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

"Let's get off at this station."

Mei Fang led Lin Youxi to a riverside station. They bought popsicles from a shop on the street before strolling along the road of the bridge that spanned the river.

Compared to the various stuffy odors in the subway, the bridge across the river was not only very cool but also had a morning breeze brushing against one's face, making it feel extremely pleasant.

"This is the Second liangcheng Yangtze River Bridge, right?" Lin Youxi said with a smile as she ate her popsicle. "I remember our middle school English teacher, Mr. Tu, always made jokes about the Jiangcheng Mayor/Second Bridge. I never understood what was so funny about it... Haha, do you remember?"

"Of course, I remember."

Mei Fang replied while enjoying his popsicle, gazing at the distant scenery.

"The wind is strong today. It's really nice to take a walk here... Don't you think?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Lin Youxi nodded, planning to continue chatting with Mei Fang. However, when she noticed his popsicle was about to drip, she instinctively leaned in to take a bite, though she was a bit too late.

She watched as Mei Fang switched hands to eat the popsicle.

"It looks like it still dripped on your hand. That must feel sticky and uncomfortable, huh?"

"Uh... I'll find a place to wash it off in a bit-"

Before Mei Fang could finish his sentence, Lin Youxi suddenly grabbed his hand and playfully licked the sticky spot.

As she did, she kept her eyes on Mei Fang, making him feel quite embarrassed.

"Hey, hey... Aren't you worried about it being dirty?"

Lin Youxi smiled at him. "In your memories, I was always a bit of a messy person. Do you really mind this?"

"There's no trace of that now... But honestly, this is kind of teasing and, well, pretty irresistible."

Mei Fang felt powerless against Lin Youxi's sudden playful behavior.

"Hmm... Is that so?"

Lin Youxi took the popsicle from Mei Fang and smiled. "I have to say, you picked a pretty good flavor... Let's trade and share."

"Sure... if you don't mind."

After washing their hands at a restroom by the bridge, they continued walking. However, Lin Youxi began to feel out of breath halfway through.

She had strong short-term bursts of energy, but her endurance was always lacking, so they had to take frequent breaks toward the end of their walk.

"Sorry... Taking you out for a date by the bridge in this weather might not have been the best idea."

"Not... not at all... I think it's really nice."

Lin Youxi sat on a stone bench by the bridge, gazing out at the vast river. "I love taking my time to fully appreciate the unobstructed view. Can we stay here a bit longer?" ℟𝙖ŊổꞖÈ𝙨

"Yeah... sure, no problem."

Mei Fang sat down beside her, and after Lin Youxi gently tucked her hair behind her ear, she playfully smiled at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that... Are you craving me again?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

Eager to show how proactive he was on this date, Mei Fang leaned in to kiss her before she could respond. But, as usual, he ended up pulling back first, nearly out of breath.

"Mmm... so sweet!"

Lin Youxi, rather than being taken aback, seemed to savor the moment, holding her cheek with one hand. "So, was the popsicle part of your date plan all along? You're really good at this, Ah Fang."

"I'm not that good at planning. Today was just a spur-of-the-moment idea-"

Lin Youxi leaned her head on Mei Fang's shoulder, playfully tracing her finger across his chest. "Hmm... Do you think I believe that?"

"Hmm... alright... okay, okay, I give up, haha!"

"You're still so ticklish."

Lin Youxi placed her hand on Mei Fang's leg before suddenly lying down with her head resting on his lap. She slowly adjusted her position, lying flat on her back and looking up at him.

"Ah Fang, I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"On Yuan Yuan's birthday, you didn't know where I was hiding, did you?" Lin Youxi smiled at him. "If Yuan Yuan had made an excessive request, and you didn't know if I was there or not, would you have agreed?"

"Isn't it obvious... we're still high school students."

Mei Fang responded seriously, "If anything like that comes up, we'll talk about it after we graduate. I've said the same to you before-you know, every time you sneak into my bed, almost every time-"

"That's exactly why I'm curious about what you'd do if it were Yuan Yuan..." Lin Youxi smiled. "After all, Yuan Yuan is more attractive than I am."

"That's not true. My feelings for you and Yuan Yuan are the same; I wouldn't treat either of you differently."

Lin Youxi cupped Mei Fang's face in her hands. "Even if you did, it's okay. I wouldn't get jealous."

"Come to think of it, you've been like this since you were very young... never wanting to compete with Yuan Yuan for anything."

Lin Youxi covered her eyes with her hand and said softly: "Because you know, my family wasn't well-off. I didn't have many toys growing up, and no money for snacks. Almost any good things I got were shared with me by you and Yuan Yuan."

"If something wasn't mine to begin with... there was no reason to fight over it, don't you think?"

"That's a bit heartbreaking to say that, Youxi..."

"I don't think so. Everyone grows up in different environments."

As Lin Youxi felt the gentle summer breeze, she released her hand and gazed at the scenery along the river, lying comfortably in her lover's lap. It was an incredibly relaxing and pleasant moment.

"But even so, there's definitely, definitely a thing I would never let Yuan Yuan have completely."

"Comparing me to a 'thing' isn't very polite, you know?"

"Isn't that right, Ah Fang? You've always been mine, something I absolutely won't give up to anyone."

Lin Youxi hooked her arms around Mei Fang's neck, sitting up on her knees with her legs on either side of him. She settled into his lap, placing her hands on his shoulders, and pressed her forehead gently against his, speaking in a tender voice:

"At most... you're something I would share with Yuan Yuan, but never something Yuan Yuan could have all to herself."

Mmm...

Lin Youxi's soft whisper sent shivers down Mei Fang's spine. He was about to get up to rest, but his beloved moved even faster than he did.

Sensing something below, Lin Youxi let out a playful laugh. She slowly stood up and then deliberately sat back down slowly, causing the startled Mei Fang to instinctively wrap his arms around her waist. The unexpected contact made Lin Youxi shudder slightly, then she blushed and quickly silenced Mei Fang with a kiss.

After a long and intimate moment, Lin Youxi leaned against Mei Fang's shoulder, gazing at the white clouds and blue sky above, a relaxed and content expression on her face.

"A date like today's should have satisfied you, right, Ah Fang?"

"How is this a reward... I've been the one taking care of you the whole time!"

"Then... why don't you think of another one?"

Mei Fang gently shook his head, tapping his little childhood sweetheart's head, "Okay, I've thought of a new reward!"

Towards the end of their date, Mei Fang took Lin Youxi to a clothing store and bought her a Gothic Lolita-style dress, turning her into the real Miss Shan You Lin Xi.

This was also the origin of the dress Lin Youxi wore when she first appeared at the C Site's all-staff meeting.