At this mont, the small ice sled carrying Yan and the other three was so distance away from Xu Jiaojiao and her companions, though not too far.
Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao observed the expressions on their older sister and brother’s faces—clearly, there was so history here.
As the two ice sleds drew closer, Xiaobao rubbed his hands together eagerly.
“Sis, wasn’t that your high school classmate? What’s the deal with her?”
“Yeah, the one who always asked you to go out on weekends,” Dabao added.
Yan, however, was too focused on staring in Xu Jiaojiao’s direction to notice the faint hostility in Dabao and Xiaobao’s gazes toward Jiaojiao.
“I don’t really know what’s going on right now. We’ll see,” Yan murmured, hugging Jue Jue and leaning forward to get a better look.
Truthfully, she had no idea about Xu Jiaojiao’s current situation.
Though they kept in touch regularly—with Jiaojiao frequently ssaging her—Yan never pried into the details of the n in Jiaojiao’s life to avoid being nosy.
So, as for the progress of Jiaojiao’s “rebirth and fiery redemption arc,” Yan was completely in the dark.
“Let’s move closer, but act natural. Don’t make it obvious,” Yan suggested.
Seeing Ji Mingyan already approaching, Yan and the others pretended to be ordinary ice-skaters, gripping their poles and gliding forward. Their two double-seated sleds inched nearer to where Xu Jiaojiao stood.
In the biting cold of minus ten degrees Celsius, they were bundled up—scarves wrapped around their necks, gloves shielding their hands as they slid across the ice.
Yan noticed Ji Mingyan, usually composed and aloof, now looking pale beneath his gray cashre coat. His expression was grim—whether from the cold or the scene before him, it was hard to tell.
Xu Jiaojiao seed startled by his sudden appearance, though a flicker of delight crossed her face.
“Mingyan, you’re done with work?”
She caught his gaze lingering on Wen Yu, who was seated in front of her, and quickly explained, “I ran into Senior Wen Yu at the entrance of Ning University. He brought in and ntioned the ice rink by the Weiming Lake, so we ca to check it out.”
Her eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. The short white down jacket she wore didn’t make her look bulky at all—instead, the sunlight bathed her face, and in that mont, her smile seed to Ji Mingyan like a ray of winter sunshine warming his heart.
It was his fault for not finishing his lab work sooner, for not replying to Jiaojiao’s ssages, allowing Wen Yu to swoop in and bring her here.
Mingyan had ant to demand why she was with that scheming senior, but now, all he felt was guilt.
He was the one to bla. Jiaojiao had visited last month, and yet he still hadn’t taken her to the university’s ice rink.
Before Mingyan could speak, Wen Yu set down his ice pole and stood up from the small sled.
In that instant, Yan watched as the two tall young n faced each other on the ice, tension thick between them.
Wen Yu smiled, though his tone was sharp. “Ah, Junior Ji, finally here? Not still tied up in the lab by so clingy senior or junior, I hope?”
“I’ve heard all about it—freshman year and already in the lab. Quite the popular one, aren’t you?”
“Pity, really. If I hadn’t run into Jiaojiao at the gate, who knows how much longer she would’ve waited alone? When I found her, her face was red from the cold—had to warm up in the office for a while.”
His words were laced with mockery, his smile cutting.
Yan saw Ji Mingyan stiffen before he turned to Xu Jiaojiao, urgency in his voice. “Jiaojiao, are you okay?”
Jiaojiao sniffled slightly, pulling her scarf over her nose. Her voice was muffled. “Mingyan, Senior, I’m fine. It wasn’t long… just following Ning U’s rules.”
“Besides, I t Senior, and he brought in. It’s really no big deal.”
“‘No big deal’?” Wen Yu scoffed, his smile turning razor-edged. “The security guard told Jiaojiao stood outside for forty minutes. He offered to let her wait inside, but she barely stayed. Even when he offered to call soone, she refused.”
His eyes narrowed as he fixed Ji Mingyan with a mocking smirk.
“I wonder what experint takes over forty minutes without even a glance at your phone.”
Ji Mingyan’s face burned—half from sha, half from the cold.
“I—I’m sorry, Jiaojiao. I didn’t an to. My phone was taken during the experint. I rushed out as fast as I could,” he muttered apologetically.
“If you’re apologizing, don’t make excuses.”
“Junior, a mistake is a mistake.”
Wen Yu cut him off sharply.
“You left Jiaojiao waiting in the cold for forty minutes. No reply, nothing. If I hadn’t passed by, who knows how much longer it would’ve been?”
“Making a lady wait—not a good habit, Junior.”
Yan watched as Wen Yu flashed Ji Mingyan a knowing, almost predatory grin, like a wolf toying with a cornered rabbit.
Throughout the exchange, Xu Jiaojiao kept her head slightly bowed, brows furrowed in hesitation, as if torn between intervening and staying silent.
"Senior Wen Yu, thank you," Ji Mingyan forced out through gritted teeth.
At his words, Wen Yu let out a derisive laugh.
"What for? My advice? Then yes, you should thank for teaching you a lesson."
"I only brought Jiaojiao in because she's like a little sister to ."
Wen Yu raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
Xu Jiaojiao listened to Wen Yu’s thinly veiled barbs, keeping her head bowed to suppress a smirk.
Waiting over forty minutes in the freezing cold? As if that would ever happen!
How could a worthless man ever be worth her suffering?
In reality, she had tid her arrival at Ning University’s gate to coincide with the security guards’ shift change. She had simply lingered in the guard booth for a while, warming up and exchanging a few words when questioned about her purpose.
Ever since returning from the desert, Xu Jiaojiao had confird that all four of these scumbags had been reborn. Alarm bells rang incessantly in her mind, warning her to tread carefully lest she slip up.
Fortunately, while part of their attention was devoted to winning her over and "making ands," the other part was consud by their petty rivalries.
For nearly two months now, Wen Yu and Ji Mingyan—both at Ning University—had been sabotaging each other. Even when they appeared before her at the sa ti, like today, they couldn’t resist taking jabs and undermining one another.
As for Shen Jingchen, the CEO of a listed conglorate, he was swamped with work. Winter traffic in Ning City was particularly brutal, so Xu Jiaojiao only saw him about once every two weeks.
Still, gifts from President Shen never stopped arriving—luxury bags, high-end jewelry, antiques—each one ticulously chosen, though whether by his assistant or himself, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t care this ti around.
Of course, whenever gifts arrived, she made sure to perform the ritual of refusal—three tis, no less—to maintain her pristine, innocent image.
First, she would reject them outright when Shen Jingchen’s people delivered them. Then, after listening to the assistant or driver’s pleading, she would "reluctantly" relent. Later, during one of their rare etings, she would insist, "I haven’t touched any of these, they’ve been kept safely. They’re too extravagant—I can’t accept them."
At this, Shen Jingchen would feign irritation. "I’ve never taken back a gift once given."
"Jiaojiao, these are unconditional gifts. Don’t even think about returning them."
And so, with each act, Xu Jiaojiao would "reluctantly" accept, eyes glistening with faux gratitude.
To maintain her "pure and uncorrupted" image, she rarely used any of the gifts. Yet the more she resisted, the more Shen Jingchen sent, as if compensating for his absence with material excess.
The real reason she didn’t use them? Once opened or worn, their resale value dropped. Mint-condition items always fetched a higher price!
Xu Jiaojiao had to admit—while all four reincarnated suitors sat firmly in negative favorability in her books, Shen Jingchen was undeniably the top contributor.
As for Liang Ruichi… Compared to the other three, who had at least a shred of maturity, this impulsive, self-centered idiot remained unchanged even after rebirth. Xu Jiaojiao had little patience for him.
But when one of the four "reborn pursuers" gained an obvious upper hand, things beca simpler. Without lifting a finger, she had watched as Shen Jingchen subtly sidelined Liang Ruichi, keeping him out of her sight for quite so ti.
Now, she turned her concerned gaze to the two n before her.
"Mingyan, Senior Wen, please, don’t argue over ," Xu Jiaojiao said with a troubled expression.
"We’re here at Ning University’s lake—let’s just enjoy ourselves." She smiled brightly, as if struck by sudden inspiration, eager to divert their attention.
At her words, Ji Mingyan and Wen Yu exchanged icy glances before softening their expressions toward her.
"Of course, Jiaojiao."
"Let take you skating."
Their gazes imdiately locked onto the lone remaining seat on the two-person ice sled, neither willing to yield.
Ji Mingyan suddenly chuckled. "Senior, you’ve already had your turn with Jiaojiao earlier. Surely you won’t intrude further?"
Wen Yu’s pupils narrowed, though his smile remained.
"Now, now, junior. You’re not trying to freeload again, are you? Can’t even spare twenty bucks for your own sled?"
"You—!" Ji Mingyan’s expression darkened before he turned his gaze back to Xu Jiaojiao.
Wen Yu did the sa, both n staring at her with burning intensity, as if awaiting her choice.
Watching this unfold, Yan thought:
…Oh no. Is Jiaojiao about to crash and burn?
No matter which one she picks, the fallout could be disastrous!
Thinking fast, Yan nudged Jue Jue, who imdiately stood up.
Taking a deep breath, Yan called out, "Jiaojiao, hurry up! We’re supposed to race my little siblings, rember?"
"Co on, we’ve been waiting forever!"
She grinned, urging her friend forward.
At this mont, Xu Jiaojiao gave the two n an apologetic smile. "Earlier, I got impatient and ssaged Yan and the others to co pick up. Right after sending it, I ran into my senior, so I asked if they wanted to co to the ice rink."
Her eyes flickered subtly toward Yan, silently praising her friend’s impeccable timing.
*That’s Yan for you!*
Ji Mingyan and Wen Yu both turned their gazes in that direction, spotting two familiar figures.
Noticing Xu Jiaojiao’s hopeful expression, Ji Mingyan quickly agreed.
"Go ahead, Jiaojiao. It’s fine—you and Yan haven’t seen each other in months. Have fun."
Wen Yu smiled warmly. "That’s right, junior. Is that your good friend? Go enjoy yourselves. It’ll give a chance to chat more with your senior here."
As Xu Jiaojiao hurried toward Yan, the previously tense atmosphere between the three of them instantly dissipated.
The two n watched as Xu Jiaojiao and the other girl climbed onto a two-person ice sled.
*At least it’s not the rival accompanying her.*
After all… what fault could Xu Jiaojiao possibly have?
It was all the other guy’s fault! Both Wen Yu and Ji Mingyan thought the sa thing simultaneously.
Once seated beside Yan on the sled, Xu Jiaojiao gripped the push sticks while whispering to her friend.
"Yan, thanks for this."
Zhu Jue quietly pushed the sled from behind, allowing Yan and Xu Jiaojiao to glide forward effortlessly.
Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao’s two-person sled followed alongside them, while Ji Mingyan and Wen Yu trailed behind.
They moved from the sledding area toward the boundary of the ice-skating zone, where a young man was currently showing off his skills. Stripping off his heavy coat, he began performing figure skating moves—spins, toe loops—prompting Yan and Xu Jiaojiao to stop and watch.
"Wow, impressive!" Yan clapped with her gloved hands.
"He must be a professional athlete. His form is beautiful," Xu Jiaojiao agreed with a nod.
"The speed skaters over there look like pros too—so cool," she added, pointing toward another skater gliding effortlessly with hands behind his back.
As the two girls paused to admire the scene, Ji Mingyan and Wen Yu, maintaining a polite distance, drifted closer, catching snippets of their conversation.
Five minutes later, Yan and Xu Jiaojiao spotted two strikingly handso figures now gliding across the ice.
One wore a gray overcoat, the other a puffer jacket—neither with hats or gloves—each racing in circles before slowing down near where the girls stood.
Unfortunately, Xu Jiaojiao had already turned back to Yan, chatting about the sledding area.
By the ti she glanced their way again, it was just a passing look—no questions asked, unaware of how many laps Ji Mingyan and Wen Yu had already completed.
She wasn’t interested, but Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao were thoroughly entertained.
"Dabao, don’t they look like two dogs trying to impress their owner?" Xiaobao mused, resting her chin on her hand.
Tan Dabao didn’t respond. Xu Jiaojiao, unfazed, rely glanced over and said flatly, "That’s an insult to dogs."
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