Chapter 2: Who Are You?

The two of them swayed as they made their way to the school gate. Along the way, Wang Zibo did most of the talking while Chen Hansheng barely responded; he was busy trying to adjust to the Port City of seventeen years ago.

After graduating from college, Chen Hansheng had felt that the economic prospects of his hometown were not promising, so he stayed in the provincial capital, Jianye, to make a living. He would only occasionally visit his parents back home, always in a hurry with no time to observe the changes in his hometown.

It was only during the early, drunken hours of the morning that an inexplicable wave of emotion and memory would surface from deep inside him. But by the next day, it would quickly be replaced by the busy realities of life.

"What's the point of someone like me being reborn?" Chen Hansheng felt stifled. In 2019, he had wealth, status, a company, and subordinates. He didn't fit the typical rebirth scenario of someone who was "cuckolded, orphaned, destitute, and cold."

"Damn it, I never even wanted to be reborn!" Chen Hansheng couldn't help but curse. Wang Zibo, who was chattering about how Chen Hansheng had drunk too much the night before and stubbornly confessed to Xiao Rongyu despite his protests, paused. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Oh, I am," Chen Hansheng responded offhandedly, then patted his pockets. No wallet, no phone, no mobile payment. He sighed and said to Wang Zibo, "Do you have any money? I want to buy something from the store."

"Is it water?" Wang Zibo was perceptive enough; he knew that one's mouth gets dry after a hangover, especially on such a hot day. 

"What do you want? Jianlibao or cola?" Wang Zibo offered to treat him.

"Just mineral water, and a pack of cigarettes," Chen Hansheng replied.

Wang Zibo's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked Chen Hansheng up and down. "Since when did you learn to smoke? How come I didn't know?"

A bit annoyed, Chen Hansheng waved him off. He hadn't remembered his childhood friend being this nagging before. "I'm in a bad mood. Just one to ease my mind," he said.

Wang Zibo hesitated for a moment but ultimately complied and went to buy the cigarettes. The shop was right outside the gate of "Port City No. 1 High School." Chen Hansheng stared at the wide iron gate, thinking that this was where he had spent three years of high school and over a thousand days of memories.

Soon, Wang Zibo returned. "Here, your cigarettes."

"Ha, it's been so long since I've seen Hongta Mountain," Chen Hansheng chuckled. He hadn't smoked this brand in ages since starting work. He skillfully opened the pack and even offered one to Wang Zibo. "Want one?"

Wang Zibo hesitated before deciding to smoke with his friend. 

Wang Zibo still had the typical student mindset and was quite shy compared to Chen Hansheng, who had been weathered by society. His actions clearly differed in boldness. 

Chen Hansheng rolled up his pant legs to his knees and sat down on the curb, puffing clouds of smoke and watching the passing students thoughtfully. 

Wang Zibo, embarrassed, turned his head to take a quick puff and then hid the cigarette behind his back, exhaling thin streams of smoke like a watering can spout. 

Wang Zibo smoked nervously, but when he glanced at Chen Hansheng, he couldn't help but comment, "Chen, you look pretty dashing when you smoke."

Chen Hansheng was a seasoned smoker; even the way he flicked ash had a rhythmic flair.

"Just practice," Chen Hansheng replied indifferently, which only made Wang Zibo more envious. At that moment, Chen Hansheng looked pretentious and annoying, but undeniably cool.

Before they finished their cigarettes, a group of students approached on bicycles. Wang Zibo hurriedly put out his cigarette and warned Chen Hansheng, "Quick, get rid of it."

Chen Hansheng tensed. "Is there a teacher among them?"

"No, just our classmates," Wang Zibo explained.

Chen Hansheng almost threw the cigarette away, but when he heard this, he reconsidered. He respected teachers, but why worry about classmates? They were already graduates; what could they do?

The group was likely there to pick up their admission notices, filled with excitement and anticipation for college life. When they saw Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo, they stopped.

Chen Hansheng looked disheveled, the result of both his hangover and his disorientation after being reborn. He sat sprawled out, smoking with an unkempt appearance. If it weren't for his youthful face, he would have looked like a middle-aged, greasy man.

The classmates stared at him in shock. In a school like Port City No. 1 High School, where discipline was prioritized, smoking was considered a sign of delinquency.

"Are you all here to get your admission notices?" Wang Zibo felt the need to say something.

The group didn't respond, instead looking at a girl in the center for direction.

The girl was beautiful, with a floral dress that swayed in the summer breeze, exuding a cheerful vitality. She stood at least 1.67 meters tall, and the heat gave her cheeks a slight flush. Her straight nose, rosy lips, fair chin, and eyes under thick lashes shone brightly. Her hair fell naturally to her shoulders.

As she stopped her orange bicycle and approached, Chen Hansheng even caught a faint lily fragrance.

"Chen Hansheng, how can you smoke?" Her voice was pleasant but carried a hint of anger.

Chen Hansheng had no idea who she was. He turned to Wang Zibo for help, but Wang Zibo just stared blankly back at him. Left with no choice, Chen Hansheng asked, "Who are you?"

A gasp swept through the group. The girls in particular shook their heads; TV dramas were right: when men changed their hearts, it was fast. Last night, he confessed to someone, and today, after being rejected, he pretended not to know her.

"Hansheng, you shouldn't be like this," another boy stepped forward, tall and with a warm smile. "Smoking isn't like you. I hope you move on from the heartbreak and look forward to a bright future. We all expect you to improve."

Although his words sounded supportive, they carried an undertone of condescension. Chen Hansheng, who had been a successful businessman for years, disliked being used as a stepping stone, especially by someone he hardly knew.

Although he sat, his raised head, composed expression, and unwavering gaze projected authority. He sized up the boy before saying, "Who the hell are you?"

Years of social experience gave him an air of both casual indifference and authoritative confidence that young students could not match. Even at showing off, the boy couldn't hold a candle to Chen Hansheng.

"You're a disappointment," the boy muttered, then turned to the pretty girl. "Rongyu, let's go. Don't bother with someone like him."

But the girl didn't move. She stepped closer and said, "If you want to pretend not to know me, that's fine, but I made it clear last night: I don't want to date before college graduation."

"If you smoke again, I'll tell your mom."

Chen Hansheng paused. He didn't want to announce his return in this way, especially on the day students came to collect their notices, attracting attention from bystanders.

After a moment's thought, he complied and discarded the cigarette.

The girl smiled, a hint of satisfaction on her face. She took a bottle of water from her bike's basket. "Wash your face before getting your notice."

"Thanks, but I have my own," Chen Hansheng refused directly.

"Typical mind games. Fail at confessing, then act cold," the boy scoffed.

But the girl was determined. Even though Chen Hansheng didn't take it, she placed the water by his feet and, with a snort, pushed her orange bike into the school.

As they left, realization dawned on Chen Hansheng. "She's Xiao Rongyu, isn't she?"

"Stop pretending around me," Wang Zibo said, annoyed. "I know you're upset about the rejection, but we're friends. Talk to me if you need to."

Chen Hansheng didn't know how to explain, so he simply patted Wang Zibo's shoulder. "Getting into college means being an adult. Suffering alone is an adult's prized skill."

...