Can't Possibly Fall for My Wife Again After Rebirth, Right? - Chapter 73

The temperature had dropped sharply over the past few days. When Xu Yingran woke up in her blankets, she felt a piercing chill in the room.

She glanced at the time: it was 5:50 AM, ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off. Waking up before the alarm is actually quite a painful experience—it feels as though you’ve suffered a massive injustice. Xu Yingran dawdled in the warmth for five minutes, but eventually, her bladder forced her to get up and head to the bathroom.

On her way back to the bedroom, Xu Yingran suddenly noticed that the world outside the window seemed brighter than usual. Suspicious, she walked over and opened the door to the hallway.

Whoosh! A gust of freezing wind, carrying thick snowflakes, slapped Xu Yingran right in the face. She was greeted by a world of pure white, with vast flakes falling like goose feathers.

A heavy snow had quietly fallen overnight!

As the saying goes: “As if overnight a spring breeze had blown, bringing blooms to a thousand pear trees.”

Xu Yingran ran out into the corridor, exhaling a cloud of white mist as she watched the swirling snow dancing under the dim yellow glow of the streetlights. The open corridor of the old tenement building was covered in white; Xu Yingran’s first few steps left large, satisfying footprints. It was an exhilarating sight.

“Aiyya, you silly child!” Zhao Yu, wrapped in a coat, grabbed Xu Yingran—who was still playing in the snow—and dragged her back into the house. She scolded, “Can’t you see how heavy the snow is? Running out there dressed like that, aren’t you afraid of freezing your brain off?”

“Mom, when did it start snowing? It wasn’t there when I got home from school last night.” Xu Yingran excitedly packed a snowball, looking like a child who had never seen the world. She said happily to Zhao Yu, “This must have been falling all night. It’s so big!”

Zhao Yu rolled her eyes. “Go back to your room and change. The roads won’t be easy to travel in this snow; you need to leave for school early.”

“Okay!” Xu Yingran agreed. Clutching her snowball, she hurried into her room.

The moment she was inside, she put on her down jacket, fished her phone from under the pillow, snapped a photo, and sent it to Fu Qiao.

Xu Yingran: [Image] Xu Yingran: It’s snowing so hard here. How about over there?

It wasn’t long before Fu Qiao replied.

Fu Qiao: If it’s snowing over there, of course it’s snowing here too. Are you stupid?

Despite being called stupid, Xu Yingran didn’t mind at all. In fact, she felt typing was too much trouble and dialed the number directly.

“Hello, hello, hello! Fu Qiao!”

As soon as the call connected, Xu Yingran spoke with the excitement of someone who had just stepped on an electric wire. “I haven’t seen snow this big in so long! The flakes are huge—it’s so lovely!”

Fu Qiao was amused by her description and replied, “You only think it’s ‘interesting’ because the snow is big. Haven’t you thought about the people who have to go to work or school?”

“Work is every day, but big snow isn’t every year,” Xu Yingran countered. “I really haven’t seen snow like this in ages. If you hadn’t moved away, we could be building a snowman together. You have no idea—the corridor of the tenement building is covered in a thick layer.”

Fu Qiao pulled on a cashmere sweater. Once her head popped through the collar, she said, “I haven’t gone out to look yet. My mom just shouted that it was snowing, so I took a quick peek. Is it really that big?”

“Huge!” Xu Yingran said. “The kind of snow that makes people from the South go into a wild frenzy.”

Fu Qiao: “…” What kind of bizarre metaphor is that?

“Xiao Qiao, breakfast is ready.”

Just then, Hu Mei pushed the door open to find Fu Qiao dressing. “It’s not even light out yet. Who are you calling so early in the morning?”

Fu Qiao replied, “It’s Xu Yingran. She says it’s snowing outside and is telling me how big it is.”

Hu Mei laughed. She walked over and saw the phone on the bed, which was on speaker.

“Good morning, Auntie!” Xu Yingran greeted cheerfully.

“Ranran,” Hu Mei said. “The snow is very heavy today. Be careful on your way to school and leave a bit early, okay?”

“I will, Auntie.”

Hu Mei then turned back to Fu Qiao. “Hurry up and get dressed, brush your teeth, and wash your face. Your breakfast will be cold if you wait.”

“Okay, Mom.” Fu Qiao agreed, then turned back to the phone. “Did you hear that? I have to go eat. I’m hanging up now.”

Xu Yingran’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Go ahead. I need to get ready for breakfast too.”

After hanging up, Xu Yingran threw on her school uniform in record time. She went out for breakfast only to realize the snowball she’d left on the table had already half-melted. She decided she’d just roll a bigger one on the way to school and play with it while wearing gloves.

Perhaps due to the snow, there were very few vehicles on the road. Combined with the fact that it wasn’t fully light yet, the only people out were the “miserable students” bound for class.

Near the school gate, Xu Yingran had just tossed aside the large snowball she’d been rolling all morning when she saw a car pull up. Yao Jin stepped out.

“Huh?”

Xu Yingran froze for a second. She noticed the car wasn’t the one Yao Jin usually rode in—it looked a bit more… budget-friendly.

Yao Jin was wearing a cream-colored down jacket. After getting out, she exchanged a few words with the person inside the car. Finally, she ducked back inside with a look of resignation and emerged clutching a piping-hot jianbing guozi (savory crepe).

Soon, Yao Jin headed into the school with her breakfast. Xu Yingran stood by the roadside, watching as the car that had dropped Yao Jin off drove right past her.

When she saw the driver, Xu Yingran’s eyes widened.

It was Xie Qing?? Yao Jin’s mother’s assistant???

Wait, that wasn’t right. Didn’t Yao Jin think Xie Qing was her mother’s lover? Her attitude toward her had always been atrocious; she was even annoyed just seeing her. Why would she let Xie Qing drive her to school?

There was definitely an inside story here!

Xu Yingran ran into the school at full speed, caught Yao Jin just as she was about to head upstairs, and dragged her to the side, pinning her against a wall.

“Spill it!”

Xu Yingran stared at Yao Jin with glowing eyes. “The person who just dropped you off was Xie Qing, wasn’t it? What’s going on between you two? What on earth happened while I wasn’t around?”

Yao Jin was startled. Her face flushed a light red as she pushed Xu Yingran away, saying with annoyance, “How do you know? Did you see her?”

“You two appeared at the school gate so openly, of course I saw. It’s only natural.”

“…Cough, cough.”

Yao Jin gave a dry cough and said helplessly, “It’s just… my mom just finished surgery and needs post-op recovery. My dad has to be with her every step of the way, so there’s no one at home to take care of me. That’s why Xie Qing moved into my house to live with me. She’s in charge of my meals and daily life, and she drops me off at school.”

Xu Yingran countered, “Even if your parents aren’t home, doesn’t your house have a housekeeper and a driver? Why does it have to be Xie Qing?”

She then pointed to the crepe in Yao Jin’s hand. “Including that?”

Yao Jin’s face turned bright red instantly. She quickly hid the crepe behind her back, stuck her nose in the air, and said to Xu Yingran, “What business is it of yours? I suddenly wanted to eat it today and made her buy it for me. Is that a crime?”

Xu Yingran rubbed her chin, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinized Yao Jin.

“Jin, tell me the truth. Are you interested in Xie Qing?” Xu Yingran said. “I remember you’ve liked ‘older sisters’ since junior high. Are you…”

“Nonsense!” Yao Jin’s voice spiked. Her face was crimson as she jumped with agitation. “How could I possibly like her? Don’t go making wild guesses. There is absolutely no way between us!”

Looking at Yao Jin’s “the lady doth protest too much” reaction, Xu Yingran figured she had hit the nail on the head.

Overcome with embarrassment and anger, Yao Jin shook off Xu Yingran and ran upstairs. Xu Yingran watched her flee, her own eyes crinkling with laughter.

“Jin! Jin, Jin, don’t run away!” Yao Jin didn’t answer. “Jin, tell me—is an older sister really that great?” Yao Jin turned back and yelled in frustration, “Shut up!!!”

For the entire morning, Yao Jin ignored Xu Yingran, puffed up like a blowfish with anger. It wasn’t until lunch that she softened slightly, begrudgingly going to the cafeteria with her.

That night, Xu Yingran “ran her mouth” to Fu Qiao about it.

“When evening self-study ended tonight, I saw Xie Qing’s car parked across the street. Yao Jin got in with her face all red. She hasn’t even replied to my messages since.”

“Oh?”

Fu Qiao was also intrigued by such a juicy piece of gossip. Holding her phone, she asked, “Doesn’t Jin dislike that assistant?”

“Yeah. The first time she and I ran into Xie Qing, she said some really harsh things,” Xu Yingran said, swinging her legs. “Do you remember at her birthday party? She went full fire-power, scolding both her mom and Xie Qing.”

Fu Qiao remembered; it was a recent event, after all.

Xu Yingran continued, “She told me it’s because Uncle Yao isn’t home and she needs someone to look after her, but I don’t quite believe it. I feel like the relationship between them isn’t that simple.”

Fu Qiao thought for a moment and asked, “If Jin likes Xie Qing, then how does Xie Qing feel about Jin? Do you know?”

“I really couldn’t tell,” Xu Yingran admitted. “When school let out, her expression was quite natural. She nodded and greeted me before taking Yao Jin away.”

“So… is it a one-sided crush for Jin?”

“Could be?”

Fu Qiao replied, “A one-sided crush must be very painful. When you see Jin tomorrow, remember to apologize. You shouldn’t make fun of people’s feelings like that. If she decides to punch you later, I’m not stopping her.”

“Mm, you’re right. I only wanted to tell you; I definitely won’t tell anyone else,” Xu Yingran said. “Jin is such a good person; we should help her.”

But since Xu Yingran’s own love life was a complete mess, she felt a bit embarrassed to say she was going to “help” Yao Jin. Fu Qiao listened in silence.

“By the way,” Xu Yingran said. “Is the date for the arts exam set yet?”

“Yes.” Fu Qiao nodded. “It’s at the end of the month. I’ve been practicing secretly at home these past few days. Professor Chen said he’ll accompany me on the day of the exam.”

Xu Yingran said immediately, “Then I’ll go with you too! What’s the date?”

“The 26th. You don’t need to come; it’s not some major exam, and Professor Chen is going with me.”

“How is it not a major exam? I have to be there with you. Professor Chen is Professor Chen; I am me.” Xu Yingran flipped through a calendar and saw it fell on a weekend. She said to Fu Qiao, “Send me the location of the testing center. Let’s meet at the gate.”

Fu Qiao originally wanted to refuse, but she knew that even if she did, Xu Yingran would find the place anyway. It was better to agree than to have her show up and cause a scene or some other mishap.

“Alright then,” Fu Qiao said. “I’ll send you the address later. You have to listen to me on everything.”

Xu Yingran laughed. “No problem!”