Zhao Zhiming relayed Chen Yuchen's words to Lin Siyen just as they were.
"He really said that?" Lin Siyen frowned, a mix of confusion and anger flashing in her eyes.
Zhao Zhiming nodded, feeling awkward. Worried she might explode, he cautiously tried to calm her down. "Siyen, don't get mad. Maybe Chen Yuchen's just in a bad mood lately. He'll be fine in a few days."
Lin Siyen bit her lip, suppressing her growing frustration. Her voice was cold as she replied, "Why would I be mad? It's his choice. I'm done with him. I was even planning to help him settle into Jinling, but he just doesn't appreciate it. How ungrateful!"
"Achoo!" Chen Yuchen sneezed suddenly at home, blaming it on the air conditioner.
After graduating from high school, many classmates started hosting get-togethers, meals, and even trips. They hugged and cried in karaoke rooms, lamenting that "we may never see each other again." But for Chen Yuchen, all this felt distant and unnecessary.
He had no interest in these gatherings. Perhaps due to his family background, he'd always lacked a sense of security and had never formed deep bonds with his classmates. Unlike some "time-travelers" who had close friends or brothers, Chen Yuchen had none of that—just himself and his determination to move forward alone.
As August grew hotter, his classmates continued to enthusiastically plan outings. But Chen Yuchen chose to isolate himself. Two months of consistent exercise had transformed his physique—his posture became more upright, his facial features sharper, and his presence more striking. One day, he walked into the barbershop at the corner and decisively got a buzz cut. The barber tried hard to sell him various hair designs and dyeing packages, but Chen Yuchen turned them all down.
Five yuan for a simple buzz cut—it was clean and neat, perfectly fitting his upcoming university life.
He stood in front of the mirror, inspecting his new look, and nodded with satisfaction. Only a truly handsome guy can pull off a buzz cut, he thought with a grin. Standing at 180 cm tall, dressed in a fresh Adidas T-shirt and sneakers, Chen Yuchen looked full of youthful energy.
However, his plan to buy a car had to be postponed. Although this month's royalties had totaled 60,000 yuan, most of it had already been spent on a new computer, an iPhone 4, and some new clothes. The rest, he decided, would go toward a more long-term investment.
Chen Yuchen thought about Bitcoin. In 2010, Bitcoin was still in its infancy and had yet to explode in value, but in a few years, its rise would shake the world. In his previous life, he'd watched as Bitcoin skyrocketed from an obscure digital token to the "gold" of the financial world, and this time, he wasn't going to miss out.
"If I have the chance, why not strike early?" Chen Yuchen muttered to himself. He decided to invest part of his money in Bitcoin, making it a key piece of his long-term financial strategy.
By early September, Chen Yuchen had passed his driving test and obtained his license. That evening, the house phone suddenly rang—it was Lin Siyen's mother.
"Chen, I heard Yuchen's going to study in Jinling too? Siyen's dad is driving there, why not go together?" The voice on the other end was warm and polite, dripping with courtesy.
After hanging up, his mother turned to him and asked, "Do you want to go with them?"
Without even looking up, Chen Yuchen replied calmly, "My classes don't start until the 15th. It's too early to go now. I'm not going."
When his mother relayed the message, an angry voice shot through the phone: "Chen Yuchen! Don't expect me to ever come to you again!"
Holding the receiver, his mother froze for a moment, clearly hearing Lin Siyen's childish temper and frustration. After hanging up, she frowned slightly and turned to Chen Yuchen with a sigh. "Siyen's a good girl. Why don't you want to spend more time with her?"
Chen Yuchen chuckled and replied lightly, "Mom, she might be a good girl, but she's too domineering. She'd make a fine girlfriend, but I don't think she's wife material."
His mother's eyes widened, her tone turning serious. "What do you mean by that? You're not planning to follow in your dad's footsteps, are you?"
"Mom, don't overthink it. It has nothing to do with Dad. I just don't think she's right for me." Chen Yuchen quickly explained, understanding her concern. But he had no desire to rekindle any connection with Lin Siyen.
His mother sighed, her face showing hints of worry. "I raised you to be a good man, to find a decent girl and live a stable life. Don't be irresponsible like your father. I thought Siyen was good for you—what happened?"
"Don't worry, Mom." Chen Yuchen stood up, walked over to her, and gently patted her on the shoulder with a smile. "I promise, you'll never be short of a daughter-in-law in this lifetime. In fact, they'll all be better than Lin Siyen—taller, prettier, bustier, you name it."
His mother was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, scolding him playfully, "Get out of here! Don't joke around like that."
Seeing her relax, Chen Yuchen felt relieved as well. The regrets of his previous life wouldn't be repeated in this one, and when it came to relationships, he knew the right time and the right person would come eventually.