Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1669 - 908: Princess, Your..._2

A grin spread across Hu Jun's lips; with his own clear path and ambitions in life, he brushed off all the rumors.

Pulling out his mobile, he forwarded his girlfriend's WeChat details straight to his mother.

In a distant small town, inside some modest two-story home.

Mrs. Hu gawked at the contact info in stunned silence. The avatar featured a tranquil lotus bloom, matched with the handle 'Heart Like Still Water.'

Hu Jun urged with excitement, 'Mom, she's truly wonderful. Message her—you might discover shared hobbies.'

Mrs. Hu paused briefly: 'Son, I'm scared.'

Hu Jun furrowed his brow: 'You're my mother—what's there to fear? She ought to be the nervous one!'

Mrs. Hu at last shared her worry: 'That profile pic has me thinking she could be my old classmate.'

Hu Jun shrugged casually: 'Mom, even if she's your classmate, so what? Chat freely—she addresses you as mom, you call her old pal.'

Mrs. Hu stayed quiet.

Guo Kunnan missed Hu Jun's family messages entirely; Hu Jun's down jacket looked cooler the longer he stared.

'Brother Jun, I don't get it.'

'Chatting with girls, soon enough their shoes disappear, phones smash, birthdays loom—like I ruined them all.'

Hu Jun noted, 'Brother Nan, quit faking the gentleman act. Act like me, and clothes vanish by chat's end.'

Guo Kunnan sorta got it, but not fully.

…

As they wandered the streets, Guo Kunnan uploaded to QQ Space, capturing their group's buzzing vibe.

Class 8 folks buzzed with activity. Yu Wen liked it and commented: 'National Purchase Square, yeah? I'm right nearby too!'

Guo Kunnan: 'Shame you showed up late.'

Yu Wen brushed it off; earlier arrival or not, she'd never seek them out—busy dating her sweet class leader.

Dong Qingfeng and Meng Ziyun reached the road split, cabbed home, while Guo Kunnan's bunch veered to the internet cafe.

Just Jiang Ning plus the other two lingered.

Classmates all departed, Tongtong finally unwound. Her territory reclaimed!

En route to snag an electric scooter, Tongtong eyed a scratch-and-win shop. One peek, eyes glued...

'Chuchu, fancy a thrilling fresh game? I'll bring you along.'

Xue Chuchu fired back: 'No gambling-style games for me, like scratch-offs.'

Xue Yuantong, plans exposed, backtracked: 'Wasn't thinking that. Why figure I'm always so dumb?'

Xue Chuchu remained silent.

Seconds passed, Xue Yuantong puffed her cheeks: 'Why skip it?'

Xue Chuchu: 'Got no money.'

Jiang Ning glanced her way, musing, this girl steps out with me penniless? Aiming to skip out on the bill, eh.

He paused and announced, 'Long time no scratch-and-win; craving it bad.'

Xue Yuantong's face lit up bright; payback time for those lost Gold Coins today!

'Chuchu, we'll savor candied hawthorns mid-scratch—fun doubled!'

Xue Chuchu sighed softly, unable to rein them in.

Holiday eve, teacher lectured the class on gambling risks, like a thirties rich boss bankrupted to suicide leap.

Store entry brought a toasty gust, swiftly dissolving snow from their clothes.

'Hey, Jiang Ning!' Jiang Yanan's shocked call echoed.

Present weren't just Jiang Yanan—Lu Qiqi, Yu Wen, ex-monitor Huang Zhongfei perched high on a stool too.

'All here together.' Jiang Ning waved hello.

Mid-greeting, he passed his candied hawthorns to the quartet—precisely four skewers.

Xue Yuantong stood gobsmacked.

'Wow, thanks!' Jiang Yanan's grin shone extra vivid. Shame about single eyelids and tiny eyes; she'd be knockout beauty then. Meng Gui stays loyal, feuding Cui Yu still.

Jiang Ning swept the scratch-off with Divine Sense and declared, 'You two grab a few tickets—my dime, all set.'

Xue Chuchu waved off quick: 'Pass for me.'

Xue Yuantong latched Chuchu's arm: 'Fear what?!'

Yu Wen scratched her ticket when spotting the duo eyeing scratch-offs.

Strawberry candied haws in hand, kind-hearted, Yu Wen returned the kindness.

She sidled close, murmuring, 'Pro tip time. Scratch-offs guarantee min return, right? $600 book spits back at least $260. Hold up. Let others scratch first—if front half blanks, snag from back. Win odds soar.'

'Certain shop owners track every book's payouts, tweak totals tight, snatch remainders themselves.'

Xue Yuantong soaked up the secret intel, face turning grave: 'Yu Wen, thanks a ton!'

Tip shared, Xue Yuantong held fire on scratching. Nabbed a $10 ticket easy, then eyed customers' picks with gleaming black orbs.

Cute mug spared her; shopkeep might've pegged her thief otherwise.

Xue Chuchu burned with awkwardness, stealing looks at Jiang Ning like, 'Stop her already?'

Jiang Ning shrugged it off—Tongtong unfazed, so was he.

Fifteen minutes ticked by, Tongtong plunged deep, snatching three from a winless book.

Beer opener in hand, she scraped slow—till a shriek pierced nearby.

Yu Wen burst wild: 'Won it, won it!'

Words out, store gazes snapped over.

Peak thrill faded, Yu Wen bottled it quick, cheeks blazing truth.

Jiang Yanan, Lu Qiqi traded stunned stares. Lu Qiqi especially churned in inner chaos.

Her ticket's rule: scratched num matches win num, claim matching prize. Yu Wen's? 300,000...

300,000! Lu Qiqi's mug froze. Her big-fish traps yielded nowhere near. 300k hers? Joy overload!

Yu Wen's ticket-clutch quivered. Huang Zhongfei neared to probe.

Before fave class leader, Yu Wen spilled all: 'Leader, 15 here, mine matches 15. Prize sum—see.'

Hands quaking fierce, Huang Zhongfei blinked dazed at twins nums, prize digits trailing long.

Street-smart Huang Zhongfei held steady: 'Easy now, ticket secure. Center shut tonight. Redeem tomorrow.'

Yu Wen tamped joy, quivers racking as ticket dove into coat pocket, zip sealed tight.

Out she went, Huang Zhongfei steadying from shop.

Xue Yuantong, slack-jawed: 'Shuffling like grandma?'

Shop exterior, Yu Wen patted pocket frantic, hollered sudden, 'Qiqi's bag—lend for ticket!'

Yu Wen wriggled Huang Zhongfei's hold, bolted back inside on impulse.

Bliss sparks mad deeds; Yu Wen no full loon but near, walk forgotten. Steps in, trip, floor smack.

Exit-bound duo jolted: 'Sis, good?'

Yu Wen ground-bound: 'Fine, go on.'

Duo: 'Safe? Off we go...'

Careful steps over her.

No Huang aid awaited, Yu Wen arm-pushed, clambered upright shaky.

Limp toward Lu Qiqi.

Sudden notice from Xue Yuantong: lost shoe! 'Yu Wen, glass slipper loose!'

Instant after, Huang Zhongfei stooped, scooped it.

Jiang Ning chuckled: 'Prince claims the glass slipper.'