After seven years of being a "simp," she's reborn and no longer pursuing the aloof sc

third chapter

I sensed footsteps approaching from behind, my heart skipped a beat, and I quickened my pace, only to be caught up by the person behind me.

"Zhou Nanzhi, you really don't like me anymore!"

Clearly, Gu Jinhuai didn't believe it, because I often break my promises.

I turned back to look at him impatiently, meeting his cold eyes, and said, word by word, "Yes, I don't like it anymore, I'm fed up with it!"

Just like how you treated me in your past life.

I turned and left, and there were no more footsteps behind me, but as I turned around, I heard Song Yuan's voice.

"Jinhuai, Auntie wants us to go back for dinner."

It turned out they had already met each other's parents. I felt bitter. I glanced at the time; it was already past 7 p.m. I frowned and hurried home.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

The moment I pushed open the door, I saw that the house was a mess, clothes were scattered all over the floor, cabinets were overturned, and all the blankets and drawers were open.

I walked in, clutching my schoolbag. As I passed my mother's room, I saw the door was tightly closed, and I could vaguely hear sobbing coming from inside.

I pursed my lips, and in the end, without saying a word, I went straight back to my room.

In my memory, my father was an alcoholic. After I was born, he became even worse. After coming to the capital, I don't know who he met, he started gambling and would come back every few days to look for money.

I once advised my mother to divorce me, but every time I brought it up, she would look at me with disgust, accuse me of not being a boy, and finally call me a jinx.

Before I was born, my parents had a good relationship. But after I was born, my father became even worse. He would beat my mother whenever he was unhappy, and sometimes he would beat me too.

At first, my mother would defend me, but gradually, she turned all her anger on me. I felt suffocated in this house.

Fortunately, I started working part-time jobs in various places from the beginning of high school and saved up some money. I am very fortunate that my household registration was only on my grandmother's household registration book when I was born. After my grandmother passed away, only my lonely piece of paper was left on the household registration book.

The next day, I woke up early, went to the kitchen to cook, heated up the leftovers, and then went to school with my schoolbag.

As soon as I reached the school gate, I saw the Gu family's car door open. Gu Jinhuai gentlemanly opened the back door, and Song Yuan looked back at Gu Jinhuai with a sweet smile, while the latter's gaze was gentle.

I stood in the corner watching quietly, my heart still aching, though it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them a perfect couple.

"Nanzhi!"

Gu Zi, who finally got off the bus, saw me and greeted me.

I smiled and walked towards her without glancing at Gu Jinhuai once, then took Gu Zi's arm and went inside.

"Jinhuai, let's go inside."

Song Yuan's gentle and sweet voice rang out again.

"Ah."

Gu Jinhuai stared at the figure in front of him, his eyes filled with an unfathomable darkness.

After class at noon, Gu Zhi pulled me out of the school gate.

"Let's go to the cafeteria to eat."

Compared to me, the food in the school cafeteria, though not very tasty, was still relatively cheap.

"Nanzhi, have you gone mad? Don't you remember what day it is today?"

Gu Zi gently poked my forehead with her index finger, and I looked at her blankly.

"Today is your birthday. How could you forget your own birthday?"

Listening to Gu Zi's words, I realized that today is her birthday, a symbol of her coming of age.

"Thank you!"

Do you still remember my birthday?

My eyes were slightly red as Gu Zi led me to a noodle shop near the school.

"I ordered this bowl of noodles for you myself, so you have to finish it all."

Gu Zi placed a bowl of noodles in front of me, with an egg in it. It was steaming hot and tasted delicious. My stomach started growling as if it could sense it.

Gu Zi also ordered a bowl of noodles. She received a phone call halfway through, and her expression wasn't very good.

"What kind of work are you doing? You managed to overturn perfectly good things."

Hearing Gu Zi's words, I looked up in confusion and found that Gu Zi had hung up the phone and said with a guilty look, "Nan Zhi, I'm sorry. I ordered a small cake for you, but the deliveryman messed it up. Really, should I order another one?"

Gu Zi was about to place an order when I stopped her.

"No need, I'm already very grateful for your thoughtfulness. Besides, if you order another serving, we won't have time to eat it. The noodles are delicious, let's have the noodles."

"OK then."

Gu Zi looked annoyed.

The two were halfway through their meal when they saw Gu Jinhuai and Song Yuan walk in.

"What a coincidence, you're eating here too?"

Song Yuan linked arms with Gu Jinhuai and greeted us affectionately.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gu Jinhuai holding a small cake in his left hand. A question flashed in my eyes, but Song Yuan quickly gave me the answer.

"Today is my birthday. Jin Huai originally planned to take me to a restaurant, but it was too far and I didn't want to go. I heard this noodle shop was good, so we came here. Jin Huai bought me a cake, but I can't finish it. How about we share a table?"

The case is solved. No wonder I always spent my birthday alone for so many years of marriage in my past life, while Gu Jinhuai celebrated other women's birthdays every year. My heart was heavy with sorrow, and I tightened my grip on the chopsticks.

Looking at the noodles in the bowl, she found it hard to swallow for a moment, but Gu Zi had chosen them for her, so she had to finish them.

"No need, it's better if we each eat separately."

Gu Zi refused outright, and then we ate our meal together with our heads down.

"Alright then, Jinhuai, let's go over there, and we'll call my girlfriends later."

Song Yuan led her people to sit on the other side. Gu Jinhuai received a phone call halfway through and never returned.

A little while later, Song Yuan called in a few of her close girlfriends to have dinner together.

I noticed several unfriendly glances when they came in.

"Yuanyuan, Gu is so good to you. He knew it was your birthday today and specially ordered a cake for you from Deer's Cake Shop!"

"No, Jin Huai drove there to buy it himself. You guys should try it and see if it's good."

Song Yuan blushed slightly, but she also acknowledged Gu Jinhuai's kindness towards her.

Deer Cake Shop is far from the school, taking an hour round trip, not to mention the queue. It's only noon now, and it's so hot.

I smiled bitterly; it turns out he would go to great lengths to pay for his lover's expenses.

In her past life, everything she did was done by his assistant; he had never done it that way before.

Love and indifference are hidden in the little details; the ending is already predetermined.

I took a deep breath, concealing the other emotions in my eyes.

"Nanzhi, are you alright?!"

Gu Zi looked at me with a worried expression.

I shook my head.

"Oh, Zhou Nanzhi is here too. Don't you usually pretend to be poor? How come you're so generous today, actually going out for noodles? Are you going to let Gu Zi pay again? Shameless, you just like to eat and drink for free!"

My best friend, who's always been at odds with me, naturally kept pointing out my faults.

"Say that again and I'll tear your mouth off!"

Gu Zi slammed his hand on the table and glared angrily at Song Yuan and her group.

I was afraid things would escalate, so I stood up to try and stop her.

"What did I say? Can't I even say something about such a rotten person? She's like a dog, wagging her tail and begging when someone's nice to her, and shamelessly clinging to Yuanyuan's fiancé. You must be blind to be friends with someone like that!"

"Say that again, you son of a bitch."

Gu Zi has a fiery temper that explodes at the slightest provocation. I couldn't stop her, and with a shove, she staggered back a few steps. Just then, a waiter walked by carrying hot water.

The kettle spilled, and boiling water poured all over my arm. I cried out in pain, and everyone else stopped because of this incident.

Gu Zi ran towards me with red eyes. Just then, the door opened and Gu Jinhuai walked in. His gaze fell on my arm, and I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I saw a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

Just then, Song Yuan behind him suddenly exclaimed and clutched her arm.

"what!"

Immediately afterward, a figure flashed past and stopped in front of Song Yuan: "What's wrong?"

"It hurts!"

Song Yuan clutched her stomach, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pitiful.