001: Confessions and Ice Cream

"Xu Lin, if you could travel to another world like in those novels, what would you want to do?"
A big guy sat on the steps, cradling a basketball, his gaze fixed on the distant sports field, speaking in fits and starts.
"Li Bin, can you leave me alone for a while? Go play basketball."
The slender, handsome youth beside him shot him a look, then lowered his head, gazing at the blue-and-white school uniform in his arms, letting out a sigh.
"Alright, I'll go play. Take your time adjusting. Failing at confessing isn't a big deal—just try again next time!"
"And besides, Ji Yun didn't say yes to that guy from the next class either." With that, he dashed off, basketball in tow, joining the other boys basking under the sun.
Xu Lin watched their figures and muttered to himself, "A transmigrator...what would I even do with that?"
Yes, Xu Lin was a transmigrator—or rather, a reborn soul. He had returned from being a 'perfectly ordinary' twenty-four-year-old rookie office worker to his seventeen-year-old self, still 'perfectly ordinary,' as a second-year high schooler.
When he woke up yesterday in his new old life, he wasn't particularly excited—more annoyed, really.
Because, just half a month before he'd crossed over, his dad had told him that the old house he'd bought as a young migrant worker was being demolished, with compensation of about five million, due in a month.
Now that he was back, his short-lived taste of being a second-generation rich kid had evaporated.
Sure, he could wait a few years, or, like the protagonists in rebirth novels, use his foreknowledge to make even more money.
But he'd always been lazy—if he could make money lying down, why bother standing up? As long as he had enough to spend, drifting through life sounded pretty sweet.
Yet back at school today, memories stirred within him, and regrets resurfaced.
One of those regrets was Ji Yun—a remarkable girl: beautiful, bright, good-natured, the embodiment of most people's first love.
But he'd been an introverted loner then, three years in the same class, barely exchanged a handful of words.
Still, like many ordinary boys, he quietly admired her from afar, watching as she grew more graceful, poised, and mature, until, at a later class reunion, he heard she'd married soon after graduating college.
After the reluctant congratulations from the gathered men, he swallowed his feelings, letting her become the distant, eternal "moonlight" in their hearts.
Before transmigrating, he'd even joked to himself: if I'd had five million back then, would I have dared to confess to her?
Now, he was back...and he wanted to try!
He'd planned to wait, nurture a connection, then make his move. But during a chat with friends, the topic slipped out, overheard by other girls, and before he knew it, he was pushed into action.
He hadn't expected that on the second day of his rebirth, the first real thing he'd do was confess his feelings—and, unsurprisingly, be rejected.
The reason was the same as ever: she only wanted to focus on her studies, not consider anything else right now.
There was also a 'rich and handsome' guy from the next class who got turned down too, so at least he wasn't the only one left awkward.

Of course, he'd anticipated this outcome. Success would have required more groundwork.
This impulsive act was really just him trying to fulfill a wish he'd never managed before.
So he wasn't really heartbroken, nor did he need to "adjust" anything. He simply thought the weather was too hot for basketball—who'd want to sweat buckets and then suffer through class?
"First wish fulfilled. Next up: study hard...that one should be easier."
Though Xu Lin suffered from laziness, aversion to trouble, chronic introversion, and social awkwardness, he had no issues with academics.
He'd only gotten into a local university, mostly because it was close to home.
But he was clever enough—if he applied himself a bit more this time around, getting into a better university shouldn't be a problem.
It would make his grandparents happier, too. Maybe he'd visit them this weekend—he hadn't seen them in so long.
With his mind made up, he breathed deeply and stretched, only to see a pair of slender legs come into view.
"Xu, why aren't you playing basketball?"
A pleasant voice sounded from above. He quickly stood, turning to look back.
"Hello, Teacher!" Xu Lin pointed at the sun, "Though it's autumn now, today is just too hot—I don't want to risk heatstroke playing ball."
"Sit down and chat for a while."
She arched her delicate brows, took off her little suit jacket, revealing a chiffon blouse beneath, and sat casually on the steps, with no airs at all.
"Alright." Xu Lin hurriedly sat down, gazing at her gentle, oval face, and suddenly recalled some memories.
This was Su Qingwan, only about six or seven years older than them, his English teacher during his time at No. 3 High School. She'd only taught there for two years before leaving, just as he started his final year.
Her presence had inspired even the most lackadaisical boys to pay attention for at least one class.
Compared to Ji Yun, as a teacher, the boys' admiration was purely aesthetic. Maybe every student has a goddess-teacher in their life.
But that wasn't what mattered. What mattered was that, unlike Ji Yun, this teacher hadn't found happiness.
At that class reunion, he learned that this woman, who'd dazzled the whole school, was no longer alive.
Novels need logic, but reality doesn't. After leaving the school, she went abroad for further studies, only to be caught up in a bank robbery. She was shot while protecting a friend.
Su Qingwan looked at Xu Lin, seeing the same absent-minded gaze as other boys, and actually felt relieved.
"Looks like you're not too upset about Ji refusing you—that puts my mind at ease."
"Teacher, how did you know...well, there's nothing teachers don't know in school, it's just whether you choose to care."
Xu Lin smiled, shifting a little further away as he sat beside her.
"Teachers know everything, but students must focus on their studies."

"Of course. If students don't study, they'll regret it later—I understand."
Xu Lin had learned firsthand, after graduating, just how different job prospects were for graduates of different universities.
"Good, as long as you understand. Three years of effort will pay off."
"By the way, are you heading somewhere, Teacher?"
"No, it's just the power's out, and the office is stuffy. I came out for some air."
"But it's not much cooler outside. Teacher, would you like an ice cream?"
"Hmm?"
Su Qingwan was surprised, watching Xu Lin stand and head toward the grove. She followed out of curiosity.
Half a minute later, he arrived at the school fence, beyond which lay the road, and beside it, an elderly lady with a small cart.
"Grandma, two popsicles, please."
"Coming." The old woman wheeled her cart over to the fence, and Xu Lin reached through the bars to pick out his treats.
Su Qingwan stood stunned—so it could be done this way.
"Ahem! Xu, that's against school rules."
Only then did the old lady notice Su Qingwan's frowning face, her expression changing instantly as she spun her cart away and disappeared from view.
"Hey! Money! Teacher, it's PE class now—the last PE class for second-years. Isn't PE meant for enjoying youth?"
Xu Lin handed her one of the two popsicles, but Su Qingwan didn't take it.
"Don't want it? Then I'll have to eat them both myself." Xu Lin sighed, preparing to put the spare popsicle in his pocket.
The next moment, a slender hand reached out, seized his, and took the other popsicle.
"I'll have this one."
Xu Lin looked at his empty right hand and smiled helplessly. Though she was a teacher, she was still only twenty-three—a young woman. He hoped, this time around, she could...
Just then, his right hand felt a jolt, like static electricity, followed by a sharp pain in his head!
He stumbled back against a tree, as a screen slowly unfolded before his eyes.
[Congratulations on unlocking the Zodiac Love System]