066 Another Reborn?

After deciding to go sing, Xie Xitong sprang into action. Lin Xia’s family owned a supermarket, so they already had snacks and everything ready; all that was left was for her to notify everyone of the meeting time.

At two in the afternoon, a group of them left the residential complex, carrying all the food and drinks—naturally, these were hauled by Chen Zimo and You Xin. Lin Xia and her three friends walked ahead, while the two boys, roped in as porters, strolled behind at a leisurely pace.

Since they’d all grown up together, there was no awkwardness among them.

“Hey, isn’t it a bit strange to go singing in the afternoon?” Zhao Qian scratched her head in confusion.

“Yeah, usually singing is more atmospheric at night,” Sun Xiaoxiao added.

Xie Xitong shot them a sidelong glance. “Would your mothers let you go out at night?”

Zhao and Sun both shook their heads. It was true—they were still in junior high, and going out in the evening without adult supervision was usually out of the question.

“Xiaoxiao, why is your chin red?” Lin Xia pointed at her own chin as she asked.

Sun Xiaoxiao groaned, pouting miserably. “Ugh, when I woke up this morning, I found two pimples here. I tried to squeeze them, and now look at the mess.”

Lin Xia frowned. The area from the sides of the nose was known as the “danger triangle” of the face, prone to oiliness and breakouts.

“Did you eat too much spicy food yesterday?” Zhao Qian guessed. “Sometimes that happens to me too—eat too much spice and I break out. Give it a couple of days and it’ll be fine, don’t worry too much.”

“Yeah, what face wash are you using right now?” Xie Xitong asked.

“Clean & Clear,” Sun Xiaoxiao replied.

Clean & Clear had been heavily advertised in their area, claiming to be “the world’s first skincare brand dedicated to teenage girls” and “teenage skin has its own needs and deserves special care.”

Lin Xia looked at her face. “Honestly, you might want to stop using that face wash. I’ve heard that brand is pretty harsh, and you’re still young with delicate skin. Just eat more fruits and vegetables, wash your face with water, and apply a moisturizing cream morning and night—that’s enough.”

Xie Xitong rolled her eyes at her. “Aren’t you the same age as us? I saw plenty of skincare products and face wash in your bathroom, too.”

“I use face wash just once a week for a deep clean; the rest of the time, I don’t touch it. My mom’s the one who uses most of that stuff.” Lin Xia laughed. “Here’s a life hack: if your face wash is about to expire, use it as body wash. After a couple of times, it’s finished and nothing’s wasted.”

Zhao Qian was doubtful. “You can use it as body wash?”

Xie Xitong pinched her. “Silly, the skin on your face is way more delicate than your body. If it’s safe for your face, it’s fine for your body!”

“That’s right. And if you get pimples, never squeeze them with your hands. If you leave scars, they’ll never fade,” Lin Xia advised. “Just drink plenty of warm water and eat more fruit. Your skin will glow naturally.”

“Really? I’ll try that when I get home.”

“Qianqian, what were you and Sun up to yesterday?” Xie Xitong asked.

“I went back to my hometown with my mom,” Zhao Qian said with envy. “You guys won’t believe it—my cousin won five million in the lottery.”

“Five million!” the three girls exclaimed in unison.

Zhao Qian sighed. “Yeah, you have no idea how poor her family was. They couldn’t even afford to build a proper house, and then suddenly, just like that, they got five million. As soon as my dad heard, he rushed back immediately. Five million!”

“But isn’t your hometown just a small village? Do they even sell lottery tickets there?” Xie Xitong wondered.

Zhao Qian’s hometown was Zhao Family Village, a tiny place under Rong City—there wasn’t even a decent-sized grocer, let alone a lottery shop.

Zhao Qian explained, “My cousin’s a year older than me, in her third year of junior high at the nearby town. There are lottery shops in town, of course.”

Sun Xiaoxiao sighed with envy. “If I had five million, I wouldn’t bother with school. I’d go to the B City Film Academy and become a star.”

“Right? Now all our relatives are making a commotion. My cousin’s house was packed when we arrived,” Zhao Qian said, still envious. “And here’s the weird part: ever since my cousin fell off a stack of rice stalks a year ago, not only did her personality change, but her grades shot up. I heard she’s been first in her whole school ever since, and she was even voted the school beauty.”

“Is she as pretty as Liu Ziqing?” Sun Xiaoxiao asked, gossiping.

Zhao Qian shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s just what people say. Last time I went back, my cousin was still at school.”

“Doesn’t she come home for the holidays?”

“She boards at school. I heard she’s getting ready for the high school entrance exams—you know how hard it is to get into County No. 1 High.”

“What’s your cousin’s name? Five million... Maybe I’ll buy some lottery tickets myself later. Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky,” Sun Xiaoxiao said, rubbing her hands together.

“Her name’s Zhao Xin. But I’d advise you not to bother with the lottery. Ever since my cousin won, everyone in Zhao Family Village has gone crazy for it. The lottery shop in town is practically mobbed. Some people have lost everything chasing after it, but only my cousin’s neighbor—a girl who’s close with her—managed to win two hundred thousand.”

Xie Xitong stroked her chin. “Two hundred thousand is still a lot!”

At this point, Lin Xia couldn’t help but understand: her cousin must be like herself—a person who had lived through this life before.

So, she wasn’t the only one in this world who had been reborn.

Realizing this, Lin Xia grew warier. The secret of her rebirth must be buried deep in her heart, best forgotten entirely.

Luckily, she remembered nothing about lottery numbers. Otherwise, even if she won, the commotion would be far too conspicuous, which went against her wish for a quiet and low-profile life.

“Wow, look at that car,” Lin Xia pointed at a silver-gray vehicle that had just driven by. “That’s a Benz.”

At this time, those who could afford a Benz were rare.

After all, they weren’t close to any provincial capital, and people here didn’t have the sort of competitive mindset that would come in later years.

“Benz?”

“Yeah, people usually call it ‘Benz’ instead of Mercedes,” Lin Xia laughed. “You hardly ever see those on Rong City’s main streets.”

Unfortunately, the four girls weren’t interested in cars. They soon circled back to talking about Zhao Qian’s cousin, the conversation wandering off course, filling the air with laughter. The two boys behind them chatted idly as well.

“It’s only been a while, but Tongtong has changed a lot,” You Xin said, smiling as he watched the four lively girls ahead. “I suppose that’s all thanks to Lin Xia.”

Chen Zimo nodded in agreement as he watched his sister. “Yeah, she really has changed.”

“Remember how hard it was to get her to learn anything? We tried all sorts of persuasion, and that girl just wouldn’t budge. Then along comes Lin Xia, and suddenly she’s learning guitar on her own.” You Xin chuckled. “Girls really are impossible to figure out.”

Amid laughter and conversation, the six of them soon arrived at the Blue Note TV karaoke.