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

Chapter 175: Preparing for the Exam

For the next two weeks, the trio were busy preparing for their midterm exams. During this time, Jiangcheng NOHS finally showed its academic pressure as the top high school in Jiangcheng and Hubei Province.

Almost everyone could be seen diligently studying and practicing questions at their desks, even during the usually relaxed evening self-study sessions.

There were no geniuses here who could achieve satisfactory results just by studying casually, at least not in the parallel class where Mei Fang was attending. Even the top performers who consistently scored in the top 100 of their grade were now immersed in intense problem-solving.

Currently, Mei Fang’s exam results in the class were only around the top ten level. This score would undoubtedly be sufficient to guarantee admission to a prestigious university based on previous years’ standards. However, compared to the scores he achieved during the special county student exam, it’s a step backward.

On one hand, he was not fully focused on his studies. Mei Fang had to juggle between music, games, and even website management, leaving him with minimal additional study time outside of completing homework. On the other hand, his academic aptitude had gradually fallen behind.

Jiangcheng NOHS was a place where top performers gathered. Even if he concentrated on solving problems diligently in class, without putting in more effort, he could only achieve this level.

But his current situation was still within his controllable range. After all, he didn’t plan to solely rely on grades to get into a prestigious university. He was also looking forward to the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) in July of next year. He was just making preparations for both options.

Based on his current understanding, winning a gold medal in the NOI would directly qualify him for admission to a prestigious university. The programming languages allowed in this competition were C, C++, or Pascal.

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi had already mastered the C language before learning C# and Java, so transitioning to C++ would be highly efficient, so there was no need to worry too much.

Setting aside this topic of future planning, everyone had been busy studying and preparing for the exam lately.

As the weather gradually cooled down, the precious time for cuddling and replenishing energy during the evening self-study session became even more precious.

Whenever the bell rang for the 30-minutes evening self-study break, Mei Fang could see Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi knocking on his window if he got up even a minute or two late. During this time, Mei Fang happened to be sitting by the window, making it very convenient to greet them.

He walked with Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan through the campus of Jiangcheng NOHS during the late autumn season. Late autumn was a golden season, with fallen leaves covering the roads, and the fragrance of countless osmanthus flowers filling the air along the way.

Recently, the school had been strict in cracking down on puppy love, and it seemed that there were dedicated staff members supervising the playground. So the trio couldn’t engage in any conspicuous displays of affection in such noticeable places.

Fortunately, Jiangcheng NOHS was large enough, and there were plenty of places where they could be alone together.

“There’s no one near this pavilion. Let’s stay here. Yuan Yuan, do you want to go first today, or should I?”

“You can go first, Youxi… I’ll give you some privacy.”

Xia Yuan had always been eager to be the first who cuddle with Mei Fang before, and after she was done, Lin Youxi would step in directly, making her feel like she was just a bed warmer.

Realizing this, she began to change her approach, occasionally switching who cuddled first to keep her intentions veiled.

Realizing this, she began to change her approach, occasionally switching the order of cuddles to avoid making her intentions too obvious.

Lin Youxi had always accommodated Xia Yuan in this matter, and she didn’t mind. She only cared about managing their time well.

Recently, Lin Youxi had been hugging Mei Fang face-to-face, making it convenient for her to hold him for warmth.

“Recharging energy doesn’t feel like much in the cold weather.”

“We haven’t even put on our winter jackets yet, but you’re already complaining about not feeling it. Once we put on our winter jackets, then that’s when we’ll really not feel anything at all.”

“Mmm…”

Mei Fang enjoyed the process of recharging energy with Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan, but he also understood that this comfortable life couldn’t last forever. After all, balancing the water was just a means, not his ultimate goal.

Currently, the people around him seemed to expect him to make a choice between Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi, including the two of them themselves.

But he couldn’t let this idea continue to deepen and solidify. He needed to find a way to slightly progress their thoughts on maintaining a three-person relationship. Otherwise, by the end of high school, he wouldn’t be able to explain anything.

That’s why the song I’m Willing was so important, important enough to be chosen as a performance piece for the art festival, and important enough to be sung for both of them together.

While Mei Fang contemplated these matters, Lin Youxi suddenly tiptoed and leaned towards Mei Fang’s ear.

“My hands are a little cold. Can I warm them up inside?”

“Ah… Well, just don’t go too far like last time.”

“Okay.”

Lin Youxi had done this before, but Mei Fang still felt a shiver from her ice-cold touch, which gradually subsided.

At this moment, Lin Youxi was leaning against his chest, caressing his back while softly humming a melody.

“What song is that? It sounds somewhat familiar…”

“This is the melody Yuan Yuan composed based on the sheet music you wrote for Bare Face^[1]. She just finished playing it for me last night, and I quite liked it.”

Lin Youxi raised her head and looked at Mei Fang. “Speaking of which, how could you write lyrics like this? It’s completely different from your previous style.”

“Uh… I just studied and took inspiration from others. It’s not my true talent.”

Lin Youxi didn’t pay much attention to Mei Fang’s words. She continued to suggest to him, “I think you can sing it at the New Year’s Eve Gala.”

Lin Youxi suggested, “I believe it would be fitting for you to sing it with Yuan Yuan.”

“This song, being a love song is already pushing it, and now a male-female duet? Maybe you and Yuan Yuan should sing it instead.”

Lin Youxi shook her head. “Yuan Yuan definitely wants to sing it with you. You know her personality.”

“And after our last performance, the school had a high opinion of us. They probably won’t object now.”

“Also, the video of our performance that Wan Chaoxiong edited for us on C Site is very popular. It reached over 10,000 views early on, especially some of the bullet comments, they are quite interesting. You must have seen them, right?”

“Bullet comments? Which comments… I didn’t pay much attention.”

When Mei Fang said this, he looked up at the night sky with a guilty expression. Of course, this small movement wouldn’t be overlooked by observant Lin Youxi, who lightly pinched Mei Fang’s waist.

“Many of the bullet comments say that you have a woman on each arm and are a winner in life. Student Mei Fang, what do you think about this?”

“My opinion is that people who always have dirty thoughts in their minds will find everything dirty…”

As Mei Fang grumbled, Lin Youxi kept staring at him, and in the end, he couldn’t breathe under her gaze, so he stopped pretending and just laugh.

“But it does make people feel envious, which is quite normal, haha… After all, a long-lasting relationship like ours is rare.”

Lin Youxi seemed satisfied with Mei Fang’s response. After he finished speaking, she buried her head again and hugged him tightly, swaying back and forth.

Although Ah Fang sometimes seems very hesitant and awkward when it comes to topics about love, appearing quite naive and innocent, it’s not that he hasn’t grown at all.

For example, he used to call the relationship between the three of us a sincere friendship, but now he uses more neutral words to describe the relationship between the three of us. But there’s no point in pretending anymore.

I’ve already advanced this far, if he still doesn’t get it, he’s just playing dumb.

Although the initial strike came from Xia Yuan’s super energy replenishment, it’s also important that Lin Youxi followed up and fully capitalized on it.

Lin Youxi didn’t expect Mei Fang to give a final answer because she didn’t see anything wrong with their current situation.

Of course, if Mei Fang wanted to give an answer, she would accept it calmly.

After a while of hugging, Lin Youxi and Mei Fang finally noticed Xia Yuan standing nearby, fidgeting and twirling her fingers.

“Yuan Yuan, did I exceed the time limit?”

“Ah… Did you? It’s alright, ahaha…”

“Tomorrow night, I’ll make it up to you,” Lin Youxi thought for a moment. “The day after tomorrow is the midterm exam, so I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

“Huh? Um… no need, no need… It’s fine…”

One moment Xia Yuan was blushing and reluctant, the next moment she was tightly hugging Mei Fang.

“Why are you holding on so tight today…?”

“Is it too tight?”

Xia Yuan raised her head and looked at Mei Fang. “We wear more clothes in the autumn, so the energy isn’t replenished as easily. That’s why we have to hold on even tighter.”

“Well… You’re right…”

The more Mei Fang compared his interactions with XiaYuan and Lin Youxi, the more he could sense Xia Yuan’s innocence.

In fact, she had the same personality in her childhood, but back then, Lin Youxi was more awkward and introverted, making Xia Yuan seem like the older sister.

It had been a ten-year-long journey, but it was actually Lin Youxi’s personality that had changed, while Xia Yuan, to some extent, had hardly changed at all.

But this kind of ‘unchanged’ state, in a certain sense, is also something worth cherishing.

“By the way, Ah Fang, I’ve made the accompaniment melody for the song Bare Face based on the sheet music you gave me. When you have time, you can listen to it.”

“Instead of studying properly, you secretly wrote song. Have you finished the physics questions?”

“You’re so mean! You specifically mentioned physics.”

Xia Yuan lightly punched Mei Fang in frustration. “Currently, physics isn’t difficult in the first year of high school. I can still get decent scores.”

“Alright, alright… Who dares to say that our Yuan Yuan isn’t capable? I promise to help you beat them up.”

“It’s none other than you…”

Xia Yuan snuggled against Mei Fang’s chest and suddenly spoke in a dramatic tone, “Oh, Ah Fang’s hug is so warm, it must be Youxi warming it up for me.”

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing at me?”

“Using the same joke again makes it very funny.”

“R-Really!” Xia Yuan blushed and muttered, “I don’t think so at all…”

“But Youxi’s body is very cold, my hands just got chilled by her, and they’re still cold now.”

“Really? Let me hold them.”

Xia Yuan held Mei Fang’s hands and closed her eyes, savoring the sensation.

“Mmm… They don’t feel very cold, I think…”

“You won’t feel it that way when we’re holding hands like this. You have to do it like this…”

Mei Fang could sense Xia Yuan’s shyness, and there were many things she couldn’t bring herself to say.

If he wanted balance the water, he could just standstill and have Lin Youxi do it for him, but when it came to Xia Yuan, he had to take charge himself.

Mei Fang took the initiative to interlace his fingers with Xia Yuan’s. Xia Yuan didn’t resist. Sensing his intentions, she quickly clasped his hand in return.

“I-It does feel a little cold… but it’s fine!”

Xia Yuan held one of Mei Fang’s hands with their ten fingers interlocked, while her other hand embraced him.

It’s like we’re dancing. It’s so much fun.

Feeling the emotions expressed by Mei Fang, Xia Yuan naturally increased the pace of her advances.

“By the way, Ah Fang… I want to discuss something with you. It might be a bit early to mention it now, but… during the New Year’s Eve Gala——”

“On that day, we’ll perform together on stage, right? Sure, let’s sing Bare Face.”

“Ah, I actually wanted you to sing that song with Youxi.”

“Don’t you want to sing it with me?”

“It’s not that… I think Youxi’s voice is also beautiful, and she might——”

“Let’s sing together. Youxi and I talked about it, and she also hopes l’ll join you on stage.”

“R-Really? Then I guess… I guess that’s settled…”

Feeling very happy, Xia Yuan participated in the midterm exam of the first semester of her freshman year at Jiangcheng No. 1 High School and performed very well.

Translator's Notes: