Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

On the evening of the second day after registering for the Autumn Art Festival, Mei Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi went together to participate in the performance selection.

The audition venue was a small auditorium in the school’s western area. By the time the three of them arrived, there was already a long queue. Everyone attached great importance to this art festival and had made many preparations.

While waiting in line, Xia Yuan kept playing with Mei Fang’s hair.

“Ah Fang, are you nervous?”

“Nervous? What is there to be nervous about? Just do well.”

“Well… there are so many people here, and it’s your first time performing on stage. You must be nervous, right?”

Xia Yuan hugged Mei Fang’s neck from behind and smiled at him. “If you need to replenish your energy, I can help you, you know?”

“I don’t need to be like someone who was scared to death before going on stage. I think it’s actually you who’s nervous, not me.”

“Haha… how could that be? Don’t believe me? Ask Youxi and see who’s nervous, me or Ah Fang. Youxi, what do you say?”

Lin Youxi placed her hands on Mei Fang and Xia Yuan’s chests at the same time.

“Between the two of you, Ah Fang’s heartbeat is faster.”

“See, I told you!”

“What does a fast heartbeat prove? It’s just because some people naturally have a faster heartbeat…”

At this moment, Xia Yuan noticed a slight change in Lin Youxi’s expression. She didn’t respond to what Mei Fang said and instead leaned against Lin Youxi’s chest to listen for a while.

“Youxi…be honest, are you more nervous than us?”

“Youxi is here to cheer us on, why would she be nervous?”

As soon as Mei Fang finished speaking, Lin Youxi nodded slightly.

“To be honest… a little bit.”

“Ah? Are you going on stage to perform too? I thought you were just here to support me and Yuan Yuan.”

Xia Yuan hugged Lin Youxi’s neck and grumbled, “Who said that Youxi can’t go on stage? Ah Fang, you’re underestimating her.”

“No wonder you refused to tell me the song you’re performing. So this is the reason behind it.”

Although Lin Youxi said she was nervous, she appeared calm and composed to others. Only Mei Fang and Xia Yuan could sense the gravity behind Lin Youxi’s serious expression.

She held onto Mei Fang’s clothes and rested her forehead against his back.

Mei Fang and Xia Yuan exchanged glances.

“How about this, Ah Fang? Why don’t you take care of Youxi? Take her out for some fresh air and relax. I’ll continue waiting in line for you. It’s okay, anyway, they’re just calling numbers, and it will take a while.”

“Alright…”

Mei Fang was pulled out of the auditorium by Lin Youxi, who was holding onto the hem of his clothes.

Actually, their playful behavior in such a public place had already attracted some attention. However, since there didn’t seem to be any familiar students around, they didn’t pay much attention to others’ gazes.

Mei Fang led Lin Youxi outside. They stopped at a small convenience store nearby. Mei Fang went to buy some chewing gum and water for Lin Youxi. Lin Youxi sat on a bench and took deep breaths.

“Is it really that nerve-wracking?”

It’s rare to see Youxi like this.

Mei Fang sat down with Lin Youxi and then helped her twist open the bottle cap and handed her the water bottle.

“Did you force yourself to perform on stage with Yuan Yuan? Are you still accommodating Yuan Yuan like you used to?”

“I’m not really forcing myself. I already promised Yuan Yuan. Now I’m just making up for the things I didn’t do during our childhood.”

Lin Youxi took a small sip and then explained, “Yuan Yuan has always wanted to perform with me since elementary school. We never had a chance to fulfill that promise, but now is a good opportunity. Besides…”

“Besides?”

Lin Youxi smiled faintly, “Because I saw how hard you’ve been working to get on stage, I thought… I also wanted to experience that feeling with you guys.”

In middle school, Lin Youxi also enjoyed listening to music. Mei Fang even gifted her an MP3 player. Even now, she still carries the MP3 player that she and Mei Fang exchanged with her at all times.

Mei Fang could understand that feeling of not wanting to be left behind. After all, this was similar to Xia Yuan’s situation before, who clearly wasn’t good at science but still stubbornly wanted to take the science experimental class exam.

“I roughly understand your thoughts. It doesn’t seem like you’re forcing yourself. But Youxi, since you always work so hard, so you should be well-prepared, right? I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

“There’s a difference between being well-prepared and not being nervous. Like Yuan Yuan just said after hearing my heartbeat, I’m really nervous… Why don’t you give it a try too, to know if my heartbeat is fast enough, if I’m nervous or not?”

As Lin Youxi spoke, she reached out and placed Mei Fang’s hand against her chest, scaring Mei Fang, who quickly pulled his hand away.

“Ah, no, no, no! That’s not possible!”

Seeing Mei Fang’s awkward appearance, Lin Youxi couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Just kidding.”

“How can you joke like that?! You idiot… You almost scared me to death. You really made me nervous. I’ll go buy a bottle of water too.”

Mei Fang was about to get up and go to the store, but Lin Youxi pulled him back.

“Why waste your money? I’ve only had a few sips. Just drink mine.”

Lin Youxi handed the water bottle to Mei Fang. “Or is it that you feel embarrassed? Weren’t we always using the same cup casually since we were kids? Now you’re starting to mind?”

“It’s not that… of course, I don’t mind. Give it to me.”

Mei Fang took the water bottle that Lin Youxi handed over and took a gulp.

Although he said he didn’t mind, being watched intently by Lin Youxi as he drank water still stirred up some complex feelings.

“I suddenly remembered the water-drinking game we used to play before. Do you remember? When Yuan Yuan went to her grandmother’s house during summer vacation… We had nothing to do and competed in that game.”

“I remember… Of course, I remember. You were really mischievous back then… Oh, by the way, who won in the end? It was me, right?”

Lin Youxi shook her head with a smile, “It was me.”

“What?! How is that possible…that I would lose to a little girl like you.”

“I cheated back then. I didn’t let you drink more water.”

“Oh… That explains it.”

“By the way… to help the two of us relax a bit, I’ll tell you my interesting little secret about that water-drinking competition.”

“What? What is it? Tell me…”

“Sit down, and I’ll tell you quietly.”

Mei Fang sat down next to Lin Youxi, and she leaned against his shoulder, whispering softly in his ear: “During the water-drinking competition that day, when it reached the final round… Do you remember that I hurriedly went to the restroom? Well, at that time, I actually had a little…”^[1]

Lin Youxi’s words immediately startled Mei Fang.

“Th-That’s it! No wonder at that time——”

Lin Youxi interrupted Mei Fang and, in a serious tone, reminded him, “I’ve kept this secret for a long time, and I haven’t told anyone else. Now, you’re the only one who knows.”

“Well… after all, we were just kids back then. It’s understandable. Back then, I also wet my bed and people started calling me the bed-wetting king after that.”

“Mhm…”

Lin Youxi grabbed Mei Fang’s arm, pursed her lips, smiled, and then restrained her smile.

“Anyway, now only you know this dark history of mine. If there’s a third person… let’s say if Yuan Yuan finds out about this, how do you think I should punish you?”

“You…you have the final say. My mouth is sealed tight. I absolutely won’t let a word slip!”

“That’s for the best.”

Lin Youxi reached out and tapped Mei Fang’s mouth, reminding him again not to leak the secret.

“But after sharing this piece of dark history with you, do you feel less pressure about the performance now?”

“Huh? So, you were actually trying to comfort me?!”

Lin Youxi seemed a bit annoyed after hearing that, “What else did you expect? Do you really think I’d be nervous? How little do you know me?! If you don’t believe me, why don’t you try and feel my heartbeat?”

“No, no! Let’s… let’s go and prepare for the performance!”

Mei Fang pushed Lin Youxi back to the auditorium.

Translator's Notes:

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