Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 31

The news of evening self-study hit like a death knell, making the already grueling life of a Grade 12 student even more agonizing.

Listening to the collective wails of the students, Li Yuwen had no choice but to say helplessly, “Stop howling. Don’t you realize you’re in Grade 12? Did you think the school would just let you play all year?”

The students pleaded their case: “We aren’t playing! We spend the whole weekend doing homework at home; the evenings are the only time we have to relax. Now that evening classes are starting, we won’t even have our nights anymore.”

“What else can we do? Show me a high school where the seniors don’t have evening self-study. Letting you relax for an extra month was already the school being generous.”

Li Yuwen ignored the groans and continued, “In a moment, the class representatives will distribute the safety notification forms. Take them home today for your parents to sign. Evening self-study starts this Wednesday. The hours are from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. If any students need to live in the dorms, come register with me tomorrow after the forms are signed.”

Hearing the dismissal time, Xu Yingran curled her lip.

9:30 PM? That was only half an hour later than her “curfew” in her past life. She didn’t see what these kids were making such a fuss about. By the time they got home, it would be nearly 10:00 PM; they’d wash up, go to sleep, and wake up to do it all over again.

In reality, it was exhausting. But teachers and schools were masters of “drawing pies” (making empty promises), telling everyone that if they worked hard for this one year, they would be “liberated” after the exams.

But where in life is there true liberation?

Xu Yingran, having lived through the next ten years, knew better. After the Gaokao, there were postgraduate exams, civil service exams, and various other professional hurdles. There was no such thing as being “liberated.”

However, looking at her classmates’ miserable faces, she didn’t have the heart to burst their bubble. She just wondered if she and Fu Qiao should stay in the dorms since school ended so late.

Hmm… better not. Dorm life brought its own set of troubles. Besides, they lived near the school—it was only a fifteen to twenty-minute walk. Even if they dawdled, they’d be home by 10:00 PM.

Because of the evening self-study announcement, Xu Yingran almost forgot she wanted to talk to Fu Qiao at lunch. Finally, after they finished eating, Fu Qiao looked at her calmly and asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Ah?” Xu Yingran blinked, then remembered. “Oh, I meant about the broadcasting class. Don’t give up on it so early. Let me think of a way.”

Yao Jin glanced at them, wordlessly using her chopsticks to pick up edamame beans one by one and pop them into her mouth.

Fu Qiao understood Xu Yingran’s intent, but she shook her head. “No need. Just… don’t worry about it. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“Fu Qiao…”

“I’ll take my tray back. You guys finish eating.”

Watching Fu Qiao leave, Yao Jin chewed on a bean and remarked, “What ‘way’ could you possibly have? Are you going to go buy a lottery ticket?”

Xu Yingran crossed her arms and watched Fu Qiao’s receding figure. “If I could remember the winning numbers, I wouldn’t be stuck in this damn school.”

Yao Jin chuckled and kept picking at her beans, one by one. The clicking of the chopsticks started to get on Xu Yingran’s nerves.

“If you’re eating edamame with pork, can’t you use a spoon? You’ve been clicking those chopsticks all lunch. Aren’t you annoyed?”

“A spoon catches the green peppers,” Yao Jin said. “I don’t like green peppers.”

Xu Yingran looked at her with pure disdain. Yao Jin didn’t care and continued her meticulous bean-picking.

That night after school, Xu Yingran showed the safety form to Xu Chunjian and Zhao Yu. They looked at each other. “9:30 PM? You won’t be home until 10:00?”

Xu Yingran nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Should I come pick you up every night?” Xu Chunjian suggested.

“No need,” Xu Yingran waved him off. “I’ll walk with Fu Qiao. Haven’t we been doing this for years?”

Xu Chunjian nodded. “True. Two girls together is safer.”

But Zhao Yu was still worried. They were girls, after all; if they ran into trouble at night, they might not be able to escape. “I’m still uneasy. How about I pick you both up? Your father has night shifts, but my daytime shift gives me plenty of time.”

“No, no, really.” Xu Yingran remembered having evening self-study in her previous life and surviving just fine. “The city is safe, and there are plenty of people on the road at 9:30.”

She nudged Zhao Yu to just sign the paper so she could take it back the next day. Before bed, her parents were still discussing it. Zhao Yu even knocked on her door one last time. “Maybe you and Qiao-qiao should just stay in the dorms?”

Xu Yingran groaned from her bed. “It’s fine! It’s almost 11:00, go to sleep!”

The next day, when Fu Qiao came to pick up Xu Yingran for school, Zhao Yu pulled her aside to talk. Hearing that Fu Qiao’s parents weren’t worried (since they didn’t get home until 3:00 or 4:00 AM themselves and were used to the night), Zhao Yu finally felt a bit better.

Xu Yingran’s hour of arguing the night before hadn’t been nearly as effective as a few words from Fu Qiao.

“I have to say, your way with words is better than mine,” Xu Yingran joked as they walked. “My mom doesn’t listen to anyone, but she listens to you.”

Fu Qiao didn’t see it that way. “Auntie is just worried about you.”

“I know.” Xu Yingran smiled at her. “But it’ll be fine. It’s not just us; half the school will be out at that time.”

By the time morning self-study ended, the teacher had collected the forms. Out of the forty-some students in their class, over a dozen chose to board at the school.

Xu Yingran nudged Yao Jin. “You aren’t staying in the dorms?”

“Why would I?” Yao Jin countered. “I have a private driver. Besides, I told my dad about it yesterday, and he’s already planning to buy an apartment in the complex across from the school. If I can’t get used to the commute, I’ll just move there. It’s right across the street.”

Xu Yingran curled her lip. Evil capitalists.

The fourth period of the day was Physical Education.

Usually, PE teachers were the “delicate and sickly” type who constantly “fell ill,” allowing other subject teachers to hijack the period. But today, against all odds, they actually had an outdoor class.

The PE teacher, a fit man in shorts, held a basketball. “Girls, free activity. Boys, come play basketball with me.”

The boys were a mix of excitement and dread, but the teacher laughed and led them away. As for the girls, “free activity” usually meant finding a spot to tan or gossip. The sports rep brought out some equipment and asked, “What do you want to play?”

“What is there?”

“Table tennis, badminton, volleyball, jump ropes. That’s it.”

Yao Jin grabbed two badminton rackets and walked over to Xu Yingran. “Want to play?”

Xu Yingran frowned. “I don’t know how.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“But there are three of us. How do we play?”

Yao Jin looked at the two rackets, thought for a second, and handed the other one to Fu Qiao. She turned to Xu Yingran: “Fu Qiao and I will play. You can be responsible for picking up the shuttlecocks.”

Xu Yingran immediately snatched the racket and chased Yao Jin across the playground. Fu Qiao watched them run off, shaking her head. Are they really eighteen? Why are they so childish?

“Huh? Senior???”

Just as Fu Qiao was marveling at their immaturity, a familiar voice came from behind. She turned to see Zhou Wan carrying some sports equipment, looking surprised.

“Senior, you have PE too?” Zhou Wan smiled. “So do we. What a coincidence!”

Fu Qiao smiled back. “It is a coincidence.”

Ever since she had rejected Zhou Wan’s invitation, Fu Qiao felt a bit awkward around her, but Zhou Wan seemed entirely unfazed. “Do you have an activity, Senior?”

Fu Qiao looked at the two idiots running around with badminton rackets. She figured they wouldn’t be playing together anytime soon. She shook her head. “No.”

Zhou Wan’s face lit up. “Perfect! We’re one short for four-person volleyball. Want to join us?”

“Volleyball?” Fu Qiao hesitated. “Is it okay if I join?”

“Of course! We’d be so happy to have you.” Zhou Wan shifted her gear to one hand and used the other to take Fu Qiao’s hand. “Come with me, I’ll introduce you to my classmates.”

Meanwhile, Xu Yingran had finally run out of breath. Leaning on her knees, she pointed her racket at Yao Jin. “How… do you… run so fast? Are you… a rabbit?”

Yao Jin was equally exhausted. She sat down on the ground, heedless of the dirt. “I don’t know about me, but you’re definitely a dog. Why do you chase people so relentlessly?”

Xu Yingran sat down too. “You’re the dog. Your whole family are dogs.”

Yao Jin panted for a moment, then pointed. “Hey… hey, Xu Yingran. Look.”

“Look at what? I’m dying over here.”

“Look. Why is Fu Qiao leaving with Zhou Wan?”

“What?”

Xu Yingran whipped her head around. Sure enough, she saw Zhou Wan holding Fu Qiao’s hand, laughing and chatting as they walked toward the volleyball courts. In an instant, her exhaustion vanished. She scrambled up, tossed her racket aside, and sprinted toward them.