It Seems I’m Not The Only One Who Reincarnated

Shi Hai’s words left the two women silent.

However, he didn’t stop there. He pressed on with more soul-piercing questions.

“If you can’t accept this, then you’d have to compete, fight for it, be even more persistent, and give even more of yourselves… only to leave the final decision up to me.”

“And when that time comes, how should I choose? Based entirely on my own preferences?”

“Do you think that’s fair?”

Shi Hai was attempting to guide their twisted thinking back onto the right track.

Everything he said was grounded in “logical” principles, leaving Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie unable to refute him.

Jian Sichun, however, stubbornly clung to her “twisted logic.”

“You’re right, it’s not fair. But love isn’t fair to begin with! And… who says we can’t accept it?”

The moment she said that, she had walked straight into Shi Hai’s carefully laid trap.

“Alright then, let’s say you both are willing to compromise and accept a three-person relationship… But I don’t know any cloning techniques. I can’t split myself in two or develop multiple personalities. I’d never be able to make both of you happy. Even so, could you really accept that? Would you truly be satisfied?”

Whether they answered yes or no, it no longer mattered.

If they said yes, Shi Hai could argue, “You’ll still end up fighting, and I don’t want to see you quarrel because of me. So, I’m out.”

If they said no, it would be game over, and there’d be no need for further debate.

Shi Hai’s ability to reason both ways placed him in an unbeatable position.

Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie felt cornered.

They were so tense that their breathing grew rapid, and their palms began to sweat.

This was the situation they feared most—the one Shi Hai had intentionally led them into.

No more ambiguity, maintaining proper distance, and continuing as good friends.

But the path to taking their relationship further was now completely sealed off.

At this point, Shi Hai’s “zone beyond friendship” would become a “vacuum with no women.”

They couldn’t let him keep leading the conversation. They had to disrupt his rhythm.

So Zhu Lingjie raised her hand and asked,

“I have a question. Since Senior Tian Shui is also a reincarnator, she must have feelings for you too, right?”

“She probably does, but instead of saying she ‘likes’ me, it’s more accurate to say she wants to ‘obtain me.’”

“Obtain you?”

“Yeah, kind of like how a hiring manager encounters a candidate they really like and sends out an ‘I want you’ signal.”

“I see… So Senior Tian Shui really admires you.”

“Exactly. But that’s not what you’d call ‘pure love.’”

That’s why Shi Hai hadn’t given Tian Shui the same “persuasive speech.”

It wasn’t necessary.

“So I made a bet with Senior Tian Shui: if I fall for her, I’ll propose to her immediately.”

Jian Sichun pouted and said, “What an unfair bet! Whether or not you’ve fallen for her is entirely up to you to say!”

Jian Sichun knew that while Shi Hai was honest, he wasn’t a naive fool. If he felt it was necessary, he’d say something insincere.

So this kind of bet was impossible to win. As long as Shi Hai remained firm, he would stay invincible.

Jian Sichun thought Tian Shui was a sly fox, but it turned out she was just a foolish one.

“Is Senior Tian Shui stupid? Betting on something like this is basically admitting she doesn’t want to win!”

“Senior Tian Shui definitely isn’t stupid. In fact, she doesn’t really want me to propose to her at all.”

Zhu Lingjie stroked her chin, pondering Tian Shui’s true intentions for making such a bet.

“I see… For Senior Tian Shui, the result doesn’t matter. What matters is gaining the ‘right to approach you,’ right?”

“Exactly. By making this bet, I have no excuse to avoid or distance myself from her.”

In other words, what Tian Shui wanted was the opportunity to keep “building her presence” in Shi Hai’s life.

As long as her importance in his heart kept growing, she would have achieved her goal.

There was another layer to this: Tian Shui and Shi Hai shared similar personalities.

Both enjoyed strategic games, which was why they hit it off and agreed to such a bet.

It had an air of mutual respect between equals.

“That’s the difference between you two and her. Senior Tian Shui’s feelings for me aren’t purely love or romantic. Even if we can’t be lovers or spouses, we can still be ‘partners’ or ‘worthy opponents.’ Of course, I’d like to have that kind of relationship with you two as well…”

If Shi Hai could maintain a “healthy relationship” like that with Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie, he wouldn’t have any issues.

But it was clear they weren’t satisfied with such a relationship.

Because they didn’t ask, “Why can’t we establish a similar bet with you?”

Using Tian Shui as a topic had led to no breakthroughs.

The initiative was still firmly in Shi Hai’s hands.

At this point, he decided to bring out his trump card.

“Let’s get real now… This is the most critical point. I already explained yesterday, didn’t I? As it stands, I only have less than ten years left to live.”

Both Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie swallowed hard.

Here it was.

The most crucial part of today’s outing.

Once this debate began, Shi Hai was sure to bring out his strongest argument: the lifespan theory.

If they could convince him on this point, they’d have a chance to win him over.

But if they couldn’t change his “acceptance of death,” they’d be forced to watch him from afar, unable to get close.

Jian Sichun took a deep breath and said, “The tragedy might not even happen, right?”

“True, there might be a turning point this time… but we can’t ignore the problem that exists right now, can we?”

“You should still hold onto hope!”

“But putting all your hope into the future only makes the pain unbearable. I’ve seen it firsthand.”

Recalling his past, Shi Hai continued, “Sure, my mom is cheerful now, but you might not know what she was like before—especially in the years after my dad passed away. If I hadn’t been there as her son, she probably would’ve had a complete breakdown.”

Coming from Shi Hai, this statement carried immense weight.

It left them speechless.

But Shi Hai wasn’t done; he delivered the final blow.

“Just imagining you two going through the same pain after I die is unbearable for me.”

“So no matter how you look at it, I’m not a suitable choice.”

“Even if you say you’re willing to be with me despite knowing I’m short-lived, and I believe you’re sincere, I can’t accept it. I can’t allow myself to do something so irresponsible.”

“I’m sorry… I can’t respond to your feelings.”

And with that, it was over.

At this point, there was no turning back.

Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie had already predicted Shi Hai would say this.

Knowing that he was aware of his future tragedy, they knew he would never choose to “burden anyone.”

That’s just the kind of man he was.

This was precisely why Jian Sichun hadn’t wanted to tell Shi Hai about his future accident.

Because she knew that once he knew, there’d be no chance for them.

After returning to Zhu Lingjie’s home last night, the two of them had stayed up all night, trying to figure out how to counter Shi Hai’s lifespan theory.

At this point, the question wasn’t who could become his girlfriend or wife…

If things kept going like this, Shi Hai might remain a virgin for life!

To let Shi Hai die alone and isolated… that would be far too lonely!

So, Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie, these two close friends, began plotting how to break through Shi Hai’s closed heart.

At this point, friendly and fair competition was no longer an option. If things continued like this, they wouldn’t even have the chance to compete, and both of them would be eliminated.

However, by the time morning came, they still hadn’t come up with a good plan.

All they managed to do was agree on some secret signals and methods to stay close to Shi Hai.

But the most critical part—the theoretical foundation—remained a complete mystery…

How to change Shi Hai’s mindset.

How to convince him to accept them…

Even if it meant all three of them being together!

They needed to plant the idea in his head: “Maybe being with them wouldn’t be so bad.” Only then could they consider it a success.

At this moment, Jian Sichun wasn’t ready to give up. She wanted to make one last “desperate effort.”

“Shi Hai, have you ever thought that making us ‘lose hope’ like this is also irresponsible?”

“There’s nothing I can do. When it’s impossible to have both, I choose the most rational option.”

“Do you really think that’s rational?”

“Of course. Survival is more important than feelings.”

“If there’s no emotion left, what’s the point of living?”

“That’s just your current perspective. Before your rebirth, you were both still young women, not even halfway through your lives, and you were in the ‘honeymoon phase.’ It’s normal for you to value emotions highly.”

Shi Hai paused before continuing.

“However, after I die… ten years later, twenty years later, then what?”

“The longer someone lives, the more their beliefs and preferences change, and emotions gradually fade.”

“Arguing about this now is pointless. Time will prove everything.”

People are incredibly fickle.

The truly rare ones are those who remain unchanged.

With enough time, everyone will eventually turn into a different version of themselves.

That’s why there’s that famous saying:

In the end, everyone becomes the person they once despised.

“Whew…”

Jian Sichun exhaled deeply and said,

“So, after all this… the truth is, you just don’t like us enough to want to be with us no matter what, do you?”

Shi Hai didn’t deny it.

“…You could say that.”

“So, you’re jumping to conclusions because you’re afraid you’ll end up liking us?”

“Of course, I’m afraid… You’re both so beautiful and genuinely like me. If I really fell for you, wouldn’t that just bring more pain?”

He admitted it!

That’s it… That’s more like it!

There’s no way Shi Hai wouldn’t feel anything for them!

The reason he was so eager to draw the line was because there was already a spark in his heart!

And that spark was the most crucial flame… It needed to be fanned into a blaze that burned away his rationality!

This marked the start of their counterattack!

Jian Sichun smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder, tracing circles on his chest with her finger as she spoke.

“What’s there to be afraid of? You can try liking us. That way, there’s no need to feel any pain.”

“I have a feeling everything I said earlier went in one ear and out the other…”

“I’m just a silly girl who doesn’t understand complicated topics~”

“Oh, so being dense is a useful excuse now…”

Shi Hai was a bit helpless.

Jian Sichun was throwing a tantrum; expecting her to be reasonable was futile.

So he could only place his hope in the more rational Zhu Lingjie.

Turning to Zhu Lingjie, Shi Hai said:

“Lingjie, I owe you an apology.”

“Huh?”

“Before, I thought you confessed to me because you had psychological issues and couldn’t get close to other men. But now, I realize I was being too shallow.”

“Ah… It’s okay…”

She smiled shyly and said,

“Honestly, I was being too impulsive back then…”

“Exactly. So don’t you think you’re being a bit impulsive now, too?”

Shi Hai kept pressing the issue.

If they couldn’t understand after one explanation, he’d try a second time. If two times didn’t work, then a third.

He believed that if he kept reasoning with them, they’d eventually give up.

But this time, Zhu Lingjie and Jian Sichun had aligned goals.

At this moment, the two of them were completely in sync, working toward the “impossible path” they wanted Shi Hai to take.

“Maybe so… But we just don’t want to give up.”

“You have your reasons, and we have our determination.”

“Shi Hai, you said you feel like our love lacks a basis because you don’t have memories of the past. That’s true… Without your memories, you can’t understand our ‘persistence.’”

Zhu Lingjie took Shi Hai’s hand and placed it on her chest.

“These memories are our most precious treasures…”

“But they can’t be recreated anymore, can they?”

“We can create new ones… together, the three of us.”

“Exactly! The three of us together!”

The three of them… together?

“No, that’s impossible. Didn’t I just explain this? Do I need to repeat myself?”

Zhu Lingjie shook her head and said, “You don’t need to split yourself in two, develop a second personality, or worry about fairness… You can like me more, or like Sichun more…”

“That’s allowed?”

Shi Hai was utterly stunned.

Even with his limited experience with women, he knew this line of thinking was twisted.

At the very least, no ordinary girl would think this way.

“Why not? Like you said, people are fickle. You might like Sichun more at some point and me more at another. We won’t mind.”

“Uh…”

“Actually, the real issue here is that you feel guilty about abandoning us, right? You feel like you’re letting us down.”

“…Yes, exactly.”

“In that case… What if I told you that even if you did die, we’d still be able to live happily?”

“What?”

Zhu Lingjie extended her other hand.

“Last night, we spent hours trying to figure out how to convince you… but we ended up discovering a way to move on from the pain of losing you instead.”

Jian Sichun also extended her hand.

“All we need to do is this…”

Their hands met in his.

Shi Hai was bewildered and tilted his head.

“This is?”

Zhu Lingjie replied,

“A love triangle.”

“A love triangle?”

“Yes, but not one where both Sichun and I like you. That would just be a V-shaped relationship.”

“Then— don’t tell me—!”

Shi Hai finally understood their plan.

It was absurd, but… somehow, it seemed to make a strange kind of sense.

Jian Sichun smiled.

“That’s right! A true love triangle! This way, even if one of us is gone, the other two can still support each other and live on!”

A genuine love triangle.