Chapter Six: The Classmate Beside Me

My Rebirth Legend, Unfiltered

In the first-year second class of Fourth High School, I sat casually in the same seat as in my previous life, watching the noisy students around me. They chattered endlessly about celebrities, summer vacations, and what TV shows they'd watched—trivial topics that held no interest for me. I withdrew from their conversations and gathered my thoughts.

I'd already met Su Xin; our first encounter must have left her with a good impression. But that alone would never move her. In my previous life, after that meeting, I fell secretly in love with her—a silent affection that lasted more than ten years. Even after the car accident, I never confessed my feelings. This time, I was determined not to remain passive. I would take the initiative!

These classmates were the same as those from my previous life. Back then, I even envied some of their later success. But now, I saw them as nothing more than immature youths. In my previous life, there were plenty who pursued Su Xin, and I could only simmer in silent anger. Now, things were different. If they wanted to compete with me, it would be child's play.

I glanced at my seat. I was in the middle of the classroom. Su Xin, already over one meter sixty tall, would likely sit in the back row. My own height was just under one meter seventy—not an issue. An idea struck me: to be proactive, I needed to be close to her. Since our heights matched, we should sit together.

I suddenly recalled that in our first year, the homeroom teacher didn't assign seats. Students chose randomly, and these became their official spots. Only a few switched due to height. Su Xin preferred a seat by the window, so she could gaze outside between classes. Pleased with my own cleverness, I hurried to the third row from the back and sat down, waiting for the person destined for the empty seat beside me.

If Su Xin sat with me, she’d become my desk mate!

As I sat there, smiling and daydreaming, the classroom's chatter abruptly died down. Everyone's eyes turned to the door. When I looked up, I immediately understood the reason. There was no need to ask—it was our beautiful campus belle.

Su Xin's charm was unrivaled. No matter if you were male or female, her presence inspired a silent admiration—the effect of a true beauty.

Standing at the door, Su Xin blushed at nearly half the class staring openly at her. Shy and a bit flustered, she stepped inside. But with so many eyes on her, she couldn’t just leave; this was her classroom after all.

"This... This seat is free!" As Su Xin hesitated, unsure where to sit, a male classmate eagerly waved her over. This gesture triggered a frenzy; boys scrambled to offer seats, causing the girls to feel annoyed but helpless—Su Xin was simply too beautiful. At their age, admiration for the opposite sex was intense and impulsive.

I was the only one acting indifferent, gazing out the window, treating Su Xin as if she were air. She glanced around shyly and happened to spot me—the boy who had just returned her wallet. To find him in the same class delighted her. Without worrying about propriety, she walked straight to the empty seat by my side, sat down, and gave me a sweet smile. "Hi, we meet again."

Feigning annoyance at being disturbed, I turned from the window and looked at Su Xin, pretending surprise. "Oh? It's you?"

She laughed. "Strange, isn’t it? I’m surprised too. Turns out we’re classmates." Her smile was bright as she extended her delicate hand to me. "I’m Su Xin. Nice to meet you, and thank you for finding my wallet."

Her sweet smile nearly made me beam with joy. Strange? I’d known all along that she would be my classmate. Still, I kept up the act and, grinning foolishly, shook her soft, fair hand. "Nice to meet you too. I’m Xiao Qiang."

As we shook hands and introduced ourselves, the boys in the class shot daggers at me, their jealous gazes burning. The girls, meanwhile, watched with curiosity, speculating about what kind of person I must be to know this stunning girl on the first day.

I paid no mind to the boys’ murderous looks, lost in the softness of Su Xin’s hand and the faint scent wafting from her. Su Xin, however, sensed the tension around us and blushed. "Xiao Qiang... my hand’s getting sore..."

"Oh, sorry, sorry!" Embarrassed, I quickly let go, cursing my lack of self-control, and chuckled awkwardly. "Su Xin, which middle school did you attend? I don’t think I’ve seen you before."

"I didn’t go to the same middle school..." She paused.

"Oh, that explains it. I wondered why I hadn’t seen you." My knowing look puzzled her. "Is it so strange? There are plenty of middle schools in C City. Surely you aren’t familiar with all of them?"

"Not really," I shrugged. "But middle schoolers love gossip. If there were someone as beautiful as you, the whole city would have heard about it."

My words made Su Xin blush. "So you know how to flatter people! I thought you were the type to keep others at arm’s length..." Realizing her words sounded too intimate, she quickly corrected herself, "I mean, I thought you’d be more introverted, not much for conversation."

I laughed. "It depends on the person. To make friends with someone as lovely as you is my honor."

She rolled her eyes at me, about to reply, when a teacher entered the room, cutting her off. I stopped as well; any more, and she’d think I was a sycophant. Half warmth, half coolness—that was my strategy.

"Quiet, everyone!" The man at the door, about forty, with gold-rimmed glasses, walked to the podium, set down the attendance sheet, and smiled as he looked around. "Welcome to Class Two, Year One. I am your homeroom teacher, Liu Chunhua. I see you’ve all picked your seats. Well, let’s keep them as they are for now; we can adjust later if needed."

His words disappointed the boys; they'd hoped the teacher would rearrange the seating, praying for a chance to sit with Su Xin. Now, realizing there would be no changes, their hopes were dashed. Su Xin glanced at me and stuck out her tongue, whispering, "Looks like we’ll be desk mates from now on—please take care of me."

What else could I do but nod eagerly, excitement bubbling inside me! I’d known what the teacher would say, but hearing it still stirred something in me. In this life, I would actually sit beside Su Xin. The song "The Desk Mate" by Luo Dayou came to mind—it perfectly captured my situation now...