Chen Dao tossed the mysterious red tracksuit into the washing machine.

Heading downstairs with Xia Jiuli, he noticed her slightly oversized slippers made her steps unsteady. She lagged behind, so Chen Dao would walk a few paces, pause, and wait for her to catch up.

Stop-and-go, hesitant yet deliberate, they finally reached a Sichuan restaurant.

Normally, since it was close to campus, Chen Dao often ate dinner here. On regular days, he’d play the gentleman—escort Bai Qiaoqiao home first, double back past the school gate, grab a meal, then head home. If truly broke, he’d spend his last yuan on instant noodles beforehand.

A 700-yuan monthly allowance should’ve been enough. The real issue? He kept spending on Bai Qiaoqiao. Back and forth, borrowing from classmates became unavoidable. No wonder his reputation in class wasn’t great.

But not anymore! Starting tonight—he’d study hard, earn properly. Who needed romance anyway?

(Though a silent, stunning girl sat right beside him.)

With an extra layer underneath, Xia Jiuli no longer looked uneasy. Settling into a corner booth, she pulled out her buzzing phone mid-wait and switched it to silent.

Her aunt had called endlessly—all asking where she was. Just then, the screen flashed. She glanced, about to enable Do Not Disturb… but froze at the bold notification:

*Aunt: [Sweetie, please don’t do anything foolish! Come home—Auntie’s worried sick!]*

“You just said ‘whatever’ about food, so—"

Chen Dao passed behind her. Xia Jiuli flinched, yanked the phone, and slapped it face-down on the table. Her clumsy cover-up was swift—but Chen Dao still glimpsed the tiny black text.

Passing from behind, he missed the ligature marks on her neck. From hanging, they were mostly on the front.

Xia Jiuli whipped around, eyes wide with panic—terrified he’d seen the message and gotten tangled in her mess.

"—so I picked a few dishes. Just doing my part as host."

*Let go of the savior complex. Respect others’ fate.* He tried to convince himself.

Convinced he hadn’t noticed, she hastily set Do Not Disturb. Only the indicator light blinked. She shoved the phone beside the chopstick holder.

"I have no objections."

Chen Dao circled to sit opposite her. Habit kicked in: he pulled out chopsticks, wiped them with a napkin, propped them on a sauce dish to avoid the greasy table.

Xia Jiuli forced a faint smile and nodded.

Truth was, after that reunion, she’d planned to go home and end it with charcoal. Pretending drunk to leave early—only for dormmates to dump her beside Chen Dao, who was happily chowing down. She’d wanted him to take her to the seaside… end it under cover of night. Who knew rebirth would happen?

She’d never even seen the ocean in this life.

"What? Need the restroom again? Straight down that hallway behind you, then—"

He meant well. Seeing her gloomy, he cracked a careless joke to lighten the mood.

Xia Jiuli’s cheeks flushed. She pursed her lips but stayed silent.

She knew this was just *him*—since college, he’d always joked at tender moments, played the fool to keep others from taking him too seriously. It didn’t bother her.

This… was how they were supposed to be.

After a slight hesitation, she spoke, eyes shadowed with unease:

"What are your plans now?"

Chen Dao, about to snack on the peanuts, pushed the dish toward her at her somber look.

"Nothing much. Hustle hard. Stack cash!"

*No dating this lifetime—not even if I were a dog! I swear!*

He felt utterly unshakable.

"You seem… eager?"

Xia Jiuli’s voice stayed icy. She almost wished he’d say he’d give up—anything to ease her guilt. Seeing him, also reborn, accept it so fast… left her unbalanced. Not jealousy. Just self-loathing.

If she went home now? Funeral notices. White mourning envelopes. Wailing. Drifting numbly. Fleeing Xiangzhou to forget. Then, at twenty-seven… losing her grandparents again.

Powerless.

"What else? We got a second chance—you’re not thinking of throwing it away, are you?"

He’d meant to warn her off dark thoughts… then remembered he had no right.

"Maybe…"

Her voice dimmed. She thought she hid it—but to Chen Dao, the light in her eyes vanished like lightning swallowed by storm. Hopeless.

*Chen Xiao Dao! You can’t handle this!*

He shut his eyes, already drafting how to greet her ghost someday.

*If she says she died miserably… I’ll just ask: "Pulled the 996 shift too?"*

Around 6:30 PM, their three dishes, soup, and free rice arrived. Weary office workers and students streamed in—enrichment class must’ve just ended. Chen Dao scanned the crowd: unfamiliar faces, but unmistakably elites from Fourth High.

Many stole glances at Xia Jiuli.

She sat there, cheeks puffed like a squirrel with food—adorably awkward.

"Miss, you really shouldn’t eat here—"

A man in his forties called from the doorway, blocking a girl with youthful features and curious eyes scanning the crowded room.

She looked like a newborn wild kitten, cautiously observing the human hive.

"You just lost your clothes! If the master finds out I let you eat out here… he’ll have my head!"