Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1694 - 923: Morning Dew (Part 2)

Jiang Ning: "Quick, snap a photo and send it to Chen Siyu."

Geng Lu remained stunned, but those words nearly made her laugh out loud: "She isn’t that dirty!"

Jiang Ning cast a pitiful gaze at Geng Lu, mourning her lack of awareness. No way she could grasp where Chen Siyu was headed these days.

Hot chicken broth got poured over the egg flowers, followed by a dash of pepper, drops of sesame oil, and a sprinkle of cilantro at the end. One bowl of aromatic chicken egg soup stood complete.

Jiang Ning carried two bowls over to the dining table as Geng Lu grabbed some side dishes—spicy shredded potatoes and stir-fried beans with green peppers—then fetched bowls and chopsticks before sitting across from Jiang Ning.

"Here’s the pancake, enjoy it slowly." The slender girl grinned.

Geng Lu examined the pancake closely and abruptly went still.

Round in shape, the pancake bore a topping of sesame seeds, appearing delightfully crisp.

Lifting a piece, she nibbled gently—the exterior crunched, while the interior stayed tender.

Out of nowhere, she inquired: "Boss, what sort of pancake is this?"

The middle-aged woman by the entrance, busy loading pancakes into the oven, called back: "Our family crafts Hu Gou pancakes, genuine Hu Gou pancakes!"

Those familiar terms rang a bell for Geng Lu, widening her eyes as recollections surged forth.

Last year, she and Jiang Ning had visited an off-campus spot for couples’ fried skewers, chatting about pancakes there, with Jiang Ning sharing countless tales on the topic.

Certain stories felt so remote they’d faded from Geng Lu’s mind.

Never did she imagine Jiang Ning still held onto those memories and led her straight to this very shop.

How to capture this instant? Likely, it would etch itself forever in her heart.

Munching the crunchy pancake, Geng Lu stared at Jiang Ning, her gentle, watery eyes fluttering: "Thank you, I love it so much."

Jiang Ning extended his hand, hovering under her pale chin to snag a few crumbs tumbling from her lips, then laughed softly: "Eat slowly, plenty more where that came from."

...

Fourth Middle School’s opening day.

A provincial TV crew arrived for interviews today, leaving school leaders, homeroom teachers from every class, and loads of students scrambling in preparations.

Gong Jin usually shrugged off such events, unbothered thanks to his background that all teachers recognized.

Yet today, Gong Jin threw in with Class 8’s cleanup crew, marching to the main campus path for sweeping duties.

Cui Yu gripped a large broom, eyes scanning before zeroing in on the newcomer.

He shoved the big broom at Gong Jin: "You’re tall—handle the sweeping."

Gong Jin hadn’t a chance to protest before the broom landed in his grasp, and Cui Yu vanished like a flash.

Gong Jin scanned about, spotting no trace of the guy.

Wang Longlong barked orders: "New guy, cover this section. Brother Gang, big broom for you. Brother Dao, small broom!"

Liu Chuandao grumbled: "Drop the ’Brother Dao’ crap?"

’Brother Dao’ in English evoked ’dog,’ straight-up calling him a mutt.

Wang Longlong fixed it: "Dao Ye, small broom for you."

Liu Chuandao fumed: "Why big brooms for them and a puny one for me? Despising your pal?"

Wang Longlong got cut off, spotting Yang Sheng at the gate, and hollered: "Saint Sister, Saint Sister, over here!"

Yang Sheng rocked baggy fleece sweatpants that day, channeling delinquent girl vibes, yet topping the beauty charts in that crowd.

After getting the rundown, she eyed Liu Chuandao and tossed out: "Don’t wanna work? Scram. Let the willing ones handle it."

Cursing under his breath, Liu Chuandao snatched the small broom.

Yang Sheng strolled a loop before sauntering off casually.

Wang Longlong picked up directing: "Huang Yuzhu, trash pickup duty."

Tang Jing bristled: "Why dump trash on Yu Zhu? He scream garbage collector?"

Liu Chuandao spat back: "Doesn’t he?"

Tang Jing and Liu Chuandao traded fiery insults, tempers flaring hot.

Wang Longlong pressed on: "Qiqi, nudge the dustpan up front."

Lu Qiqi yelled right there: "I didn’t come for labor—why boss me?"

Wang Longlong shot: "Then what’s your purpose? Watch it, or I snitch to the teacher!"

Lu Qiqi bit back her retort and joined in. No option—she lacked the cash to spring Gong Jin.

Despite his lofty pride, Gong Jin shunned no duty. He grabbed that big broom and swept with real vigor.

Right then, PE teacher Gu Wei ushered a squad of track-suited students through, kicking off morning runs amid the racket.

Chilly winds still bit hard; sports students charged ahead, sweat cascading down while white vapor billowed from their heads. Their clustered run evoked raw endurance and unyielding grit.

Seeing students hustle by on all sides, the sports teacher bellowed mid-run: "What is our dream?"

Gong Jin clutched his broom, musing: ’Is this some cheer rally kicking off? How dull!’

He’d grown numb to such empty pomp and found it downright ridiculous.

Just then, track whiz Tao Nian bellowed: "Be a security guard!"

"Be a security guard!" the whole sports squad echoed.

Gu Wei thundered: "Louder, I can’t hear you!"

Tao Nian joined in, yelling: "Our dream is to be security guards, to safeguard the peace!"

The sports team roared: "Safeguard the peace!"

Stunned weren’t just Gong Jin—Class 8 pupils and gate passersby gawked too. Hell, first sight of sports trainees gunning straight for security jobs, dodging every twisty path?

PE coach Gu Wei caught the side-glances from nearby students.

Pride flickering in his gaze, he pressed on: "Join Evergreen Liquid, become security guards, secure Yuzhou’s peace, secure the nation’s peace!"

The sports team chanted right back.

Wang Longlong wagged his head: "Not quite right."

He tweaked it sharp, vaulted to the squad’s lead, and hollered: "Strengthen our bodies, pursue dreams of Evergreen, safeguard peace, we are Yuzhou’s security guards, iron-blooded and loyal, together we build national tranquility!"

Gu Wei blinked in shock; yeah, way more polished. Rasping out, he cried: "Safeguard the peace, we are Yuzhou’s security guards!"

High on hype, the sports team bolted with their shiny new chant.

From broke homes mostly, these athletes craved Evergreen Liquid jobs with perks—making every sweaty drill count. The crew was all fired up.

Wang Longlong lit up huge seeing his slogan catch fire.

Tough crowd, Gong Jin. Evergreen Liquid rocked, sure, but this rush felt way too hasty.

Broom gripped firm for sweeping duty, in sauntered a cocky figure draped in flashy logos, owning the road’s heart.

Wang Longlong beamed instant: "Brother Tian, good morning."

Forum giveaways’ top funder, he commanded Wang Longlong’s nod too.

Qi Tianheng dug Wang Longlong’s hustle. Shoulder clap: "Solid work, next Fourth Middle School most beautiful campus belle contest when?"

Wang Longlong: "It’s an annual event; we’ll have to wait until next semester’s freshmen... But then, perhaps I can plan a campus’s most beautiful smile contest, but what about the funds?"

Qi Tianheng flashed two fingers.

Wang Longlong caught on quick.

Striding by Wang Longlong, Qi Tianheng kept going, scanning the sweeper students en route.

"Oh, there’s a newcomer." Qi Tianheng clocked Gong Jin.

Gong Jin shot a flat glance his way, then turned off, oozing quiet scorn.

Qi Tianheng’s forehead creased.

Lapdog Zhao Xiaofeng sucked up fast: "Brother Tian, he’s just cleaning, don’t mind him."

"Alright, Class 8 people..." Qi Tianheng smirked.

Class 8 sparked memories of Yang Sheng’s bold standoff, twisting his gut. Post-failed chase, luck soured—misery stacked, Lan Zichen slipped away too.

Qi Tianheng scoffed: "I heard Yang Sheng frequently places bets with people to avoid duty, wonder which fools are betting back and forth with her!"

Words out, seven or eight dagger stares slashed over; Qi Tianheng iced up head to toe.