Rebirth: Saving the Lovely Girl from the Start

New Year’s Day passed, and 2014 arrived.

The high school seniors unbelievably didn’t get their break until the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.

On the morning of the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, at Lin Ruoxi’s home.

Today, he was going to celebrate Lin Ruoxi’s birthday, then swing by Gu Muxue’s house, and after that, head back to his old home in the countryside for the New Year.

His schedule was packed.

After all, he couldn’t miss going back to his village for New Year’s two years in a row. Anyone who didn’t know better might think he’d already married into someone else’s family.

Xue Rui locked Lin Ruoxi in her bedroom and personally went into the kitchen to make her a bowl of longevity noodles.

Of course, he didn’t know how to make dough, so he used dried noodles.

Speaking of which, dried noodles held a very low status in the north, especially in a place like Jin Province, which was rich in noodle dishes. If someone started eating dried noodles, it could only mean their family had truly run out of food...

’I hope the little lady won’t mind. A symbolic bite is all that’s needed,’ Xue Rui muttered to himself.

He hadn’t been in a kitchen for a long time, so his skills were quite rusty.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP..."

Just as he was cooking the noodles, he got a call.

"Xue Rui, how does it feel to earn twenty million?" Qingfeng asked cheerfully.

Le You’s annual report was out. Xue Rui’s dividend for the last six months alone was 21 million.

As a shareholder in Anipop, Xue Rui had indeed offered a lot of guiding suggestions. Although their team already had several plans, Xue Rui’s opinions often served as the final reference for execution. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"It’s alright, I guess. Don’t feel much," Xue Rui said, his attention entirely on the pot.

The dividend was actually a little lower than he had expected. It was probably because his rebirth had caused the game to launch a year or two earlier than scheduled. It would grow steadily over the next few years.

"Such a big shot. Anyway, I won’t keep you. Happy New Year in advance," Qingfeng said with a laugh.

Xue Rui could hear it was noisy on Qingfeng’s end, so he just said "Happy New Year" and hung up.

Xue Rui had sold all his remaining virtual currency and deposited the funds into Lin Ruoxi’s account. But he was a bit too late; the price had dropped again, netting only 27 million.

But Lin Ruoxi showed no signs of excitement or surprise. Her life continued on, as placid as ever.

Honestly, Xue Rui greatly admired Lin Ruoxi’s mindset. Many people who suddenly get rich after being poor engage in revenge spending, but Lin Ruoxi didn’t. She continued to live simply, even hesitating when buying a chocolate pie.

In reality, the daily interest earned from her bank card was more than enough for her to eat chocolate pies to her heart’s content.

And yet, the girl only ate one a day.

Xue Rui dished out the noodles and sprinkled them with chopped green onions. It actually looked quite decent, about the same as the complimentary bowls you’d get at a restaurant.

He took out the cake he had ordered in advance. To call it a cake was a bit of a stretch—it was actually a giant chocolate pie.

This thing had not been easy to find. He had asked many bakeries in advance, but they all said they couldn’t make it. In the end, he had to ask a pastry chef at a hotel, slip him a big red envelope, and have it rushed out before the New Year.

Feeling that everything was ready, Xue Rui let Lin Ruoxi out, standing behind her and covering her eyes.

"A birthday present?" Lin Ruoxi tilted her head curiously, her vision completely dark.

Xue Rui instructed, "No peeking."

Lin Ruoxi quickly squeezed her eyes shut. Xue Rui felt her long eyelashes brush against his palm and thought, ’This girl is still so obedient.’

Xue Rui was speechless. "Aren’t you supposed to act a little surprised?"

"I’m not stupid. I know it’s my birthday today," Lin Ruoxi mumbled. Xue Rui was being so secretive, so he must have prepared a gift.

For a moment, Xue Rui didn’t know how to respond. This girl had always been so straightforward.

She wasn’t stupid. Who would dare call the future top science student stupid?

"Forget it. Open your eyes."

As Xue Rui released his hands, Lin Ruoxi’s vision returned.

Lin Ruoxi’s eyes widened slightly. "What a... what a giant pie!"

Xue Rui couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

It was the first time he had seen such a look of shock on Lin Ruoxi’s face. Her small face looked a little lost, her eyes wide and round, which was utterly adorable.

Lin Ruoxi’s favorite snack was chocolate pie. Because they were expensive, she usually only ate one small one a day. Today, he wanted to let her eat her fill.

But her dazed expression right now was just too cute. He really wanted to take a little bite of her cheek.

After her initial shock, Lin Ruoxi noticed a bowl of steaming noodles behind the chocolate pie.

Instantly, her gaze was captivated by that bowl of noodles.

’Did Xue Rui cook this?’

"Did you make this for me?" Lin Ruoxi’s eyes grew slightly moist.

"Yeah, it’s for you," Xue Rui said with a nod.

Lin Ruoxi walked over to the table in a daze, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.

Xue Rui thought, ’This girl was ecstatic just a moment ago, probably wanted to dive in and take a bite of the chocolate pie. How did she get distracted by dried noodles?’

"Is it good?" Xue Rui asked.

He had forgotten to taste it earlier. Although he had added a lot of ingredients—shrimp, egg, and whatnot—how good could dried noodles possibly be?

Watching Lin Ruoxi eat the steaming hot noodles, Xue Rui felt a desire to taste it himself.

The little lady ate quickly, shoveling it into her mouth in just a few bites. "Ish good," she said, her mouth full.

Just as Lin Ruoxi lifted the bowl, preparing to drink the broth, there was a knock on the door.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!"

Lin Ruoxi quickly got up to answer it. "Who is it?"

Xue Rui felt like he had forgotten something, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He thoughtfully picked up Lin Ruoxi’s bowl.

’She’s eating with such relish. Just how good is it?’

’Since when was I such an amazing cook?’

He lifted the bowl of leftover broth and took a sip. Xue Rui froze on the spot. "I didn’t add salt..."

No wonder. No wonder he felt like he’d forgotten to do something. It turned out Qingfeng’s call had disrupted his train of thought, and he’d forgotten the seasoning.

’Lin Ruoxi must have tasted it. And she still lied and told me it was good?’

’The little lady has learned to lie?’

Xue Rui suddenly felt a pang of uncertainty. It seemed Lin Ruoxi had learned a thing or two; she probably wouldn’t be so easy to fool in the future.

"Ms. Lin, on behalf of the Agricultural Bank, I’d like to wish you a happy birthday and a happy New Year." Yu Minlan was holding a cake and a large pile of gifts with the Agricultural Bank’s logo, including everything from couplets to lanterns.

"Mr. Xue is here too? Then I won’t have to make another trip." Seeing Xue Rui was also there, Yu Minlan thought to herself, ’Well, that saves me some trouble.’

Xue Rui’s eye twitched. ’What is all this?’ he thought.

’The bank is making New Year’s calls?’

’Then what’s with that pile of New Year’s goods behind you?’

"Why is there chicken, duck, fish, and meat? Are the two people behind you from the bank as well?" Xue Rui asked, puzzled. The two people behind her were dressed neatly, but they didn’t look like they worked in finance at all. The calluses on their hands were clearly from years of manual labor.

"These are my parents. They insisted on coming to thank you," Yu Minlan said, her expression embarrassed.

She had met Xue Rui a few times and knew he had simply given her the business because he found her agreeable.

She could have come to thank him by herself. There was no need for the whole family to show up.

"It’s no problem. Uncle, Auntie, please come in," Xue Rui said warmly.

"You can tell this chicken isn’t from the market. This is the kind I like to eat," Xue Rui said with a smile as he accepted the New Year’s goods.

The woman said with a smile, "I just got it from the village yesterday."

He didn’t refuse and accepted the local specialty products they had brought.

"Thank you, young man. It’s all thanks to you that our kid got her job. We don’t know how to thank you..." The man, whose temples were graying, pulled out an absurdly thick envelope and tried to stuff it into Xue Rui’s hand.

Xue Rui frowned. "I can’t accept this."

He could accept other kinds of money, but he could never accept money earned through blood and sweat.

"Dad!" Yu Minlan looked mortified. Her parents were just that stubborn. Ever since they learned that Xue Rui had helped her secure a permanent position, they had been nagging at home every day about coming to thank him properly.

Now that it was almost the New Year, they had been sticking to her like glue, and they wouldn’t have given up until they made this visit.

"Does he look like he’s short on money?" Yu Minlan said through gritted teeth, thinking, ’Just put that away already. He’s not in the same world as us.’

"This is what you don’t understand. Whether they need it is their business. Whether we give it is about our gratitude," the man whispered, trying to teach his daughter a lesson about how to get by in the world.

Xue Rui thought, ’This apartment is so small, I can hear them no matter how quietly they whisper.’

"Uncle, you’ve raised your daughter very well. What I value is her sincere heart," Xue Rui said, choosing his words carefully.

In fact, he was telling the truth. What he valued was that Yu Minlan wasn’t scheming.

"So there are advantages to being simple-minded?" The man chuckled, thinking his daughter had truly met a benefactor.

"I believe that someone who works hard shouldn’t be held back by workplace politics," Xue Rui said with a smile.

"This..." The man was stunned.

He had been worried that his daughter was being deceived and would suffer a great loss later on.

But when he walked into the residential complex, he understood. This person was no ordinary man. To have a deposit in the hundreds of millions yet live in such a run-down complex was more unbelievable than anything he’d read in books.

He was very suspicious. Could such an upright and pure-hearted person really exist in this world? Rich people were all calculating. He had previously begged everyone he could think of just to arrange a job for his daughter that was a little closer to home.

But when his daughter brought home a commission of over a hundred thousand, he panicked again. He wouldn’t have been able to eat during the New Year without seeing for himself what kind of person this Xue Rui was.

Now, he had finally discovered that the young man was indeed a kind-hearted rich person.

"Thank you." The man’s eyes reddened. He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t believe such good fortune had befallen their family.

Finally, Xue Rui chatted with the family for a little while longer, then glanced at the time. ’It’s almost noon,’ he thought. ’I need to send these people on their way.’

"Yu Minlan, why don’t you take the old lady for a check-up at the hospital after the New Year? I’m very busy lately," Xue Rui said, giving Yu Minlan a meaningful look.

Yu Minlan nodded emphatically. "I guarantee the mission will be completed."

"Mom, Dad, did you hear? He’s very busy," Yu Minlan said, pulling her parents toward the door.

After seeing the family off, Lin Ruoxi returned to the table and picked up the bowl of cold noodle broth.

"Is it good?" Xue Rui asked.

"It’s delicious." Lin Ruoxi drank the rest of the broth in one go and gave Xue Rui a sweet smile.

"I forgot to add salt. I tasted it, it’s terrible," Xue Rui said.

"Everything you make is delicious," Lin Ruoxi said with a blink, her thoughts already circling the giant chocolate pie. She didn’t notice Xue Rui scrutinizing her at all.

Lin Ruoxi was conflicted. She was wondering where to take the first bite of a chocolate pie as big as her head. She really didn’t want to cut it...

"You’re not lying?" Xue Rui walked over and cupped her little face in his hands. Her cheeks were squished together, forming her lips into an ’O’ shape that glistened with a pink sheen, as if she were wearing lipstick.

Xue Rui looked into Lin Ruoxi’s clear, bright eyes, and they stared at each other deeply for a moment.

"Never mind." Xue Rui’s heart was pounding. He was the first to look away. Lin Ruoxi really wasn’t lying, but if this kept up, he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back.

"Here’s your New Year’s money in advance. I have to go home for the New Year this year." Xue Rui patted the little lady’s head and placed a red envelope on the table.

Xue Rui started putting on his coat. If he delayed any longer, he wouldn’t have time to pay a New Year’s visit to Gu Muxue.

"Okay. And this is your New Year’s money," Lin Ruoxi said, producing a red envelope of her own. Hearing that Xue Rui was leaving, she realized she wouldn’t see him for the next few days, and a sense of disappointment washed over her.

She stepped forward, gently hugged Xue Rui, and took a deep breath of his scent.

"What are you doing?" Xue Rui raised his hands as if surrendering.

Lin Ruoxi often took advantage of him like this. He knew it was best not to move at times like these, lest things get out of hand.

Lin Ruoxi was very nervous. She was afraid Xue Rui would scold her, but it had been so long since she’d had a chance to sneak a hug.

"I... I want to remember your scent..."