Meet Han Xuan again

As Luo Lin exchanged a few casual words, he perused the web, catching up on current events. Soon, the melodious voice of his beautiful "Auntie" Qin called from beyond the bedroom: "Xiao Lin, Auntie has prepared your meal. Do tear yourself away from the internet and wash up, won't you?"

"Ah, coming," he replied.

For the remainder of the day, Luo Lin alternated between dining and immersing himself in online news. Having been reborn into his 17-year-old self, many contemporary events had grown hazy in his recollection, necessitating a refresher lest he appear woefully out of touch during conversations.

The following day, Monday, dawned.

Luo Lin rose at five, engaging in fifty push-ups and two hundred sit-ups. Having experienced middle age, he keenly understood the paramount importance of physical fitness. Henceforth, daily exercise would be non-negotiable, with the intensity gradually increasing.

After a brisk hot shower, he arrived at school by 6:10 AM.

Upon reaching his classroom, he discovered he was its sole occupant. It seemed Luo Lin had outpaced even the most diligent of students in his newfound zeal!

Guided by memory to his seat at the rear, Luo Lin casually extracted a book from his desk and began to read.

To his astonishment, problems that had once seemed insurmountable now appeared trivially simple, their solutions crystallizing after but a moment's contemplation.

"Surely, with the college entrance exams a year hence, I can secure admission to a prestigious university through my own merit?" Luo Lin silently resolved to apply himself earnestly to his studies. After all, attendance at an elite institution would prove invaluable in cultivating his social network.

In his previous life, though Luo Lin had leveraged connections to enter a respectable university, it had been merely a provincial institution. This time, he set his sights on nothing less than the hallowed halls of Beijing's finest academies!

As the clock neared seven, a procession of familiar yet strange faces began to file into the classroom. Upon noticing Luo Lin already seated, each visage registered unmistakable surprise. Had the sun risen in the west, for this ne'er-do-well to arrive so punctually?

While Luo Lin's background certainly carried weight at Zhengzhou's premier high school, the institution also boasted numerous scions of high-ranking officials and wealthy families among its student body. Thus, despite being in his final year, Luo Lin had never divulged his family's true status to his peers.

This discretion stemmed not from humility, but from his mother's frequent admonition: "Dare to speak of your father's, grandfather's, or uncle's positions, and your monthly allowance shall be reduced to a mere pittance!"

Remarkably, this tactic had proven highly effective in curbing the young profligate's loose tongue.

In over two years of attendance, he had never once revealed his true identity to his classmates. However, Luo Lin felt no such reticence among the delinquents and wayward girls with whom he associated outside of school. To them, he freely boasted of his wealthy merchant father, his uncle the municipal party secretary, and his grandfather's lofty military rank.

These unsavory characters flocked to Luo Lin precisely because they recognized him as a well-heeled scion of privilege.

Reflecting on how he had once reveled in such sycophantic attention, the present-day Luo Lin could only shake his head ruefully at his younger self's staggering naïveté.

Now, with the wisdom of his near-forty years, Luo Lin could readily discern the motives of those who sought his companionship. Consequently, he saw no further need to humor his former coterie of fair-weather friends.

As these musings occupied his mind, a delicate fragrance wafted to his nostrils.

Turning his head, Luo Lin beheld Lan Lan approaching her seat, a small white backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Good morning," Luo Lin offered with a smile.

Lan Lan, barely settled into her chair, started at his greeting. Her cheeks instantly flushed as she lowered her head, managing only a faint "Mm" in response before falling silent. Indeed, never before had Luo Lin deigned to initiate such a cordial exchange.

Moments later, boisterous voices echoed from the corridor. Luo Lin instinctively glanced up to see Chi Shi swagger in, trailed by his customary retinue of toadies.

"Ha! Brother Shi, that fat kid last night was such a coward. I sat right on his face, and he didn't dare utter a word!"

"Hey, Vegetable Head, what are you bragging about? That fat kid kept quiet because he was afraid of Brother Shi, not you! It was Brother Shi's authority that cowed him into submission!"

Though Chi Shi remained silent, his expression betrayed unmistakable pride. Such was the nature of privileged youth at this age - deriving pleasure from tormenting others, reveling in a false sense of superiority.

Luo Lin spared Chi Shi a single glance before returning his attention elsewhere. Unbeknownst to him, Chi Shi had noticed Luo Lin's seemingly demure posture and shot him a venomous glare.

"Brother Shi, look at that Luo Lin. He's sitting there meekly, not daring to make a sound now that you've arrived," one of the sycophants whispered, attempting to stir the pot.

Mistaking Luo Lin's composure for fear, Chi Shi snorted derisively. "Some people simply don't know their place. No background to speak of, perhaps a bit of money at home, but in the face of true power, they amount to less than nothing!"

"Yes, yes, indeed!" his lackeys chorused in agreement, well aware that Chi Shi's father held the position of Zhengzhou's deputy mayor, and that the "some people" to whom he referred was none other than Luo Lin.

Though Luo Lin's true identity remained a mystery to his classmates, his attire and bearing suggested he was far from impoverished. Chi Shi, however, had categorized Luo Lin as merely the son of some nouveau riche family, and thus felt no cause for apprehension.

"Hey, Brother Shi, Sister Xuan has arrived," one of the toadies murmured.

Chi Shi turned to look. Han Xuan remained as radiant and captivating as ever. Despite being only seventeen or eighteen, her figure had already blossomed into womanly fullness. A floral sundress accentuated her alluring curves - slender yet voluptuous, the very embodiment of youthful beauty.

Beyond her physical charms, Han Xuan's large, kind eyes were utterly mesmerizing, their depths glistening with moisture barely concealed by long, thick lashes.

"Ah, Xiao Xuan, you're here! How about I treat you to dinner after school today?" Chi Shi immediately moved to intercept her.

Ignoring Chi Shi entirely, Han Xuan strode purposefully towards Luo Lin, her eyes flashing with indignation.

Noticing Han Xuan's gaze fixed upon Luo Lin, Chi Shi faltered in disbelief.

"Brother Shi, is Sister Xuan heading for Luo Lin?" one of his followers ventured.

Smack!

A resounding slap connected with the hapless boy's head as Chi Shi's eyes bulged. "Shut up!" he hissed.

Chi Shi was not alone in his bewilderment; Luo Lin's brow furrowed slightly as he sensed Han Xuan's approach.

Lan Lan, acutely aware of Han Xuan's proximity, couldn't help but compare herself to the other girl's stunning figure and exquisite features. Overwhelmed by a surge of insecurity, she lowered her head, unable to meet Han Xuan's gaze.

Han Xuan halted beside Luo Lin's desk. With graceful poise, she extracted an envelope from her bag and tossed it carelessly before him, her eyes brimming with disdain. "In the future, refrain from such childish antics. Rather than wasting time penning love letters, you'd do well to focus on your studies." As class monitor and one of the school's reigning beauties, Han Xuan's words carried particular weight.

Love letter?

The entire class froze in stunned silence. Even Chi Shi's previously sullen expression gave way to a hint of smug satisfaction.

Ha! So Luo Lin had written Han Xuan a love letter, only to have it unceremoniously returned! Now he stood utterly humiliated before the entire class.

Luo Lin gazed at the rejected missive on his desk, sudden realization dawning. It seemed his past self had indeed composed a love letter to Han Xuan.

He vividly recalled his first confession to Han Xuan in his previous life. Then, Luo Lin had presented her with a brand-new BMW convertible - a princely sum lavished upon a beauty. Alas, Han Xuan had remained utterly unmoved. Ma Lei, one of the capital's four young masters, had been present at the time. Before a gathering of scions from Beijing's most illustrious families, he had promptly reduced Luo Lin's offering to a heap of twisted metal.

At the time, Luo Lin had been consumed by rage. Little did he know that Han Xuan was determined to thoroughly humiliate this idle rich playboy. Money was no object to Han Xuan, born with the proverbial silver spoon. She had casually scribbled a check, tossing it onto the ruined vehicle's seat with icy disdain. "The man who captures my heart," she had declared, "must be one of true substance - a pillar capable of supporting the very heavens. You, bereft of your family's protection, would likely struggle to survive in this world at all." Though the assembled youths were all children of privilege, most possessed at least some practical skills. Luo Lin, in contrast, was the very archetype of a useless parasite.

Recalling the events of his past life, Luo Lin's heart filled with melancholy. Yet his reborn self had transcended such petty concerns. Even this ravishing beauty, whom he had once pursued so ardently, now failed to stir his emotions.

A man of true ambition sets his sights on loftier goals! While appreciation for beauty is universal and none can claim sainthood, Luo Lin vowed never again to stumble over matters of the heart. This was his inviolable principle!

In days past, such a public rejection might have left Luo Lin mortified, potentially provoking him to anger or even violence against the smirking Chi Shi.

But the mature Luo Lin of today was far above such trifling provocations.

With casual nonchalance, Luo Lin produced a lighter from his pocket. In one fluid motion, he set the letter ablaze and tossed it out the nearby window.

"My apologies, fair Han Xuan. 'Twas but a passing fancy," he remarked with a wry smile.

Without missing a beat, he returned to his book. Chancing upon an obscure variant character whose pronunciation eluded him, he turned to his deskmate. "Lan Lan, how does one read this character?"

"Ah?" Lan Lan started at the sudden query, but quickly gathered herself to reply timidly, "'Gun'? This character is pronounced 'gun,' like 'roll.' It carries the same meaning as well."

"Ah, so it's pronounced 'gun.' Thank you, Lan Lan," Luo Lin smiled as he straightened in his seat. Suddenly, his brow furrowed.

Wait a moment.

Looking up, he found Han Xuan glaring at him, her delicate features flushed crimson. Indeed, the entire class, Chi Shi included, gaped in slack-jawed astonishment.

Oh my. It seemed he had inadvertently stumbled into quite the misunderstanding!