“Lin Zhihua!” Xue Jiao’s voice was filled with delight.

Her eyes brightened slightly, first with surprise, then she smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Her clean, simple face beamed with a smile that melted hearts, as if something inside had dissolved, becoming soft and warm.

Lin Zhihua couldn’t control the smile on his lips, his eyes also brimming with joy.

“Jiaojiao.”

When he saw her, he felt that staying up all night handling company matters, only sleeping briefly before rushing over, was worth it.

Very worth it. Very worth it.

Seeing her face made any effort worthwhile.

“Why did you come here?” Xue Jiao’s voice still carried surprise, and it was clear that seeing Lin Zhihua made her very happy.

Lin Zhihua got out of the car, opened the door for her, and said, “I came for something important, and since you mentioned W City has good food, I decided to come find you.”

He finished speaking and nodded, gesturing for Xue Jiao to get in.

Xue Jiao nodded, walked around to the passenger seat, and said with a smile, “Perfect timing! I haven’t eaten yet. I’ll take you there!”

“Alright.” Lin Zhihua smiled, withdrew his protective hand after she got in, returned to the driver’s seat, and started the car.

——

The place Xue Jiao wanted to take him was a restaurant that Cheng Shuo had taken them to before. She wasn’t very good at appreciating food, but that restaurant’s flavors were truly excellent. It was a small establishment, but the culinary skills had been passed down for decades.

“It’s just ahead, turn left,” Xue Jiao directed.

Lin Zhihua glanced at her with a smile and said, “So you’re quite the foodie…”

Xue Jiao’s face reddened. She coughed once, somewhat embarrassed, and said, “Not really… I just remembered it… in case there was a chance to eat there…”

Lin Zhihua gave a light laugh, the subtle vibration in his throat making Xue Jiao even more embarrassed.

“Then I’ll have to ask you to take me to eat more often in the future. I rarely know where the good places are and usually eat at the same restaurant.”

The same restaurant?

Xue Jiao’s eyes brightened, her bright, sparkling eyes looking directly at Lin Zhihua. “Is it the one in Wu Liu Lane?”

Lin Zhihua nodded.

Xue Jiao “cried tears” in her heart, pitifully saying, “That restaurant… I could eat there for a lifetime…”

That taste!!

Amazing!

Since seeing her, the smile in Lin Zhihua’s eyes hadn’t disappeared.

“Study hard and hurry up to test into Jing City.”

Xue Jiao nodded firmly. Once she tested into Jing City, she wouldn’t say she’d eat at that delicious place every day, but occasionally she could shamelessly follow Lin Zhihua to enjoy a meal…

Lin Zhihua glanced at her, feigning casualness: “Senior year is about to begin. In these two years, the college entrance exam score requirements have been rising, and there are more and more students with good academic performance. With only one year left, you absolutely cannot relax for a moment.”

Xue Jiao had always felt that Lin Zhihua was like her teacher, and she had always respected him as she would a teacher.

These words coming from Lin Zhihua’s mouth sounded exactly like a teacher’s earnest instruction.

Xue Jiao felt touched; his admonition was out of concern for her.

She had lived this life once before, but not everyone in this world gets a second chance. She still didn’t understand why she had been reborn, but that didn’t prevent her from knowing—this was an opportunity she must seize!

Xue Jiao nodded firmly again, as a promise both to Lin Zhihua and to herself—

“I will! I will cherish this second chance!”

Lin Zhihua turned to look at her.

Xue Jiao froze slightly; she had carelessly said something she shouldn’t have…

She panicked for a moment and quickly covered up: “I mean I didn’t work hard before, and this is a new opportunity!”

Lin Zhihua nodded as if he hadn’t noticed her panic.

He just smiled with satisfaction and said softly, “I believe in you, and I hope my judgment isn’t wrong.”

Xue Jiao scratched her head, sighing in relief.

He hadn’t noticed her ambiguous statement!

After all, who would connect it with something as bizarre as being reborn in someone else’s body?

The car slowly arrived at the location Xue Jiao had mentioned, stopping ahead, and the two walked side by side toward it.

“It’s just—” Xue Jiao’s voice halted as she noticed the closed shop.

Her voice suddenly raised in surprise: “Huh? Is it closed?”

Lin Zhihua glanced at the shop, which looked ordinary, with a sign posted at the entrance—

Time-honored Brand.

He shrugged: “Not open today?”

Xue Jiao was also confused, looking again and scratching her head. “I don’t know why it’s not open today…”

“Shall we go somewhere else?”

“Alright.”

Xue Jiao felt somewhat embarrassed, having specifically brought Lin Zhihua here only to find it closed, making it a wasted trip.

Lin Zhihua shook his head and chuckled lightly: “Do you have any other recommendations?”

He didn’t mind at all; after all, his purpose in coming was to see her, not to eat.

“How about we go for some street food?” Xue Jiao turned her head, her voice somewhat excited.

Since becoming Gu Xuejiao, she hadn’t eaten street food!

Every day, she either ate in the cafeteria or at home. Even when the whole family went out, they had never eaten street food together.

“Street food?” Lin Zhihua was taken aback.

Xue Jiao raised her hand, pointing to the corner ahead—

“It’s that street…”

She was a bit embarrassed, her cheeks slightly flushed, finger pointing forward, looking at him expectantly.

Lin Zhihua’s heart softened, and he nodded, saying resignedly: “Fine.”

Xue Jiao’s eyes sparkled, her steps light as she waved her hand—

“Hurry up! It’s probably very crowded!”

Today, to meet her, Lin Zhihua had specially changed out of his suit, wearing casual clothes.

These had been selected by his assistant, supposedly… to make him look younger.

His hairstyle wasn’t as formal either, with a slight fringe falling over his forehead, making his sharp eyes appear less cold.

Combined with the smile he’d worn since seeing Xue Jiao, standing beside her, he didn’t look out of place at all.

The street food area was lively to Xue Jiao. In her previous life, she had worked in such a place, and these were flavors she hadn’t tasted for a long time, putting her in a state of excitement.

But for Lin Zhihua—

His brows were tightly knit, his eyes carrying a hint of pain and rejection.

Lin Zhihua had never been to such a place before. Crowded places made him very uncomfortable. Ever since Lin Zhihua could remember, he had never wanted other people present in any place he visited.

After taking over the Lin Corporation, many places he went to were cleared of people first.

Even in the company, he had his own exclusive elevator and parking space. Throughout the entire Lin Corporation, except for managers and other high-level staff, other employees would never see him unless under special circumstances.

For Lin Zhihua, who was so averse to human contact…

This street food area… was truly his first time…

His brows remained tightly knit. The people coming and going around him, especially in summer, along with the mixed scents of sweat and strong oil made Lin Zhihua feel suffocated.

Moreover, most of the people nearby were girls, each seemingly only a finger’s width away from him.

Lin Zhihua’s forehead began to sweat, and he had an impulse to turn and run.

“Hey! Is that chicken wing with rice?!” Xue Jiao’s eyes brightened as she looked ahead, and in excitement, her fingers caught hold of Lin Zhihua’s sleeve.

He seemed to smell the faint, fresh fragrance from her body, isolating all the painful odors around.

Lin Zhihua tilted his head, took a deep breath above her head, and finally suppressed his physiological aversion.

Xue Jiao suddenly turned her head—

“Chicken wing with rice, would you like one?”

Even though his body was rejecting it, when she smiled, he couldn’t refuse.

He involuntarily nodded, and Xue Jiao walked straight over: “Two, please!”

As she spoke, Xue Jiao pulled out her cute wallet to pay.

Lin Zhihua glanced at the two girls standing next to her and frowned again.

After a while, he laboriously moved to Xue Jiao’s other side, staying close to her but far from the crowd.

The two girls in front of Xue Jiao were waiting and kept turning their heads to look at Xue Jiao and Lin Zhihua.

Vaguely, some words could be heard—

“…heaven…so beautiful…”

“…guy…so handsome…”

The gazes they thought were discreet were quite obvious to Lin Zhihua and Xue Jiao.

A moment later, the two girls received their food but didn’t leave. Lin Zhihua looked up at them, frowning, his gaze unintentionally sharp and intimidating.

The girls were stunned for a moment, then quickly pushed each other away.

“Two chicken wings with rice are ready! Beautiful lady, be careful, they’re hot!” the shop owner said with a smile.

“Thank you!” Just as Xue Jiao reached out, a large hand with distinct knuckles extended from beside her and took the items.

“Huh? Are you hungry? There are too many people here. Can we go to the lakeside to eat later?” Xue Jiao thought Lin Zhihua was hungry.

He just nodded stiffly.

Xue Jiao continued forward, but after not walking far, she stopped again. “Can we also buy some potatoes and squid?”

“Alright…” Lin Zhihua still couldn’t refuse her.

There were even more people at this stall than at the previous one. Lin Zhihua stood far away, not daring to approach.

Only when Xue Jiao came over with the food did he slightly relax, his furrowed brow easing a bit.

“I bought two portions! I haven’t eaten this for so long that I’ve forgotten the taste!” She smiled happily, looking very pleased and nostalgic.

Just some street food could make her this happy…

Lin Zhihua’s heart softened even more, experiencing emotions he had never felt before, over and over.

Nearby, a man riding an electric scooter came by. He seemed to be looking at something, which distracted him, and he headed toward Xue Jiao.

Lin Zhihua’s pupils contracted as he pulled Xue Jiao into his arms. With people behind them, there was nowhere to retreat.

He kicked the approaching scooter, sending the rider and vehicle toppling over.

Xue Jiao’s cheek bumped against Lin Zhihua’s chest, the faint clean scent of his clothes reaching her. She was slightly dazed.

Lin Zhihua was different from the boys she knew. Yi Tianyu also loved cleanliness, but because he often played basketball, his body occasionally carried the scent of sweat.

Cheng Mingze was the same. None of them would have such a clean soap scent all over.

“Are you okay?” Lin Zhihua didn’t look at the scooter rider; his concerned gaze was fixed on Xue Jiao.

Xue Jiao quickly stepped out of his embrace and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“What are you doing?!” The man righted his scooter and angrily rushed over.

Just then, a woman walking behind bumped into Lin Zhihua.

He suppressed his disgust, the irritation in his heart becoming harder to control, his voice cold—

“You almost hit someone.”

The man was still angry—

“My scooter was going so slowly, even if it hit someone, nothing serious would happen! Besides, this is a new vehicle! Look at this, it’s damaged. Can you afford to pay for it?!”

The man appeared very angry, staring at Lin Zhihua with widened eyes, fuming.

Lin Zhihua’s voice grew colder, his gaze sharp.

“I don’t know if riding here complies with regulations, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me kicking it away when you were about to hit someone.”

“You—”

Lin Zhihua interrupted him, taking out a business card.

“I don’t want to waste time discussing this with you. Call this number, and my lawyer will talk to you in detail.”

The man: “…”

Lin Zhihua’s gaze was piercing, his clean fingers holding the card, a expensive watch on his wrist.

The man was stunned for a good while, then suddenly pushed his scooter away, cursing as he left.

Faintly, he could be heard saying—

“Rich guy still takes his girlfriend to eat street food? So stingy!”

Xue Jiao also noticed his watch and looked down at her own, smiling: “You’re still wearing it!”

Lin Zhihua calmly withdrew his hand and nodded: “Yes.”

This watch had always bewildered the assistant responsible for his clothing. For someone of Lin Zhihua’s status, such a watch was difficult to match with his clothes, especially on important occasions.

But for nearly a year, Lin Zhihua had never changed his watch, leading those who knew him to interpret it as him being low-key.

A business acquaintance once said—

Despite his young age, the Lin Corporation’s boss lacks the impulsiveness of youth. With such wealth, yet his watch isn’t even a luxury brand.

A watch sometimes reflects a man’s status.

Of course, much later, when Xue Jiao walked into a venue, and they saw the watch on her wrist, they finally understood.

So that’s what it was.

Lin Zhihua responded very calmly, but his peripheral vision remained fixed on Xue Jiao, checking if she had any other thoughts.

While relieved, he also felt somewhat disappointed.

The gazes of the people around them kept wandering to the two of them. Xue Jiao frowned slightly and said to Lin Zhihua: “Should we leave first? Is this enough?”

She shook the items in her hand.

Lin Zhihua nodded quickly, as if afraid that if he moved too slowly, Xue Jiao would change her mind.

Only when the two reached a bench by the nearby artificial lake did Lin Zhihua thoroughly relax.

June was the height of summer, and although it was still bright in the early evening, the cool breeze by the lake was particularly pleasant.

Xue Jiao turned her head, her large eyes looking directly at Lin Zhihua.

Lin Zhihua’s heart skipped a beat.

But then he heard her say embarrassedly: “Are you not used to the street food area?”

Xue Jiao was genuinely embarrassed. It was only now, sitting down, that she recalled Lin Zhihua’s unusual behavior in the street food area.

Unlike her, he had always lived in affluence, while Xue Jiao hadn’t—she had her previous life.

“A bit… I don’t like crowds…”

“You don’t like crowds?” Xue Jiao was surprised.

Lin Zhihua nodded, looking at her: “But I can tolerate it.”

Before, he couldn’t, but with her by his side, he could.

With Xue Jiao beside him, his patience improved considerably.

Xue Jiao apologized embarrassedly: “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. It won’t happen again…”

“It’s fine.” Lin Zhihua reached out, gently rubbed her head, and quickly restrained himself, withdrawing his hand. “Don’t apologize to me.”

He didn’t like hearing her polite thank yous and sorry.

Xue Jiao smiled, feeling that knowing someone like Lin Zhihua was truly wonderful.

She took out the chicken wing with rice and handed it to Lin Zhihua. “Before I had it in my hands, I wanted it, but now that I have it, I don’t feel like eating it that much.”

Lin Zhihua took it and, under Xue Jiao’s gaze, opened it and stiffly put it in his mouth.

The strong greasy taste mixed with chili and seasonings rushed into his mouth. In that instant, Lin Zhihua wanted to spit it out.

Xue Jiao smiled at his reaction, her eyes crinkling. “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. We can go to a proper restaurant later.”

As she spoke, she opened hers and took a bite.

Her facial expression immediately stiffened for a moment, and she shook her head. Gu Xuejiao’s taste buds… seemed to reject this flavor too.

“I used to think it was delicious… but it seems to have changed… the taste isn’t like I remember.”

When Xue Jiao said “changed,” she meant she had changed.

She had changed; she had transformed Gu Xuejiao in everyone’s eyes into Xue Jiao.

But in some ways, she seemed to have been deeply influenced by Gu Xuejiao too.

In her previous life, Xue Jiao had loved chicken wings with rice. Back then, she had helped grill meat skewers next door.

Every day after work, the auntie who worked with her would give her two meat skewers, and she would buy a steamed bun, and that was dinner.

At that time, the shop next door sold chicken wings with rice. The boss was skilled, using good quality chicken wings and rice, so his prices were higher than others, at 20 yuan.

Xue Jiao would never buy something so expensive, mainly because one chicken wing with rice wouldn’t fill her up, meaning she would have to spend even more money.

The neighboring business was good; the boss was a smiling fat man.

That time, when her summer job ended, she rewarded herself by buying one.

It was very late that day, and there were no other customers at the neighboring stall. She went over with twenty yuan.

The fat boss picked two of the largest chicken wings with rice and handed them to her, smiling as he said: “I’ve wanted to treat you for a long time. Don’t be polite, young student. Study hard when school starts! Aim to get into a good university!”

At that moment, Xue Jiao understood that the fat boss knew she was an orphan.

She didn’t refuse and accepted with a smile.

The fat boss was sincere; she knew that if he wasn’t afraid of making her uncomfortable, he would have even given her money.

That night, on her way back to school, Xue Jiao ate preciously.

In her memory, it was a wonderful, wonderful taste, very delicious.

In her previous life, Xue Jiao had suffered a lot, but she had also met many good people. They gave her warmth, allowing the lonely her to experience the marvelous emotions and warmth between people.

This world was never just about sin.

There were bad people, but there were also good ones.

As she immersed herself in the past, a hand rested on top of her head, gently rubbing.

“If you don’t think it tastes good anymore, don’t eat it. Nothing remains unchanged; time flows on. Some changes are bad, but some are good. We don’t need to dwell in the past; people should look forward. The future will also change, for better or worse—you can decide that yourself.”

Xue Jiao was stunned for a moment, blinked her eyes, held back her tears, and nodded firmly. “Okay!”

She paused, then smiled and said: “But I still want to finish this.”

And then… she probably wouldn’t eat it again…

The memories that belonged to Xue Jiao should stay in memory.

Lin Zhihua withdrew his hand, raised an eyebrow, and said: “I think it’s not bad a very novel taste. Let’s finish it together.”

The two finished the chicken wings with rice, then the potatoes. Xue Jiao picked up the squid.

Perhaps due to the weather and her strange mood, Xue Jiao felt like confiding. Looking at the squid, she said: “I don’t like eating squid, but one of the people I’m most grateful to used to sell squid. I can’t see him anymore, but I like eating squid.”

Liking the taste of squid and liking to eat squid are different.

She liked to eat it, but only to consume it.

When Xue Jiao was very young, someone had adopted her. She remembered being very hungry, remembered being thrown out in the dark, and remembered an old man pushing a cart who picked her up and placed her on a small pushcart.

That was her grandfather—an old man who sold squid.

He never acknowledged being her grandfather, but she always respected him as one.

It was that old man who told her to study, to go out into the world, and that only through hard work could she live a brilliant life.

He sold grilled squid to support her education until fourth grade. Grandfather’s skill was excellent, but he was very old, and many people wouldn’t buy what he grilled. As a result, business was slow, just enough to frugally support her education.

Her household registration was with the old man in the countryside, and studying in the city was expensive, but he still supported her.

Later… he got cancer.

Xue Jiao was originally going to drop out of school to come back and treat his illness. That Friday when she first raised the idea of dropping out with her teacher, when she returned, she only saw the household registration book, a stack of miscellaneous money, and a note that read—study hard, get into university.

He had left on his own.

He didn’t want to burden her.

Xue Jiao knew this, but she was very sad.

From then on, Xue Jiao had no more family.

Probably at the end of elementary school, the police station informed her that the old man had died long ago; she hadn’t even seen his body.

There are many tragic things in this world. You are never the most unfortunate one, but when you’re in the midst of it, you still despair and suffer to the point of not finding meaning in living.

Xue Jiao ate the squid bite by bite. She didn’t cry.

Lin Zhihua followed her actions, saying nothing, silently accompanying her.

“I feel full now. Do you want to eat anything else?” Xue Jiao blinked, looking at Lin Zhihua.

Lin Zhihua was silent for a moment. His stomach felt a bit uncomfortable, but his heartfelt even worse.

While eating the squid, he knew that Xue Jiao was in pain, a pain she couldn’t express.

He couldn’t ask, nor did he dare to ask.

Lin Zhihua slowly opened his mouth: “I’m full too.”

Xue Jiao gave an embarrassed smile: “I said I’d treat you to something, but I didn’t treat you to anything…”

“It’s enough. I had a different experience today, and I’m very happy.” Lin Zhihua smiled. He was very happy to touch Xue Jiao’s past, but he was also pained because he knew… that memory might not be so beautiful.

In such a trauma-filled world, he wanted so much to go back and hold her tightly.

He also wanted her to forget, to never again recall things that made her so sad.

“I’ll treat you to something really good next time!”

Lin Zhihua didn’t speak, but after a moment, he said softly: “I don’t know what’s on your mind, but I think the past should stay in the past. Look forward, realize your dreams, and make up for regrets that can be remedied.”

His gaze was very serious, fixated directly on Xue Jiao’s eyes, carrying concern and encouragement.

For an instant, something rose in Xue Jiao’s heart, quickly covered by warmth.

“Okay…”

She should move forward. Those who had given her warmth in the past all hoped she could live well, could… have a brand-new life.

Xue Jiao lifted her spirits, looked at the time, and saw it was getting late.

She opened her mouth, preparing to say goodbye to Lin Zhihua.

“Ring ring ring—” Her phone suddenly rang.

Xue Jiao was startled for a moment, picked it up, and saw an unfamiliar number.

“Hello? Who is this?”

The voice on the other end was cold, carrying an icy tone: “Gu Xuejiao, this is Gu Shiyun.”

Xue Jiao was taken aback. “Gu Shiyun?”

Beside her, Lin Zhihua raised an eyebrow and made a gesture, indicating for her to put it on speaker.

He wanted to hear what this person wanted now.

Xue Jiao obediently turned on the speaker.

Gu Shiyun’s scheming was probably only someone with Lin Zhihua’s intelligence could navigate…

The voice on the other end spoke through gritted teeth: “That man who picked you up today, is he the one who crushed Dad’s company? Is he the person behind the investigation of me, the one who helped you with the clarification post?!”