We Can Try It in the Gymnasium Next Time

By the time the kiss ended, Lu Xiaoxiao was breathing hard, and her chest rose and fell several times before she recovered.

For the first time, she felt that Shao Enci was not someone she could afford to provoke.

When 037's voice sounded in her head, announcing that the task was complete, she reached out to push him away. But the young man seemed to have fallen under a love gu. He lowered his head and continued to kiss her lips greedily, lingering over them at an unhurried pace.

His long, fair hand tightened around her waist, but he made no other improper moves.

Only when the class bell rang nearby did Shao Enci reluctantly leave her swollen, reddened lips.

He straightened up, the tips of his ears flushed red, and brushed his thumb over the corner of his mouth. His deep gaze settled on her face, a hint of a lazy smile in his eyes. "Sneaking off for an affair in the Small Woods really does feel good. Next time, we can try the Gymnasium instead."

"..."

Her face flushed, Lu Xiaoxiao turned away and shyly tucked her loose hair behind her ear. "Try my ass," she said coquettishly.

The tips of her ears were crimson, more honest than her mouth.

Lu Xiaoxiao turned to leave, but 037 suddenly popped up: [Task 23: tease your archenemy in the Gymnasium and plant a hickey on his neck. Countdown: 9 hours and 59 minutes.]

She stopped in her tracks and cursed inwardly. 037, I suspect Shao Enci sent you specifically to mess with me.

037 did not reply.

Seeing her suddenly stop, Shao Enci lifted his chin slightly and glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lu Xiaoxiao turned around and suddenly smiled, her tone a little softer than before. "That suggestion you made just now was pretty good. Remember to meet me at the Gymnasium after the last class this afternoon."

"?"

Shao Enci watched her turn and walk away, remaining where he stood.

He raised an eyebrow and wondered, Do girls always change their tune this fast?

After the morning classes ended, Lu Xiaoxiao received a message from Meng Yuan, asking her to meet at a French restaurant.

When she arrived, Meng Yuan was already sitting by the window, and she had been stirring the iced coffee in front of her for a long time.

"Do you think there's something wrong with Qiu Boye's brain?" Meng Yuan put down her cup, anger still in her voice. "He's been pestering me like a pervert for the past two days, insisting I'm his wife."

Lu Xiaoxiao put down her bag and froze for a moment. "Why did he suddenly start pestering you?"

"I don't know!"

Meng Yuan rubbed her temple, as if the memory of that day gave her a headache. "Yesterday, I was on a date with He Xi, and the mood was just right. I was about to give him my first kiss when Qiu Boye suddenly appeared out of nowhere, pulled He Xi aside, and grabbed my hand, saying: 'You can't be with this scumbag. He'll cheat on you in the future. Yuanbao, turn around and look at me. I'm a hundred times better than him.'"

Lu Xiaoxiao: "..."

"He Xi has a good temper, so he didn't start a fight on the spot. He even tried to explain. A whole crowd at the mall was watching. I was mortified."

Meng Yuan took a big gulp of iced coffee. "I shook him off and told him that childhood engagement was just a verbal promise, and I didn't acknowledge it. Guess what he did? He pulled a yellowed marriage contract out of his pocket. It had both our birth dates and times on it, as well as the date of our engagement: May 20. He said, 'It's there in black and white. Denying it won't do you any good.'"

"And then?"

"Then I said I didn't acknowledge it and pulled He Xi away in front of Qiu Boye. But Qiu Boye came up behind me, picked me up over his shoulder, and shoved me into his car," Meng Yuan said angrily.

"I hit him and scratched him in the car. I even scratched his neck until it bled, but he still wouldn't let go. He said a bunch of things that made no sense, about how he'd been reborn, how someone would murder you, and how He Xi would get together with his younger sister before our engagement..."

Meng Yuan's voice grew quiet. Looking into Lu Xiaoxiao's bright eyes, she paused. "Xiaoxiao, what he said... was the same as what you told me before."

After hearing everything Meng Yuan had said, Lu Xiaoxiao's expression grew grave.

Could it be... that he really was reborn, just like me?

The hairs all over Lu Xiaoxiao's body stood on end, and she asked 037 in her head, Is Qiu Boye a reborn tasker, just like me?

037: [According to the information I just received, he's only an ordinary reborn person. But he won't affect your tasks. In fact, he'll be an assist.]

Lu Xiaoxiao grew a little excited. Then can he hear my conversations with you, the system?

037: [Yes. So, Xiaoxiao, with him joining your tasks from now on, things will be much easier for you.]

That's great!

Overjoyed for the moment, Lu Xiaoxiao completely overlooked the dejected look on Meng Yuan's face.

She took Meng Yuan's hand and comforted her. "Yuanyuan, Qiu Boye wasn't lying to you. I was reborn too, just like him."

Meng Yuan recalled what Lu Xiaoxiao had told her that day, and her heart sank further and further. She clasped Lu Xiaoxiao's hand tightly in both of hers. "So someone really did murder you in your senior year?! Xiaoxiao, no, why don't you go study abroad? I'll have my dad find someone to send you overseas for school and buy you a place too. You can hide abroad for a few years first."

Compared with her love life, her good friend's life was more important.

Lu Xiaoxiao was deeply moved by what Meng Yuan was doing, but she could not go abroad. Now, wherever Shao Enci was, she had to be there too.

"Yuanyuan, the only way you can help me now is to keep this a secret and not tell anyone. Also, can you get Qiu Boye's contact information? I need to get in touch with him."

Meng Yuan nodded and said, "I'll send you his contact information by tonight at the latest."

After English class ended that afternoon, there were still twenty minutes until Tai Chi class.

037 notified her: [Task 23: tease your archenemy in the Gymnasium and plant a hickey on his neck. Countdown: 1 hour and 15 minutes.]

Lu Xiaoxiao stood in the hallway, took a deep breath, and sent Shao Enci a message: [The last class is PE. You have to come to the Gymnasium.]

His reply came quickly: [What happens if I don't?]

Looking at those words, she could almost picture him leaning back in his chair, holding his phone in front of him as he sent the message.

The corners of Lu Xiaoxiao's lips curved up, and she typed: [Then I'll just have to call Senior He.]

The other side went quiet for a few seconds.

The mere mention of He Jiran's name was enough to make him lose his mind.

A new message popped up: [If you dare call him, don't even think about taking advantage of me again.]

Shao Enci had used the fiercest tone to say the most cowardly thing.

When Lu Xiaoxiao received the message, she couldn't help bursting out laughing.