Endless Bliss

A freak accident sent me hurtling back to my high school days. The scene before me was my brother leading a pack of rich kids to bully Gu Jin. He tossed Gu Jin’s books into the pond, grabbed him by the collar, and sneered with arrogant confidence, “Come on, bark for me.” Who would have guessed that this penniless boy would one day become the head of a business empire, driving my family to ruin and forcing me to be his caged bird? Now that I’ve been given a second chance, I have to stop my brother’s foolishness and do everything I can to win over this vengeful Gu Jin.

01

I was reborn, and the first thing I saw was my brother bullying Gu Jin. My brother, Zhang Baichen, came from a wealthy family and loved throwing his weight around—he was hardly a good person. He threw Gu Jin’s textbooks into the lake, grabbed him by the collar, and forced him to bark like a dog. The laughter of the surrounding students was piercing, but Gu Jin clenched his teeth and endured it. That was until Zhang Baichen said viciously, “Gu Jin, I heard your mom’s a crazy trash picker. No idea which man knocked her up and left her with you. You’re a filthy, disgusting bastard. Just being near you feels degrading.” In an instant, Gu Jin’s eyes turned savage, like a mad dog, and he punched my brother square in the face. My brother had trained in martial arts and never lost a fight, but Gu Jin caught him off guard. Gu Jin fought dirty, relying purely on his ferocity. His reckless, unhinged aggression scared my brother’s cronies into staying back, and my brother quickly found himself at a disadvantage. Just reborn and still processing the scene, I snapped out of my daze and rushed forward to grab Gu Jin’s arm. “Stop fighting!” In my memory, Gu Jin worked out regularly and had arms much stronger than this. Every time he came to the villa to see me, I’d lose sleep, crying and begging for mercy, but that only made him harsher. Those memories were etched into my bones. When our eyes met, I instinctively feared him. Gu Jin’s body stiffened, and the savagery on his face lingered, but he eventually stopped. His gaze shifted to my arm, and his dark eyes trembled. On my pale arm were several welts from my father’s belt. Why had I been beaten? Oh, right—because Gu Jin had come first in exams, and I’d dropped to second. My father had punished me for it. My father, Zhang Jianming, worshipped elite education and had impossibly high standards for me and my brother. He couldn’t stand me losing to a poor kid. My brother hated Gu Jin because of it and led the bullying. In my past life, I’d tried to stop my brother but had also felt some resentment and envy, so I’d eventually let it slide. That’s why, when Gu Jin took his revenge later, I’d suffered too, becoming his little plaything to vent his needs. I pulled my sleeve down to hide the scars. Gu Jin silently jumped into the water to retrieve his books. On the other side, a crowd gathered around Zhang Baichen, fawning over him. Zhang Baichen held his bleeding nose, seething with rage, ready to fight again. I stopped him, torn between pity and anger. “Brother, that’s enough.” “I can’t stop… I’ll find a chance to finish him off next time!” Zhang Baichen spat out a mouthful of blood and walked off to the infirmary, surrounded by his followers. I was about to follow him when I glanced back. Gu Jin had climbed out of the water, his face bruised, his soaked textbooks ruined. He clenched his fists, veins bulging in his arms, water dripping from him. Yeah, a textbook example of a wounded, beautiful boy. Why should I bother with my idiot brother? Right now, the most important thing was to snuff out the flames of Gu Jin’s hatred.

02

I sneaked after Gu Jin, confirmed his home address, then ran to the pharmacy to buy medicine and bandages. Trembling, I knocked on his door. An older woman answered, and when she saw me, she smiled and pulled me inside. “Have some dumplings.” Gu Jin’s home was old and shabby, simply furnished but tidy. He came out of the bathroom when he heard the noise, wearing only jeans, shirtless. He was tall and lean, with a layer of well-defined muscle from years of hard work—slim but not weak. “What are you doing here?” “This… for you.” I pointed at his face. “You need to treat those wounds.” “No need. You’re not welcome here.” Gu Jin grabbed me by the collar and dragged me out. The older woman grabbed my arm, stubbornly insisting, “Have dumplings.” Her grip hurt, and Gu Jin immediately let me go, looking annoyed. “My mom… if you don’t mind, stay for dinner. Otherwise, she’ll keep fussing.” I happily agreed, and the woman went to the kitchen to serve dumplings. Gu Jin put on a shirt, and the three of us sat down to eat. Many of the dumplings in the bowl had burst open, the chive-and-egg filling mixing with the dough. They didn’t look great and were a bit salty. I’d grown up with fine food, and even after my family went bankrupt and I was forced to be with Gu Jin, he’d never skimped on material things. These awful dumplings were hard for me to swallow. But Gu Jin ate them with relish. The woman patted his head, her innocent face full of love. “Happy birthday, little Jin. Grow up well.” The coldness in Gu Jin’s eyes melted as he looked at his mother, his gaze tender. Watching him, I couldn’t help but smile. “If you can’t eat it, give it to me. Don’t force yourself. My mom’s mind is a bit fuzzy, so her cooking’s not great.” “I can eat it.” I managed half a bowl before I couldn’t take another bite. I quietly pushed the bowl toward him. He took it without a word and finished it in a few mouthfuls. At this moment, Gu Jin seemed easy to get along with. I seized the chance. “My brother went too far today. I’m sorry on his behalf.” Gu Jin’s face instantly turned cold. “He’s him, you’re you. It’s got nothing to do with you.” So Gu Jin was someone who distinguished between people. He wouldn’t take his anger out on me because of my brother. Then later… what had my brother done that was so terrible to make Gu Jin hate the Zhang family so much? Enough for him to lie low for years, bankrupt my family, and still not be satisfied—dragging my father and brother into legal trouble, drowning them in debt, leaving them with no way to survive. And me, he forcibly claimed. Every time I was with him, I could feel his overwhelming hatred for the Zhang family.

03

The next day, I got up early and put new textbooks in Gu Jin’s desk. I turned and bumped into a hard chest. Because of the height difference, I only reached his chest. Startled, I stumbled back, but the boy caught my waist. “You got first place and still come this early? That’s too competitive!” I panicked and pushed him away. “I’m going to hit the books now. I won’t lose to you next time!” Gu Jin grabbed my collar, glanced at the textbooks, and said, “Thanks.” “Yeah, you’re welcome.” I walked away stiffly, touching my burning cheeks. Why was I blushing? He was just a wet-behind-the-ears kid! I slumped onto my desk. It wasn’t shyness—I had a fever. “Zhang Baichen is going after Gu Jin again. He tricked Gu Jin’s crazy mom into coming to school to pick up trash.” “What does Gu Jin’s crazy mom look like? Let’s go see!” I ran out. A crowd had gathered near the convenience store. Zhang Baichen smashed a soda bottle at the woman’s feet. “Trash picker, go on, pick it up.” The woman cowered in fear, whimpering. When I got there, I smelled urine. “Hahaha! Brother Chen, you scared her so much she peed herself!” “What a pain.” Zhang Baichen threw another bottle at her feet, glass shattering. “Brother! Stop!” I rushed to the woman’s side. She was still leaking urine. A crowd had gathered to watch. I took off my jacket, tied it around her waist, and took her hand. “Auntie, don’t be scared. Let me—” Bang! Gu Jin burst out and kicked Zhang Baichen square in the lower back. He fell onto the broken glass. The kick was vicious, and Zhang Baichen couldn’t get up for a moment. Gu Jin wasn’t weak by nature; he’d held back before only to focus on his studies. In fact, he had a bit of a wild streak. I remembered once when I went to a party with him, and someone made a pass at me. He flew into a rage and broke the guy’s ribs. Now, Gu Jin’s eyes were bloodshot, radiating a killer’s menace. He picked up a piece of glass and walked toward Zhang Baichen. Zhang Baichen was terrified. “What… what are you doing?! What are you all standing there for?! He’s crazy! Stop him!” No one dared to stop a madman who didn’t care about dying. I was scared too, but I had to stop him. I rushed over, wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, closed my eyes, and buried my face in his chest. “Gu Jin… don’t!” His muscles were tense, his breathing heavy. I was crying. “Don’t do something stupid. Take your mom home…” I stroked his back, trying to calm his raging soul. Clatter! Gu Jin finally dropped the glass. His palm was bleeding. I watched him walk away, supporting his mother, until they disappeared from sight. In my past life, this hadn’t happened. “Brother…” Zhang Baichen pushed me away, his eyes dark. “He’s finished.” My heart sank. I’d stopped my brother from digging his own grave twice, but I had a bad feeling—our fate hadn’t changed. We were still sliding toward the same ending.

04

I knocked on Gu Jin’s door. He was wearing rubber gloves, washing my jacket. His mother was asleep inside. I grabbed his wrist and pulled off the glove. His hand was wrapped in simple bandages, still seeping blood. “Are you a masochist? Your hand’s like this, and you’re still washing clothes!” The world spun, and I collapsed into his arms, unconscious. When I woke up, it was almost dark. The hospital room was dark, the lights off. Gu Jin sat by the bed, his rough palm on my forehead. My mind was fuzzy from the fever, and I thought I was back before my rebirth. Gu Jin hated the Zhang family and only saw me as a toy, using me to humiliate my father and brother. But every time I was sick, he’d be incredibly gentle, patiently feeding me medicine and food like a mother hen. Sick people were always fussy. So I wrapped my arms around his neck and whined, “I feel awful. Hold me~” After a long pause, his voice hoarse, he said, “Zhang Yihuan, it’s Gu Jin.” Then I was fully awake… I let go, so embarrassed I wanted to curl up and die. I’d mistaken young Gu Jin for the Gu boss! Gu Jin turned on the light. Thinking about how I’d just whined at a guy I barely knew, I didn’t know where to hide my face. Gu Jin’s expression was blank, but his ears were red enough to bleed. In my past life, no matter how intense things got between us, he’d always keep a straight face. The only way to tell if he was happy was how red his ears were. I covered my face. “What are you thinking about… Don’t think weird stuff!” “Okay, I won’t.”

05

After my fever broke, I rested at home for half a day and went to school in the afternoon. As soon as I walked into the classroom, my deskmate Zhao Xiaoxing started gossiping. “That Gu Jin you hate so much got caught stealing the class fund.” Her words contained two rumors. First, I didn’t hate him—I wanted to win him over. Second, Gu Jin wouldn’t steal. I remembered now. In my past life, there was an incident where Gu Jin was accused of stealing the class fund. At the time, I was delivering homework to the teacher’s office. His homeroom teacher slammed the table. “Gu Jin, you’ve disappointed me! I know your family is poor, but that doesn’t mean you can steal! Talented but immoral—you’ll be a menace to society!” The girl next to him, probably the class treasurer, chimed in, “Yeah, if you’re broke, just tell us. We can donate to help you. You didn’t have to steal.” Gu Jin stood straight, lips pressed thin, his face full of contempt and indifference. I silently judged him. What’s the point of scoring higher than me if you have no character? Then Gu Jin saw me, and his face changed drastically. He stormed over to me. “No… it’s not like that! I didn’t steal!” I didn’t want to deal with him and turned to leave. Gu Jin went crazy, grabbing my arm with a vice-like grip. The wounds on my arm hadn’t healed yet, and I struggled. “What do I care if you stole or not! Let go of me!” The teacher came to pull him away, but he only held tighter, refusing to let go. Gu Jin was in a state of obsession, staring at me with red-rimmed eyes. “Zhang Yihuan… what do I have to do… for you to believe me? I really didn’t steal the money!” I didn’t understand. Why was Gu Jin so desperate for me to believe him? I barely knew him. I was almost scared into tears and caved. “I… I believe you. Let go. You’re hurting me…” Finally, he let go. In my past life, the punishment was a formal warning on Gu Jin’s record.

06

Remembering the despair in Gu Jin’s eyes back then, my heart ached. I immediately went to find him and ran into my idiot brother in the hallway. Zhang Baichen had his arm around a girl—the class treasurer from Gu Jin’s class! “Huanhuan, meet your new sister-in-law.” After Zhang Baichen left, I smiled at the girl. “Tell me, how did you help my brother set Gu Jin up?” The girl, eager to please me, said smugly, “I put the class fund in his desk and pretended it was missing. Then I searched everyone’s desks and caught him red-handed.” So, Gu Jin had been framed by my brother. I pulled out my phone and waved it at her. “I just recorded that. You have ten minutes to go confess to the teacher. Otherwise, I’ll play this on loop over the school intercom.” “But… your brother told me to do it! Why are you helping an outsider?” I mimicked Gu Jin’s cold expression. “You have nine minutes and forty seconds.” Panicked, the girl ran toward the teacher’s office. I hadn’t actually recorded anything—I was bluffing. By the second period, word spread: the class treasurer from Gu Jin’s class had gone to the teacher and said the class fund had been found. The money in Gu Jin’s desk was his own; it had been a misunderstanding. Zhang Baichen called me to the rooftop. “Zhang Yihuan, are you crazy? If he hadn’t stolen first place from you, would Dad have hit you? I was getting back at him for you, and you’re siding with the enemy!” I sighed. “Dad hitting me is his own psychological problem. What does that have to do with Gu Jin? Framing him for theft—you’re the mastermind behind that. The way I handled it, I was already protecting you out of selfishness. Zhang Baichen, don’t bully a poor kid. If you keep this up, he’ll get back at us someday.” Zhang Baichen looked defiant. “Hah, him?” By now, Zhang Baichen’s desire to torment Gu Jin wasn’t about avenging me anymore. Violence was like a drug—once you start, there’s no bottom. “Give me your phone.” Zhang Baichen took my phone, smashed it against the wall, and stomped on it. “Next time I go after him, don’t interfere!” In my past life, I’d dropped out of high school in my senior year to study abroad. So I never knew what Zhang Baichen did to Gu Jin afterward.

07

The rooftop wall was curved, blocking the view. After Zhang Baichen left, Gu Jin emerged from the other side. I froze. Had he heard everything? Gu Jin rolled up my sleeve, revealing more and more scars. My skin was so pale it made the wounds look even more gruesome. “Besides your arms… where else are you hurt?” “Just my arms. I dance, so my dad was careful not to leave marks where others could see.” I looked into Gu Jin’s eyes. They were red, with tears forming. “Boss… are you about to cry?” Then Gu Jin pulled me into his arms, pressing my head against his chest. “Does your dad… hit you often?” I dodged the question, putting on a brave face. “I’m not the same person I used to be. If he hits me now, I’ll fight back. I’ll call the police or tell the elders in the family. He wouldn’t dare.” When I was younger, I was too afraid to resist, scared that if I did, my dad would abandon me. But now, my soul was 28 years old. I wasn’t afraid of paternal authority anymore. I knew how to fight back. “There’s a third option.” The boy’s tears dripped onto my neck, shocking me to my core. “Tell me, and I’ll beat him up.” “Hitting people is illegal.” “Then I’ll break the law.” I laughed, stroking his back, touched by the boy’s passion.

08

Gu Jin picked up the shattered phone. “I’ll fix it for you.” “You can fix something this broken?” “Yeah.” After school, Gu Jin and I walked home together. He took out his toolbox and started repairing my phone. He had all the parts he needed. He soldered the circuit board and even replaced the screen. “You’re amazing!” “It’s not hard. I learned phone repair to make money.” Besides school, Gu Jin also worked to support his family. “So, how much do I owe you, Master Gu?” “I’m not charging you.” “Then I’ll invite you to watch me dance. I have a competition next Saturday. Will you come?” “I’ll come.”

09

The dance competition was at the opera house. To my surprise, I saw Qin Zixu in the front row of the audience. In my past life, we’d met at a family dinner. This time, our first meeting came earlier and in a different setting. Memories of my past life flooded back… 18-year-old Qin Zixu loved me deeply. He followed me abroad to study. He pursued me with grand gestures for a year, and we naturally got together. But it didn’t last. Three years into our relationship, he cheated. When I confronted him, he said, “I just can’t love only you. It’s not like I don’t love you anymore! You’ll always be Mrs. Qin. What’s the big deal?” I broke up with him on the spot, writing off those three years as a waste. Seeing 18-year-old Qin Zixu again made me physically sick. My hands and feet went cold. Gu Jin steadied me, followed my gaze, and without asking anything, helped me to the backstage area. He poured me a cup of hot water. “Feeling better?” “Yeah, I’m fine. Go sit in the audience. I’m about to go on.” I changed into my dance costume and stepped onto the stage. Gu Jin sat in the back row, hidden in the shadows, but I still spotted him instantly. I smiled at him, feeling strangely at ease. Dance. I wanted to win. The music started, and I let go of all the entanglements of my past and present lives, focusing entirely on the world of dance, letting my beauty shine. When the dance ended, thunderous applause erupted. The chandeliers in the opera house lit up. I looked at Gu Jin, meeting his gaze from afar, tears blurring my vision. Gu Jin froze, frowning at me. The audience thought I was crying because I’d been so immersed in the dance, moved by the story of the music. But the truth was, I was crying out of joy. That dance was for Gu Jin. I wanted him to see how beautiful I was in my youth. In my past life, he’d never seen it once. What a waste. After dancing, I was exhilarated. I heard the obsession buried deep in my heart: Gu Jin, how could you not love me? I don’t want to be your caged bird! I don’t want to be your little plaything for venting your needs! I want to be your first love, someone you respect, love, yet dare not touch. I want to be the enchantress who bewitches you, claiming all your desires, making you unable to live without me. Never able to leave me again… After my rebirth, stopping Zhang Baichen from digging his own grave was real. Protecting Gu Jin was real. But I was a ghost. I prayed to the gods to ease the turmoil in my heart. What the soul inside this young girl’s body truly wanted was to win the complete love of my past-life lover!

10

I won first place. Qin Zixu, as the sponsor’s representative, came on stage to give me the award. “You’re Yihuan, right? Uncle Zhang recently approached my father for investment. Our families will be seeing more of each other.” Qin Zixu pulled out his phone, confident. “Can I have your number?” Scumbag, back off! Back off! “No, I don’t want to know you.” I saw Gu Jin standing at the edge of the stage. Like a little lunatic, I jumped off the stage. Gu Jin’s eyes widened in panic, but he caught me steadily. I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Boss, was my dancing beautiful?” His heart pounded like a drum, his ears red enough to bleed, his gaze fixed on me. “Beautiful.” My dance costume was backless, made of thin fabric that showed off my figure. Gu Jin took off his black hoodie, put it on me, and zipped it up so high it almost choked me. I: ??? Gu Jin looked at Qin Zixu on stage, tilting his head with a fierce, wild expression. He looked like a little wolfdog.

11

On the way back, I was still buzzing with excitement. “Yihuan, let me treat you to dinner to celebrate your win.” “Sure!” “What do you want to eat?” “Barbecue! Bring your mom along!” The three of us sat in a barbecue restaurant. Gu Jin was busy grilling and feeding me and his mother. Under the table, my knee touched his. Gu Jin’s ears grew redder, and he looked at me thoughtfully. I wrapped a big piece of pork belly in lettuce, stuffing my cheeks like a little hamster, looking like an innocent, naive girl. His mother ate delicately. From her features, she must have been beautiful when she was young. No wonder she’d given birth to a son as handsome as Gu Jin. “Auntie, do you remember who I am?” She smiled shyly and said seriously, “You’re little Jin’s wife.” “Cough, cough, cough!” Married on the spot? “Little Jin really likes you.” She took out a ring and put it on my finger. “My little Jin is a stubborn kid. Once he likes someone, he’ll never change. You two have a good life together.” I stared at the huge plastic ring on my ring finger. Was this… a toy for kids? “Mom… she’s not my wife. She’s my classmate, Zhang Yihuan.” Gu Jin looked at me and cleared his throat. “Don’t mind her. My mom’s… childlike.” I took a tactical sip of water. “Your mom’s adorable.” Suddenly, I remembered that she had passed away early in my past life. I warned him, “As people get older, health problems pop up. You should take her for regular check-ups.” Gu Jin took it seriously and nodded.

12

My idiot brother and I were twins, so we always celebrated our birthdays together. Zhang Baichen threw a party and invited a bunch of friends. I wore a pretty dress and light makeup. When I walked into the room, I saw Qin Zixu. Zhang Baichen put his arm around Qin Zixu’s shoulder. “Huanhuan, Qin arranged this birthday party for you. Like it?” The room was filled with roses, decorated like a dreamy, romantic fantasy. Qin Zixu walked up to me with an elegant jewelry box. “Happy birthday, Huanhuan. This is for you. Open it.” If I’d known he’d be here, I wouldn’t have come. What a pain. Everyone clapped and cheered, the atmosphere warm and suggestive. I was about to throw the fruit wine on the table at him when Gu Jin walked in carrying a fruit platter. So, Gu Jin worked here. Zhang Baichen had deliberately chosen this place for the party, continuing to dance on the edge of disaster. “Oh, isn’t this the top student Gu? Working as a waiter here?” The rich kids around him laughed, looking down from their pedestals. “How much can you make in a day waiting tables?” Zhang Baichen pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills and threw them at Gu Jin. “It’s my birthday today. Make me happy, and this money’s yours.” My fists clenched. I was so angry I laughed. “No can do. I’m very satisfied with him. He’s mine tonight.” As everyone watched in shock, I grabbed Gu Jin’s hand and stormed off to the lobby. “My brother’s missing a few brain cells. Don’t take it to heart.” I patted his shoulder. The young man looked pretty handsome in a suit—broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. He had a bit of that refined scoundrel vibe of the future Gu boss. “Alright, go back to work. I’m leaving.” Gu Jin grabbed my wrist, pulled off his tie, and bent down to smile at me. It was a beautiful smile, charming and a little roguish. “Yihuan, I’m yours tonight.” I: !!! Was he serious?! I thought Gu Jin had something wild planned, but instead, he took me grocery shopping and cooked dinner at home. “Why do you look so disappointed?” The high-end ingredients on the table cost him a thousand bucks. Even by the standards of ten years later, spending a thousand on one meal was extravagant. I picked the most tender piece of grouper and gave it to his mother. “I just think you sold yourself a bit cheap.” “I don’t mind.” After dinner, Gu Jin brought out a cake and carefully placed candles on it. His mother clapped happily like a child. “Happy birthday, daughter-in-law. May you have—” Gu Jin quickly covered her mouth. “Make… make a wish.” Have a baby soon? Auntie, you never disappoint. I closed my eyes and made a wish. He said, “Zhang Yihuan, happy 18th birthday.” I wished: For every year to come, Gu Jin would be there to celebrate Zhang Yihuan’s birthday.

13

The next day, I heard that First High and Jialan High were going to have a basketball friendly. Gu Jin joined the team. So I signed up for the cheerleading squad. Zhao Xiaoxing was in charge of organizing the cheerleaders. The uniforms she prepared were short skirts and tight tops. When we got on the bus, the players went wild. I saw an empty seat next to Gu Jin and sat down. Gu Jin had his earphones in, leaning back with his eyes closed. His jawline was sharp, his Adam’s apple prominent. In his basketball jersey, the muscles in his arms were lean and defined, carrying a youthful sexiness. I poked the back of his hand. “Can I share an earphone?” Gu Jin opened his eyes, looked me over, his gaze lingering briefly on my chest before quickly looking away. He handed me an earphone. I leaned in and teased, “Going for the hot-girl look today. Like it?” Gu Jin closed his eyes, ignoring me, but his ears turned red. The familiar jazz music—his taste hadn’t changed over the years. Amid the lazy vocals, memories flooded back… In the villa, the man held me and kissed me passionately. “Are you in a good mood today?” Gu Jin stroked the back of my neck. “Not bad.” “Then… can I ask you for something?” “Go ahead.” “My brother got scammed by a friend and owes three million in high-interest loans. Dad’s sick from the stress. Can you… help my brother?” Gu Jin’s warmth vanished instantly. He let go of me, got up, and started dressing. Seeing him about to leave, I jumped off the bed barefoot. “My brother bullied you, and that was wrong! You’ve already taken your revenge. Can’t you leave him a way out?” Gu Jin scooped me up, sighing wearily. “Yihuan, for you, I’ve already left them a way out.” He kissed away my tears. “Don’t cry. Three million is nothing. But this is the last time.” I was happy and took the initiative for once. But when I woke up in the middle of the night, Gu Jin wasn’t beside me. I went downstairs in my pajamas. Gu Jin was sitting in the living room, drinking. The vast room made him look even more lonely. His face was full of hatred and pain. He gripped his glass so hard the veins on his hand bulged. With a crack, the glass shattered, and his hand bled. But he didn’t react, as if he’d found an outlet for his pain. He picked up a shard and cut a gash in his arm. So helping my brother caused him this much pain. I covered my mouth, hiding behind the stair railing, tears streaming down my face. “Are you carsick?” I snapped back to reality, meeting the boy’s concerned gaze. My face must have been deathly pale. Gu Jin opened a bottle of water and handed it to me. “If you feel really bad, lean on my shoulder.” I leaned on his shoulder, and the knot in my chest quickly loosened.

14

Jialan High was a private school, and its basketball court was top-notch. The venue was packed with students. As the host, Jialan had a huge home-court advantage. Qin Zixu was the captain of Jialan’s basketball team and the school heartthrob. The girls in the venue were all screaming his name. When Qin Zixu saw me, he ran over. “Huanhuan, you look beautiful today.” “Don’t call me Huanhuan. I don’t know you that well.” Qin Zixu grabbed my arm. “Do you have some misunderstanding about me?” Gu Jin pried Qin Zixu’s hand off and said coldly, “Don’t touch girls. She said she doesn’t know you.” Qin Zixu walked away, his face dark. Before the game, the cheerleaders went on to perform a warm-up routine. “Who’s that girl leading the routine for First High? She’s gorgeous!” “That’s Zhang Yihuan, First High’s school beauty! She’s so cute! Ahhh, she looked at me! Baby, I love you!” After I finished the routine, Gu Jin and his team took the court. As we passed each other, I said, “Good luck.” “Yeah.” Zhao Xiaoxing was ecstatic. “Everyone was mesmerized by your routine! Did you see? Jialan’s cheerleaders looked like they were about to explode from jealousy.” I glanced at Jialan’s cheerleaders. Sure enough, a few of them were glaring at me venomously. I didn’t pay them any mind and focused on watching Gu Jin play. “Whoa, is Gu Jin this intense?” “His style is so aggressive. Qin Zixu can’t even touch the ball!” “He’s got amazing stamina… I just realized today how handsome Gu Jin is!!” Hearing the praise for Gu Jin, I felt proud. He was exceptional. The game ended, and we won. Gu Jin was the MVP. His teammates surrounded him, treating him like a hero. The boy I loved deserved to shine like this. I wanted to rush over, hug him tightly, and kiss him fiercely.

15

We ran out of water, so Zhao Xiaoxing called me to buy more. At the convenience store, we were cornered by the cheerleaders from Jialan. “Zhang Yihuan, you’re pretty full of yourself today, huh?” I shielded Xiaoxing behind me. “Good dogs don’t block the way. Move.” They pushed me to the ground, and the leader poured milk on my face. “Look at you, all pathetic… You’ve seduced Senior Qin.” “You called us dogs? Come on, bark for us!” I froze, thinking of Gu Jin. So this was what it felt like to be bullied—humiliation, anger, helplessness. The girl raised her hand to slap me. A slender hand caught her wrist. Gu Jin’s eyes were red, but he held back, shoving her away. “Get lost!” The girls fled, scared. My chest was soaked with milk, almost see-through. Gu Jin took off his jersey and put it on me. “Can you stand?” “Yeah.” Gu Jin helped me up, cursed under his breath. I copied him and cursed too. Gu Jin froze, then finally smiled. He went to buy water and a towel, gently wiping my face and hair. Zhao Xiaoxing stood there, stunned the whole time. Back in the classroom, she fired off three questions. “Don’t you hate Gu Jin? When did you two get so close? The way he looks at you… is it what I think it is?” I latched onto the key point. “What do you mean, ‘the way he looks at me’?” “Hot cheese.” I: ??? “It’s stringy.” I couldn’t help but smile. But the way I looked at him wasn’t innocent either.

16

At home, I found Qin Zixu and his parents there. In my past life, we’d met for the first time today. During dinner, the conversation turned to my plans to study at Berklee. Qin Zixu immediately said he was also planning to study abroad. I’d already experienced studying abroad in my past life. There was no need to go again. This time, I wanted to go to university with Gu Jin. After the Qin family left, I started spinning a story for Zhang Jianming. “Dad, a lot of people in China don’t recognize foreign名校. If I skip the college entrance exam to study abroad, people will think I bought my way in. Getting into Qinghua or Peking University would be more impressive.” Zhang Jianming cared most about face. He thought for a moment. “If you can really get into Qinghua or Peking University, then go. After all… those schools are decent.” But then a rumor spread: Jialan’s heartthrob was chasing First High’s school beauty. He wanted to go study abroad with me. I couldn’t be bothered with Qin Zixu. Let him go study abroad alone. My focus was entirely on Gu Jin.

17

During the summer before senior year, Gu Jin started his first business. With the money he’d saved from working over the years, he set up a small electronics factory, hiring seven or eight workers to take on phone-refurbishing contracts. This was the same era as the movie *Nice View*—smartphones weren’t widespread yet, and affordable refurbished phones had a big market. Every era had its opportunities. Gu Jin had a sharp business sense. Later, he’d ride the internet wave and become a business tycoon in just a few years. Gu Jin landed a big contract that would net him 200,000 yuan after completion. He worked alongside his employees, staying late after they left, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. “Gu Jin, get some rest. Don’t burn yourself out.” “Yihuan, I’m just… too poor. I want to make money, lots of it.” “You can take it slow.” He looked at me, his eyes unreadable. “No, I can’t go slow.” My heart ached.