Chunxiao aside into an empty classroom.
Chen Xu had almost never been angry in front of Ji Chunxiao, so the young master was utterly unskilled in placating others, only tentatively trying to explain, “I didn’t really do anything to him, I was just… warning him.”
But Chen Xu was tired of hearing those excuses.
The howling wind seeped through the doors and windows as Chen Xu stared at the seventeen-year-old boy before him, trying to find the twenty-two-year-old soul in his eyes.
After a long while, he said, “Ji Chunxiao, you remember too, don’t you? I mean, the things before we were reborn.”
Thunder roared, splitting the sky, and Ji Chunxiao froze, overwhelmed with a mix of shock and joy.
He parsed each word carefully, fearing he was merely fantasizing.
“You remember too?!”
Ji Chunxiao embraced the person before him tightly, overjoyed.
Reborn once, my wife is still my wife!
The immense joy of regaining what was lost filled his heart, and he held on without letting go.
But realizing this was the Chen Xu who had doted on and pampered him for five years, Ji Chunxiao’s spoiled temper flared up again.
He held the person tightly, yet his words were sharp, “Then why didn’t you come to me this time, why didn’t you treat me well, waiting for me to court you myself?”
He scoffed, “Chen Xu, do you not like me anymore?”
This line was Ji Chunxiao’s go-to during his countless tantrums.
Chen Xu not making breakfast meant he didn’t like him, Chen Xu not letting him do extra tasks meant he didn’t like him, Chen Xu not messaging him for an hour meant he didn’t like him.
Dramatic to the core, yet Chen Xu always indulged him, “How could I not like you.”
Never before had Chen Xu looked at him so silently after such a question.
Don’t you like me anymore?
Chen Xu really wanted to firmly say yes, that’s right, I don’t like you anymore.
Not to repeat the mistakes of a past life.
But he couldn’t say it.
Even if it all started with a misunderstanding, their five years together were real, every moment filled with genuine emotion.
How could he not love Ji Chunxiao? Even knowing it was all wrong.
He couldn’t say he didn’t like him.
Chen Xu’s silence lasted so long that Ji Chunxiao began to feel uncertain, awkwardly shifting the topic away from whether he liked him or not.
Outside, the rain finally began to pour, quickly building to a torrential downpour.
Lightning and thunder, just like the day they got together.
But this time, Chen Xu said, “Ji Chunxiao, there were things I’ve been wanting to tell you, it’s not too late to say them now.”
“Let’s break up.”
His words fell lightly, and the world seemed to quiet in that instant, silencing the sounds of the air conditioner, the rain, and the thunder.
Ji Chunxiao’s mind went blank, replaying the words over and over.
His expression was awful, gripping Chen Xu’s hand tightly, mouth opening but unable to speak.
This was absurd.
Ji Chunxiao had never imagined they would break up, especially not initiated by Chen Xu.
His grip tightened, Chen Xu winced but he didn’t let go, as if releasing his grip meant his wife would go off with someone else sweetly.
Under the pale light, Ji Chunxiao’s reddened eyes were painfully clear. He took several deep breaths, his teeth clenched as he asked:
“Break up?”
“Why do you get to decide we break up? Weren’t you the one who liked me first?! Didn’t you love me?!”
“From the beginning you were so good to me, weren’t you willing to lick my boots for a lifetime?!”
Why would you suddenly not want me?
The sourness in his heart was too overwhelming, only escaping through his eyes. Ji Chunxiao wiped away a tear that nearly fell, his eyes showing a mix of hurt and pleading, yet his words tried to maintain a facade of strength.
“Ji Chunxiao.”
Chen Xu sighed deeply, forcibly pulling his hand away, “Sorry, licked the wrong person.”
