Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Back in middle school, there were boys in the class who twirled pens, attracting many girls eager to learn. At the time, Chai Wei wanted to imitate them but was clumsy with his hands.

As he spoke, he stared at Bai Yuxia's hand, which was particularly beautiful—slim, long, and exquisitely fair. Her nails glowed with a blue sheen, as if they were artifacts, making people want to cradle them protectively.

Bai Yuxia: "I think practice makes perfect."

Chai Wei realized an opportunity was at hand, first denying: "No, it's the hand's flexibility that determines pen-twirling limits. For someone as skilled as you, your hands must be very soft."

He opened his hand and pretended to speak seriously: "If you don't believe me, we can see whose hands are softer."

If it were a more naive girl, she might have fallen for it, but Bai Yuxia had encountered similar tricks many times.

Seeing her unresponsive, Chai Wei continued: "Girls have soft hands because they have higher body fat percentages."

Bai Yuxia: "According to your theory, doesn't that mean the fatter the girl, the higher the body fat, the softer the fingers?"

Chai Wei, satisfied, said: "That's indeed the case."

Guo Kunnan, passing by, laughed after hearing: "Jiaojiao's hands aren't soft; one punch from her almost gave Liu Chuandao a concussion."

After several battles, Pang Jiao's explosive combat power shocked the entire class.

Chai Wei's theory was instantly overturned, leaving him awkward.

Trying to find a justification, he added: "Softness of the hands also has to do with bones. Some people are born with soft bones. Don't doubt it; that kind of softness is different from the squishy kind, it's the flexible softness of the bones."

He continued to ramble further off-topic.

Jiang Ning commented: "If you have compassion in your heart, even an iron can feels soft."

Chai Wei finally found a chance to speak. Since sitting with Bai Yuxia, he had put a lot of effort into speaking a few words with her, but Bai Yuxia often turned to talk with Jiang Ning proactively, many times a day, making him internally unpleased.

Chai Wei retorted: "Talk is cheap. Try feeling an iron can."

Jiang Ning had just finished a Red Bull. He grabbed the can, applied a little force, and easily crushed it in front of the few who were watching.

He said, "It really is soft."

Jiang Ning raised his hand and tossed it towards the back. The Red Bull can drew a parabolic path, flying towards the trash can, making a "dong" sound.

Wang Longlong quickly looked up and recorded: "Jiang Ning scores again. Currently, Class 8's throwing champion is Jiang Ning!"

...

New student Tang Jing, holding a cup, went to the front of the classroom to get water and found one water cooler occupied by Zhang Chi, while the other had an empty water container.

She exclaimed, "Who's supposed to carry the water today? It's out of water, can't you see?"

Everyone looked at each other. The class life committee member, Hu Jun, flipped through the roster, preparing to point out the person on duty.

Huang Yuzhu shouted, "I'll go get the water!"

He rushed to the water cooler, took the container, and headed alone to the school's water room, leaving only the determined silhouette behind.

Seeing someone going to fetch water, Tang Jing returned to her seat. Despite there being one water cooler left, she didn't use it because the water in that barrel was from before the holiday, and she preferred fresh purified water.

Bai Yuxia exchanged a few words with Jiang Ning before turning back. In front of her sat Shang Caiwei, a quiet and very introverted girl.

Since she had moved to this seat, they hadn't exchanged a single word. Bai Yuxia didn't know her personality and naturally didn't initiate conversation.

At this moment, Liu Chuandao passed by the doorway, first taking a few steps out before doubling back.

Shang Caiwei's low profile led Liu Chuandao to initially overlook her.

He backed up to the door, leaned against it partially open, struck a pose like in a soap opera, elegantly and gracefully with a charming smile:

"You're Shang Caiwei, right? Can I use your phone to make a call?"

Shang Caiwei's palm-sized face, hidden under her hair, was enjoying her peace until suddenly approached, she hurriedly lifted her head. Her evasive eyes met Liu Chuandao's devilishly charming face.

Liu Chuandao was immediately struck by her beauty, 'Holy crap, how did I overlook such a pretty girl!'

His current mood was akin to a destitute tomb raider discovering an emperor's tomb, overjoyed.

Shang Caiwei: "Sorry, my phone only has 95% battery left."

Liu Chuandao was dumbstruck and wanted to speak further.

"Move aside, you're blocking the way." Dan Kaiquan stood at the door.

Liu Chuandao stepped aside, making way. Xin Youling sat on the podium; recently, she had heard rumors about Liu Chuandao being extraordinary.

So, her impression of him wasn't good. As the class president, she felt the responsibility to protect the girls in her class.

Xin Youling announced, "Class is about to start, everyone return to your seats. The homeroom teacher may come in."

No matter how bold Liu Chuandao was, he still feared the homeroom teacher and obediently went back to his seat.

Shang Caiwei was relieved.

...

Two minutes after the evening class started, Huang Yuzhu carried a bucket of purified water into the classroom and placed it on the water dispenser.

Hu Jun in the back row shouted, "Yuzhu, you shouldn't be carrying water. I'll deduct a day for you, don't do it next time."

Huang Yuzhu waved his hand and said honestly, "It's no problem, I'll take my regular duty next time."

He wiped his sweat.

Dan Xiao cheered him on, "Yuzhu, you've worked hard."

Jiang Yanan said, "Huang Yuzhu is really a good person."

Shen Qing'e replied, "Indeed, he is."

Dong Qingfeng commented, "When it comes to the spirit of dedication, Yuzhu is commendable."

Huang Yuzhu's hardworking and diligent character is deeply ingrained in the minds of Class 8. In terms of popularity, he's definitely on par with Huang Zhongfei and Dan Xiao.

Tang Jing glanced at him a couple of times and giggled to Meng Ziyun, "Found an honest guy."

Noting her expression, Meng Ziyun reminded, "He helped you carry water, don't mess with him."

She knew her friend's nature and how complicated her methods could be.

Tang Jing laughed tremblingly, "Why would I mess with him? I'm giving him a chance to pursue me."

She realized that if she could control someone as honest as Huang Yuzhu, it might provide significant help in her vengeance against Pang Jiao's group.

Seeing Tang Jing was unconcerned, Meng Ziyun stopped saying more.

After all, she herself realized that Class 8 wasn't simple and always tried to keep a low profile, not to stand out.

...

The evening class ended.

The night was filled with stars and a gentle breeze blew by.

Jiang Ning rode an electric bike, taking Xue Yuantong home.

Xue Yuantong chattered from the back, "I went to the office tonight, and Mr. Guo gave me such delicious puffs! They seemed like ice cream puffs!"

Her face was full of lingering enjoyment.

Unfortunately, Mr. Guo only gave her two, gone in a few bites, not satisfying enough.

"Jiang Ning, did you eat Mr. Guo's puffs?"

"I did."

"How many did you eat?" Xue Yuantong pressed.

"Eight."

Xue Yuantong exclaimed, "Huh? Why did you have eight?"

"Because I snatched three from you."

A brief silence fell between them, then Jiang Ning received a few soft punches, they didn't hurt at all, more like tickles, her hands were soft, and the hits felt gentle.

The night at the river dam was exceptionally quiet, without a hint of noise.

Xue Yuantong took a slingshot from Jiang Ning's hand, and while sitting on the bike, she aimed, imagining herself as a cavalry in the TV, powerful and unstoppable.

"Jiang Ning, Jiang Ning, guess where I can hit?" she stretched the rubber band and aimed at the night sky.

The next second, she released her hand, the clay pellet shot out.

Unfortunately, the small pellet quickly disappeared into the night.

"Can't see it," Xue Yuantong muttered to herself.

Jiang Ning looked up at the vast, deep blue night sky, sprinkled with countless twinkling stars.

He told Xue Yuantong, "That pellet can hit the stars in the Milky Way, one day you'll be like it, soaring to the sky."

The pellet flew out of sight, but Xue Yuantong's heart was filled with Jiang Ning's words.

"Hmph, sweet talk," Xue Yuantong forgave him for eating her puffs.

Jiang Ning said, "Not at all."

What he said also described Xue Yuantong's life path, from a little bud to later blossoming into brilliance, like a meteor streaking through his past life.

Xue Yuantong touched the slingshot handcrafted by Jiang Ning, feeling the breeze blowing by, then lifted her head again, under the summer night, the bright moon, and the countless stars...

She earnestly said, "I don't want to fly into the sky, I want to stay by your side."