Chapter 46: if you are also

Until Zhong Menghuai’s figure completely vanished from sight, Meng Zhi slowly withdrew her gaze.

Was it an illusion?

Did she really just coincidentally come to ask me for directions?

Meng Zhi didn’t quite believe in such low-probability events, but she couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility either.

Especially Zhong Menghuai’s reaction. She didn’t show any signs of recognizing me, her disguise seamless.

Before she could ponder further, a muffled voice came from beside her: “Just now… that was the beautiful teacher, right?”

“Finish what’s in your mouth before you talk.” Meng Zhi helplessly turned her head and shot her a glare.

Chen Xinya let out an “oh,” hurriedly swallowing the food in her mouth, then shyly wiping the oil stains from the corner of her lips.

“What did she say?”

“She asked for directions.”

“Eh~ Even asking for directions lands right on you? Your luck with romance is pretty wild, huh.”

“I said it was just directions.”

Chen Xinya didn’t press further. Instead, after wiping her mouth with a tissue, she eagerly said: “Let’s go, time to hit the internet cafe!”

“You’re going to the cafe dressed like that?”

Meng Zhi glanced at her plain white dress and teased: “Internet cafes can smell pretty bad, especially the cigarette smoke. If you don’t change, you’ll stink when you get back.”

“Huh?”

Chen Xinya shrank back pitifully, her innocent big eyes blinking at Meng Zhi: “What should we do? Go back and change?”

“Let’s go back. I don’t want to wear this to the cafe either.”

Meng Zhi lowered her head to pick up her phone: “I’ll send them a message to grab a quiet private booth first.”

“Mhm.” Chen Xinya nodded obediently.

She followed Meng Zhi so docilely, unconditionally listening to her words. Like a well-behaved little bunny.

Back home, Meng Zhi changed into a simple, fresh T-shirt and shorts. When she came out, she saw Chen Xinya had also changed into a goose-yellow blouse, topped with a baseball cap.

“Going to an internet cafe… anything I need to bring?”

“Just your ID.”

“ID, huh… wait, what!?”

Seeing Chen Xinya’s face flush slightly as she looked at her in flustered confusion, Meng Zhi couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation: “Of course you need an ID to go online! It’s not like bringing an ID means we’re checking into a hotel, okay?”

“Oh, like that… I’ve never been to an internet cafe, so I really didn’t know.” Chen Xinya lowered her head, faintly showing a trace of disappointment.

Meng Zhi sighed and ruffled her hair: “Alright, I’m not mocking you. Let’s go, they’ve already secured a spot.”

Chen Xinya nodded. As she followed Meng Zhi, she cautiously reached her hand forward a little.

Unexpectedly, Meng Zhi naturally took her hand, holding it as they walked to the roadside to hail a taxi.

“…Hehe.” Chen Xinya pursed her lips into a smile, gripping Meng Zhi’s hand tightly, afraid she might let go.

In the car, Meng Zhi reminded her: “You’d better prepare yourself. Those guys from our class probably never went to an internet cafe to game with a girl in their lives. And since it’s your first time at a place like that, you’re like a little bunny stepping into a wolf’s den.”

“Is it really that dramatic?” Chen Xinya blinked curiously.

“Not really… but since it’s your first time gaming with others, I’m worried you might not feel comfortable.” Meng Zhi said casually, “If anything feels off, just tell me. If you don’t want to play, say so. No need to force yourself to fit in.”

Right.

This feeling.

This sensation of being cared for so thoroughly, every little emotion considered.

Chen Xinya deeply missed this feeling. In her previous life, she had gradually sunk into Meng Zhi’s affection, losing herself in it. Since her rebirth, it had been a long time since she felt so cherished, held in the palm of Meng Zhi’s hand.

Sure enough, choosing to go to the internet cafe with her was the right call.

“Hey, are you listening?” Seeing Chen Xinya seemingly lost in a daze, Meng Zhi frowned slightly.

“I’m listening.”

Chen Xinya tightened her grip on Meng Zhi’s hand, her eyes sparkling with a sly smile: “Then, you’d better protect me well, okay?”

Meng Zhi froze for a moment before looking away.

*

Soon, the taxi stopped at the internet cafe’s entrance.

This cafe wasn’t far from school, a popular spot for high school students. The computers were decent, mid-to-high-end, but the place stood out for its size—two floors with plenty of private booths and a relatively better environment.

For Chen Xinya, the internet cafe was a completely new world. From the moment they entered, she clung tightly to Meng Zhi’s hand, following her step by step, occasionally looking around curiously.

Compared to what Chen Xinya had imagined, the cafe wasn’t as bad as she thought. Though the main hall still carried a faint smell of cigarette smoke and disinfectant, and there were occasional sounds of keyboard clacks and grumbled curses, most people sat quietly at their computers, focused on their own tasks.

After circling around twice, Meng Zhi found Zhao Meng and the others’ booth.

“We’re here.”

As Meng Zhi slowly pushed open the door, Chen Xinya peeked out from behind her.

“Yo, finally made it.”

Seeing Meng Zhi and the person behind her, Zhao Meng and the others immediately started hooting like monkeys spotting a fairy: “Not bad, Meng Zhi, you actually brought Class Flower Chen?”

“See? I told you, Meng Zhi’s got game. You think she’s all quiet, but she’s got moves~”

“Hi…” Chen Xinya seemed a bit nervous, only daring to hide behind Meng Zhi and cautiously greet them.

“Hey, no need to be so polite, Class Flower Chen.”

“Come, sit. We saved the couple’s seat by the edge for you two, no interruptions, promise.”

Meng Zhi playfully scolded them to shut up, then sat with Chen Xinya at the two seats against the wall in the booth.

Chen Xinya really knew nothing. Sitting there, she looked around helplessly, unable to even find where to turn on the computer after half a day.

Just as she sat there cluelessly, a familiar voice spoke beside her: “I’ll do it.”

Turning her head, Meng Zhi had already leaned over to her seat, pressing the power button for her.

She unwrapped a disposable earphone cover.

She even wiped the keyboard and mouse with an alcohol wipe.

All Chen Xinya had to do was sit there obediently, watching Meng Zhi take care of everything for her.

For a fleeting moment, Chen Xinya felt a daze. The boy in front of her began to overlap with the husband in her memories, and she almost thought Meng Zhi had also been reborn like her.

These small, trivial actions had become so instinctive to her, as natural as breathing.

If she had also been reborn.

If she still loved me as deeply as in our previous life.

How wonderful that would be.