Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 16

When Mo Zhao finished her shift at noon, she predictably saw that familiar figure waiting at the shop entrance again. She said to her friend, Miao Miao, who was working part-time with her, “I have something to do, I’ll head out first.”

Miao Miao’s expression changed as she said, “Why is it Xiao Jinnan again? Didn’t you make it clear last time? Why is he still pestering you? Could it be, Mo Mo, that you still can’t let him go?”

Mo Zhao didn’t reply but walked straight over.

Stopping in front of the man, Mo Zhao pushed him away slightly and said coldly, “I’m telling you, what are you squatting here for? Didn’t I tell you not to look for me anymore?”

Xiao Jinnan stood up. His tall, broad physique immediately blocked out most of the sun above. He ignored Mo Zhao’s cold demeanor and handed her several reference books. “I know you have an exam when school starts, and you need to take some sort of certification. I don’t understand it, but I asked your friend what materials you needed, so I bought a few books and brought them over. See if they’re the right ones.”

Mo Zhao didn’t take them, her voice sounding a little muffled. “What exactly do you mean by this? You were the one who didn’t accept me, and you’re also the one who is desperately trying to please me now. You just think I won’t get angry with you, that I’ll always indulge you, that you’ll coax me when you’re in a good mood and ignore me when you’re not, that I’m someone you can summon and dismiss at your pleasure, right?”

“Zhao Zhao, that’s not true…” Xiao Jinnan moved his dry lips, unsure what to say.

Mo Zhao felt a piercing heartache and discomfort, yet still managed to smile. “That’s enough, you don’t need to say anything. We made it perfectly clear last time: from now on, the road is open, and we each go our own way; marriage and courtship have nothing to do with each other. I’m sorry, but it’s not convenient for me to accept these books. Please don’t come again.” She finished speaking and thrust the books back into his arms.

Hearing her words, Xiao Jinnan’s face paled, and he didn’t know how to comfort her, only repeatedly calling her name: “Zhao Zhao, Zhao Zhao,…”

In the past, the sight of his distress would make Mo Zhao heartbroken, and she would immediately comply with everything he wanted. But at this moment, she only felt immense bitterness. She didn’t speak, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would cry out of grievance.

Miao Miao, who had been standing by, couldn’t watch any longer and spoke up: “Xiao Jinnan, let me tell you, you might be good-looking, but Mo Mo is also the campus beauty of our University of Science’s Mathematics Department. The line of people pursuing her could stretch from the university gate to the highway entrance. Can you please put away this pathetic act? Do you really think that because Mo Mo is soft-hearted towards you, she can’t live without you? What a joke. Please just leave. A senior is waiting to treat Mo Mo to lunch soon. Can you stop standing here and wasting our time?”

Xiao Jinnan instantly fell silent upon hearing the words “A senior is waiting to treat Mo Mo to lunch,” and he turned to glare at Miao Miao.

Miao Miao was startled by his look, but seeing her friend beside her, she had to stand her ground and said, “Mo Mo, let’s go. Why waste words on this kind of person? Senior Ji Qian is waiting.”

Mo Zhao stared at Xiao Jinnan. After a moment, seeing that he was only sullen but showed no intention of opening his mouth to try and stop her, she gave a self-mocking smile, rubbed her sore eyes, put her arm around her friend, and strode away without looking back.

Xiao Jinnan stood in place like a statue for a long time before silently walking away, his back view conveying weariness and helplessness.

Xiao Jinnan’s parents had died early, and he lived alone. Seeing that it was almost time for his afternoon shift at the pool hall, he simply went straight to work instead of going back to his rented small apartment.

Upon entering, the pool hall owner, Old Huang, greeted him with a laugh: “You’re something, kid. Why didn’t you mention you knew such a rich young master? If you make it big later, you have to look out for your old brother’s business.”

Xiao Jinnan frowned, completely baffled by what the owner was saying.

Old Huang added, “Get in, get in quickly. He’s been waiting for you inside for almost two hours.”

When Xiao Jinnan entered, he was stunned. The entire pool hall had been cleared out, with only a tall, slender young man and another coach playing.

The young man had a gentle, jade-like temperament and handsome appearance, fair and elegant. His clothing was of good taste. He was half-sitting and half-leaning on the edge of the pool table, his posture lazy and casual as he sunk a ball with one stroke.

“Come, play a couple of rounds with me.” The young man smiled slightly when he saw him, his manner so natural and familiar, as if he were greeting a close old friend.

Xiao Jinnan was certain he had never met this young man, yet he found it strangely non-intrusive and felt a surprising liking for him; he was unusually pleasing to the eye.

Xiao Jinnan stepped forward, took the cue from the other coach, quickly assessed the table’s situation, and laughed, “Don’t cry if you lose.”

The young man heard this and nodded good-naturedly, playing along: “No, I won’t cry. If I lose, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

After two rounds, the loser was naturally Xiao Jinnan. Their skill levels were once equally matched, but the Xiao Jinnan of the present moment was not yet at his future skill level and naturally couldn’t beat Jiang Rui.

Nevertheless, Jiang Rui treated him to dinner. Knowing Xiao Jinnan’s nature, he didn’t invite him to a fancy restaurant but casually found an establishment Xiao Jinnan often frequented, ordering a few dishes they both liked.

“Not many people know I love spicy food,” Xiao Jinnan said, asking the waitress for a glass of plain water, which he took a sip of. He did not drink alcohol.

Jiang Rui smiled. “Would you believe me if I said I’ve known you for a long time?”

Xiao Jinnan stared at his eyes for a while before saying, “I’ve never met you, and you don’t have an Yingchang accent; you’re from out of town.”

Jiang Rui served him some food and said, half-jokingly, “Maybe we knew each other in a past life.”

Xiao Jinnan shook his head, neither confirming nor denying, simply skipping over the topic.

“What do you want with me?” Xiao Jinnan asked once they had finished eating.

Jiang Rui didn’t answer directly, saying something out of the blue: “Come with me to a place.”

The two went to a bathhouse but didn’t go inside. Jiang Rui pointed to the name of the bathhouse, Da Lang, and asked, “Do you know who the boss of this Da Lang is?”

Xiao Jinnan was unsure. “It seems to be someone surnamed Wang?”

Jiang Rui shook his head. “Wrong. That Wang Ming is just working for someone. The real boss is someone you should have heard of: Wen Zheng, the leader of the Yingchang Wenying Society.”

Xiao Jinnan seemed to understand a little.

“The Wenying Society has dominated Yingchang for at least ten years. The leader, Wen Zheng, was recently hospitalized with a serious illness. The hearts of the Wenying Society members are in chaos, and the factions within the gang are vying for power. In one month, three of the Wen family’s young masters and two elders have died. Yet, no one has emerged to take charge of the overall situation.”

Xiao Jinnan said indifferently, “With no leader, things will naturally fall into great disorder. Not only is the Wenying Society in chaos internally, but other forces will also be restless. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. Judging by the situation you describe, Yingchang’s top gang is likely about to change its name and owner.”

Jiang Rui smiled warmly at the comment. “Jinnan, would you like to be that fisherman?”

“What are you doing here again?” Mo Zhao widened her eyes and glared angrily at the young man in front of her.

This time, Xiao Jinnan didn’t hesitate. He pulled her into his embrace, lightly kissed her beautiful hair, and spoke in a calm voice, yet one whose deep determination was startling: “Zhao Zhao, wait for me.”

Mo Zhao’s body stiffened. She immediately pushed him away and sneered, “Xiao Jinnan, you think too highly of yourself. The fact that I couldn’t let go of you the day before yesterday and yesterday doesn’t mean I still can’t let go today or tomorrow. What makes you think I still like you? You were the one who wanted to break up, and you were the one who said you didn’t love me anymore. Now you’re telling me to wait for you. Xiao Jinnan, I, Mo Zhao, may be stubborn, but I’m not stupid!”

Xiao Jinnan acted as if he hadn’t heard Mo Zhao’s harsh words. He looked at her and suddenly said, “Zhao Zhao, I saw your mother last month. She told me that her daughter is a top student at Yingchang’s University of Science, has a boundless future, and would never marry a gangster without a proper job and live a life of hardship. I think the same way.”

Mo Zhao fell silent for a moment. She looked up and said sarcastically, “So you felt you weren’t good enough for me and broke up? If that’s the case, why are you stringing me along and not ending it completely?”

“I tried, but I still couldn’t let go…” Xiao Jinnan sighed, embracing the stubborn girl who was feigning coldness again.

“Zhao Zhao, give me time. I will marry you with great fanfare.”

Mo Zhao did not speak.

Xiao Jinnan devoutly kissed the girl’s beautiful brows and eyes. “Do you trust me, Zhao Zhao?”

Seeing the girl offer no reply, he asked again, “Do you trust me?” His voice contained a hint of anxiety and a catch in his throat.

Mo Zhao felt as if her heart was being tightly squeezed. She finally broke down and cried, “I don’t trust you! I don’t trust you!” Yet, she couldn’t help but raise her arms and wrap them around his body, holding on tightly as if terrified the person in front of her would leave in the next second and she would never see him again.

Xiao Jinnan held her tightly in his embrace. Listening to the girl’s cries, he closed his eyes, concealing the deep, profound darkness within them…

Jiang Rui stayed in Yingchang for half a month, leaving Xiao Jinnan five million kuai. Five million might not be much in the future, but right now, it was definitely enough for Xiao Jinnan to use in the initial stages of establishing his power.

Even the Wenying Society, which had been operating for so long, had assets of only around ten million.

Xiao Jinnan hadn’t expected Jiang Rui to offer such a large sum of money and felt more confident. He laughed, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the money and run?”

Jiang Rui retained his gentle demeanor. “That little bit of money is far less than the future benefits. You’re not so shortsighted. Moreover, if there’s anyone in this world I can still describe as trustworthy, it would only be you.”

Jiang Rui looked at the still-young and spirited Xiao Jinnan. He suddenly thought of his previous life, where Xiao Jinnan did not win the struggle for power in Qing City that he and Wang Chenghui caused. His eventual fate was probably not much better than Jiang Rui’s own.

Xiao Jinnan should have lived a good life. It was only because of his friend—who wasn’t quite a true confidant—that his latter half of life was ruined.

This time, Jiang Rui wanted to personally watch Xiao Jinnan rise rapidly and see him go further.

“Do whatever you need to do. If you need money, just tell me. I heard your wife will be doing her internship next year? When she comes to Qing City, I have a position here reserved just for her. I can also help you keep an eye on her, saving her from being tricked away by some young pretty boy,” Jiang Rui said with a smile.

He knew that Xiao Jinnan’s wife in his previous life was named Mo Zhao, a brilliant actuary, but tragically, she died young. The cause of death seemed to be a revenge killing; the target was originally Xiao Jinnan, but Mo Zhao happened to be driving Xiao Jinnan’s car that day and was mistakenly killed.

He remembered the turmoil—the veritable bloodbath—that swept through Yingchang’s underground forces. Xiao Jinnan’s name spread throughout the three northeastern provinces from that moment. Xiao Jinnan annihilated the killer’s entire family, leaving not a single woman or child. Even the families implicated by the killer were all punished, and none escaped.

Jiang Rui understood Xiao Jinnan’s obsession with Mo Zhao all too well and didn’t want Mo Zhao to repeat her previous life’s fate; Xiao Jinnan’s madness was not to be trifled with. Therefore, it was necessary to bring her under his watch in Qing City to help keep an eye on his friend’s wife.

Xiao Jinnan nodded. He understood Jiang Rui’s concern, which was also his own. Entering this line of work naturally brought danger, and he could rest assured knowing she was with Jiang Rui.

It was early July when Jiang Rui returned to Qing City.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had been feeling very anxious and restless these past few days. The reason was simple: the Senior High School Entrance Exam results were about to be released!

Jiang Jianjun had cautiously probed his son, asking if he was confident. Jiang Rui naturally gave a positive answer. But the couple was still worried, fearing that if the results were disappointing, their son might be too embarrassed and do something rash. Even if he didn’t get into the top school, what would happen if he couldn’t handle the shame?

He Fulan knew her son was capable and not weak-willed, and she had faith in him. After all, her son had never disappointed her since childhood. Even if he didn’t pass, they could just spend a little money to send him to another school. Their family supermarket was in a great location, had many customers, and brought in several thousand kuai in net profit every month after rent and inventory costs. They weren’t afraid they couldn’t afford to raise their son.

After the exam results were announced, Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and even the school’s teachers and leaders were stunned. This year’s top scorer (Zhuangyuan) and the third-place winner (Tanhua) in Qing City’s Senior High School Entrance Exam had both come from their Ningping Town No. 1 Middle School!

It should be known that Qing City is a major educational center with countless middle schools possessing strong faculty. Ningping Town No. 1 Middle School couldn’t even rank in the middle tier of the city’s schools. In previous years, they would have been ecstatic to have a single student make it into the city’s top fifty. This time, one school—Ningping Town No. 1 Middle School—had claimed two of the city’s top three positions. It was simply unbelievable!

The leaders of the other middle schools in Qing City looked pale after the results were released and rushed to investigate these three “dark horses” who had suddenly appeared. This was particularly true for the principal of Qing City Polytechnic University Affiliated Middle School, which traditionally dominated the exam results, having produced the top scorer for three consecutive years. This time, they didn’t manage to secure the top spot, second place (Bangyan), or third place! The principal was so furious that he ignored the ongoing holiday and recalled key teachers and leaders to the school for a mass criticism meeting.

Inside a villa in Qing City’s Peninsula Villa district.

Two teenagers sat on a sofa, studying the scores of the top three students from the exam.

“This Jiang Rui is formidable. Those scores, tsk tsk tsk, it’s like he wrote the questions himself. It’s a bit too miraculous! And this Wang Xiaorui—did these two sit together during the exam? How can a girl be so fierce? Is she trying to stop the rest of us from living?” The speaker was a sunny, handsome, and easygoing young man.

The young man next to him, wearing thin-framed glasses, was refined and reserved. He glanced at his friend and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? English and Math were famously difficult this year; even the teachers who wrote the exams wouldn’t guarantee a perfect score. This is just their talent. Stop talking trash.”

The handsome young man immediately sat up straight and widened his eyes. “Duan Xinrong, that’s heartless of you! I’m sticking up for you, aren’t I? You’ve never ranked second since childhood! In the year you’ve been at Qinnan Middle School in Qing City, in every exam, you’ve always left the second-place student far behind. This Jiang Rui, who popped out of God knows what backwater corner, actually surpassed you! Forget you, I can’t accept it!”

Before his friend could speak, he continued, “Tell me honestly, what happened this time? Did you get sick during the exam? This isn’t your usual standard for not getting first place…”

Duan Xinrong casually flipped through the high school math textbook in his hand and said, “Will you cut it out, Xie Gaoling? You lost a bet based on my score and are blaming me for it? Don’t even think about me paying that money back for you.”

Xie Gaoling immediately wilted. “It’s not my fault, I had faith in you… Hey, Old Duan, can’t you be flexible just this once? Just lend me a little. The day my mom comes back from Xiangcheng, I’ll pay you back immediately! Seriously!” He finished and held up three fingers in a swearing gesture, afraid his friend wouldn’t believe him.

Duan Xinrong adjusted his glasses. A faint smile touched his refined and handsome face, but he coldly uttered two words: “No chance.”