Chereads / I really don't want to reborn. / Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: The Deflated, Worn-out Wallet

Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: The Deflated, Worn-out Wallet

This time, when Chen Hansheng returned to Jianye, he didn't invite Wang Zibo. He traveled alone for over five hours by long-distance bus and arrived at the school around 6 p.m.

The sky was gloomy, and light rain was falling. Although it wasn't heavy, the dampness made it uncomfortable.

Chen Hansheng cursed inwardly. Jianye was always like this—on rainy days, the historical atmosphere of the Six Dynasties period filled the air. It was intangible, unseen, but always felt. When in a good mood, one might compose a poem; when in a bad mood, it only added to the melancholy.

Chen Hansheng trudged through the drizzle toward his dorm. But when passing the library, he suddenly saw a familiar figure and shouted, "Stop!"

Shen Youchu had just finished her part-time job at the library. After spending the day shelving books, her arms were sore. She was heading to the canteen to eat and then return to her dorm to study. Suddenly, she heard a fierce voice.

It sounded like a man, and strangely familiar.

Shen Youchu cautiously turned her head and saw Chen Hansheng standing right behind her. She nearly dropped her umbrella in shock.

"I'm not going to eat you, why that expression?" Chen Hansheng said, noticing her wary look, which made him even more upset.

"No, I'm not…" Shen Youchu replied, unwilling to meet his gaze, turning halfway away.

Chen Hansheng snorted coldly, eyeing her for a moment before suddenly saying, "I don't want to eat alone tonight. Come with me."

"Huh?" Shen Youchu looked up in panic. Her last experience of dining with Chen Hansheng had been a nightmare.

"What, you don't want to?" Chen Hansheng's tone was domineering and a little rude.

Shen Youchu didn't say anything. Under the umbrella, her peach blossom eyes were already showing signs of tears, and her lips were tightly pressed together.

"Damn, I really want to kiss her. It must taste sweet," Chen Hansheng thought, finally pulling his gaze away from her lips and speaking seriously, "We're classmates, we should help each other. I'm in a bad mood today. Why don't you treat me to a meal?"

Shen Youchu hesitated for a moment, then looked up, her voice barely audible, "W-Well, what do you want to eat?"

She probably wanted to return the favor, as Chen Hansheng had once helped pay her class fees. She had intended to repay him after receiving her part-time pay.

But to Chen Hansheng, none of that mattered. After all, they would eventually become a couple. So he proposed, "The new small hot pot at the second canteen. Let's go have some."

"Oh, how much is it?" Shen Youchu asked, clearly concerned about the price.

"About 50-60 yuan for lamb and shrimp," Chen Hansheng tossed out a "staggering" figure.

Shen Youchu froze for a moment and then said, "Can I go back to my dorm for a bit first?"

Chen Hansheng thought she was going to change clothes, since she was still wearing the oversized, worn-out uniform from her part-time job at the library.

"Sure, be quick."

Not long after, Shen Youchu returned, but without an umbrella, her hair was drenched, and she hadn't changed her clothes.

"Where's your umbrella?" Chen Hansheng asked.

"My roommate is going to Yiwu Commodity Center, so I lent it to her," Shen Youchu explained softly.

"Why don't you need it?" Chen Hansheng didn't know why, but seeing Shen Youchu like this made him particularly angry, and his voice unknowingly rose.

"I'm just on campus, it's fine," Shen Youchu explained, startled by his reaction, waving her hands.

"Come here, I'll share my umbrella with you."

With a scowl on his face, Chen Hansheng moved the umbrella toward her.

Shen Youchu pretended not to hear and quickened her pace, seeming to prefer getting drenched rather than sharing an umbrella with the "rascal" Chen Hansheng.

"You're walking so fast, how can I keep up with all this luggage?" Chen Hansheng suddenly shouted.

"Oh," Shen Youchu obediently slowed down. She soon noticed the rain had stopped falling on her as Chen Hansheng tilted the umbrella to cover her.

She was about to step out, but Chen Hansheng glared at her, so she had no choice but to stay under the umbrella, walking beside him.

During the holidays, when students were scarce, the campus was quiet, the air smelling of wet plants and soil—fresh and moist, cool and serene. Occasionally, a couple walking under the same umbrella would pass by, much like Chen Hansheng and Shen Youchu now.

When they reached the second canteen, Chen Hansheng's mood seemed to lift. If he had to make an inappropriate comparison, the best way to forget one relationship was to start another.

They chose a seat by the window, mainly so Chen Hansheng could smoke. While ordering, Shen Youchu took out a worn-out little wallet from her pocket. She carefully took out the money, even lining up the coins.

This lavish school hot pot cost 53 yuan in total, nearly draining all of Shen Youchu's savings. That "worn-out little wallet" had now become an "empty, deflated, worn-out wallet."

"Were you just going to the dorm to get money?" Chen Hansheng finally realized and asked.

"Mm," Shen Youchu softly replied, then picked up her food and walked to their table.

"Fool..." Chen Hansheng muttered to himself.

Although the hot pot at the second canteen was a new addition to the menu, it had quickly become popular, especially on a rainy day like this. Listening to the sound of rain hitting the windows while watching the meat roll in the boiling water was a true delight.

Chen Hansheng hadn't eaten much during his ride, and his stomach was already growling. He grabbed a bowl of rice and began eating. However, after a while, he put his chopsticks down again.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked Shen Youchu.

Shen Youchu had barely touched her food. She was holding a bowl of rice with just a few vegetables, occasionally dipping them in the hot pot, while Chen Hansheng had a pile of shrimp shells and bones in front of him. Her bowl remained pristine.

Shen Youchu shook her head without speaking.

"This is really strange," Chen Hansheng remarked, shaking his head, but then a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he stared intently at Shen Youchu.

"You're waiting for me to finish eating first, then you'll eat, right?" he asked.

Shen Youchu's plan was exposed, and she blushed, not responding, but she didn't even pick up any more vegetables.

The rain kept falling, and it seemed to flow like warmth into Chen Hansheng's heart. The same way Xiao Rongyu had gone out of her way to deliver a drink for him yesterday, and Shen Youchu was now waiting for him to finish eating before touching her food.

Chen Hansheng sighed and asked, "This hot pot cost all your living expenses. How are you going to manage from now on?"

He had already made up his mind but wanted to hear what Shen Youchu thought.

"I still have 100 yuan sewn into my bag. I earn some money from shelving books at the library, and I can work part-time at the canteen at night. That way, I can save on meals," Shen Youchu said softly, explaining her tight but organized plans.

"Will you blame me for eating up all your savings?" Chen Hansheng asked again.

Shen Youchu's eyes widened as she shook her head. Her peach blossom eyes were innocent yet enchanting. Her delicate face glowed under the soft yellow lights of the canteen, giving her an ethereal, sculpted beauty.

Chen Hansheng felt a stir in his heart. Unable to stop himself, he said, "How about you be my girlfriend?"

With a loud crash, Shen Youchu accidentally knocked over her rice bowl, spilling soup on herself. She nearly burst into tears.

"I... I only ate two pieces of vegetables. Can't you not pressure me into being your girlfriend?"