Chapter 22: Youth and the Feelings about Youth

The next day, Feng Xiyao slept in blissfully.

Joking aside, though Meng Zhi told her to leave early, it was a rare chance to linger at his place. No way she’d obediently head home.

She didn’t crawl out of the master bedroom until nearly noon, yawning lazily. Noticing Meng Zhi’s door ajar, she curiously peeked inside.

“Wow… you’re actually studying?”

“No kidding. It’s the college entrance exam.” Meng Zhi sighed. “Also, can’t you knock before barging in?”

“You left the door open. Isn’t that basically inviting me to snoop?”

“What kind of logic is that? So if you forget to close the bathroom door, you’re inviting me to peek?”

“Exactly. Feel free to peek.” Feng Xiyao grinned cheekily.

Meng Zhi couldn’t be bothered to bicker, turning back to his study materials.

Truth be told, he was only pretending to study.

Across his many loops, he’d taken the exam multiple times. To prepare for rebirths, he’d even practiced past papers, memorizing answers to perfection.

His real challenge wasn’t scoring well but controlling his score to hit X University’s law program precisely.

It wasn’t hard. Just going through the motions.

Seeing him buried in his books, Feng Xiyao pouted, bored. She grabbed a popsicle from the fridge, kicked off her slippers, hopped onto his bed, and munched happily.

Meng Zhi shot her a look. “Didn’t I say to leave when you woke up?”

“Don’t wanna go home…” She sprawled shamelessly, pouting like a spoiled kid. “It’s boring there.”

“And watching me study is fun?”

“Totally. You’re a hot guy, Brother Meng Zhi. Staring at you is always fun.”

“Then go watch idol dramas. Tons of hot guys there.”

“They’re not as hot as you.” She winked, scooting to the bed’s edge and holding out her popsicle. “Open up, ah~”

“…No.”

“Why not? I didn’t even put on lipstick this time!”

“Your breath stinks.”

Feng Xiyao’s face flushed with embarrassed anger. She chomped down on his hand. “You stink! I brush my teeth every day, okay?”

Meng Zhi shook her off like a pesky kitten, teasing, “Getting mad just proves you’re guilty.”

She puffed out her cheeks, glaring fiercely. Then, lightning-fast, she lunged, biting his lips.

Caught off guard, Meng Zhi froze as her tongue slipped past his teeth in a fleeting kiss.

…He’d just been teasing her. Having kissed her countless times, he knew exactly how she tasted.

But tasting her again after so long left him dazed.

“Mmph…”

Feng Xiyao pulled back after a second or two, as if shocked by her own boldness. Her face burned red, her bravado faltering as her voice shrank. “H-How’s that?”

“Told you… it doesn’t stink…” Her words trailed off, shy and flustered.

Meng Zhi, feeling the lingering softness on his lips, was torn between amusement and exasperation.

“Are you insane?”

“What!” She glared, embarrassment fueling her defiance. “You provoked me first!”

“You’re not scared of your mom or my dad skinning us alive?”

“Who cares? I did it, I’ll own it.”

He wanted to scold her, but her fierce, possessive stare—like a puppy claiming its territory—made him swallow his words.

…No helping it.

She was who she was.

Just like Chen Xinya remained herself after rebirth, Feng Xiyao was this reckless, carefree girl, acting on impulse without a thought for consequences.

A flood of reprimands crossed his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them. Instead, he sighed helplessly. “I really need to study. Can you stop bothering me?”

“Fine, fine…” She softened, a bit embarrassed herself. “I’ll just sit here quietly, no trouble.”

She curled up on the bed, hugging her knees, popsicle in mouth, silent.

The room fell quiet, save for her occasional sneaky glances and the rustle of turning pages.

…That kiss was pure impulse.

She hadn’t planned it, just couldn’t stand his teasing.

But the moment her lips touched his, she regretted it.

Maybe rebirth thinned her skin.

Kissing him, her heart raced, her body heated up.

In their last life, they’d been inseparable, doing everything together. So why did this kiss feel like her first, thrilling and electric?

No… for this life, it was her first kiss.

She almost missed this feeling. The first time she kissed him in their last life, it was just as thrilling, her heart pounding like it would burst.

Once it started, she got addicted, constantly stealing kisses, clinging to him.

That raw, hormone-driven rush was intoxicating, letting her forget reality, forget pain, lost in instinct and fantasy.

That’s what youth felt like.

Later, living together, that initial spark faded. She still loved his presence, but it wasn’t the same as that early, heart-pounding rush.

Now, she’d rediscovered it. She felt lucky for this rebirth.

They say you can’t have youth and the feeling of youth at once.

She was fortunate. This time, she could have both.

Sitting quietly on the bed, watching Meng Zhi’s profile as he studied, she couldn’t help but recall summers long past.

In a cramped room.

Him watching her. Sitting quietly, watching her strum her guitar, sweat on her bangs, humming softly.

Time slowing to a gentle crawl.