“Today’s assembly is over. Teachers, please organize your classes and lead your students back in order.”

The heads of student affairs from several grades stood up below the stage and began directing the thousands of students in the auditorium back to their classrooms in an orderly fashion.

Yuyang figured that even though he’d been late, he’d arrived at just the right time—he’d caught Tang Qihuang’s speech and nothing else.

If he remembered right, before that, it had all been the same dull, cookie-cutter speeches from school administrators.

At least this way, Xiao Xi wouldn’t have any regrets about her first day of school.

“Xiao Xi, I’ll take you back to your class first. Qingyu, you can… go find your class’s line on your own.”

“Hey! What’s with the favoritism?”

Faced with Loli Lin, who was puffing out her cheeks in anger, Yuyang could only shake his head helplessly. “Xiao Xi’s starting her first year of high school today. You’ve already been here for a year, and we’re in the same class anyway. Come on, get going. I’ll find you in a bit.”

“Don’t bother finding me! I was leaving on my own anyway, whether you said anything or not. Hmph, I’m so mad… First you’re late, and now you’re making me go ahead…”

Yuyang knew Qingyu far too well. She could grumble and complain all she wanted, but what she really wanted was to go with them to drop Yuxi off, then head back to class with Yuyang.

His childhood friend feared nothing—except being left by herself when he went off and ignored her.

Just as Yuyang was about to suggest she come with them to the first-year building…

Yuxi spoke up.

“Come on, big brother… You can’t spoil me like this. Starting today, I’m a high school student.”

Honestly, it was only a few steps away, and her brother was still talking about escorting her there.

Besides, Yuxi had been on the verge of graduating from college in her previous life. Even though she’d been reborn, Yuyang treating her like a little kid still made her uncomfortable.

Mm… She didn’t want her brother to think of her as a child.

As if he’d seen right through her, Yuyang smiled. “You’ll always be a kid to me, no matter how old you get.”

That wouldn’t change, even years from now.

“Mm, I’m happy you’re willing to walk me over, big brother, but I have my own reasons, too…” Yuxi stepped closer to Yuyang and looked up at him, blinking playfully.

“Think about it, big brother. It’s my first day of school, and everyone in my class is a stranger. Then I show up for the first time with you walking me over. Wouldn’t that be weird?”

“What’s weird about that?”

Even Qingyu couldn’t take it anymore. She jumped up and smacked Yuyang hard on the shoulder.

“You’re still asking? Yuyang, could you use your head for once? You’re famous around school! It’s fine for you to walk your little sister over, but if her classmates see you, who knows what kind of rumors they’ll start. Do you really want to make her first day miserable?”

“!”

Oh, damn! I forgot about that!

I’d been thinking about Huang’er this whole time and hadn’t even considered that.

Come to think of it, Yuyang really was famous at Qifeng No. 1 High School. Back in his first year, some bored idiot had brazenly started an online poll on the school website to elect the school’s prettiest girl and most handsome boy.

Yuyang hadn’t even known about it until his classmates told him he’d won the title of school heartthrob by a landslide.

No, no… I didn’t mind you guys saying I was handsome, but all that attention and the trouble that came with it had given Bai Yuyang a real headache throughout high school.

Oh, right. Now that I was back in my second year, I’d have to deal with this all over again.

Not wanting that headache to affect Yuxi, Yuyang decided on a compromise.

“All right, you make a good point. How about this, Xiao Xi? We’ll wait here with you for the Class Three, First Year line. You can go back to the classroom with your classmates and teacher. That’ll put my mind at ease, too.”

“Okay… But actually, big brother, if you want to walk me to class, there’s an even better solution.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Just tell everyone you’re my boyfriend! Then there won’t be any rumors!”

“That’s enough! Not happening! End of discussion!”

I’m rejecting that proposal right out of the gate, okay?

What is going on here?!

At this point, Xiao Xi shouldn’t know yet that she and I aren’t related by blood.

And yet she was already saying something so earth-shattering?!

Even Lin Qingyu looked ready to hit someone!

Yuyang sighed. “Let’s not get carried away. We’ll just wait here for the class line like good kids. That’s the best thing to do.”

“Fine…”

Yuxi kept a straight face, making it seem as if she’d only been joking just now. But she’d actually meant it.

If her brother agreed to her proposal, Yuxi would hit the jackpot! And if he refused like he had just now, at least she got to see him panic. Not a bad deal either, right?

The students left the assembly hall starting with the third-years, and the first-years were last.

While Yuyang and the others had been talking, the entire third year had already left. The second-years were filing out now.

From a long way off, Yuyang spotted the sign for Class Four, Second Year.

Whoa… They were all old friends. Being reborn felt even more real at a moment like this—and he couldn’t help feeling nostalgic, too.

“You two wait here for a bit. I’m going to grab someone.”

“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on Sister Qingyu.” “Who needs you keeping an eye on them, you little brat!”

After telling them not to fight, Yuyang strode out of the corner, circled around to the side of the Class Four, Second Year line, and swiftly yanked someone out of it.

“Ow! Who’s that? How dare you lay hands on this great… Ah… Brother Yang!”

“Haozi, getting pretty bold, calling yourself ‘this great one,’ huh?”

That’s right. He’d just spotted Luo Hao.

Luo Hao still had a perfectly normal hairstyle. He hadn’t gone for the buzz cut he’d have a few years later.

Honestly… Yuyang thought being reborn was really hard to get used to.

Yesterday, he’d been eating barbecue and drinking with Luo Hao. Today, he was a high school student again.

But Yuyang was the only one who knew what had happened in his previous life. Luo Hao just looked completely confused.

“No way, Brother Yang! I wouldn’t dare talk big in front of you. Haha… Anyway, you were late today?”

“I overslept.”

“That’s our Brother Yang!” Luo Hao gave him a thumbs-up. “Abusing your class monitor privileges! Impressive, impressive! I bet you don’t even have to write a self-criticism for oversleeping, huh?”

At that, Luo Hao got more animated. He didn’t seem in any hurry to catch up with the class line, which had already gone on ahead. He could just head back to class on his own later.

“That’s right. In my class, self-criticisms aren’t a thing.”

After exchanging just a few words, Yuyang’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “Haozi, seriously—have you noticed anything strange or unusual happening between yesterday and today?”

That was the real reason Yuyang had pulled him aside. Every extra person he asked was one more source of information. For now, he needed to find out as much as he could.

“Anything strange?”

Luo Hao thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Why are you asking me that out of nowhere, Brother Yang? Oh, right! Our homeroom teacher suddenly doubled our homework. Does that count as strange?”

“Come on, Haozi. Our homeroom teacher’s remarriage matchmaking fell through, so she’s taking it out on us. It’s not the first time. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

Luo Hao figured that was true. He thought for a little longer, then spoke again. “Then no, nothing unusual. But there is something that’s been bothering me.”

“Bothering you?” Yuyang urged him on. “Spit it out.”

“I’m just wondering why I still don’t have a girlfriend today.”

“……”

Haozi, that’s not something you should be wondering about.

Seriously, I can’t bring myself to tell you that you still won’t have a girlfriend a few years from now.

Keep at it, Haozi.