Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

The plan to go on a spring outing to Mulan Heaven Lake was set, but before the students could go, they needed their parents’ permission.

When Liang Meijuan heard about the outing plans of the trio, not only she expressed her support, but she also reminded them to stay safe and stick with the group. Despite being called “Mom” by Lin Youxi, she continued to care for the three children in the same way as before. Even though there were many things she didn’t understand, she wouldn’t interfere or criticize in areas she didn’t know much about.

In addition, her unwavering trust in them remained. She didn’t use any petty words; she just took care of them diligently. This unspoken trust had also led Xia Yuan and Mei Fang to form a solid trust in her.

So, whenever Mei Fang and Xia Yuan secretly got affectionate while Liang Meijuan was out shopping or doing something else, they would feel a bit guilty.

On the night before the outing, the three were at home packing their things. Xia Yuan reminded everyone, “Although it’s spring, there are still quite a few mosquitoes in the mountains, so we need to bring mosquito repellent. Also, it’s quite cold now, and it’ll be even colder in the mountains… Ah Fang, don’t pack like that. If you do it this way, you can save more space.”

“Like this?”

“No, no, Ah Fang, you’re too clumsy. Let me do it.”

Patiently, Xia Yuan folded Mei Fang’s clothes and packed them in his bag. Noticing Lin Youxi mimicking her folding technique, Xia Yuan offered, “Youxi, do you want me to help you fold yours too?”

“No need… I think I got it. I’ll do it myself.”

Mei Fang, feeling a bit jealous, said, “Why do you speak so gently to Youxi but are so harsh with me?”

“I’m not harsh! It’s just that Ah Fang, you’re too clumsy. If you’re like this, no other girl will like you.”

“I don’t need many girls to like me.”

“…”

Mei Fang smiled at Xia Yuan, who, flustered by his gaze, shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. “Narcissist… Finish packing and go to bed early. We have to get up very, very early tomorrow.”

“That’s you. Don’t get so excited that you can’t sleep, and then oversleep the next day.”

“I’m not that excited.”

“Oh really? You’ve been obsessively checking travel guides every day. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

While talking, Mei Fang kept pinching Xia Yuan’s ear, making her even more embarrassed. “Okay, okay… I’ll go to bed early.”

Recently, Mei Fang had become much more proactive than he was in middle school. Back then, it had always been Xia Yuan who initiated holding hands or hugging. However, since starting high school, especially after the secret training, the number of times Mei Fang took the initiative became more frequent.

However, most of his advances were directed at Xia Yuan, because Xia Yuan was more likely to let Mei Fang have his way. Lin Youxi usually maintained a cool and distant demeanor, and Mei Fang was used to not teasing her.

Mei Fang wasn’t worried that this would neglect Lin Youxi, because Youxi knew what she wanted. Whenever the two of them were alone, she would completely “devour” Mei Fang, without Mei Fang needing to do anything.

Before leaving the next day, besides packing the essential camping gear, Mei Fang also brought his guitar, which piqued the curiosity of both Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan.

“Why are you bringing your guitar?” they asked.

“It feels like a great atmosphere,” Mei Fang replied, scratching his head. “Imagine a group of people sitting together on the mountaintop, playing guitar, singing, and waiting for the sunrise. Isn’t that romantic?”

“Romantic, sure,” Xia Yuan said, concerned for her Ah Fang. “But are you planning to carry the guitar up the mountain? That sounds exhausting.”

“No need,” Mei Fang assured them. “I checked the route. We will hike up ourselves, but the bus can go to the mountainside. We don’t have to camp at the top; the area near the parking lot on the mountainside is also nice.”

“But even carrying the guitar from the mountainside to the top is quite a distance,” Xia Yuan pointed out.

Mei Fang explained, “I asked Bingbing to help me. She said she would carry it for me.”

“Why are you always making Bingbing do things for you?” Xia Yuan exclaimed.

“I’m not making her do anything,” Mei Fang defended himself. “She said she also wants to hear me play guitar on the mountaintop.”

Mei Fang added, “Didn’t I tell you before? Bingbing is interested in music but didn’t have the opportunity to pursue it when she was younger.”

With a hint of grievance, Mei Fang said to Xia Yuan, “I’m doing this for you, Yuan Yuan.”

“You mean… my band needs a drummer, and you think Bingbing could be the drummer?” Xia Yuan pondered. “People with strength do make good drummers, but being a drummer is more about rhythm. And with Bingbing’s strength, I’m worried she might break the drums.”

Mei Fang, slinging his guitar over his shoulder, shook his head and said, “Right now, Bingbing loves basketball the most. Let’s leave it up to fate. She doesn’t have any musical training, so it would take a long time to learn.”

After having breakfast, they set off, following another reminder from Liang Meijuan to stay safe. It took less than ten minutes to walk from their apartment to the school gate. Since most students stayed in the dorms, everyone except a few day students had already arrived.

Two buses were parked at the school gate. The homeroom teacher of Class 3, Dong Zhongying, and the homeroom teacher of Class 5, Li Xiang, were already there, chatting while the other class monitor started to take attendance. Naturally, Lin Youxi was called to help as well.

At six o’clock on a misty early spring morning in Jiangcheng, the air was so cold that people couldn’t help but shiver.

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang stood chatting on one side of the bus.

Seeing Mei Fang’s cheeks turning red from the cold, Xia Yuan took off her gloves, rubbed her hands together, and then placed them on Mei Fang’s face to warm him up.

“Is it warm?” she asked.

Mei Fang nodded.

“It’s somewhat warm, but a bit more would be nice.”

“Greedy boy.”

Xia Yuan continued rubbing her hands and warming Mei Fang’s face.

“Why is Yuan Yuan always so warm?” Mei Fang mused. “No wonder Youxi likes cuddling with you to sleep.”

“Hehe,” Xia Yuan giggled, feeling proud of Mei Fang’s compliment. “Besides, I’m not afraid of Youxi’s cold hands anymore.”

“You mean even if Youxi’s cold hands wake you up in the middle of winter, you don’t mind?”

“I don’t sleep that deeply, come on!”

Xia Yuan’s hands started to feel cold after being out in the open for so long. Seeing this, Mei Fang reached into Xia Yuan’s coat pocket and pulled out her gloves.

“Here, wear your gloves.”

“No, I still need to keep you warm…”

“Let’s keep warm together.”

Mei Fang slipped his hand into Xia Yuan’s glove, so both their hands were inside one glove.

“Two hands in one glove? You’re going to stretch it out,” Xia Yuan protested.

“These gloves are pretty big anyway, it’s fine.”

With their hands together in the glove, they started moving in circles like they were performing Tai Chi, making each other laugh.

…

Xia Yuan’s gaze drifted to Mei Fang’s lips, her eyes becoming dreamy in the mist.

It had been a long time since their secret training sessions…

She tiptoed slightly, but just as she was about to get closer to Mei Fang, Liu Xiaoyu suddenly appeared, breaking the moment.

“Yuan Yuan, um…”

She turned away quickly, embarrassed to have stumbled upon them seemingly in an intimate moment.

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang also felt awkward being caught.

“It’s okay, Xiaoyu. What’s up?” Xia Yuan asked.

“The homeroom teacher is doing a headcount. We should go check in.”

“Oh, right. Okay.”

Xia Yuan pulled her hand out of the glove. Mei Fang was about to hand it back to her, but she stopped him.

Smiling, she said, “It’s a long way to go. Keep them for now to stay warm.”

“This… is just too cute.”

Looking at the bunny gloves in his hand, Mei Fang couldn’t help but smile.