Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1809 - 995: Spring Outing

It was early morning on April 2nd.

Xue Yuantong, fully prepared, started her nagging: "If he wakes up too late, I'm definitely riding my bike to school by myself."

Xue Chuchu, while tending to the gas stove and making pancakes, responded upon hearing this, "What's the use of acting tough with me? You should go say it at his door."

Xue Yuantong admitted, "I'm not that brave."

Xue Chuchu found herself speechless.

She carefully sprinkled chopped scallions evenly over the egg-covered pancake, her focus absolute.

From the side, Xue Yuantong could glimpse her fluttering eyelashes, making her look remarkably beautiful.

She sighed softly, wondering when she herself could achieve such stunning beauty as Chuchu.

At that time, would Jiang Ning still dare to be so arrogant and presumptuous in front of her?

Tongtong sat perched on a small stool, her calves drawn up, her chin resting on her hands, lost in a daydream of transforming into a breathtaking beauty.

She imagined a scenario: one day, caught in a downpour, her mother berates her, Jiang Ning adds insult to injury, and no one at home supports her. In a fit of rage, she flees the house into the rain, only to return years later as a stunning beauty by the river dam. Her mother and Jiang Ning would be astounded, desperate to reconcile, but she would present a cold face, stating, 'Repent, and only then might I consider it!'

Xue Chuchu occasionally glanced over, noticing Tongtong's shifting expressions. She tentatively inquired, "Tongtong, are you alright?"

Xue Yuantong's fantasy was instantly shattered, her thoughts snapping back to the present. She hastily wiped the corner of her mouth.

She realized she remained her ordinary self, feeling a momentary void.

Just then, Jiang Ning ambled into the kitchen doorway.

A surge of confidence filled Xue Yuantong, and she let out a cold snort:

"Do you have any idea how anxiously I was waiting for you?"

"I even found Chuchu cooking too slowly and decided to make breakfast myself!"

Jiang Ning, holding a cup of water, took a sip of warm water and replied, "I didn't see that."

Xue Yuantong retorted, "Of course you didn't see it, because I didn't actually do it."

Xue Chuchu felt like an emotionless culinary automaton.

"Breakfast will be ready soon. Jiang Ning, why are you lingering at the door instead of coming in? Are you afraid of me?"

Jiang Ning, too indifferent to engage, offered a dismissive reply, "You guess."

"Hmph, never mind. I wouldn't even feel it if you came in," Tongtong declared with disdain.

Jiang Ning's eye twitched slightly.

He ultimately entered the kitchen, commandeering her stool as he passed, prompting an urgent protest from Tongtong.

The breakfast spread included soy milk, egg pancakes, and two simple stir-fried vegetable dishes.

"Chuchu, you need to be cautious when riding your bike lately. A few nights ago, someone in the city was driving drunk and collided with two electric bikes," Tongtong advised.

"I've always been very careful when riding, but you..." Xue Chuchu hesitated.

She had ridden pillion with Jiang Ning on his electric bike and knew his reckless style, akin to riding a rocket.

Xue Yuantong reassured, "Don't worry, I'm aware of Jiang Ning's driving skills."

Jiang Ning ruffled Tongtong's piled-up hair and remarked, "Despite your occasional rebelliousness, Tongtong, you possess a great deal of loyalty."

Xue Yuantong felt a flicker of happiness; she and Jiang Ning were always aligned. However, she also felt that mere loyalty wasn't particularly impressive. After a brief ponder, she asserted, "Of course, you are my servant."

After concluding their meal, Tongtong proceeded to Jiang Ning's residence to retrieve the electric bike.

Xue Chuchu, recalling the grim accident photos shared in their class group chat, reiterated her warning, "Jiang Ning, you absolutely must not modify the electric bike any further. Its current speed is already more than sufficient."

She remembered that Jiang Ning's electric bike had already clocked speeds exceeding 75 km/h, a truly alarming figure.

Jiang Ning met her gaze and inquired, "How did you know I was planning to upgrade the battery?"

Xue Chuchu felt a sense of pressure but showed remarkable resilience. There were things the less assertive Tongtong couldn't manage, but she could.

Facing Jiang Ning's piercing stare, she stated, "I saw it on Tongtong's phone."

Jiang Ning questioned, "You actually went through Tongtong's phone?"

Xue Chuchu quickly clarified, "I didn't. Tongtong let me borrow it to play with. Between us, it doesn't count as snooping."

Her eyes remained calm, honest, and direct.

Jiang Ning's interest was piqued: "Oh? Is your conscience truly as clear as you claim?"

Xue Chuchu maintained her composed posture, unwavering, replying, "Hmm."

Jiang Ning pressed further, "Aren't some people perhaps worried it wasn't just phones they snooped on, but tablets as well?"

Xue Chuchu's face flushed with embarrassment. She had, in fact, inadvertently accessed the notes on the tablet while helping Tongtong with games, discovering numerous cartoon sketches, some of them quite private.

"If I overstepped any boundaries, I will certainly explain it to Tongtong," Xue Chuchu’s voice lacked its earlier firmness.

But she couldn't help but wonder with a touch of confusion: "By the way, how did you know?"

Jiang Ning’s expression remained utterly composed. "I happened to glimpse it in your diary."

Xue Chuchu's countenance flickered through a rapid succession of expressions.

...

Having concluded their meal, Xue Yuantong gracefully straightened her posture and urged Jiang Ning to get moving. Teacher An had initially kept the destination of their educational excursion under wraps, but Xue Yuantong, with a proactive inquiry to her class teacher Shan Qingrong, managed to uncover the truth.

The study trip's objective was none other than a recently inaugurated zoo and amusement park situated in the adjacent Yun City.

Never having experienced a zoo before, Xue Yuantong was overcome with exhilaration and a palpable sense of eagerness.

"Wow, a zoo! I've never laid eyes on a tiger before!"

Upon their arrival at the school, the first rays of dawn were just beginning to paint the sky.

A considerable assembly, numbering close to two thousand students from both the freshman and sophomore years, had convened on the training ground, poised for the principal's inspection.

Following a customary address and a flag-raising ceremony, Principal Yu finally made the grand pronouncement: "I hereby declare, the study trip officially commences!"

Amidst a chorus of excited chatter, the well-organized contingent began to form an elongated line, which snaked its way from the training ground toward the main thoroughfare of the campus, where a fleet of buses awaited by the roadside.

Despite her petite frame, Xue Yuantong shouldered the responsibility of carrying a large flag alongside her backpack. Yet, she trailed cheerfully behind Jiang Ning, her voice ringing out with unbridled enthusiasm, "La la la, the school is taking us to the zoo!"

Jiang Ning ambled along at a leisurely pace, his hands clasped behind his back.

He found himself genuinely appreciating this vibrant atmosphere, an experience notably absent from his previous existence, and it served as a welcome addition this time around.

A photographer had strategically positioned himself before the garden's entrance, ready to document the study trip activities of Fourth Middle School, intending to capture the entirety of their journey on film.

From the vantage point of the balcony on the first building, a group of senior students observed the lively and uninhibited crowd below. Among them were Tao Nian, the sports student, Yan Chuchen, a member of the Student Council, and Jiang Shanyue, all of whom let out sighs filled with a tinge of wistfulness.

"Damn, why don't we get to do this!"

"Seriously, we're quite possibly the most unlucky cohort."

Han Wen Nuan, a transfer student facing financial hardship, navigated through the throng with a complex mix of emotions. "In my recollection, high school felt akin to serving a three-year prison sentence; succeed and you're released, falter and you're imprisoned for life."

"I never truly imagined there would be an actual opportunity to venture out and enjoy ourselves."

Dong Qingfeng, adept at maintaining an air of sophistication, elegantly fanned himself as he remarked, "Not too shabby. We had a spring outing in elementary school, a summer camp in middle school, and now a study trip in high school."

Zhong Huai chimed in, "We never had such excursions back in our town's middle school, though I still find myself reminiscing about the town..."

Wang Longlong interjected, "Hey, Zhong Huai, let's keep things in perspective!"

Cease mentioning your former institution; what exactly do you perceive Fourth Middle School to be?

Hu Jun waved a dismissive hand. "Easy there, Brother Long, no need to rush him. He's simply attempting to bolster school spirit here at our very own Fourth Middle School!"

Cui Yu grinned mischievously. "As expected, sharing the same school of thought as Junzi."

Zhong Huai, hearing this remark, appeared somewhat perplexed.

Meng Gui, after a moment of contemplation, extended a proactive invitation: "Zhong Huai, care to join us at my place tonight? We've got a big TV, and there'll be plenty of people. After we've had our fun, we can just crash."

After a considerable interval, a familiar gathering began to coalesce at their clandestine rendezvous point.

Zhong Huai, embodying the spirit of a progressive youth, had served as class president during his time at his previous school; now, perceiving an avenue for further advancement, he was determined to seize it.

Zhong Huai enthusiastically agreed, "Sure, sure, let's all meet up tonight!"

Meng Gui playfully slung an arm around Zhong Huai's neck, and the pair departed with evident joy.

Observing their receding figures, Han Wen Nuan couldn't shake a subtle feeling that something was amiss.

"Brother Nan, why don't you find a girl to sit with? For instance, Liu Chuandao has already paired up with Zhang Zhaodi," Wang Longlong commented.

Guo Kunnan adopted a posture that conveyed a rejection of frivolous distractions. "I adhere to my principles."

He then proceeded to select a seat alongside his close companion, Kaiquan.

Teacher An Chan, diligently maintaining order at the front of the bus, couldn't help but offer a wistful smile upon overhearing the students' banter. It brought back memories of a spring outing during her own school days, when a certain boy had bravely chosen to sit beside her.

She could still vividly recall the boy's flushed, bashful countenance to this very day.

An Chan murmured to herself, "Take the initiative just once, and perhaps things might unfold differently."

Dan Kaiquan, evidently pleased by the pretty female teacher's engagement, responded, "Girls are merely adornments; ultimately, one's own strength is what truly matters."

Meng Gui proclaimed, "If I blossom, butterflies will inevitably flock to me!"

Cui Yu added his own flourish, "Indeed, should I blossom, a multitude of butterflies shall be attracted!"

Guo Kunnan, walking towards the bus entrance, seemed to catch a faint whiff of Teacher An Chan's subtle perfume. A sudden wave of emotion washed over him. "Teacher An, I have a question I'd like to pose to you."

"If you were in the same class as me, would you choose to sit beside me?"

An Chan paused for a moment before responding, "Yes, I would."

A smile then graced Guo Kunnan’s handsome, dark features; his Dao Heart felt especially tranquil at this moment.

From the bus window, a face like a shoehorn suddenly appeared as Liu Chuandao inquired, "Teacher An, back in high school, would you have agreed to sit with me back then?"

An Chan turned to look at Liu Chuandao and instinctively replied, "Sorry."

Liu Chuandao exclaimed, "Damn it!"

It was only then that An Chan realized she had perhaps wounded a boy's feelings, though this particular student often caused disruptions in class and truly needed a proper lesson.

After conversing with the pupils from Class 8, she discovered that a genuine exchange of ideas was possible. She mused aloud, "If I had been born a few years later and found myself in a class with you all, it would have been quite an interesting experience."

Cui Yu let out a laugh, saying, "Haha, Teacher An, I suggest you reconsider. Even if Wu Zetian herself were present, Liu Chuandao would likely still pester her relentlessly."

Meng Gui chimed in, "Even Empress Dowager Cixi would have to bring two barrels of purified water first."

Wu Xiaoqi added, "Even the Maid of Orléans would be utterly suppressed by the legendary Four Golden Flowers."

An Chan responded with a curious, "Oh?"

"Are you still considering it, Teacher An?" Cui Yu attempted to dissuade her further.

An Chan offered a gentle smile, replying, "It would be even more interesting."