"Jiang Che, did you change your mind?"
Zhang Wei asked in confusion.
Did they not wait for many hours just for Jiang Che to confess to School Beauty once again?
( Did he finally wake up? )
Zhang Wei thought. But then shook his head.
It was better for him to think that Jiang Che had gone mad than to believe that he had given up on Xiao Yuxia.
"Jiang Che, what are you going to do next?"
Zhang Wei asked. He thought that Jiang Che had made some other arrangement to confess to Xiao Yuxia.
( Maybe he knew today would not work out and decided to confess again tomorrow. )
"What will I do? Of course, make money and enjoy life!"
Jiang Che replied with determination. This was his goal for his second life.
He will make money and also spend it however he wants, whether he is being wasteful or not, he will not care at all.
Though first he needed to earn money but with his 30 years of experience and knowledge about the future, he didn't think it would be too difficult to become a millionaire in a year.
"I am not talking about that. I was asking about Xiao Yuxia."
"What can I do? I had already been rejected by her and could only accept it. Maybe I should find a few older sisters to be my girlfriend."
Jiang Che answered.
"Really given up?"
Zhang Wei muttered, not believing what Jiang Che had said.
After all, he had known Jiang Che since childhood and knew just how much he loved her.
Even yesterday, Jiang Che cried all night but kept saying that he couldn't live without her.
"Stop thinking nonsense. Let's go home!"
Jiang Che said.
He still needed to gather his thoughts and wanted to know whether this was really happening to him or just a bad dream.
Zhang Wei quietly listened to Jiang Che and followed him.
Today, he has an inexplicable feeling that he can no longer understand this friend of his.
***
Jiang Che took his time as he walked through the familiar streets, noticing all the details he'd once overlooked.
The cracked pavement, the old, flickering street lamp near his house, the faded paint on the building walls—nothing had changed.
Standing at his front door, he took a deep breath and knocked.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Mom, I'm back!"
The door creaked open, and there stood his mother, hands on her hips, giving him a scolding look.
"Why are you making such a racket?"
She scolded.
"You've got a key, don't you? Are you planning to wake up the whole neighborhood?"
Jiang Che couldn't hold back a grin.
( It's like I never left. )
Jiang Che thought.
His mother only appeared younger but her personality remained the same. Even when he had grown older, he was often nagged by his mother.
"I missed hearing you nag, Mom," he joked, stepping inside as she continued her half-hearted scolding.
"Missed it? You'll be begging me to stop soon enough."
She replied, moving to the kitchen.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving, actually!"
He admitted, flopping onto the sofa.
It seemed that Jiang Chen was so depressed he'd forgotten to eat, and now he'd been feeling hungry for quite some time.
She went to the kitchen, returning with a plate of sliced fruit and a cool glass of water.
"Here, eat something before you talk my ear off."
Jiang Che took a bite, savoring the taste.
"Mom, you always know what I need," he said with a smile.
"Of course I do," she said, crossing her arms.
"Who else will?"
She looked at him closely, as if trying to read his thoughts.
"You're acting differently today, you know. What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing, just… thinking about some things. About the past, I guess."
He avoided her gaze, not quite sure how to explain.
"Well, don't get too lost in it," she said, ruffling his hair gently.
"You've got today and tomorrow to worry about. Leave the past where it belongs."
He took a deep breath, nodding.
"Yeah, you're right, Mom!"
Whether that was his future or past, it was all gone and he could only let go of them.
What he can do is live in the present and do what he wants.
"Where is Dad?"
Jiang Che asked as he stuffed his mouth with all the fruits.
"Out working, as usual," his mom replied, with a slight sigh.
"That man's never home before dark. Says he's got to work extra to get through this month."
She shook her head, her face softening.
"Though with you so close to graduating, I suppose he's trying to save for university, even if he won't admit it."
Jiang Che felt a pang of guilt. In his previous life, he hadn't thought much about how much his parents sacrificed.
He'd been too focused on himself and his unrequited love. He didn't even study hard when it was College Entrance Exam and even in college, he wasted much of his time.
But this time was different. He vowed to never make them worry and let them enjoy a good life.
"Mom, don't worry about it," he said, reaching for her hand.
"I'm going to study hard and also make a lot of money."
She gave him a strange look, eyebrows raised.
"You?"
She laughed lightly.
"You've been acting funny since you walked in, like you've aged years overnight."
She patted his head. "But I suppose growing up does that to a person."
"But don't worry too much about it and just focus on your studies. We are still here and you don't need to worry about money at all."
Jiang Che chuckled, though there was a hint of sadness in his smile.
He didn't further elaborate. In this society, College degree doesn't mean much, only money matters.
However, he also knew how much his parents emphasized his studies and wanted him to have a good education.
So, he also wanted to make them proud of his academics this time.
Well, it's not like he couldn't do both. Being a reborn person, if he couldn't even manage that then he would really be a waste.
As his mother bustled into the kitchen, humming a familiar tune, Jiang Che glanced around the small, cozy living room.
There were the same worn-out cushions on the couch, the same clock ticking softly on the wall, and a few family photos arranged on a shelf.
He picked up one of the frames, staring at the younger version of himself grinning alongside his parents.
He mustn't disappoint his parents this time.
A few minutes later, his mother returned with a steaming plate of dumplings.
He dug in, savoring each bite as if it were the first time he'd tasted anything so good. His mother watched him, her eyes softened with amusement.
"You eat like you've been starving for days," she teased.
"Maybe I have," he replied with a smile, finishing off the last of the dumplings.
"Thanks, Mom! For everything."
"Oh, don't get all sappy on me now."
She laughed, but he could see the glisten of tears in her eyes.
It's often said that children start distancing themselves from their parents as they grow older, and she had felt the same with Jiang Che.
But unexpectedly, today felt like they had gone back to the days when Jiang Che used to cling to her.
Just then, the front door creaked open, and his dad stepped inside, looking weary but smiling as he saw Jiang Che.
"Well, look who's back early," he said, ruffling Jiang Che's hair.
"And here I thought you'd be off with your friends till late."
Jiang Che grinned, feeling a warmth in his chest as he looked at his father's tired but welcoming face.
"Nah, thought I'd hang out with you two for a bit."
His dad chuckled, taking a seat on the couch.
"About time. We don't get enough of that these days."