Chapter 5

“Do you all understand?”

The math teacher struck the blackboard heavily with a piece of chalk. Distracted, Zhang Yunyi immediately pushed away her scattered thoughts and focused intently on the familiar but now distant formulas on the board.

A few scattered voices responded, “Yes~”

Zhang Yunyi couldn’t raise her hand and say she didn’t understand. She was feeling a bit anxious, and as soon as the bell rang for the end of class, she hurried to the small convenience store without delay.

Whether she understood or not was one thing, but her attitude had to be right.

Though the convenience store was small, it was well-stocked. Zhang Yunyi easily found the cooling oil on the shelf. She could tell from the number of empty spots that it was selling well. She grabbed a jar and held it in her palm. As a senior in high school, her appetite was big, and she was easily hungry. After two periods, she felt her bowl of beef noodles was almost digested, so she decided to grab a pack of soda crackers.

As she walked toward the checkout counter, she caught a glimpse of Chen Kuo’s back.

She slapped her forehead and quickly caught up with him, standing behind him in line. She smiled and said, “Class leader, let me pay!”

She had promised to treat him last time during morning self-study, but didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

Hearing her cheerful voice, Chen Kuo turned his head and looked at her face. He had been lost in thought, thinking about the last difficult question on the practice test, not paying attention to his surroundings. As he snapped out of his thoughts, he replied, “No need.”

“Of course I do!” she insisted.

There’s a difference between offering to pay and being forced to pay.

The girl sitting next to Zhang Yunyi once complained that their previous manager was very stingy. When they ordered takeout, the manager had them order an extra dish for him. After they ate the food, he never reimbursed them.

Zhang Yunyi was more than happy to pay today.

Trying to get on the good side of a future boss was one thing, but the drink this morning had already been on him. Now, she was just returning the favor.

Zhang Yunyi glanced at him and said, “Didn’t we agree on this?”

Chen Kuo was about to grab a box of mint candies. Upon hearing her, he withdrew his hand and glanced at the bottle of mineral water on the counter, which was two yuan each.

He hesitated for a moment before not rejecting her offer.

Zhang Yunyi added the cooling oil and crackers to the counter and casually brushed her arm against his. She didn’t notice and said to the cashier, “I’m with him.”

Chen Kuo took a step forward.

Zhang Yunyi wore tight jeans, and her wallet made her pocket bulge. Today, she had rolled up the loose change and stuffed it in her pocket. The three items together cost ten yuan.

After paying, she handed him the bottle of water with a smile. “Class leader, here.”

Chen Kuo took it, and the two of them walked out of the small store. The awkward moment came when they realized they were both heading to the same classroom. Walking side by side felt strange, and walking behind each other as if they were strangers felt equally odd.

Zhang Yunyi tried to recall her high school life in her previous life.

At their age, they already had their own circles of friends. It wasn’t just the top students hanging out with other top students, but during the three years of high school, other than the occasional time she asked Chen Kuo to sign a leave request, they hadn’t really spoken much.

If this were the seventeen-year-old Zhang Yunyi, she would have probably just greeted him if she ran into him in the convenience store, but wouldn’t have made small talk.

But now?

If she hadn’t been reborn, and if she ran into her boss in another place, not only would she not chat, but she wouldn’t even want to make eye contact. But the situation was different now. Chen Kuo wasn’t yet her boss, and she still wanted to stick with him. Shouldn’t she try to improve their relationship?

Otherwise, if they were complete strangers, when he started his business in college, would she just suddenly show up and ask to work for him?

Plans couldn’t just remain plans. Otherwise, they were just empty talk. She had to take actual steps, regardless of whether it would succeed or not. Zhang Yunyi didn’t hesitate anymore. Seeing Chen Kuo’s momentary confusion, she confidently moved closer to him and asked, “Class leader, is there a test in tonight’s evening self-study?”

Chen Kuo: “…”

A hint of confusion crossed his mind as he didn’t quite understand what she meant.

But seeing her earnest expression, he quickly realized her approach. Over the few times they had interacted, she had mostly been asking him for leave.

“Yes,” he nodded.

Zhang Yunyi recalled that evening self-study had always been like this. The teacher would distribute test papers for them to complete, and after finishing, the teacher would just go straight to explaining the answers. It was a strategy to keep them overwhelmed with practice. Sometimes, if she had taken half a day off due to illness, she would come back the next day to find two or three test papers on her desk.

At least it wasn’t a real exam.

She sighed lightly, and the thought reminded her that in a month, the first monthly exam for senior year would come, and after that, there would be one every month. She still didn’t know how to handle the monthly exams, and just thinking about it made her feel down.

Chen Kuo could even predict that she would soon say, “Class leader, I’m not feeling well tonight during self-study… um… would it be okay if I skip?” He glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

“Class leader,” Zhang Yunyi continued, trying to make conversation, “I saw you playing basketball today. Do you always eat breakfast before morning self-study?”

Chen Kuo raised an eyebrow slightly and quickened his pace, hoping to reach the classroom faster.

Zhang Yunyi kept up with him.

As they stepped onto the stairs, he replied in a calm tone, “Yes.”

“Wow, that early?” Zhang Yunyi was amazed.

Getting up at 6 AM had nearly killed her today, and she barely made it on time. So how early must he wake up? He managed to eat breakfast before morning self-study, felt refreshed afterward, and even had time to play basketball during his break.

He’s destined to succeed.

“Does exercise in the morning make your mind clearer?” she asked him again.

Chen Kuo didn’t think they would have such a casual conversation, but with her gaze on him, he could only nod. “Mm.”

It seems like exercise is really helpful; not to mention, it can at least improve physical health. In ancient times, people studied hard for the imperial exams for ten years, and with the poor conditions, a weak body wouldn’t have been able to endure it. If she builds up her strength, studying shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

Zhang Yunyi decided to bring up the third point written on the paper.

In the mornings, she would walk around the track, when no one was there, and loudly recite formulas and words.

Time was too tight for her to keep complaining about circumstances.

“Really?” Zhang Yunyi seemed to have many questions. “Class monitor, don’t you get sleepy during the day?”

“No,” he replied.

Zhang Yunyi: “…”

She knew this was awkward small talk, but then again, who doesn’t start off as strangers with people they’re not especially close to? The more you talk, the more familiar it becomes. Actually, she knew she didn’t have to do this; she could just pay more attention to Chen Kuo, and when his company starts hiring, she could apply then. But the thing is, since she’s been reborn, no one would want to settle for being just an “ordinary employee,” right?

One has to be bold!

How bold? That’s a question for the future.

Both of them entered the classroom almost at the same time.

Most classmates wouldn’t notice, but a few did, like Chen Kuo’s deskmate, Fei Shijie, who noticed.

Fei Shijie was organizing his notes and casually asked, “What did Zhang Yunyi want with you?”

Chen Kuo paused for a moment, then replied, “Nothing.”

It was indeed nothing.

They chatted about some random things.

“Here,” Fei Shijie handed out a ten-minute break was precious, those who hadn’t had enough sleep would take a nap, and those who didn’t, like him, would sit and recharge. Some listened to music, some read light books. Fei Shijie was one of the latter. A big fan of soccer, he spent his pocket money on magazines.

Earlier, he saw Chen Kuo go to the small supermarket to buy water and asked him to grab some mint candy.

Chen Kuo opened his textbook and casually replied, “I forgot.”

Fei Shijie slowly turned his head to look at him, clearly disappointed. “Forgot??”

Wasn’t that a waste of their friendship? He almost called him “dad.”

Chen Kuo took a green arrow mint from his desk and tossed it to him. “Eat this.”

Fei Shijie rolled his eyes. “I’m done for. How am I going to get through the next class?”

He was weaker in English compared to other subjects, but his math and science grades were great, so he could still maintain a lead in overall scores.

Fei Shijie soldiered on.

Zhang Yunyi, on the other hand, was radiant, finally regaining some confidence. She had passed the university level six exam before, though she had slacked off for a few years, but after working, it came in handy again. It wasn’t quite like returning to a beginner’s level, but as long as she paid a little attention, English was still a comfort zone for her.

She calculated in her mind.

She couldn’t panic, and she couldn’t be like a headless fly. A month was too short; she couldn’t create miracles. First, she had to focus on her strengths and avoid weaknesses. For this month, her main focus would be on the three core subjects: Chinese, Math, and English.

Most of the students in grades 10 and 11 were day students. After noon classes, some of the senior students would skip the cafeteria and go out to eat.

Zhang Yunyi was tidying up her desk when Dai Jia walked over with her wallet and asked, “Fei Shijie and the others seem to be going out. Do you need anything?”

Xu Shishi waved her hand. “No.”

They had just returned to school yesterday, and they weren’t craving anything. They had eaten and drunk enough at home.

Dai Jia smiled. “I was thinking of having a burger, but now I don’t feel like it.”

“I need to bring something!” Zhang Yunyi quickly raised her head and spotted Fei Shijie.

She wasn’t familiar with him in school, but before her rebirth, they were quite close.

Fei Shijie also studied in Beijing, and though he wasn’t in the same university as Chen Kuo, they were still good friends and later became business partners. He was said to have joined last and had the smallest share.

They were classmates, and they knew a bit about each other’s family backgrounds. For instance, Fei Shijie’s mom had already been promoted to a deputy department head.

The senior shareholders didn’t put on airs. Chen Kuo was very low-key, usually dressing simply and rarely wearing suits. But it was only Fei Shijie who could casually joke with the employees.

Zhang Yunyi could even have casual chats with Fei Shijie.

Before her rebirth, Fei Shijie had joked about setting her up with a boyfriend.

“Fei Shijie!”

Zhang Yunyi called out, and Fei Shijie turned around, his deskmate Chen Kuo stopping as well.

Fei Shijie was a bit stunned. “You’re calling me?”

“Did Dai Jia say you’re going out?” Zhang Yunyi quickly walked up to them and smiled at Chen Kuo first.

“Yeah,” Fei Shijie replied after a moment of confusion. “What do you need?”

“Where are you going?”

Fei Shijie scratched his head. “To the backstreet for some food,” he gestured with his chin, “and Kuo Ge is buying some reference books.”

Zhang Yunyi didn’t really remember what shops were on the backstreet, but the most memorable ones were the ones selling spicy sour noodles and barbecue. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “If you pass by Water Bar, can you check if they have coffee? If they do, bring me one with lots of ice.”

“Snow-top coffee?” Fei Shijie asked.

It wasn’t like ten years later when there were coffee shops everywhere. Even some senior students drank it, but mostly canned coffee, or snow-top coffee.

Zhang Yunyi wanted an iced Americano, but she couldn’t be picky. She said, “If they have Americano, get that… Snow-top is fine too. If not, just forget it.”

Fei Shijie agreed immediately, “Alright.”

“Thanks!”

“No, no problem.”

After Zhang Yunyi and Dai Jia left hand-in-hand, Chen Kuo noticed that Fei Shijie was still dazed, raised an eyebrow, and kicked him. “Back to your senses?”

How embarrassing.