Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 364: Gathering at Pengda University Cafeteria

After parting ways with Zhang Ming, i Fang naturally went to et his childhood sweethearts for lunch. The trio had agreed to gather at the entrance of the North District cafeteria. By the ti i Fang arrived, Xia Yuan was already waiting there, head bowed as she giggled at her phone.

Instead of calling out to her directly, i Fang crept up behind her and peeked over her shoulder.

“Who’s got you smiling like that?”

“Wah—!”

Xia Yuan nearly jumped out of her skin, almost reflexively swatting i Fang.

“Ah! Ah Fang, don’t scare like that!”

“Who are you chatting with? I’m curious.”

i Fang leaned in, tilting his head playfully. “Could it be… a boy?”

“Are you jealous?”

Xia Yuan found this amusing. “You know, we’ve rarely ever gotten jealous over each other. The only tis it’s happened were when I got a little envious of Youxi—but since it’s Youxi, I got over it quickly.”

“Let’s not talk about that…”

i Fang draped an arm over Xia Yuan’s shoulders, trying to sneak a glance at her phone. “So, is it really a guy?”

“Of course not! It’s Bingbing and Xiaoyu.”

Xia Yuan tilted her head, bemused. “Ah Fang, why do you have so little faith in us? We’ve barely been apart at school for any ti at all. Are you worried I’d go looking elsewhere?”

“Well, childhood sweethearts are famously prone to losing out to new encounters. That’s why I’ve been working so hard all this ti.”

Xia Yuan blinked in surprise. “You an… all your efforts were because you were afraid Youxi and I would leave you if you weren’t good enough?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s the only reason… but it’s part of it, yeah.”

“Ahhh… Ah Fang, you idiot!”

Xia Yuan suddenly looked furious, raining down a flurry of light punches on him. “I’ve always felt like I wasn’t as good as you and Youxi! That’s why I pushed myself so hard—studying, gaming, biking, rollerblading—it’s all because you set the bar too high! My childhood could’ve been so much more carefree!”

“Okay, okay… I’m sorry… But you and Youxi are beautiful! Of course people would eye you. If I weren’t outstanding, everyone would say I’m not good enough for you and try to steal you away. But if I’m this good, who’d dare?”

“That… does make sense. Now that Youxi and I are this accomplished, girls probably don’t even think about making a move on you… That’s actually pretty smart—”

“What are you two whispering about? Leaving out?”

Lin Youxi appeared out of nowhere, linking arms with Xia Yuan before patting i Fang’s shoulder. “Did you miss during class today?”

“Of course. Terribly.”

i Fang glanced at Xia Yuan, who was watching him intently, and added, “Just as much as I missed Yuan Yuan.”

“Tch. Skipping class just to daydream about us? Hold out your hand—I’m spanking it.”

Lin Youxi put on a stern act, reaching for i Fang’s palm, but Xia Yuan quickly intervened.

“Youxi, Ah Fang’s a CEO now. He has an image to maintain. Not here—what if soone films it?”

“Wuwu… Yuan Yuan…”

Touched by his wife’s protectiveness, i Fang moved in for a hug—only to be ruthlessly shoved away.

“If we’re disciplining him, we should do it at ho. Family rules style.”

Xia Yuan even mid so… unusual gestures. Lin Youxi nodded sagely.

“Fair point. My oversight.”

“I’m your childhood sweetheart, not your beast of burden, okay?!”

i Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi headed to the university cafeteria together.

Though they occasionally drew stares from fellow students, the crowd here was generally more respectful—no one pestered them or disrupted their campus life.

i Fang queued up for food like everyone else. A few considerate students offered to let him cut in line, but he always declined. Eventually, people stopped making a fuss.

i Fang ordered roast at rice, Lin Youxi went for braised chicken, and Xia Yuan chose a three-item combo. After grabbing their als, i Fang also bought three bubble teas from the drink stall.

As they ate, Xia Yuan mused, “I used to think Jiangcheng Shiyi High’s cafeteria was top-tier, but Pengda’s is even better. Cheap and delicious—just like off-campus restaurants.”

“It’s because they outsource to vendors and subsidize the costs. That’s how it works.”

The trio chatted idly until i Fang circled back to Xia Yuan’s earlier conversation.

“You said you were laughing at sothing with Bingbing and Xiaoyu. What happened?”

“Rember how Xiaoyu was learning drums over sumr break? During club recruitnt, they both joined the university arts troupe. Xiaoyu sent a video of Bingbing playing drums—she’s gotten really good!”

i Fang and Lin Youxi leaned in to watch. In the clip, Xiang Bingbing—now with long hair tied in a side ponytail—was lost in the rhythm, nailing every beat.

“Whoa… Bingbing changed her hairstyle? Almost didn’t recognize her.”

“Right? I barely recognized her when we t at the start of term—the only ti I’ve seen her since coming to Pengda.”

“You t up without ?”

Lin Youxi stole a braised pork knuckle from Xia Yuan’s plate as the latter stamred, “Th-that was during our busiest prep period for the launch! You two were buried at the office. Bingbing and Xiaoyu wanted to visit, so I just… kinda forgot to ntion it.”

“Speaking of which, it’s been ages since we hung out with the old gang. Now that work’s cald down, wanna organize sothing?”

“Yes! I miss our group so much! Let’s invite Xiaoyu, Bingbing, Xiao Yizi, and—”

“Zhang Ming! You forgot my bro!”

i Fang pondered. “We could try asking Guo Yun too. If she cos, I’ve got so work to discuss with her.”

Xia Yuan imdiately narrowed her eyes. “You’re not using Yunyun for labor again, are you?”

“She’s the lead artist for our Ximilu project. It’s work.”

“……”

Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan fixed him with identical scrutinizing glares.

“What? I can’t invite Yunyun?”

“No. Too intimate.”

“You didn’t say anything when I invited Bingbing and Xiaoyu before.”

“That’s because you never chat with them privately,” Lin Youxi explained. “But you and Guo Yun ssage constantly for work. Who knows what else you talk about? Of course we’d get jealous.”

“Exactly!”

“Fine. I’ll make a ‘Art Discussion’ group chat and add you both. Then you can monitor our conversations. Happy?”

“That’s… not necessary.”

Lin Youxi waved a hand. “This is about your self-awareness. No amount of supervision matters if you’re not sincere. Besides—”

She dangled a piece of braised chicken teasingly in front of i Fang.

“—as long as we enforce family rules thoroughly, Ah Fang won’t have energy to fantasize about anyone else. Right, Ah Fang?”

Her suggestive tone sent a shiver down i Fang’s spine. He managed a weak smile.

“Speaking of which… Don’t you think things now are pretty much the sa as before? How are we supposed to play this ‘dating ga’ properly?”