That analysis made a lot of sense.

Qingyu thought it over and realized that was true. This morning had gone just like it had in her previous life: her parents had just called her to help out, then ride to school with them.

But Qingyu had refused, saying she had something important to discuss with Yuyang, too.

The Lin family spoiled their daughter, after all. Whatever she said went.

And just as Lin Qingyu’s thoughts were racing, convinced she was analyzing the situation from every angle and absolutely crushing it—having one brilliant realization after another!

She heard a hair dryer start up nearby, followed by Yuxi’s triumphant voice.

“Stand right there, big brother. I’ll dry your hair for you. You’ll catch a cold if you go out like that.”

“All right. I’ll leave it to my adorable little Xiao Xi, then.”

“Hehe… You can praise me a little more, too, big brother.”

Oh no!

Lin Qingyu silently groaned. She’d been so caught up in thinking that she’d neglected the real business at hand!

She’d handed over the golden opportunity to dry Yuyang’s hair.

Wait… Maybe not.

If Qingyu had done it, there was no telling whether she could’ve stolen the chance in the first place. One thing was certain, though: she’d have needed to stand on a little stool just to reach the top of Yuyang’s head.

Oof… That’s downright humiliating.

So either she missed her chance and messed up, or she got the chance and humiliated herself?

No matter what she did, it was a lose-lose. Being Loli Lin was hard.

………………

Yuyang was walking to school with the two of them now.

It wasn’t far, so they usually walked.

Xiao Xi and Qingyu walked on either side of Yuyang like his two personal gatekeepers.

The three of them were guaranteed to turn heads wherever they went.

A handsome, black-haired boy, with a silver-haired beauty on his left and a pink-haired loli on his right.

Lin Qingyu: Why am I the one being “led”?! Can’t you treat us equally?!

Yuyang thought how lucky he was that Xiao Xi had dried his hair for him. Qifeng City was pretty far north, and even at the start of September, when school began, there was already a faint chill in the air.

If he’d gone out with his hair still dripping wet, he’d have been in for a miserable time.

More importantly, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.

Before he was reborn, work had kept him up night after night for several days. He’d been groggy all the time, but now he felt light as a feather.

Had being reborn reset his body to its former condition, too?

That was nice.

He brushed aside the long bangs falling across his forehead. They were a little longer than before his rebirth, and he still wasn’t used to them.

Yuxi was observant. She immediately understood what that small gesture meant.

She moved a little closer to Yuyang’s left shoulder.

“When we get home after school, I’ll trim it for you, big brother. Though, you’re handsome either way, whether you get it cut or not.”

“You bet.” Yuyang did his best to bring back the confidence he’d had before. “And our Xiao Xi is gorgeous, too. I haven’t seen anyone prettier than you all the way here~”

“Heh-heh. That’s nice to hear, but, big brother… You’re not allowed to say that to other girls, got it?”

“G-Got it.”

Huh? Did Xiao Xi just get upset all of a sudden?

With the two of them going back and forth like that, how was Qingyu supposed to feel?

“Enough showing off, you two. Keep it up and you’ll melt everyone’s brains.”

Qingyu twirled a lock of her pink hair around her finger. She couldn’t even bear to look at the “heartwarming” scene beside her.

“Qingyu’s cute, too. Have a little more confidence in yourself.”

As he spoke, Yuyang reached out with his left hand and patted the top of Loli Lin’s head…

Hey, that feels pretty nice. Time to vigorously ruffle the loli’s hair!

“Nya! I told you! Don’t treat me like a kid! Hmph!”

Why was Yuxi “gorgeous,” while I only got “cute”?!

Like a cat with its fur standing on end, Qingyu angrily turned her head away.

Yuyang was at a loss. Even after getting a second chance at life, he still managed to make Qingyu angry so easily.

But he noticed that even though she’d turned her head away, she still hadn’t slapped his hand off the top of her head.

Yuyang gave a wry chuckle and pulled his hand back.

He’d had a lot on his mind on the way here, including earlier in the bathroom at home.

He’d already thought of most of what Yuxi and Lin Qingyu had just discussed.

The peaceful, quiet streets were proof enough that everything was normal.

Not everyone had a reason to hide that they’d been reborn. That could only mean they truly knew nothing about it.

Yuyang had only one reason for keeping it a secret.

He wanted to avoid complications. Starting today, he planned to live his life over again, from here until college graduation.

Then… he’d remember when he’d met all those girls and avoid crossing paths with them this time.

No meeting them.

He could live with feeling miserable himself. At least this way, those girls wouldn’t end up hurting, right?

It was true: no meeting meant no pain.

That said, there was no avoiding the two little ones beside him. The way they kept glancing at him said it all.

He’d figure out what to do about them later. At least he should be able to avoid the others… He hadn’t met them yet, after all.

That is, if they hadn’t been reborn, too.

Haha… Even Yuyang thought he was overthinking it. What were the odds? Everyone on the street seemed perfectly normal. Could those girls really be the only ones who’d been reborn?

Come on, there’s no way something that coincidental could actually happen, right?

Mm. That was what Bai Yuyang believed right now.

As Yuyang’s thoughts reached that point, he looked up and saw the gates of Qifeng No. 1 High School.

Even from a distance, he could hear the music for the opening ceremony playing over the school’s loudspeakers.

The ceremony must have already started. Apart from two security guards, there wasn’t another student or teacher at the gate.

Yuyang stopped and looked from side to side before speaking.

“Xiao Xi, Qingyu, go check which classes you’ve been assigned to. I’ll go tell your homeroom teachers why we’re late.”

“Huh? Big brother, I can explain it myself.”

“Exactly! It’s not like I can’t speak for myself!”

But Yuyang only sighed softly at their protests and said two words: “Be good.”

How could I put it… Hearing those two words made both Yuxi and Qingyu feel strangely reassured…

That was Yuyang taking responsibility, just as he should. He was very conscious of his role as an older brother and childhood friend.

The two who’d just been protesting now took out their phones, swayed by that inexplicable sense of dependence.

“Let me see… Big brother, I’m in Class Three, Grade Ten.”

“Class Four, Grade Eleven.”

Qingyu… You may sound so impatient, but that unnatural flush on your cheeks has already given you away…

Yuyang took out his phone, too, and found the class group chat for that high school.

Just as he’d expected… It was the same as in his previous life. He was in the same class as Qingyu.

He deliberately put on a surprised expression.

“Oh! What a coincidence! Qingyu, we’re in the same class!”

“But we were already… Huh?! Really? I… Hmph! It’s not like I want to be in the same class as you!”

“……”

In that one short sentence, Qingyu went through three different emotional shifts…

First, she almost matter-of-factly revealed that she’d already known the class assignments. Then she switched to feigned surprise, before suddenly turning tsundere.

Loli Lin’s emotions were all over the place…

Even Yuxi couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing a couple of times…