Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 15

The next day, Xu Yingran woke up nursing a heavy hangover.

She was sprawled limbs-akimbo on her bed. The fan wasn’t on, she hadn’t taken off her school uniform, and she was so hot that her head was throbbing. She was drenched from head to toe in foul-smelling sweat.

Dammit, what is going on?

Xu Yingran sat up and scanned the room with vacant eyes, scratching her head in bewilderment. She sat there for a good five minutes before the memories of the previous night slowly resurfaced in her mind.

Yesterday, it seemed she had…

Used her “drunken madness” as an excuse to pin Fu Qiao against a wall. Not only had she tried to force a kiss on her, but she had also called Fu Qiao her “wife.”

Xu Yingran: “!!!!”

Oh my God!

Terrified, Xu Yingran leaped out of bed. She clutched her head, unable to remember how she had managed to get home. Her memory cut off right at the moment Fu Qiao asked if she knew who she was, to which Xu Yingran had replied, “You’re my wife~”

Ahhh!!!

How could she have said something like that right to Fu Qiao’s face?

Even though Fu Qiao was technically her wife in her past life, things were different now. Wouldn’t saying that scare Fu Qiao half to death? Moreover, thinking back to last night, she had held Fu Qiao while calling her “wife” over and over again. Unless Fu Qiao was deaf, she must have heard every single word.

Aghhhhhh!!!!

Anxious as an ant on a hot pan, Xu Yingran paced circles around her room.

Just a short while ago, she had vowed not to follow the old path; she had decided that she and Fu Qiao should just be ordinary relatives or friends and absolutely not get together. Yet, how much time had passed before she was already holding the girl, calling her “wife,” and trying to force a kiss? It was only thanks to Fu Qiao’s good temper that she hadn’t received two sharp slaps to the face!

The thought of having to step out the door and face Fu Qiao made Xu Yingran want to dig a hole and bury herself alive right then and there.

“Ranran, are you awake?”

Hearing movement in her daughter’s room, Zhao Yu came over and knocked on the door. “Why did you drink so much last night? In the end, it was Xiao Qiao who brought you back.”

Xu Yingran shuddered at the words. She asked tremulously, “Mom… did Fu Qiao say anything when she brought me back last night?”

“She didn’t say much,” Zhao Yu replied through the door. “Oh, I wanted to change your clothes for you yesterday, but I couldn’t lift you. Your dad was on the night shift, so your clothes never got changed. Get up and take a shower in a bit; don’t go to school all sweaty. I’m going downstairs to buy breakfast.”

Hearing her mother’s response, the heavy stone in Xu Yingran’s heart lifted slightly.

While she wasn’t sure what Fu Qiao was thinking, at least she hadn’t told her family. Then again, it made sense; who could easily speak about being pinned against a wall and kissed by their childhood friend? Especially Fu Qiao, who was so thin-skinned.

Xu Yingran figured she needed to clear the air and apologize to Fu Qiao first. She couldn’t let her tell anyone about this—not even their parents.

After showering and packing her things, Xu Yingran began staring anxiously out the window by 7:00 AM, causing Zhao Yu to look up at her several times.

“Hey, hey,” Zhao Yu tapped Xu Yingran’s bowl with her chopsticks. “Finish your soup. Why are you leaving those last two bites?”

Xu Yingran hastily drained the bowl, stood up, and told her mother, “I’m heading out now.”

“Aren’t you waiting for Xiao Qiao to come find you?” Zhao Yu asked.

“I…” Xu Yingran thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go find her.”

Stepping out of her house, it was only a few steps to Fu Qiao’s door. She leaned against it to listen for movement and heard a faint noise, confirming someone was inside. Usually, it was Fu Qiao who came to find her; this was the first time Xu Yingran had ever waited at Fu Qiao’s door.

Within two minutes, the door opened. Fu Qiao was momentarily stunned to see Xu Yingran standing there.

Xu Yingran looked at her awkwardly and muttered a stiff, “Good morning.”

Fu Qiao didn’t speak. She just glanced at her, pulled the door shut, and said, “My parents are sleeping. Don’t talk right at the doorway.”

Hu Mei and Fu Jun usually worked until the middle of the night to close their stall, then spent more time skewering meat and organizing supplies. The earliest they usually got home was 4:00 or 5:00 AM, so daytime was their only chance to rest.

Fu Qiao took her morning milk from the delivery box and headed downstairs without looking back.

Feeling more than a little guilty, Xu Yingran hurried to catch up. “About last night… you didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

Fu Qiao inserted her straw and took a sip of milk, remaining silent.

Silence meant consent. The weight in Xu Yingran’s heart finally settled. She continued, “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose yesterday. I didn’t realize my tolerance was so low; I got drunk after just one beer.”

Fu Qiao glanced at her and stopped in her tracks. “Were you… really drunk yesterday?”

Xu Yingran blinked and said quickly, “I was really drunk. I couldn’t tell people apart and I don’t really remember what I said to you. If I offended you in any way, please don’t be angry.”

Fu Qiao held her milk carton, and after a long silence, she asked, “Then yesterday… did you mistake me for someone else?”

Xu Yingran thought to herself: How could I mistake my own wife? Forget being drunk—even if I were turned to ash, I’d jump out of the grave to call Fu Qiao my wife.

But she couldn’t say that now. She couldn’t let the events of last night escalate; she had to perform damage control immediately.

“Yes,” Xu Yingran said to Fu Qiao. “I mistook you for someone else yesterday.”

Fu Qiao’s hand trembled slightly. After a long pause, she looked up at her. “Didn’t you just say you were so drunk you didn’t remember anything?”

Xu Yingran froze. She watched as Fu Qiao quickly walked out of the residential complex and hurriedly jogged to follow her.

“Fu Qiao, I really don’t remember, and I really did mistake you for someone else. Please don’t be mad.”

In the past, Fu Qiao’s heart would soften the moment Xu Yingran apologized. But this time, for some reason, Fu Qiao only walked faster, refusing to acknowledge her the entire way.

Xu Yingran knew it: she was truly angry this time.

Upon arriving at the classroom, the students weren’t in their seats but were instead huddled in small groups.

“Did you hear? I heard Chen Yu got disciplined. It’s a major demerit and she’s on probation.”

“Huh? What did she do to get put on probation?”

“That goes on her permanent record, right? What about her college entrance exams?”

“With Chen Yu’s grades, do you really think she’d get into college anyway?”

“True, but what exactly did she do to get such a heavy punishment?”

“I heard that…”

Just as Xu Yingran was about to listen closely, the morning study bell rang. The class teacher, Li Yuwen, stepped into the classroom on the beat of the bell and addressed the group: “Everyone, focus on your morning study. Xu Yingran, come out with me for a moment.”