It Seems I’m Not The Only One Who Reincarnated

This was the one question Jian Sichun couldn’t lie about, even if she tried.

“…Yes, I like him,” she said softly.

She really did like Shi Hai, to her very core.

Zhu Lingjie gave a bitter smile to herself.

To fall for the same guy as her best friend…

The kind of scenario you’d only see in movies or novels was unfolding right in front of her.

Zhu Lingjie took a deep breath and continued.

“So…don’t you want to be with him?”

Jian Sichun nodded absently.

“Yes…I do.”

“Then why are you—”

“But!”

There was a power behind Jian Sichun’s words.

“His happiness comes before mine.”

Her voice was clear and resolute.

“If I were with him, I know I’d be happy… But if I were the only one who found happiness, that wouldn’t be right.”

Jian Sichun couldn’t tell her friend about the past, or the things she knew about the future. All she could do was express her feelings in this roundabout way.

Luckily, Zhu Lingjie seemed to understand.

“I think I get it… Sichun, you mean that even though you like Shi Hai, you don’t think he feels the same way yet, so you don’t think you can be with him, right?”

“Yes, and… I know it might seem silly, but I have my pride as a woman too… I want to be the ‘number one’ in his heart.”

In other words, Jian Sichun wanted to be his “one and only.”

She had always been clear about her feelings and her goal. That was her dream.

As for whether Shi Hai would eventually fall for her, Jian Sichun wasn’t worried in the slightest. In fact, she was certain of it.

After all, she was a reborn soul.

In her previous life, what was her relationship with Shi Hai? They were a couple.

And they’d been together for nine years. They’d done everything, tried everything; they’d laughed and loved without a single argument—only playful fights in bed.

They were that model, foolishly-in-love couple who always made others jealous, practically made to walk down the aisle… It was only an unexpected tragedy that had kept her from showing him herself in a wedding dress.

With that kind of past, how could Shi Hai not like her?

Jian Sichun believed that as long as she showed her true self to Shi Hai, he would surely fall in love with her.

Her only fear was that if Shi Hai loved her now, he might end up sacrificing himself for her again in nine years.

What she didn’t know, however, was that the woman sitting across from her had already fulfilled the very dream she had yet to reach.

In her past life, what was Zhu Lingjie’s relationship with Shi Hai? They were husband and wife.

But unlike the confident Jian Sichun, Zhu Lingjie felt insecure even after becoming Shi Hai’s wife.

She knew she was a burden, a complicated woman, yet even after he learned about her mental health issues, Shi Hai continued to care for her, helping her heal, taking her step by step toward recovery.

She always felt that someone better was out there for him.

Someone like that young, beautiful woman who owned the company—a perfect woman more suited to be Shi Hai’s partner.

But it was only a passing thought.

Now that Shi Hai was her husband, she wasn’t letting go.

Even if she wasn’t his “favorite” person, Zhu Lingjie had decided—this life, he was the only man she wanted.

Even if Jian Sichun hadn’t come to help her, and even if Shi Hai had rejected her confession, though it might have hurt for days afterward…

Zhu Lingjie would have picked herself up again.

She would’ve kept getting closer to him, over and over.

Until he finally accepted her.

Years of unrequited love had taught her one thing—

Love doesn’t come by waiting.

“So, Sichun, you feel that neither of us is Shi Hai’s ‘one and only,’ and that’s why you sympathize with me and instinctively wanted to help… am I right?”

“Mm, pretty much.”

“Thank you. But… I also like Shi Hai.”

“I know.”

That’s why, Sichun thought to herself, she was the perfect person to step in and be his girlfriend in her place.

“But I don’t share your perspective… even if he loves someone else, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Huh?” Sichun was stunned.

A woman like that actually exists?

Someone who could allow her man… to have feelings for another woman?

It was beyond Sichun’s comprehension.

She had always assumed that all women wanted to have their man entirely to themselves.

Hearing Zhu Lingjie’s words was like a shock to her worldview.

This actually stemmed from Zhu Lingjie’s family background.

Her own mother had once accepted her father having a woman outside their marriage.

Plus, in her previous life, Zhu Lingjie had relied so much on Shi Hai for help. She felt she owed him too much to make any demands and was willing to give him everything. How could she ask for more?

It was only because Shi Hai was truly devoted that Zhu Lingjie got to live a life of happiness like a dream.

But now, after her rebirth, with Sichun—a friend who was practically childhood friends with him—by his side…

She didn’t dare hope for that much anymore.

“Maybe it seems pathetic to you… but just being by his side is enough for me.”

Hearing that, Jian Sichun blinked, a rush of excitement building inside.

Well, wasn’t this perfect!

She had felt guilty about the inevitable fallout with Zhu Lingjie over fighting for the same man.

But now that Zhu Lingjie had put it this way, Jian Sichun suddenly felt that the role of “current girlfriend” was meant for her friend.

And… if, in the future, Zhu Lingjie quietly stepped aside without a confrontation…

Sichun figured she might even allow her to stay around, in some capacity.

Though the thought of sharing her man made her uncomfortable, as long as Shi Hai’s true love was her and the role of wife was hers…

It would probably make him happy to have both of them around.

After all, men often dreamed of being that “patty in the sandwich,” right?

Jian Sichun was pretty sure Shi Hai wouldn’t be any exception.

“So, from now on, I’ll work hard to catch his eye, Sichun. You don’t have to look out for me anymore.”

“So, in that case… we’ll be rivals?”

“Yes!”

Though they had fallen for the same guy, it didn’t cause any bad blood between them.

They remained close friends, avoiding sabotage and unnecessary politeness.

Instead, they engaged in healthy, back-and-forth competition.

It would all come down to who Shi Hai truly fell for in the end…

And whichever one of them won, the other would offer her blessing.

This was the best outcome Zhu Lingjie could imagine.

“Sounds good!”

Sichun reached out her hand.

Thinking, This friend—I’m keeping her.

Zhu Lingjie took her hand in return.

Thinking, This time, I’ve made a true friend.

They both grinned and shook on it.

Their friendship grew even stronger.