Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 41

As soon as Fu Qiao spoke those words, not only was Xu Yingran stunned, but even Yao Jin—who had been sitting beside them tapping away on her phone—froze in place.

Yao Jin looked up, her gaze darting frantically between the two. The thought that she was indeed a “third wheel” flashed through her mind, but she quickly decided that being a spectator was actually quite interesting. She cautiously opened her phone’s camera, preparing to record this rare, once-in-a-lifetime scene.

Xu Yingran was reeling. She never expected Fu Qiao to drop such a question out of the blue. After stumbling for words for a long while, she finally stammered, “Why… why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

Fu Qiao noticed her evasive gaze and felt a slight pang of disappointment. However, remembering the task Zhou Wan had entrusted to her, she steeled herself and asked once more: “Just tell me—do you, or do you not, like girls?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Xu Yingran caught Yao Jin filming her. Annoyed, she reached out to cover the camera lens and demanded, “What are you filming me for?”

“Mind your own business,” Yao Jin replied.

“Leave her alone,” Fu Qiao added.

Xu Yingran was fuming. So, you two have developed such great chemistry just to gang up on me?

The white steam from the hotpot swirled before Xu Yingran’s eyes. Her entire body felt flushed from a surge of emotion; the tips of her ears turned a bright crimson, and she quickly looked away after stealing a brief glance at Fu Qiao.

It felt as though a soft, light feather had brushed against Xu Yingran’s heart. She rubbed the bridge of her nose awkwardly and let out a soft, “Mm.”

In truth, Xu Yingran had realized long ago that she had no interest in boys. They were wild and crude—how could they possibly be as lovely as girls? To have a beautiful, gentle, and sweet girlfriend had been Xu Yingran’s greatest wish before her parents passed away.

Later, dating Fu Qiao had technically fulfilled that wish, yet Xu Yingran always felt as though something was missing.

Adolescence is a romantic season, much like the weather in June—burning hot, yet punctuated by cool breezes. It is like the early summer rain that spreads across the city, knocking leaves from trees and tapping against windowpanes, heralding a passionate love.

In the days that followed, Xu Yingran never felt there was anything wrong with liking girls. Almost everyone around her knew of her relationship with Fu Qiao, and no one ever criticized it. But being asked directly like this now still made her feel somewhat awkward.

Mainly, she was shy.

After all, the person asking was her “wife.” In Xu Yingran’s ears, the question “Do you like girls?” translated directly into: “Do you like me?”

Oh goodness, how can such a question be answered in front of an outsider (Yao Jin)?

So, after her soft “Mm,” Xu Yingran’s face turned even redder. She scratched her cheek uncomfortably and peered through the lingering steam at Fu Qiao.

Fu Qiao seemed a bit unhappy. The way she looked at Xu Yingran was strange and unsettling, causing Xu Yingran’s heart to skip a beat in apprehension.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Yingran asked curiously. “Why the sudden question?”

Fu Qiao remained silent for a long time before shaking her head. She took a meat roll that Xu Yingran had served her, dipped it into the thick sesame sauce, and ate it. Only then did she speak slowly, “It’s nothing. I was just… wondering.”

Xu Yingran wanted to press further, but since Yao Jin was still recording with her phone, she ultimately just lowered her head and ordered two more plates of meat, leaving the matter alone for the moment.

It was inconvenient to talk out in public, but it didn’t matter. They were childhood sweethearts, after all. Their homes were right next door to each other; she would just ask properly once they finished dinner and went home.

However, as soon as they finished the hotpot, Fu Qiao made up a random excuse and slipped away. Before Xu Yingran could even react, the girl was gone.

After paying the bill, Yao Jin turned back and laughed awkwardly. “What is going on with you two?”

Xu Yingran pondered for a moment, then leaned in to whisper in Yao Jin’s ear, “Jin, I think Fu Qiao is about to confess her love to me.”

Yao Jin: “?”

Where does this person get such confidence?

“How did you conclude that she’s going to confess? She only asked you one question,” Yao Jin looked at her with pure curiosity.

“You don’t understand,” Xu Yingran said to Yao Jin with grave sincerity. “You know my secret, but there’s actually one more thing I haven’t told you.”

Seeing that Xu Yingran had a long story to tell, Yao Jin pointed downstairs. “Shall we go to the cafe on the first floor and talk slowly?”

Inside the cafe, Xu Yingran bought two coffees. Since Yao Jin had already spent a lot on dinner, she could at least afford two drinks.

The moment they sat down, Xu Yingran’s first sentence was: “Actually, Fu Qiao and I have already been married.”

Yao Jin nearly spat out her coffee.

What kind of earth-shattering secret is this? Had their “trio” friendship actually been Yao Jin’s solo “third-wheel party” all along?

Xu Yingran began to recount the history of her conflicts with Fu Qiao from beginning to end. As she spoke, Yao Jin’s expression grew increasingly grim. She now seriously doubted if Xu Yingran was suffering from a split personality; the girl kept claiming she was from ten years in the future, yet the details she provided were so vivid that it felt uncanny.

Sipping her coffee with extra sugar and milk, Yao Jin thought for a long time and decided to just go along with Xu Yingran’s madness. At worst, she’d help her check into a psychiatric department later—it couldn’t be any more entertaining than this gossip.

“So, according to you, Fu Qiao will show up with a love letter in a few days to confess?”

“The timing might have shifted forward, but that’s how it should go.”

Xu Yingran sighed helplessly, looking troubled. “Jin, tell me, if Fu Qiao really confesses, should I accept her or not?”

Yao Jin frowned slightly. “The ink isn’t even on the paper yet, and you’re already worrying about whether to accept?”

“It’s called planning ahead,” Xu Yingran told her friend seriously. “I am considering things that are bound to happen in the future.”

Yao Jin shrugged and didn’t argue. After a long pause, she asked, “Xu Yingran, have you ever considered that maybe… Fu Qiao won’t confess to you?”

Xu Yingran: “?”

“You two have known each other for over a decade,” Yao Jin said. “You’ve been in the same class since kindergarten. If there were sparks, would you really have waited until now?”

Xu Yingran: “…”

Yao Jin continued, “Maybe Fu Qiao never actually confessed to you at all.”

“How is that possible?” Xu Yingran’s eyes widened in shock. “She personally gave me the love letter. How could that not be a confession?”

“Did she actually say she liked you?”

“Did you ever read that love letter?”

“See,” Yao Jin pointed out, “Fu Qiao never said she liked you, and you never opened the letter. How can you be sure it was her confession? What if she was just delivering it for someone else, and you just happened to misunderstand?”

Xu Yingran stood up abruptly. “Impossible!!!”

In reality, nothing is impossible.

It was as if Yao Jin’s words were a prophecy. Her logic left Xu Yingran in a state of extreme anxiety. Even after returning home, Xu Yingran couldn’t sit still; it felt like her seat was covered in pins. She kept opening and closing her door, checking to see when Fu Qiao—who said she was going to the bookstore—would finally come home.

Eventually, Zhao Yu couldn’t stand it anymore and locked her in her room to do homework, promising to tell her the moment Fu Qiao returned.

But how can one focus on homework when their mind is in turmoil?

Xu Yingran stared at the colorful exam papers in front of her. She recognized every word, but none of them entered her brain. It was as if a bronze wall had been built inside her head, blocking out all knowledge, while a “round table conference” was being held internally to debate this agonizing problem.

Back then, it was indeed Fu Qiao who “confessed” first. At that time, Xu Yingran had lost her parents and felt utterly alone. She yearned for companionship, and Fu Qiao had appeared at exactly the right moment.

Xu Yingran had no reason to refuse her. They knew everything about each other; they were childhood sweethearts. She didn’t dislike Fu Qiao—in fact, in that moment, she felt that if she were to find a girlfriend, Fu Qiao was the most suitable choice.

Yes, suitable.

The Xu Yingran of that time didn’t truly understand what “love” was. After being together for a long time, marriage felt like a natural progression. Their feelings were like a slow-flowing stream; in the end, they felt more like family than lovers.

Xu Yingran had always assumed Fu Qiao must have loved her to be with her, just as she herself had found the other girl “suitable.”

But now, Yao Jin was suggesting it might have all been a misunderstanding.

Damn it, how could it be a misunderstanding?

Yet, Xu Yingran suddenly recalled that when Fu Qiao gave her the letter, she really hadn’t said anything about “liking” her. Instead, Xu Yingran had been the one who did all the talking, eventually deciding on her own that they were now a couple.

And the love letter?

Xu Yingran clutched her head, trying to remember. She hadn’t cared about the physical letter at the time—since they were already “together,” reading it felt unnecessary, didn’t it?

But where was the letter?

Oh.

Right. Xu Yingran remembered now. It seemed Fu Qiao had taken the letter back.

She remembered that vacant lot after school. Fu Qiao had been stunned by Xu Yingran’s long speech. Finally, she had quickly snatched back the letter that was already in Xu Yingran’s hand, stepped back, and said with a red face: “I… I have something to take care of. Wait for me at the school gate!”

At the time, Xu Yingran hadn’t thought much of it. She assumed Fu Qiao was just shy and needed some private time to process the “confession.” So, she didn’t chase after her and simply waited at the gate to walk home together.

She remembered Fu Qiao being gone for quite a while. When she finally emerged, her mood seemed low.

But Xu Yingran had been an oblivious fool back then. Looking at her “freshly minted” girlfriend, her mind was a blank fog of excitement. She simply took Fu Qiao’s hand and led her home.

She couldn’t remember much after that; they were just “together.” They studied together, took exams together, and went shopping together. Occasionally, they would sneak off outside the campus to do “embarrassing” things—like holding hands or sharing a kiss.

Xu Yingran still remembered when she first kissed Fu Qiao. Both of their faces had turned as red as lanterns, and neither of them dared to speak a word on the way back.

Now that Yao Jin had planted the seed of doubt, Xu Yingran felt as if the ground beneath her had disappeared. She was so agitated she felt like jumping out the window just to find Fu Qiao and demand an explanation.

Bang, bang, bang—

The oppressive sky that had been heavy all day finally broke. Rain began to drum against the window in front of Xu Yingran’s desk. The sky turned a gloomy gray, and the entire city seemed submerged in the downpour.

Is Fu Qiao back? It’s raining so hard; she didn’t take an umbrella—will she get soaked? The weather was fine this morning; why did it have to rain this afternoon?

Xu Yingran couldn’t sit still anymore. she left her bedroom to grab an umbrella, intending to head to the bus station to meet her. Just then, she heard Zhao Yu, who was outside sorting vegetables and chatting, call out: “Xiao Qiao, you’re back? How did you get home without an umbrella?”

“It only just started. I ran back.”

“Oh dear, hurry inside and change your clothes. Look at you, you’re drenched! Don’t catch a cold.”

Hearing this, Xu Yingran didn’t even put her shoes on properly before swinging the door open. She froze, staring at Fu Qiao, who stood at the top of the stairs, dripping wet from head to toe.