Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Perhaps it's because we haven't seen each other for a long time over the summer break, or maybe it's the new and old students due to the reorganization of classes, or perhaps it's the recent conflict. In any case, things aren't as smooth as they used to be.

Huang Zhongfei pondered for a few seconds, then stood up and went to the podium.

He hadn't even started speaking when Yu Wen let out a couple of loud coughs, drawing the class's attention.

Yu Wen briefly said: "Everyone, listen to the class leader say a few words!"

As soon as she said this.

Xin Youling's expression changed. After all, she's just a high school student and can't hide her emotions. The fact that they're repeatedly calling someone else the class leader is too much of a slap in the face for her as the official class leader!

Qiang Li, Chai Wei, and Cao Kun all felt indignant for the new class leader.

Dong Qingfeng clenched his fists, 'Who should I help?'

On one side is the highly respected class leader, and on the other is the girl he wants to protect! It's really hard to choose.

Huang Zhongfei spoke, smiling and waving his hand: "Everyone, stop calling me class leader. Now the class leader is Xin Youling, just call me Zhongfei from now on."

Yu Wen wanted to shout 'You are forever the class leader in my heart,' but Shen Qing'e stopped her.

Yu Wen was persistent, but Shen Qing'e whispered: "Don't go against the man you like."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wen trembled all over; she understood.

All the students focused on Huang Zhongfei. Standing on the podium, his tall and slender build, gentle features, and noble demeanor, paired with his simple casual attire, made him look extraordinarily handsome.

"So handsome." Meng Ziyun's pretty eyes widened, while next to her, Chai Wei suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

Having known Meng Ziyun for nearly two semesters, he's taken good care of her, yet he's never seen the kind of sparkle in her eyes that he sees at this moment.

Chai Wei felt so distressed, usually strong and proud, and couldn't help clutching his chest.

Huang Zhongfei said warmly, "Today is the first day of school. We've moved up to the second year, let's celebrate. I'll treat everyone to some food!"

As soon as he said this, many of the original external class students were stunned.

Yu Wen excitedly explained: "The class leader is treating everyone to food, everyone gets some!"

Ma Shicheng jeered: "Zhongfei, what a generous gesture!"

Hu Jun: "Brother Fei is righteous."

Zhang Chi, like a dog sniffing out the scent, howled: "Zhongfei, what are we eating?"

This was the point he cared about most, as did all the students.

Huang Zhongfei: "There's a chicken steak shop at the entrance; everyone gets a piece and a cup of plum juice."

Several people gasped. Some students had eaten at that chicken steak shop; it was quite expensive, 8 yuan a piece, with 52 people in the class, costing four to five hundred in one go.

There was a stir in the classroom, and Huang Zhongfei sincerely said: "Anyone want to join me in helping out?"

Yu Wen pulled Jiang Yanan and Shen Qing'e, volunteering: "Class leader, me, me, me!"

Huang Zhongfei calculated; a piece of chicken steak plus plum juice was about a pound. If only a few of them carried it, it would still be a bit heavy.

Just as he was about to call for more help, Dan Xiao and Miao Zhe volunteered.

...

After the few of them left, Xin Youling felt even worse.

She stayed in her seat, holding her breath. Her family situation was okay, but a few hundred yuan's worth of treats, she couldn't just offer like he did.

What a troublesome class leader job!

Guo Kunnan's heart was moved, and he noticed Xin Youling's embarrassment.

How could he bear to see her so upset?

Just as Guo Kunnan was about to stand up, Hu Jun pulled him back, "Brother Nan, don't act impulsively!"

Guo Kunnan said, "I'm already moved. Being impulsive is only natural."

Hu Jun asked, "What do you like about her?"

Guo Kunnan stared at Xin Youling's long hair, infatuated, and said: "She's really beautiful."

Hu Jun sighed: "When you like someone, you can't just look at their appearance."

Guo Kunnan immediately retorted: "She's not just beautiful; she's also sensible, eloquent, very capable. I didn't just focus on her looks!"

His sincerity was as genuine as the heavens and earth could witness.

Beside them, Wang Longlong said: "Oh, Brother Nan, you can't just look at her appearance; you should also take a look at your own appearance, right?"

Guo Kunnan: "..."

But mere words could not crush his love.

Guo Kunnan suddenly stood up, but because his movements were too hasty, his knee accidentally hit the desk, making a huge noise, almost making him pass out from the pain.

He instinctively grimaced, but the moment Xin Youling turned her head, Guo Kunnan overcame the body's pain mechanism, stiffening his face with veins popping on his forehead.

He originally wanted to say, Zhongfei is treating you to chicken steaks, and I will buy you beers to welcome the new classmates to Class 8!

But when the words were at his lips, out of habit, he said: "Hello, classmates! The class president is treating you to chicken steaks, and I'm buying you beers!"

After he finished speaking, Guo Kunnan was stunned on the spot.

In sight, Xin Youling turned around with a blank expression.

Guo Kunnan's fervent Dao Heart plunged straight into the Ice Age.

Dan Kaiquan clapped vigorously, celebrating for his good buddy: "Well, Brother Nan, awesome!"

Cui Yu: "Brother Nan, awesome!"

Meng Gui: "Brother Nan, you're the boss!"

Guo Kunnan forced out a smile that was uglier than crying.

He wished he could give himself a slap.

...

As the words had been spoken, Guo Kunnan couldn't take them back. With a feeling akin to attending a funeral, he grabbed a backpack from under Huang Yuzhu's desk and went out to buy the beer.

Jiang Ning was browsing his phone when suddenly, he felt a poke on his back.

He smiled knowingly, having missed this familiar touch over the past two months.

Jiang Ning turned around: "What's up?"

Geng Lu raised her head, smiling gently: "I've made some money recently from a few freelance jobs, so I'm treating you to something to eat."

She gazed out the window, her reflection in the glass, while the campus tonight was brighter than usual, with the distant school buildings ablaze with lights, like beautiful stars dotting the night sky.

Chai Wei, her desk mate, felt a mix of curiosity and dissatisfaction on hearing this.

Upon joining the new class, seeing the empty spot next to her, he decided to be her desk mate, only to be ignored entirely.

In the past, Chai Wei was a top student and popular figure in Class 6, yet now he was being treated so coldly.

He comforted himself, thinking maybe the girl just didn't like talking.

Jiang Ning said: "Alright."

They left immediately, with Huang Zhongfei and Guo Kunnan already setting the example, making Geng Lu feel bold as she led Jiang Ning out of the classroom.

The night was like ink, with the moonlight casting a warm yellow ripple on the campus main road, illuminated by street lamps.

Crickets chirped among the roadside flowers, going silent as they passed by.

Compared to the stifling classroom, the night campus lacked that restless noise, and the two strolled along the main road, gradually blending into the world of the night.

Geng Lu greatly enjoyed this serenity.

She glanced at Jiang Ning, who under the night's guise, appeared as nonchalant and carefree as ever.

Geng Lu's voice broke the silence: "Yangzhi Ganlu, milk custard, or Fruit Tofu Pudding, what do you want to eat?"

Jiang Ning teased: "Can I have all of them?"

Geng Lu: "Sure, I have money anyway."

She playfully puffed out her chest.

Jiang Ning casually glanced at her and said: "The temperature's not low today, you're wearing quite a bit, did you catch a cold?"

Geng Lu was wearing a thin, white, long-sleeved sports jacket, zipped up to her neck, tightly wrapped.

There was a reason Geng Lu was dressed like this. Her desk mate had transferred to a humanities class, meaning the seat next to her was now empty.

The likelihood of having a new male classmate as her desk mate led her to choose this outfit.

She took a small step forward with her hands behind her back: "No, I'm not sick, just felt like wearing this much."

Jiang Ning laughed: "Seeing you wear so much, I'm getting a bit warm myself."

"Really?" Geng Lu asked him.

Jiang Ning looked toward the distant school gate; his eyesight was excellent, able to clearly see numerous small food sellers busy with life.

He replied aloud: "Yeah, pretty warm."

Geng Lu suddenly broke into a sly smile, her eyes mischievous, as she casually pulled down the zipper of her jacket, revealing her fair neck. The zipper continued downward, showing her delicate collarbones and further down, a glimpse of enticing curves.

She looked directly at Jiang Ning, teasingly: "Is it even warmer now?"

Jiang Ning remained composed: "Oh? If I said it got warmer, what would you do?"

He provocatively scrutinized the girl.

Geng Lu's face flushed crimson to the ears, her skin bursting with a radiant blush, as her eyelids shyly lowered, as if she had done something inappropriate.