Chapter 10: How to Quickly and Effectively Make Good Friends

Morning sunlight slanted through the window, spilling onto the bedside.

Jiang Qin jolted awake, flung open the door, and bolted to the bathroom. After squatting over the toilet for three minutes, he stood up, woozy and utterly baffled.

Damn it, he'd forgotten he was reborn— that wake-up-and-run-to-the-toilet habit was long gone.

But since he was up, there was no point crawling back to bed.

Jiang Qin washed up, hung the towel, fetched his bike from the downstairs storage, and pedaled to Jizhou City Library.

On the second floor, he spotted Feng Nanshu right away.

Today, she wore a black-and-white checkered skirt, her long hair cascading to her waist, her clear eyes bright and transparent. She was on tiptoes, searching the bookshelf, a pose that stretched her slim waist taut, her body leaning slightly forward, revealing the delicate, graceful curves of her figure.

"Looking for what?"

"I want that book."

Feng Nanshu glanced at him, her slender finger pointing to the row above.

Jiang Qin stepped over, grabbed the book for her, handed it over, and they returned to their familiar corner, settling into their usual spots.

Then, Feng Nanshu opened her little leather bag, pulled out an Industrial and Commercial Bank card, and slapped it down in front of him.

"For you!"

Honestly, Jiang Qin felt a bit embarrassed.

A 38-year-old soul borrowing money from an 18-year-old girl? You'd have to be shameless to feel okay about that.

Plus, the fact that Feng Nanshu's first move after sitting down was to whip out this card—without him even asking—meant she'd kept this on her mind.

That was, at the very least, a little touching.

Jiang Qin picked up the card, pinching it between his fingers. It still felt unreal.

Just like that, he'd borrowed money standing up?

He still remembered 2016, when he'd been sacked and scapegoated, scrambling to borrow cash for rent. The cold shoulders he'd gotten left no trauma, but the taste wasn't pleasant.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Uh… what's the PIN?"

"Six 8s."

Rich people's bank card PINs were so straightforward. Jiang Qin tucked it into his pocket, patting it twice, only relaxing once he could feel its outline through the fabric.

He'd wanted to ask how much was in it but hesitated, feeling it'd be rude—like his intentions were too obvious.

Forget it—whatever's in there, it's something.

It was probably her New Year's money or pocket cash, though. At most, maybe 80,000 or 90,000 yuan—could be less.

He planned to take it, hustle for a month, see if he could double it, then buy a rundown place in Fenghuali for some demolition payout cash.

After that, he'd repay Feng Nanshu, see what was left, and kick off his real business plan.

"You got a bank card this early?"

"It's not mine." Feng Nanshu said calmly.

Jiang Qin had asked offhand, but her answer froze him. His eyes widened. "If it's not yours, whose is it?"

Feng Nanshu raised her clear gaze. "My dad's."

"You're giving me your dad's money to spend?"

"C… Can I?"

Feng Nanshu's expression turned hazy, like she wasn't sure if this was okay, tossing the question back to Jiang Qin.

He was completely thrown.

What kind of relationship lets a girl hand over her dad's money for him to use?

The kicker was, he and Feng Nanshu weren't even close. Same school, different classes. Sure, they'd shared books and snacks lately, but they'd barely talked. This money felt too hot to handle.

After wrestling with it, Jiang Qin reluctantly pulled the card from his pocket and handed it back.

He was desperate for cash—without it, nothing worked—but tricking an innocent girl into swiping her family's money? That's barely human.

"You're not borrowing it?" Feng Nanshu looked puzzled.

"I don't want you getting scolded at home. Let's drop it."

Feng Nanshu shook her head coolly. "I won't. My dad has tons of cards—he won't notice one missing."

Jiang Qin still waved it off. "If it was yours, I'd take it. But taking without asking is stealing."

"You'll pay it back, right?"

"Of course I will."

"If you'll pay it back, it's borrowing." Feng Nanshu said with conviction.

That made Jiang Qin pause.

Right then, it was like a little devil popped up on his left shoulder, egging him on. Take it—just replace it before anyone notices. You're not gonna run off with it.

Jiang Qin, Jiang Qin, forgotten why you were so full of regrets last life? That's how this world works—fortune favors the bold, the timid starve.

Besides, borrowing's not stealing. It's legit—nothing to do with your morals.

Convinced by his own logic, Jiang Qin picked the card back up and took Feng Nanshu to the bank.

She didn't even know how much was in it—utterly clueless—but since she was the creditor, he figured she deserved to know the exact amount.

Then again, what was this girl thinking?

Wasn't she scared he'd scam her? Say there's 50,000 when it's 100,000, or 30,000 when it's 50,000, pocket the difference, and leave her with nowhere to cry?

At the ATM, Jiang Qin slid the card in, selected balance inquiry, and held his breath.

You rich folks really don't treat money like money, huh?

Over six million yuan, all in one card, PIN six 8s. Lose it, and you're screwed.

Feng Nanshu stood beside him, staring at the screen, her expression cool and unfazed, like money was just a number to her.

Back at the library, Jiang Qin sat at the desk in silence, feeling today's events were more surreal than rebirth itself.

What's she after? Does she know I'm reborn?

Just then, Feng Nanshu set her book down, her clear eyes fixed on him, like she had something to say.

Jiang Qin snapped out of it. "What's up?"

"I want to be your friend. I hope you won't be ungrateful about it." Her tone was dead serious.

"?????"

Jiang Qin blinked, thrown off by her approach.

But then he caught sight of the book he'd grabbed for her—How to Quickly and Effectively Make Good Friends.

His brain stalled, then he glanced at the slightly tense Feng Nanshu, slapped his forehead, and everything clicked.

Who the hell spread the rumor she was aloof?

This girl was clearly a natural airhead with social anxiety!

"Actually… we're already friends."

"Then when can you take me out to play?"

"…"