Chapter Fourteen: Reunion with Chu Qitong (Part One)

My Rebirth Legend—Life often flows by like running water, just as the ancients said: time flies like an arrow, the years slip by like a shuttle. In the days that followed, I remained as lazy as ever, sprawling across my desk, sleeping through classes. Perhaps it was something Professor Ren had said to the first-year teaching group, but ever since that infamous math class, none of the other teachers called me out for dozing off. Maybe my use of a college-level formula to solve a high school math problem had shocked all the teachers, or maybe Professor Ren's prestige in the school was so great that when he told the others to let me sleep in class, they simply obeyed. Either way, my dreams continued uninterrupted throughout the school day; no one objected, save for Xia Jianren, who would occasionally glare at me with gritted teeth.

Recently, my rapport with the lovely Su Xin had also grown quite warm. At first, she was shy around me, but now she considered me a close friend and would often use my napping as an opportunity to play pranks on me during class. What she didn’t know was that, aside from dreaming, I spent most of my supposed naps deep in thought—planning and contemplating my future! Honestly, even if I were a pig, I couldn’t possibly sleep day and night, could I? I was only putting on an act.

“Hey, Xiao Qiang, asleep again?” Su Xin muttered in a low voice as soon as the teacher turned to the blackboard. She pinched my arm and whispered, “Hmph, you’re really a little pig, sleeping like this. I’d like to see how you’ll manage in the exams…”

Of course, I wasn’t really asleep. Seeing her fuss, I opened my eyes and gazed at her—again and again. Su Xin’s beauty was the natural, effortless kind, brimming with elegance that one could never tire of. In my previous life, I’d met a celebrity who resembled her by about seventy percent—her name was Shen Lijun. Still, to me, each had her own charms, and in my heart, Su Xin would always be the most beautiful. Isn’t beauty always in the eye of the beholder?

I deliberately winked at her and smiled, “What’s wrong, Su Xin? I’m not asleep.”

She rolled her eyes and scolded, “Look at yourself! Just because you solved that math problem doesn’t make you special. Do you think you’re brilliant in every subject? Hmph, I don’t believe you. If you keep sleeping like this, what will you do if you come in last in the exams?”

“If I come last, then so be it. After all, I’m a self-funded student. Do you really think I could come first in the class?” I could tell she was worried about my academic performance, which warmed my heart, but I feigned indifference.

Su Xin immediately bristled, glaring at me with a mix of frustration and disappointment. “What kind of talk is that? Are you really going to give up on yourself like this? Then why did you come to this high school at all? You might as well have gone to a vocational school! Hmph, I’m done coddling you. With your attitude, why am I even wasting my breath? I can’t believe you’re so unambitious, Xiao Qiang!”

Seeing her so upset, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright, I was just joking. I know where I stand academically. I’ll work harder in the future.” Honestly, this was exactly the reaction I was hoping for—the angrier she got, the happier I was. Why? Because it meant she cared about me.

“Work harder? You?” Su Xin turned to look at me, her eyes full of reproach, making my heart pound. Could it be that this girl really had feelings for me?

I cleared my throat awkwardly and grinned, “I really will work hard. You don’t know how much I study at night.”

“Yeah, right. Who would believe you?” Su Xin frowned, as if something had just occurred to her. “Xiao Qiang, if you keep this up, how will you get into college?”

I was taken aback. “I never planned to take the college entrance exam.”

“You…” My words left her speechless, her chest heaving with anger, her cheeks flushed red. “Then what will you do with your life? Why are you even here if you don’t want to go to college? Don’t you know it’s embarrassing not to get into university from this school?”

I chuckled to myself—so Su Xin wanted me to go to college with her! But I kept a straight face. “Just because I don’t plan to take the college entrance exam doesn’t mean I won’t go to college. Besides, how can you be sure I’ll come in last?”

“Oh? So our classmate Xiao Qiang is actually a genius? Hmph, if someone who sleeps through every class could score well, that would be a miracle.” She shot me a skeptical glance.

I rolled my eyes and suddenly smiled. “Since Miss Su Xin doesn’t believe me, do you have the courage to make a bet?”

“A bet? What kind of bet?” She was caught off guard and asked curiously.

“Let’s bet on next month’s mock exam—whether or not I can rank in the top fifteen of the entire grade. How about it? Do you dare?” I deliberately goaded her. “You don’t believe I’ll work hard, right? Maybe a bet is all I need to try.”

“Fine! Let’s bet. It doesn’t even have to be the whole grade—just the top fifteen in our class and I still don’t think you’ll make it.” Su Xin clearly didn’t believe that a mischievous, somewhat handsome boy who slept through class could break into the top fifteen. To her, this bet was as good as won.

“Alright, so what’s the wager? If I make it into the top fifteen of the grade, then what?” I pressed on.

“If you actually manage that, I’ll do whatever you ask. But what if you lose? What then?” Su Xin puffed up with confidence, certain of her victory.

I grinned. “If I lose, I’ll stop sleeping in class, study hard, and become your loyal sidekick—always at your beck and call. How about that?”

“Deal—you said it yourself. It’s settled then.” Su Xin’s lips curled into a sweet, triumphant smile.

“But if you lose, you’ll really do whatever I ask?” I asked, testing her resolve. If I told you to be my girlfriend, would you agree?

“Of course, I won’t go back on my word!” She had no idea she’d just fallen into my trap, still basking in her own confidence.

“Alright, it’s settled. Now, can I get back to my nap?” I nodded and sprawled out on my desk once more, prompting Su Xin to throw up her hands in exasperation, as if she’d lost all hope for me.