Rebirth: Saving the Lovely Girl from the Start

"Xiaorui, come to the restaurant over here in Yanchi. Your great-uncle and second great-uncle are both coming today."

Xue Rui received another call while he was on his way.

’Couldn’t have told me sooner.’

Xue Rui muttered. He was almost home.

When he arrived at the restaurant entrance, Xue Rui saw his dad from a distance, greeting people and chatting with a few vaguely familiar relatives.

A middle-aged woman smiled and greeted him:

"Xiaorui, you’re so grown up! Do you still remember who I am?"

Xue Rui’s face twitched. ’Who the hell is this relative?’

"Auntie, of course I remember. You even held me when I was little. I remember it clearly," Xue Rui said with a smile.

’He couldn’t remember, but she looked to be around forty, so he just made it up.’

He moved closer to Xue Jianfeng and whispered, "Dad, who is she?"

Xue Jianfeng glanced over. "Your second great-uncle’s daughter-in-law."

Xue Rui smacked his lips. It was pointless to ask. He saw them only a few times a year, and he’d probably forget again by the next time they met.

So many people had come today. It felt like New Year’s.

"Everyone’s inside. Let’s all head in," Xue Jianfeng said, ushering the crowd inside.

Just as Xue Rui was about to go in, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

Xue Jianfeng smiled. "You did good, kid. You even remembered to give Old Gu a gift. I’ll let the matter with the cigarettes slide."

"I wasn’t the one who took the cigarettes. My uncle told me to," Xue Rui said, immediately passing the blame.

"I heard from your mother that you’ve been spending a lot of time with a girl named Lin Ruoxi?" Xue Jianfeng asked, probing indirectly.

"Dad, you won’t even approve a dating allowance. Why are you asking so many questions?" Xue Rui retorted.

"I don’t care how you have your fun, but you have to choose someone from the Gu Family. Then you won’t even have to try so hard, even if you can’t get into university," Xue Jianfeng said with a laugh.

Xue Rui frowned. ’What kind of thing is that to say?’

’He was only a second-year in high school, and his dad was already preparing for him to live off a woman?’

’Gu Muxue is from the Gu Family, but Lin Ruoxi is the most domestic girl I’ve ever met—she knows how to do laundry, cook, everything,’ Xue Rui muttered to himself.

He figured they were both good for the family.

In truth, he could understand Xue Jianfeng’s thinking. The two families knew each other inside and out, and their relationship was so close. Xue Jianfeng definitely wanted to become in-laws with Gu Qingshan.

The key point was that Gu Muxue’s family had immense resources. For him, it was a shortcut in life. No matter what he did in the future, he would have the backing of his elders.

But Xue Jianfeng was also looking down on him too much. What did he mean, he couldn’t get into university?

Besides, if he really couldn’t get into university, how could he even pursue Old Gu’s daughter?

Would that kind of highly-educated family accept a son-in-law with only a high school diploma?

At the dining table, the large family sat together. Xue Rui couldn’t remember many of their names, but since they were all family today, calling them "Uncle" and "Auntie" was never wrong.

There were also a few kids at the next table, and Xue Rui recognized them even less.

"Second Great-uncle, how’s your health? Is there anything you can’t eat?"

"Haha, you’re so grown up now."

"Uncle, what would you like to drink?"

"Hey kids, want some cake? Big brother will get you some."

"I want the strawberry one."

...

Xue Rui barely interacted with these relatives, but he had to give his dad face today, so he enthusiastically attended to everyone.

"I’ll let Xiaorui take care of you all. The restaurant is very busy with the holiday today, so please excuse me." Xue Jianfeng smiled, toasted everyone with a few drinks, and left the room.

He had a broad smile on his face. Say what you will about his son, but at least he wasn’t an embarrassment when you took him out.

"Aiya, we’re about to eat a meal, why are you eating cake?" a woman called out.

"Kids are like that. It’s fine to have a little on a holiday," Xue Rui said with a smile.

Xue Rui handed out some cake to the kids, then turned his head and saw a peer of his, about the same age, also sitting at the table.

The young man was a bit chubby, wore glasses, and was staring at his phone without a word.

"This is your Brother Zhuangzhuang. He got into a 985 university this year. You should learn a thing or two from him," Ren Qunfang said with a stern face.

"Yes, Mom, you’re right." Xue Rui nodded with a smile, thinking, ’What does Mom know?’

’She probably doesn’t even know what 985 means.’

Last time at Lin Ruoxi’s house, he’d been holding a programming book and said it was an English book, and his mom believed him.

"Hey, Brother Zhuangzhuang," Xue Rui called out helplessly.

"Say hi!" a middle-aged man said, slapping the young man’s hand and nearly knocking the phone out of his grasp.

"Oh, hi Xiaorui." Xue Zhuang gave Xue Rui a smile.

The man sighed. Other than his good grades, his son was like a three-year-old in every other aspect.

"Why did you hit the child?" the woman scolded in a low voice.

The man didn’t say anything. His wife was like that, always trying to manage every aspect of their child’s life.

But in his view, good grades were only a small part of one’s abilities. A man still needed to be suave and worldly, or he would suffer too many setbacks later in life.

Ren Qunfang asked with a broad smile, "Zhuangzhuang, have you found a girlfriend yet?"

Unexpectedly, Xue Zhuang’s mother grew anxious. "Zhuangzhuang, you can’t be like those kids who get into puppy love. You still have to get your master’s degree!"

Ren Qunfang was stunned. ’The kid’s already in university and he’s still not allowed to date?’

’She was almost pregnant at his age.’

Xue Rui gave the young man a pitying look. ’What terrible luck to be stuck with a mother like that.’

’He’s only a freshman, and his whole future is already planned out for him?’

’This guy looked like the quiet, reserved type of university student. He’d be lucky to find a girlfriend in college at all, yet his family was actively forbidding it.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’How old would he be by the time he graduated with a master’s? All the good girls would be gone by then, and he’d be left with the matchmaking market.’

"Those kids who get into puppy love can’t even get into university," the woman said scornfully, deliberately glancing at Xue Rui.

Ren Qunfang nodded thoughtfully. She hadn’t gotten into university.

She thought about it, realized it seemed to be true, and turned her head to look at Xue Rui.

"Mom, I just jumped up several hundred spots in the rankings. Don’t look at me like that," Xue Rui muttered.

Ren Qunfang frowned in thought for a moment, realizing it was true. Her expression turned into a broad smile as she said:

"That’s not necessarily true. My Xiaorui seems to be dating someone, and his grades have improved a lot recently."

"Huh?" The woman’s expression turned awkward.

Xue Rui and Zhuangzhuang sat together, their demeanors a world apart.

Xue Rui was completely relaxed, his arm draped casually over the back of his chair, while Xue Zhuang just kept his head down, playing with his phone.

Xue Rui glanced over. The young man was just swiping back and forth on his phone’s home screen, tapping into the settings menu and then backing out again...

The woman shot Xue Zhuang a glare, gesturing for him to talk to Xue Rui.

"Oh, Xue Rui, are there any school problems you don’t understand? I can teach you," Xue Zhuang offered.

Xue Rui’s expression turned strange. ’We’re the same age, how could he say something so boring?’

Xue Rui asked, "Do you play games?"

"My mom doesn’t let me play games..." Xue Zhuang said, scratching his head.

"..." Xue Rui didn’t want to talk to this kind of goodie-two-shoes. It was just too boring.

"You should listen to your mom less," Xue Rui advised, out of the kindness of his heart.

’That kind of woman is way too controlling, with no regard for her child’s feelings at all.’

Xue Rui’s grandmother came over and secretly stuffed a roll of cash into his hand—probably three to five hundred yuan. "Take this and buy yourself something nice to eat."

Xue Rui didn’t refuse. It was a kind gesture from his elder.

"Found a partner yet?" the old lady asked with a beaming smile.

Xue Rui suddenly had the illusion of being pressured into marriage. He laughed and said, "Grandma, how old do you think I am?"

"If your studies aren’t going well, you should hurry up and find a partner. Otherwise, what’s the point of even going to school?" the old lady said nonchalantly.

Xue Rui thought, ’Damn, that actually makes a lot of sense.’ His grandma was way too pragmatic.

"You’re right, Grandma. I need to hurry up," Xue Rui nodded.

Ren Qunfang shot Xue Rui a glare, thinking, ’Is it that he can’t find one? More like he’s spoiled for choice.’

"It’s good that you know to hurry. Don’t be like your aunt. She’s not young anymore and still doesn’t have a partner," the old lady sighed.

Xue Xiaying was just tiptoeing in through the door when she heard her mother say this. She immediately went back on her toes, ready to flee.

"I’m going to the bathroom." Xue Rui had spotted Xue Xiaying.

"Auntie, what are you running for?"

Xue Rui called out to Xue Xiaying.

"I... uh... have something to do at school," Xue Xiaying stammered.

She dreaded these kinds of occasions. Being pressured into marriage by a huge group of relatives was terrifying.

"If you run now, it’ll be even worse next time," Xue Rui said, shaking his head.

Finally, egged on by Xue Rui, Xue Xiaying gritted her teeth and went inside.

Xue Rui had experienced the feeling of being pressured into marriage, so of course he wasn’t going to let Xue Xiaying suffer too much.

Whenever the crowd was about to turn the topic to Xue Xiaying, Xue Rui would either steer the conversation elsewhere or interrupt their train of thought by refilling their drinks.

Xue Xiaying sat at the kids’ table, nibbling on some cake.

"Thank you," Xue Xiaying said gratefully.

"Don’t..."

Before Xue Rui could finish, he saw his dad dragging Ren Jun by the collar through a crack in the door.

"Auntie, you eat first. I’ve got to take care of something."

Xue Rui hurried out after them.

Xue Jianfeng dragged Ren Jun into a corner of the stairwell like he was carrying a baby chick.

"Brother-in-law, I really just came to bring you mooncakes," Ren Jun explained hastily.

"Oh? Don’t think I can’t see it. You’ve been running over to my place so often lately. You want to be my brother-in-law, don’t you?" Xue Jianfeng said coldly.

Xue Rui walked over as well.

"Xiaorui, your timing is perfect. Is this kid pursuing your aunt?" Xue Jianfeng said, sitting on a higher step of the stairs.

"Spit it out." Xue Rui, also looking grim, sat down on the step below Xue Jianfeng.

The two of them were like judges interrogating a criminal, their gazes sharp as they stared at Ren Jun without a word.

Ren Jun shot Xue Rui a glare. ’This kid turned on me too fast. Just a few days ago he was helping me, and now he’s on the other side.’

Ren Jun said with a sincere expression, "Yes, I like Xiaying."

Xue Jianfeng frowned. He didn’t think much of his wife’s younger brother.

The guy was unreliable and completely unworthy of his sister.

"You’re not worthy," Xue Jianfeng said coldly.

"Right, not worthy," Xue Rui repeated, like a comedian’s straight man.

Ren Jun’s eye twitched. ’It’s over,’ he thought. ’My brother-in-law is not someone to be trifled with...’

"I know I’m not worthy, but we can negotiate the terms, can’t we?" Ren Jun said, trying to curry favor.

Xue Jianfeng snorted coldly. "A betrothal gift of five million. No negotiation."

Xue Rui’s eye twitched. His dad was too ruthless. This would break the record in Hedong City.

"Five million?" Ren Jun’s gaze went blank, but he quickly fell into thought.

Xue Rui frowned. ’What’s with Ren Jun’s reaction?’

’He’s actually thinking about it?’

"Dad, don’t force him down the path of illegal crime," Xue Rui whispered in his dad’s ear.

Legally earning five million in a short period was impossible for an ordinary person.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"How about this..."

"Hmm..."

Xue Jianfeng held up five fingers. "The five hundred part is non-negotiable. But the unit changes... to cents."