Chapter 3

After finishing the two morning exams, Qi Lei went straight home.

No. 1 High School is located in the eastern part of Shangbei City, next to the Korean Middle School, which the locals call Chao High School.

Qi Lei's home is just outside the southern wall of Chao High School, in the family housing of the grain warehouse. It's a long row of old-style bungalows, divided into individual homes.

Qi Lei was born there and spent his childhood, youth, and adolescence there.

In the future, as Qi Lei went to college, pursued a master's degree and worked in another city, and with his parents either laid off or retired, the family moved away from the old house and hadn't returned for ten years.

Following his memories, Qi Lei returned to the familiar alley and stood in front of the old iron gate, feeling a myriad of emotions.

In his previous life, he had always despised this old and crowded home, longing to escape and dreaming of a spacious and bright new home in the city.

However, after many years, the family had worked hard, suffered greatly, and finally achieved their dream of a new home, only to realize that the small courtyard with the grapevine-covered walls was the most peaceful and serene haven.

But... it was too late to return.

Unlocking the door, Qi Lei pushed it open.

The lush grapevine indeed came into view, casting dappled shadows in the sunlight.

There was the red brick ground and the self-built kitchen.

Qi Lei stepped forward, feeling a surge of joy from the bottom of his heart.

In the novels of the future, the main characters, upon rebirth, would always think about how to become rich and powerful, owning vast wealth.

When it came to Qi Lei, he naturally wanted a better life and more wealth, and he would take action.

But he felt that wasn't everything.

Shouldn't it be more worth looking forward to, to return to the past, to see those people and things, to relive the good times and reclaim old dreams?

Youth and the season of flowers and rain! How much wealth and status could not buy that back.

He didn't want to live his second life and still have to recall his youth and lick his wounds in his thirties or forties.

Enjoying everything around him, he pushed the door open and entered the house, which no longer felt so unfamiliar.

He habitually entered his small bedroom and sprawled on the single bed.

In front of him was the desk, with a stack of *Slam Dunk* and *Yu Yu Hakusho* comics...

The posters of Zhou Huimin and Ching Yik...

The row of wooden guitars...

The dazzling noon sunlight...

"Awesome!!"

Qi Lei roared and sprang up from the bed, humming a song, and sat down at the desk, flipping through a nearly new second-year chemistry textbook, starting his cramming.

The exam started at 1:30 PM, and it was just 11:00 AM, giving him two and a half hours to use.

As for Qi Lei's parents... they were at work and wouldn't come back even for such an important moment in their son's life.

At this point, they had already given up on Qi Lei and didn't expect him to do well in the exam.

Although chemistry only had four volumes, there was a lot to copy.

Formulas, theorems, reaction equations, element tables, atomic weights—Qi Lei didn't miss a thing.

A good memory is not as good as a bad pen, so he copied everything to deepen his impression.

After an hour, he had only finished two volumes, much slower than physics, and used sheet after sheet of manuscript paper.

However, Qi Lei didn't feel tired at all.

Compared to the 9-to-5 life of adults, the hard work of student days was like play.

Just as he was immersed in the ocean of knowledge, he heard the courtyard gate being kicked open, and two teenagers, about Qi Lei's age, swaggered in.

"Son! Dad came to see you!"

Qi Lei stiffened but didn't dare to look up, imagining the two people in his mind.

One, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, thin like a utility pole.

The other, with a shiny third-generation elite phone in his waist, looking like a bumpkin.

When the two teenagers came to Qi Lei's window and peered in through the half-open window, Qi Lei spoke.

"Put the stuff down, and... get lost!"

The two were stunned, shocked.

It wasn't that Qi Lei was impolite, but... damn! This guy was actually studying?

Tang Yi looked at Wu Ning beside him in shock, and Wu Ning looked back at him in shock.

Tang Yi: "Are... are you studying?"

Wu Ning: "Seems... seems like chemistry?"

Tang Yi: "Why?"

Wu Ning: "Probably got rejected by some girl?"

Tang Yi: "Isn't it a bit late?"

Wu Ning: "Late?"

Tang Yi: "Late!"

Qi Lei exploded, "Say it again, put the stuff down, and get lost!"

"Got it!"

Tang Yi and Wu Ning obediently responded, respectfully handing a bag of buns through the window and slouching out.

Tang Yi reminded him, "Eat while it's hot, don't overwork yourself."

Wu Ning added, "Bro, wait for me after the exam! I went to your place, but they said you left early."

Just before closing the door, Wu Ning asked, "And, and who's that short-haired girl in your exam room? She's pretty, I like her."

"Come back!!"

Qi Lei slammed his hand on the table and sprang up, already in tears, unseen by the two.

Wu Ning immediately came back, "What's up? Did you find out about her? What's her name? Which school?"

Qi Lei, suppressing his emotions, said, "The afternoon essay topic is 'My Something Something.' Believe it or not, get lost!"

Wu Ning: "......"

"Shit! I'm talking to you about a girl, and you're talking about an essay topic? Besides, with your last-place level, you have the nerve to guess the topic?"

He walked away, swinging his arms, "If you don't help, I'll do it myself."

Watching their backs, Qi Lei's tears fell again.

Tang Yi and Wu Ning, his two best friends since childhood.

He told them to get lost, not because they would part ways and become enemies in the future, but because Qi Lei wasn't ready to reunite with them yet.

Ten years later, the three brothers had all achieved academic success and agreed to venture into the real world.

However, an accident took the lives of the two brothers.

Ten years later, Qi Lei buried them with his own hands, crying like a child at their funeral.

Now, Qi Lei didn't know what to say to them.

Should he warn Tang Yi, "Don't let our dad get into the fireworks business?"

Or scold Wu Ning, "Why the hell are you going abroad? I haven't seen you for years!"

Or tell them, "Without you guys, I'm not doing well, I'm ashamed."

Sitting down, he continued copying, occasionally wiping away his tears and grabbing a bun to stuff into his mouth.

In this life, he would not only make sure they lived but also live better than before.

In this life, he would not be ashamed!

Okay, thinking about it was pointless; the primary issue was still the high school entrance exam.

At 1:10 PM, Qi Lei left home on time, heading straight to No. 1 High School.

At 1:20 PM, he entered the exam room with two popsicles.

Xu Qian, the girl next to him, was already there, with a Chinese textbook spread out on her desk, her arms hanging down, and her pointed chin resting on the desk as she read.

Seeing Qi Lei enter, her big eyes followed his movements, looking quite playful.

Before sitting down, Qi Lei slapped a popsicle on Xu Qian's desk, "I never owe anyone, especially not a beautiful girl."

Xu Qian raised an eyebrow, finding no reason to refuse.

She smoothly pulled out her arm and started to unwrap the popsicle.

"Is that all it takes to repay a favor? A popsicle?"

Qi Lei, not one to be outdone by a girl, grinned, "Sure, if one isn't enough, I'll give you a lifetime supply."

"Get lost!" Xu Qian rolled her eyes, "Dream on."

Qi Lei just chuckled, not responding.

This kind of slightly flirtatious banter should be kept light; too much would be considered harassment.

Xu Qian's heart was pounding, no boy had ever joked with her like this. What a dream!

After all, girls in 1998 were still very innocent!

After a while, with the invigilator not yet there, Qi Lei leaned closer to Xu Qian, who was biting the popsicle stick, and whispered, "Help me, I'm really not good at this."

"Ha ha." Xu Qian laughed coldly, "You're not just not good; you're terrible!"

She subconsciously put her hand on Qi Lei's shoulder, looking mature, "Bro, give up!"

Then, as if electrocuted, she quickly pulled her hand back, surprised by her own action. She had never done that before.

Moreover, they were enemies in the morning, and after two exams, they were already calling each other brothers?

This boy is toxic! Xu Qian told herself.

Waving her hand in disgust, "Go away, stay away from me."

Qi Lei didn't move, "Deal, then help me!"

"Fine, fine, go back, go back, good boy!"

Qi Lei smiled, satisfied. Done!

...

...

——————

There's a 515 event, and some old readers want a fan title. I thought about it and decided to complete a small task to get some titles, regardless of whether it's the new book period or not.

If you like the tone of the new book, please vote and support it!