Was this the butterfly effect in action? Cheng Xing paused, momentarily stunned as he observed the scene before him.
In his previous life, Zhao Long had also taken sick leave on this very day, leaving Cheng Xing to be assigned by Zheng Hua to lead a group from their class to clean up. Among those sent to tackle outdoor chores had been Jiang Luxi.
But back then, Cheng Xing had barely noticed what tasks were assigned. Whether they cleaned the cafeteria or the bike shed was something they had decided among themselves. Cheng Xing had always been indifferent to such matters. Once downstairs, he had gone straight to chat with a pretty girl from a neighboring class who had also been assigned to clean. He couldn't recall what they'd talked about, but it had ended with the girl chasing him around with a broom in hand.
Jiang Luxi, however, had definitely not been assigned to clean the bike shed that day.
Now, in this life, Cheng Xing had intended only to spare Jiang Luxi from unnecessary strain. So he assigned her to the bike shed instead.
He had no idea that this seemingly minor decision would lead to such a dramatic outcome.
It was proof that his regression could alter the trajectory of his past life. The ability to foresee the future and make personal adjustments to it—perhaps this was the greatest joy of being regressed. Of course, reclaiming his youth and savoring the moments he had once taken for granted were what Cheng Xing cherished the most.
He hadn't immediately rushed to make money after his regression for this very reason.
In his past life, he had worked tirelessly for decades and already experienced the freedom that wealth could bring. But the fleeting, heart-stirring moments of youth—the ones that left a ripple in the heart—were what Cheng Xing now longed for.
While he sought to mend past regrets, he also wanted to relive the squandered days of his youth, savoring them one more time.
Naturally, money was still a necessity in any life. But this time, Cheng Xing wasn't worried about being penniless. He had plenty of time to secure his future. There were still six or seven years before his father's failed investment that had once ruined their family. Those years were enough to change everything.
For now, though, he wanted to immerse himself fully in the beautiful simplicity of youth.
Jiang Luxi glanced at the small crack that had reopened on the back of her right hand, then at the row of fallen bicycles in front of her. She pressed her lips together in a thin line.
The outdoor broom she'd been using was quite large, and her small stature made it awkward and cumbersome to wield.
Her hand had been scraped against a cemented wall the day before. While the wound had begun to heal, the strain of sweeping had caused it to reopen, fresh blood seeping out.
But Jiang Luxi didn't complain. She lowered her head, picked up the broom again, and began to right the fallen bicycles one by one. These old-fashioned bikes were heavy—far from the lighter, more modern models she had once read about in magazines.
Still, Jiang Luxi didn't mind. After all, it had been her clumsiness that caused them to topple in the first place.
She managed to lift one bike and paused briefly to catch her breath before moving to the next.
"Let me handle it. These bikes are heavy," Cheng Xing said, walking over.
"No need," Jiang Luxi quickly shook her head. "There aren't that many. I can manage."
Cheng Xing ignored her and bent down to pick up a bike.
"Really, I can handle it," Jiang Luxi insisted, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"There are at least forty or fifty bikes here. How long do you think it'll take you to finish on your own? Class is about to start," Cheng Xing replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "Let's wrap this up and head back to the classroom."
The weight of the bicycles and their sheer number made it clear she wouldn't finish in time. If Jiang Luxi insisted on doing this alone, she'd be utterly exhausted.
Sighing, Jiang Luxi relented. She hurried to the other end and began lifting bicycles again, determined to match his pace.
With both of them working together, their progress was significantly faster.
Cheng Xing, tall and strong, moved quickly, his movements efficient. Together, they uprighted dozens of bicycles in no time, leaving only two remaining.
Cheng Xing easily righted the one in front of him, then turned to see Jiang Luxi struggling with the last one. Her slight frame trembled as she strained against the weight, but she managed to get it upright.
"Thanks," Jiang Luxi said softly, brushing her hair back from her face. "I'll… I'll get you a bottle of water as thanks," she added hesitantly.
Despite her impression of Cheng Xing, she couldn't deny that he had helped her. Without his assistance, the task would have taken her much longer, and her arms would have been aching for days.
"Don't move," Cheng Xing said suddenly, frowning.
His sharp gaze had locked onto her right hand. Noticing his focus, Jiang Luxi instinctively hid her hand behind her back.
"Did you hurt yourself handling the bikes?" Cheng Xing asked, his brows furrowing.
"No," Jiang Luxi shook her head firmly.
"It looks like a scrape from a concrete wall. And it's not fresh," Cheng Xing remarked knowingly.
His observation startled her.
"I used to get into fights a lot," he said casually, "so I know the difference. This happened before today, didn't it?"
Jiang Luxi remained silent, unsure of what to say.
Cheng Xing sighed. "Stay here," he instructed, before heading off toward the small shop by the school gate.
When he returned, he carried a pack of band-aids. But to his dismay, Jiang Luxi hadn't stayed put. She had picked up the broom again and resumed sweeping.
"You're really something," Cheng Xing muttered, stepping forward to take the broom from her hands. He handed her the band-aids.
Jiang Luxi hesitated, staring at them as if unsure what to do.
"What's wrong? Do you want me to put it on for you?" Cheng Xing teased, his tone both exasperated and playful.
Startled, Jiang Luxi quickly grabbed a band-aid and applied it herself.
"There are still more," Cheng Xing said, holding out the remaining pack.
"No need. One is enough," Jiang Luxi insisted.
"Take them," Cheng Xing said, his tone turning firm. "Use them to change it later."
Jiang Luxi shook her head again.
"Take them!" he barked, his voice fierce. "Or I'll beat you up!"
Startled, Jiang Luxi snatched the pack from his hand.
Finally, Cheng Xing let out a sigh of relief. "Helping you is exhausting," he muttered under his breath.
He returned to sweeping the floor, his movements quick and decisive.
"Can you stop helping me?" Jiang Luxi's quiet voice cut through the air. She looked up at him, her expression conflicted.