Chapter 45: Toys that won’t break

Half an hour earlier.

“Oh, Miss Zhong, it’s an honor. Thank you for attending our event.”

…Willing?

What a joke.

Who’d choose to come to a boring gathering of kids saying goodbye to their youth?

“Not at all. I should thank Principal Xu for giving X University this chance to promote enrollment.”

“I’ve heard X University’s Law School has a stunning beauty who became deputy director so young. Seeing you today, it’s well-deserved.”

So what?

Does being young mean I slept my way up?

Disgusting creep.

Just looking at him makes my skin crawl.

“Just luck and support from leadership.”

“It’s almost your turn to speak, Miss Zhong. I won’t keep you.”

Once the suffocating middle-aged man left, Zhong Menghuai slowly dropped her practiced smile.

She pulled a mirror and lipstick from her bag.

The vibrant red coated her lips.

In the mirror, a refined woman stared back—flawless face, sharp eyes, perfect makeup.

Like a meticulously dressed doll.

But in the doll’s eyes lurked deep exhaustion and disdain.

“Hah…”

She snapped the mirror shut, exhaling heavily.

So tiring.

Novels lied.

They said rebirth led to a perfect life, unstoppable success.

All fairy tales for kids.

This world was already set in stone, its gears locked tight.

No amount of hammering could change it.

Even reborn, an ordinary person couldn’t shift a thing.

Just another cog in a cold, massive machine.

Before rebirth, Zhong Menghuai hated this world.

She still did.

Even now, her life hadn’t changed much—same monotonous routine, work, home, repeat.

Still forced to do things she despised, face people she loathed.

Like this so-called multi-school teacher appreciation banquet.

She had no memory of it from her last life, but she was unlucky enough to be picked by the university to promote enrollment.

She hated this.

Dealing with sleazy men, tricking naive kids.

The quiet buildup of stress and emotions was nearing a breaking point.

And yet.

Her only outlet for release was gone.

…

…Or so she thought.

While giving her half-hearted speech, maintaining a facade of focus, Zhong Menghuai spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

Just a glance, a fleeting moment.

But she was certain.

It was him.

Right… he’s in this graduating class.

He might show up to something like this.

She hadn’t expected to see him here.

In that instant, a flood of complex, overwhelming emotions engulfed her.

But adult rules kept her composed.

She finished her speech, smiled, and exited, exchanging pleasantries backstage.

Only when alone in a quiet corner did those emotions surge back, filling her chest and eyes.

“Meng Zhi…”

She murmured his name, her eyes revealing a rare emotion—sorrow.

She’d never forget this boy.

More important than anything worth remembering.

His sharp collarbone, sweet to taste.

His lips, their feel, the cute way he tried to muffle sounds during intimacy.

His touch, scent, color, flavor.

Every detail of his body.

Things that once captivated her endlessly.

From their first meeting, she felt it.

They were the same—outsiders, utterly disillusioned with the world.

His melancholic, lonely eyes, sitting in the study room with earphones, scrolling his phone, exuded a youthful aura that intoxicated her.

He had a fragile, pitiable quality, a delicate weakness in his bones.

It sparked her protective and possessive instincts.

Seeing him, she felt desire for the first time.

In her last life, she broke her adult rules, gave in to impulse, and claimed him.

He became her emotional anchor.

All her stress, frustration, and resentment found release through him.

Despite his lonely, fragile air, his tolerance for her was surprisingly high.

Like a toy that never broke, no matter how she played.

Slowly, she realized she couldn’t let him go.

For an adult, that was fatal.

Nobody was indispensable—she knew that better than anyone.

And he was her student.

Their relationship was her life’s gravest mistake.

So she hid it with everything she had, maintaining their connection.

Hoping he’d grow up slowly, cling to her longer, stay with her more.

It could’ve lasted longer.

…If not for that car accident.

Snapping back, Zhong Menghuai reined in her thoughts.

Seeing him, her desires nearly took over.

But now, calmer, she knew what to do.

She wandered the venue discreetly, searching.

The halls were vast, split by schools, but she was confident she’d recognize him instantly.

She found him.

But beside him stood another girl.

A beautiful girl, dressed in a lovely gown for him, her profile pure and youthful.

With Meng Zhi, they looked like a perfect pair, a golden boy and jade girl.

In that moment, Zhong Menghuai felt a cold clarity, like falling from a dream into harsh reality.

She stared, dazed.

…Right.

He’s not my toy yet.

Unwilling to give up, she waited for a moment when the girl stepped away and approached him casually.

“Sorry to interrupt, classmate. Are you from Experimental High?”

“No, Experimental High’s in the next hall.”

“Oh.”

She gave him a final, deep look.

His reaction was flawless—surprise at being addressed, a brief flush and daze seeing her, then a shy, nervous reply.

…He really didn’t know her.

Swallowing her disappointment, she walked away as if nothing happened.

…Just wait.

There’ll be a chance.