After Rebirth and Done Chasing, I Choose the Gentle and Rich Goddess Over the Scheming Campus Belle - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: Look, the Clown

After sharing that sweet moment, Miao Xiaoyu couldn’t hold back anymore. “Hurry up and try it! I want to know how it turned out!” she urged excitedly, her eyes full of anticipation as she watched He Li open the lunchbox…

Inside weren’t steamed buns or dumplings, but noodles made with shelled shrimp and crab meat mixed with a few vegetables. As soon as the box was opened, a mouthwatering aroma spread throughout the classroom.

Seafood noodles, half seafood, half noodles?

She really didn’t mind the trouble, did she?

He Li stared at the colorful and fragrant noodles. Along with being touched and surprised, he was also incredibly hungry.

Meanwhile, the rest of the classroom was practically drooling…

“Damn! This guy’s not even human anymore!”

“He just got rejected by Liu Yuyan, and the next moment, an even prettier Miao Xiaoyu brings him breakfast?”

“And it’s homemade by the goddess herself?”

“This smells amazing… I just want a bite…”

“A bowl like that would go for at least 50 yuan at a restaurant!”

“Fifty? Are you delusional or what?”

…

Ignoring the others, He Li took a couple of bites, then devoured the whole meal in one go, not even leaving a drop of soup. That reaction alone meant more to Miao Xiaoyu than a thousand compliments.

“If you like it, I… I can make it for you again!” she said softly as she packed up the empty box, her eyes on He Li. He Li smiled and replied, “Then I’m really lucky.”

“Hehe~” Miao Xiaoyu’s bright eyes sparkled.

“The teacher’s coming. I’ll head back to class first!”

“Mm!” He Li nodded.

Neither of them mentioned the other lunchbox He Li had brought out earlier.

Miao Xiaoyu had her own little plan. With the lunchbox in her hand, she now had the perfect excuse to visit He Li’s home to return it. He Li had guessed her intention and didn’t expose her.

And while she claimed to be ignoring He Li…

Liu Yuyan couldn’t stop herself from secretly watching him…

At this moment, her molars were nearly ground to dust.

That tender, affectionate interaction between He Li and Miao Xiaoyu…

She was jealous. So jealous. Extremely jealous.

She tried to recall some memory of her and He Li that resembled what she just witnessed, hoping it would lessen the jealousy toward Miao Xiaoyu.

But after thinking for a long time, Liu Yuyan suddenly realized—every memory of the past was He Li giving to her. She had never, not even once, done anything for He Li like Miao Xiaoyu just did.

Their past relationship…

Had always been one-sided.

Affection and understanding? She and He Li had never shared that.

Coming to this realization made Liu Yuyan feel worse. Her chest felt tight, and she sat at her desk, blankly staring at the side of He Li’s face with a complicated look in her eyes.

“Even if we’re competing with each other now…”

“As long as I turn back, he’ll still run toward me.”

“You’re no match for me.” She glanced at the retreating figure of Miao Xiaoyu and regained her confidence.

The excitement died down, and the classroom returned to calm. Still, some people whispered about what just happened.

Wu Gang couldn’t help patting He Li’s shoulder. “Tsk tsk, as expected from you. Lose one, gain one!”

“Dropped a sesame seed, picked up a watermelon!”

“I’m rooting for you, man. Go for Miao Xiaoyu—she’s way better than that fake Liu Yuyan!”

Then he sighed dramatically. “I just wish I could meet my soulmate already. I want a sweet girlfriend to make me breakfast too. I’m so jealous I could die!”

“You’ll find one,” He Li chuckled.

In his past life, Wu Gang actually got married in college. A flash marriage, too. Although he and Wu Gang used to fight a lot because of Liu Yuyan and weren’t very close, He Li still attended his wedding and met his wife.

She wasn’t bad at all—pretty and rich.

He just never figured out how they ended up together.

He Li shook his head and didn’t dwell on it.

Not long after, the teacher arrived and gave them a speech about graduation and other trivial matters. He eventually mentioned the graduation photo session, which turned into a bit of chaos for He Li.

Thanks to his boost in looks, not only did a whole crowd of classmates insist on dragging him into photos…

Even students from other classes came to join the fun.

He couldn’t even refuse them all.

Liu Yuyan kept secretly watching He Li.

Seeing girls from her class and others shamelessly cling to He Li for pictures, she ground her teeth in anger, wishing she could kick those flirty hussies away.

She also hated how dense He Li was. Couldn’t he find a reason to come over and take a few photos with her?

As time passed and dismissal loomed…

He Li still hadn’t come over to take a photo with her.

She couldn’t take it anymore and looked directly at him. “Can someone help take a photo of us girls?”

She was pretending to ask everyone around her, but anyone with a brain could tell she was waiting for He Li to respond. She was clearly trying to offer him an olive branch and help ease the tension.

So, all eyes turned to He Li.

Everyone was waiting for his response.

But then…

“Why are you all looking at me? Not taking it anymore?”

“Good, I’m tired. I’m out.” He shrugged.

As if he hadn’t heard Liu Yuyan at all.

Liu Yuyan clenched her small fists, her face pale.

Not far away, the class president, Li Lingjie—who’d always secretly had a crush on Liu Yuyan—stepped up and spoke righteously. “He Li, earlier you deliberately embarrassed Liu Yuyan in class.”

“Now she’s being the bigger person and giving you a chance to step down gracefully by asking you to take a photo, and you still refuse?”

“How could you be so ungrateful?”

He Li gave him a sideways glance.

Li Lingjie—the top simp for Liu Yuyan. Well, in his past life, probably only the second-place simp.

Aside from being born into a wealthy family, this guy was nothing compared to He Li. Back then, when He Li was chasing Liu Yuyan, Li Lingjie tried everything to outdo him but always failed.

Eventually, he gave up.

But from what had just happened in class, Li Lingjie clearly sensed that He Li and Liu Yuyan were falling out.

He didn’t intervene before because he wanted their relationship to break down.

That way, he could make a move on Liu Yuyan!

And now that He Li had ignored Liu Yuyan again…

Li Lingjie jumped at the opportunity.

He Li thought about it briefly, then sneered and fired back, “Do you have a hearing problem?”

“When did Liu Yuyan ask me for help?”

“And even if she did, so what?”

“Not helping is normal. Helping is a favor. If I don’t do you a favor, what can you do about it?”

“Hmph, stop yapping at me.”

“If you want to help, then crawl over and do it yourself.”

“I don’t have time to deal with you people.” With that, he turned and left.

His firm stance made Liu Yuyan seethe inside.

This was their graduation photo! A perfect excuse for a picture with her—how could He Li not appreciate it? Didn’t he realize that once they entered university, they might never have a chance again?

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.

Though she didn’t want to admit it, in truth, she really wanted a few pictures of the current He Li.

But with how harshly he just spoke…

She couldn’t bring herself to ask again.

Still, it was all Li Lingjie’s fault!

Why did that idiot have to provoke He Li?

She and He Li were clearly in a silent standoff. Whoever backed down first would lose face, and it took courage to make the first move. If Li Lingjie hadn’t spoken up, He Li might’ve taken the opportunity to step in.

But now, because of what that fool said, He Li was pissed off and even less likely to give in.

Thinking that, she wished she could smack Li Lingjie across the face a few times.

And Li Lingjie? Still completely clueless.

His face went from pale to flushed as he stood there stunned by He Li’s words. After glaring hard at He Li’s back, he forced a smile and approached Liu Yuyan.

“Cough, cough… Yuyan, since He Li won’t help, how about I take the photo for you girls?”

“Also, after the group photo…”

“Could I maybe take a couple of pictures with you too?”

He asked cautiously, trying to sound endearing.

Liu Yuyan just found him annoying.

“Get lost!” She dropped her usual gentle tone, glaring coldly. “Why are you yapping so much? If you hadn’t opened your mouth, He Li would’ve agreed already!”

She stomped off angrily.

Li Lingjie was completely dumbfounded.

The surrounding students couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Wu Gang laughed even louder, “Look, the clown!”

“You son of a—” Li Lingjie’s forehead veins bulged.

Wu Gang snorted. “Wanna fight?”

He raised his fist—it was the size of a sandbag.

Li Lingjie glanced at his own scrawny body, weak from years of inactivity, and silently swallowed his words before retreating…