Chapter 46

Not everyone gets a second chance.

Xu Zhilu actually wished they could have been like this in their previous lives. Maybe then, they wouldn’t have had to go through all the difficulties they faced.

Starting over has its pros and cons.

She took full advantage of this new opportunity.

She sincerely hopes that all couples, lovers, or secret admirers won’t face the same struggles she and Shen Siyan did. She admired Xin An’an for her transparency, directness, and enthusiasm—qualities that made her straightforward and confident.

Xu Zhilu envied such a personality. She wished she could have expressed her feelings as directly as Xin An’an did in her previous life. If she had, perhaps she and Shen Siyan wouldn’t have gone through so many tormenting experiences later on.

So now, they are truly very lucky.

Fortunate to have lived again, and fortunate to be together once more.

_

After the results were announced, it was time to choose their paths.

Xu Zhilu’s choice of major remained the same: A University. Shen Siyan also chose A University, though they would be majoring in different fields.

Additionally, Xu Zhilu was required to attend an interview as the city’s top scorer.

During the interview, she discovered that second place went to Peng Jin.

The two hadn’t seen each other for a while, but they unexpectedly met at this event.

Peng Jin looked at her and smiled. “Long time, no see.”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “Congratulations.”

Peng Jin responded, “I always knew you were great, but I was still shocked by your results this time.”

Xu Zhilu smiled. “Thank you.”

Peng Jin then said, “See you in college.”

Xu Zhilu was surprised and asked, “Are you also going to University A?”

Peng Jin nodded. “Why? Is that a problem?”

Xu Zhilu replied, “Of course not. It’s a personal choice where to apply.” She joked, “If I didn’t welcome you, would you not go?”

“That won’t happen.” Peng Jin smiled and looked towards the other side, where Shen Siyan was standing.

He met Shen Siyan’s gaze and then glanced back at Xu Zhilu with curiosity. “Is something going on with you and Shen Siyan?”

“Yes,” Xu Zhilu said frankly, “we’re together.”

Peng Jin was startled, then smiled and said, “Congratulations. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Alright.”

Xu Zhilu walked over to Shen Siyan.

Shen Siyan looked at her with dissatisfaction. “What did you say to Peng Jin?”

“I just mentioned that we’re going to eat.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

Xu Zhilu looked at him with amusement. “Are you still jealous of Peng Jin? You even said before that the meal he treated us to wasn’t clean. Shen Siyan, I didn’t realize you were so particular.”

Shen Siyan didn’t get angry. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair. “Yeah, that’s how you are.”

“…”

Xu Zhilu was speechless. “You’re quite proud.”

“That’s true.”

Shen Siyan looked at her and said, “I have to keep a close watch on you, so that others won’t be thinking about you.”

Xu Zhilu was taken aback.

Peng Jin took a few steps forward but couldn’t help looking back.

He observed the backs of the two as they walked away and smiled bitterly.

Though he didn’t show it openly, he did like Xu Zhilu. But given the current situation, he had no hope.

Peng Jin smiled, took a moment to mourn his own heartache, and gracefully turned around.

He wasn’t someone who would be blinded by love or lose his mind over it.

Peng Jin knew what he should and shouldn’t do. He might remember this youthful romance years later, but for now, he would let it go completely.

Xu Zhilu could sense that Peng Jin had special feelings for her, but she didn’t believe he was truly in love with her. It might have been admiration.

It was better to end things early.

In this life, she didn’t want any more misunderstandings with Shen Siyan. She just wanted a simple, peaceful life with him.

After completing their applications, Xu Zhilu treated her classmates to a meal.

With that, everyone really went their separate ways. Each had to fight for their future, and opportunities to get together again would be rare.

After the party, Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan returned to their calm lives.

While Xu Zhilu worked, Shen Siyan started learning at the grassroots level of the subsidiary.

Shen Guangyuan had begun in real estate and later expanded into other businesses.

As for Shen Siyan, a high school graduate, Shen Guangyuan was not lenient. He sent him to the business department to sell houses.

When Xu Zhilu found out, she laughed for a long time. She couldn’t imagine the young master, Shen Siyan, bowing and scraping to sell houses and being extremely respectful to customers.

She thought he might just walk away if he wasn’t satisfied.

But Xu Zhilu underestimated Shen Siyan.

Not only did he not quit, but he also seemed willing to work hard. Sometimes, when a client couldn’t come because they were too far away, Shen Siyan would still go to pick them up in the scorching summer heat of 40 degrees.

One day, during a break, Xu Zhilu decided to visit his workplace.

When she arrived, Shen Siyan was chatting with a client. She didn’t want to interrupt, so she sat down with her back to him.

She heard Shen Siyan’s eloquent explanations, his understanding of the area, and his comprehensive introduction. Even when the customer was a bit impatient and had a poor attitude, he accepted it all and continued to explain patiently.

“I will tell you everything I know and won’t make blind recommendations. I’ll just give you my most pertinent suggestions.”

He didn’t get angry when people left. He simply drank a sip of water and stood up to greet the next guest.

Xu Zhilu looked at the sweat on his forehead and his bent posture, feeling an indescribable emotion.

She couldn’t bear to watch any longer, so she stayed briefly and then left quietly.

She didn’t mention this to Shen Siyan, fearing he might overthink it. Yet, those scenes were imprinted in her mind.

During a conversation once, Xu Zhilu asked him:

“Why do we have to work so hard?”

Shen Siyan smiled and told her that since he planned to spend the rest of his life with her, he couldn’t just be an idle second-generation rich kid.

Xu Zhilu didn’t know how to describe her feelings at that time; she just felt a bit sad.

“If it weren’t for me, Shen Siyan wouldn’t be like this.”

Shen Siyan seemed to understand her thoughts and told her slowly:

“He’s been reborn. He can’t waste his time again. At the very least, he wants to be more powerful than in his previous life. Being reborn just for a relationship is worthwhile, but he wants to achieve more if possible.”

Since he said this, Xu Zhilu has stopped dwelling on those unsettling thoughts.

_

On the day they received their admission letters, Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan were both on vacation, so they went out for a date to celebrate. It had been a while since they’d spent time together.

However, Xu Zhilu didn’t expect to run into an acquaintance.

Shen Siyan noticed the person first and called out, “Uncle Xu.”

Father Xu nodded and looked at Xu Zhilu.

Seeing them holding hands, he paused and said, “Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu nodded but said nothing.

Since moving out, she has requested no contact. She felt she was alone and didn’t need a family.

Father Xu stared at her for a long while, his lips moving: “When—”

“We have no relationship anymore.”

Xu Zhilu looked at him and said, “If you want to talk to Shen Siyan, I’ll wait over there.”

Shen Siyan took her hand and addressed Father Xu, “Uncle Xu, if you have something to discuss, let’s go home and talk. Zhilu and I have other plans.”

Father Xu had no choice but to nod. “Alright.”

Shen Siyan guided Xu Zhilu forward.

As they walked downstairs, he glanced at her and asked, “Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”

Xu Zhilu shook her head.

Shen Siyan continued, “He probably wants you to go back now.”

“Why?”

Xu Zhilu didn’t understand.

Shen Siyan hesitated for a moment before explaining, “There’s something you may not know.”

Xu Zhilu raised an eyebrow.

Shen Siyan said, “I heard from my mother that Xu Zhijia is still in the hospital.”

“Yes.”

“The mother of the boy who died in the car accident went to the hospital and had an argument with Xu Zhijia.”

Xu Zhilu was stunned.

Shen Siyan said calmly, “Xu Zhijia accidentally fell down the stairs and is now in a coma. She has been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state^[1]is when a person is awake but not aware. They can open their eyes, breathe on their own, and may have basic reflexes, but they don’t respond to people or their surroundings..”

Xu Zhilu stared at him in shock, unable to believe it.

Shen Siyan nodded. “My mother told me this. I never mentioned it before because I knew you wouldn’t want to hear it.”

Xu Zhilu nodded.

After a while, she said, “This is her own fault.”

Shen Siyan nodded. “Yes, don’t worry about it.”

He reached out and ruffled her hair, whispering, “We’ll be here for you from now on.”

Xu Zhilu glanced at him and chuckled. “I know.”

“It’s not that hard anymore,” she said.

Shen Siyan hugged her and asked, “Do you want to go for another walk?”

“Where are you going?”

Shen Siyan suggested, “How about playing on the trampoline? I remember you liked it very much.”

Xu Zhilu: “…”

The two went to play on the trampoline.

When they arrived, the room was full of children. Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan felt like two adults who didn’t quite fit in.

At first, she was a little embarrassed, but Shen Siyan, undeterred, pulled her into the fun with the children.

After a while, they became friends with the kids.

Xu Zhilu looked at the smiles around them and suddenly felt that this was a good thing.

Life was plain and free of too many twists and turns.

She liked it very much.

She was also glad that she and Shen Siyan had started over and hadn’t fallen back into their old ways.

Shen Man discovered their relationship by accident.

After learning about it, she didn’t say much.

She didn’t care about young love, whether it was sweet or tumultuous; it was part of their experience. If they didn’t experience it, how would they live in the future?

However, Shen Man suggested that Xu Zhilu come home for dinner.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xu Zhilu kept postponing the meal until just before school started, when she had no choice but to go.

“Zhilu is here.”

Shen Man waved at her, pretending not to see Shen Siyan. “Come over here, dear.”

Xu Zhilu smiled and called out, “Aunt Shen.”

Shen Man looked at her and said, “Why are you so reserved? Come here and choose a nail color for me.”