The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 6

Perhaps he felt the first statement was too forceful or carried the wrong emotional tone, so he quickly switched to a lighter, more playful approach.

Cen Xiao raised an eyebrow, fully aware that this change in tone wasn’t a reflection of Li Rong’s true intentions.

It was merely a tactic to achieve his goal.

Unexpectedly, adding the insignificant Song Yuanyuan as a friend had brought Cen Xiao such entertainment.

[Cen Xiao: I already said yes.]

Li Rong didn’t respond for a long time.

Cen Xiao didn’t mind. He placed his phone aside, left the shooting range, retrieved his car, and drove home.

When he finally arrived, Li Rong’s next message popped up.

[Li Rong: Congratulations! A perfect match made in heaven. Wishing you both a long, happy marriage!]

Cen Xiao glanced down at the screen, his thumb unlocking the phone. As he stepped into the house, a sharp, drawn-out meow echoed.

A languid blue golden chinchilla cat sprawled across Xiao Muran’s lap. Its two paw pads rested in their palms as it revealed a set of sharp little teeth, its rosy tongue flicking out to lick the remnants of milk on its lips.

Unlike most chinchillas with round eyes, this cat’s almond-shaped gaze carried a seductive charm, its sapphire-blue irises exuding a captivating allure.

Xiao Muran absentmindedly stroked the cat’s sleek fur, whispering softly, “Little Wu, be good, eat more. You’ve lost weight recently.”

The cat’s name, Wuwangmo*, matched that of a flower, which held profound meaning for Xiao Muran during her youth—though this significance had nothing to do with Cen Qing, Cen Xiao’s father, nor with Cen Xiao himself.
* forget me not

She had brought the cat home just a week ago after passing by a pet store. A single glance into its enchanting eyes had captivated her, leaving her unable to walk away without taking it home.

Since then, Xiao Muran spent most of her time lost in thought, gently cradling the cat as if guarding her most precious treasure.

“Mom,” Cen Xiao called softly.

Xiao Muran didn’t seem to hear him, continuing to stroke the cat’s fur with gentle care.

Cen Xiao was used to this. He had long since stopped expecting her to respond. His gaze involuntarily fell on the cat that consumed all of Xiao Muran’s attention.

Little Wu raised its head slowly as Cen Xiao approached, its pupils narrowing. Its ears twitched slightly while its tail swayed over the leather sofa.

Its demeanor was proud and defiant, radiating an air of unapproachable elegance. Yet it maintained its composure, refusing to appear overly alarmed.

The resemblance was uncanny—in both its eyes and its temperament.

Cen Xiao reached out, his hand brushing the warm neck beneath its dense fur. He pressed lightly, his motions deliberate and gentle.

The cat truly wasn’t fat. Beneath its fluffy coat laid a delicate neck, so fragile it seemed it could snap effortlessly.

Xiao Muran hurriedly pulled the cat from Cen Xiao’s grasp, cradling it in her arms as she whispered soothing words. Her slender fingers smoothed out the fur ruffled by his touch.

“Cen Xiao,” she warned softly, her tone tinged with apprehension.

Cen Xiao scoffed. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

He had merely touched the cat’s neck with care, yet Xiao Muran acted as though he intended to harm it.

Xiao Muran was clearly on edge, shielding the cat behind her with a slightly agitated tone. “No matter what you’re thinking of doing, stay away from Little Wu. I’m not joking.”

Cen Xiao’s gaze turned cold as he straightened up. With an ambiguous tone, he said, “You think it resembles someone, and I think it resembles someone. But at the end of the day, a cat is just a cat.”

“This is my cat. It only recognizes me, and you’ll scare it,” Xiao Muran replied with a furrowed brow, giving Cen Xiao a wary look.

She didn’t know when it started, but Cen Xiao had become increasingly unfathomable. Complex and inscrutable, he was someone she, as his mother, no longer had the energy or clarity to decipher.

Xiao Muran hated seeing her son like this. She had always been a simple and kind-hearted person, weary of the decades of scheming and manipulation within the factions of Blue Pivot and Hongsuo. Tired of the sacrifices these intrigues demanded, she had been swept into this torrent herself. All she could do was helplessly watch Cen Xiao get dragged into it as well.

Lately, however, she was beginning to feel that Cen Xiao was on his way to becoming a force that stirred the torrent rather than being carried by it.

“I won’t do anything to your cat. What I want is far more than a cat,” Cen Xiao said with a faint smile, stepping back to give “Wuwangwo” its space.

True to form, the cat relaxed as he moved away, its stiffened neck loosening. It shrank back against Xiao Muran’s leg, its expression a mix of laziness and disdain.

Li Rong was angry.

Cen Xiao had not replied to any of his messages, making it clear that he was determined to dance with Song Yuanyuan.

In the previous life, Cen Xiao had danced at Song Yuanyuan’s birthday party too.

However, at that time, Li Rong was mentally devastated and adrift, unable to muster any energy to care about Song Yuanyuan or Cen Xiao. He couldn’t even recall what dance they performed, how well they danced, or the expressions on their faces.

He had no interest in Song Yuanyuan or Cen Xiao, nor in the cutting sarcasm and veiled jabs from Song’s mother.

He had locked himself in a desolate cocoon of silence, clinging to a single purpose: to survive. No matter how difficult or painful, he had to live on because death would render everything meaningless.

Perhaps it was during this time that Song Yuanyuan developed feelings for Cen Xiao.

Cen Xiao, that jerk.

Li Rong pulled the blanket tighter around himself, coughing as he cursed.

The next day, after the first class, Li Rong looked as if he were about to collapse. His pale complexion made him seem as though he had just endured grueling physical training rather than sitting through a lesson.

So far, he hadn’t said a word to Cen Xiao or given him so much as a friendly glance.

This, ironically, was how he had treated Cen Xiao for most of the last life.

At that moment, Song Yuanyuan burst into the experimental class, her face full of worry and concern. She rushed up and hugged him tightly.

“Li Rong, are you okay? I almost thought something had happened to you.”

Her tone was choked with emotion, her eyes red, and her high ponytail brushed against Li Rong’s neck.

The panic in Li Rong’s eyes lasted only a second—because this Song Yuanyuan was her teenage self, which made him, at 23 years old, deeply uncomfortable.

But he quickly composed himself, allowing her to embrace him without reacting. His heart was utterly unmoved.

He neither returned the hug nor pushed her away. Time had passed, and things had spiraled so far out of control.

The ends of her hair tickled his neck, and he tilted his head slightly to avoid her face.

Song Yuanyuan’s affection and concern set the classroom abuzz.

“The school belle from the other class came to see the class monitor? Wow, I thought they broke up ages ago.”

“Song Yuanyuan’s so kind. Didn’t expect her to be this loyal.”

“Man, she’s so forward, but why does the class monitor look so indifferent? This feels backward.”

“I think I’m starting to like Song Yuanyuan a bit. Didn’t expect her to be so loyal and not materialistic. Wasn’t it said that her family was really good at catering to people based on their status?”

“This is a classroom, not the school forest. If you want to hug, take it outside.” Ceng Xiao didn’t even look up, his gaze fixed on the stock market trends on his phone. His tone carried a hint of impatience.

Li Rong nodded, unperturbed, and boldly replied, “Alright, let’s go outside and hug.”

Before Ceng Xiao could react, it was Song Yuanyuan who quickly let go of Li Rong’s neck in a panic.

“Don’t joke around! You two, please… don’t get angry.” Song Yuanyuan clearly had no experience handling situations like this. Flustered, she shrank her fingers into her uniform sleeves, her face flushed bright red.

She glanced at Li Rong, then stole a look at Ceng Xiao, her heart pounding like a drum.

Yesterday, she had accidentally sent a message intended for Ceng Xiao to Li Rong. She knew Li Rong was smart—no matter how she tried to explain, her words would sound hollow.

After this mishap, her family had told her to break up and cut ties with Li Rong. She believed Li Rong could figure all this out and even understand it.

But to suddenly be with Ceng Xiao so soon… it really was a bit too much.

She had come to find Li Rong today partly because she still had lingering feelings and partly out of guilt.

She hoped her hug and presence might bring Li Rong some comfort, even just a little, to ease the guilt she felt in her heart.

But she hadn’t expected at all that Ceng Xiao would show displeasure at her closeness with Li Rong.

Yesterday, Ceng Xiao hadn’t even replied to her message. She thought she didn’t interest him, but today’s reaction left her feeling unsettled.

Maybe, all those times she came to the advanced class looking for Li Rong, Ceng Xiao had been paying attention to her after all.

After all, she was quite beautiful.

Li Rong lowered his gaze and glanced at Ceng Xiao before silently looking away. A faint smile played on his lips as he asked Song Yuanyuan, “I’m not angry. Who said I was angry?”

His smile was indeed very attractive, his eyes curving as he raised his eyelids slightly, accentuating the delicate puffiness under them. There was an undeniable tenderness in his expression.

Song Yuanyuan was momentarily dazed.

Li Rong hadn’t always been like this. Most of the time, he was cool, rational, and distant, with his energy and focus devoted to serious matters far removed from romantic notions. As his girlfriend, the most she’d gotten was some extra time spent chatting, strolling, watching movies, and having nice meals together.

She couldn’t even remember the last time Li Rong had smiled at her like this.

For a fleeting moment, she felt a surge of determination to go against the world for Li Rong.

But it passed just as quickly—she wasn’t foolish.

Ceng Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

He really didn’t want to stoop to childish behavior, but Li Rong’s smile toward Song Yuanyuan was enough to make his teeth itch.

Cen Xiao raised his head. “I don’t have a dance partner.”

Li Rong let out a cold laugh.

An eighteen-year-old Cen Xiao—still not entirely twisted yet—could actually say something so immature, thinking it would provoke him.

Li Rong took Song Yuanyuan’s hand. “Let’s go outside to talk.”

Song Yuanyuan was completely dazed. She instinctively pulled her hand away from Li Rong’s, forcing a smile. “I… I’ll head back to class. We have a lesson soon. Take care, Li Rong.”

Without waiting for a response, she quickly fled.

She had never thought she would find herself caught in a tug-of-war between these two. She was a little scared of Cen Xiao, but she also found it hard to let go of Li Rong. Her mother would undoubtedly prefer Cen Xiao; after all, Li Rong had no future, while Cen Xiao’s future was nothing but bright.

Song Yuanyuan’s mind was in turmoil.

Li Rong didn’t feel any regret. Once Song Yuanyuan left, his smile vanished. He covered his stomach with one hand and weakly slumped onto the desk to rest, turning his head to the right so his back faced Cen Xiao.

His bangs hung low enough to obscure his eyes, concealing the faint annoyance within. To others, he just seemed too unwell to sit upright.

“Class monitor, have some of this. I read online that warm milk is good for the stomach. You’ve been holding your stomach a lot lately,” said Lin Zhen, a quiet student who didn’t stand out in the class. He nervously placed a bottle of sweetened milk on Li Rong’s desk.

Though Lin Zhen had researched the effects of gas poisoning and dietary remedies, his academic performance wasn’t strong, so he wasn’t confident the milk would actually help. He wasn’t even sure Li Rong would accept it.

Cen Xiao closed the stock market app on his phone, the sea of red in the charts thoroughly dampening his mood.

Li Rong froze momentarily, then propped himself up slightly and touched the milk bottle. To his surprise, it was still warm. Whoever prepared it had put thought into it.

In his previous life, he barely remembered Lin Zhen. This sudden act of kindness left him momentarily unsettled.

“Thank you,” Li Rong said instinctively.

Lin Zhen smiled shyly, his fingers nervously gripping his pant leg as he swallowed nervously every few seconds. “I… I’m glad you can drink it. I wasn’t sure if it would help.”

Looking at the seventeen-year-old boy, whose awkward affection was impossible to hide, Li Rong felt a mix of emotions.

In the past, he never considered that he might have the ability to charm others.

Someone like Lin Zhen had no intersection with his life back then. But now, seeing this sincerity, he felt he should reciprocate in some way.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Rong asked, “Lin Zhen, are you planning to take the arts entrance exams?”

Lin Zhen blinked, surprised that Li Rong would even notice his aspirations. “Uh… yes, but I’m only good at singing. I haven’t done any other training, so I probably won’t pass.”

Li Rong recalled a piece of entertainment news he had seen in his previous life, something he hadn’t paid much attention to but still remembered. He solemnly said, “You’ll pass. Later, if you have the chance, try joining a talent show, but whatever you do, don’t sign with Huajing Entertainment.”

Lin Zhen had never heard of Huajing Entertainment. “I… I’m not even sure I can pass. Class monitor, do you really think I can?”

Li Rong cut him off. “Just think of it as my prediction. Whatever happens, don’t sign with Huajing Entertainment.”

In his previous life, Lin Zhen had risen to fame—even someone like Li Rong, who didn’t follow entertainment news, had heard of him.

But Lin Zhen’s success was short-lived. After signing with Huajing Entertainment, he was ruthlessly exploited. When he tried to terminate his contract, he failed and ended up blacklisted.

Lin Zhen didn’t believe in fortune-telling, but since Li Rong mentioned it, he assumed Li Rong’s family might have some inside knowledge about Huajing Entertainment’s shady management.

He nodded repeatedly. “Okay, if I pass, I definitely won’t sign with that company.”

Jian Fu happened to come over to talk to Cen Xiao and overheard Li Rong’s words.

Noticing Cen Xiao’s sour mood, Jian Fu didn’t bother trying to engage him. Instead, he teasingly whistled and turned to Li Rong. “Hey, our class monitor is moonlighting as a fortune teller now? Li Rong, why don’t you predict something for me? Do you think I’ll ever rule over the Blue Pivot District?”

Li Rong glanced at Jian Fu, clearly aware of his mocking tone. He still responded seriously, “You won’t.”

After answering, he shot a covert glance at Cen Xiao. Cen Xiao didn’t seem to react to the mention of the Blue Pivot District. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the bottle of sweetened milk.

Li Rong felt a bit smug but masked it well as he shifted his gaze away.

Jian Fu, of course, knew he couldn’t conquer Blue Pivot. He didn’t even have such ambitions.

He was just trying to provoke Li Rong. In the past, he couldn’t stand Li Rong’s aloofness, and now he found Li Rong’s mysterious, prophetic demeanor equally grating.

“People from the Hongsuo faction are always like this, pretending to be above it all,” Jian Fu scoffed, clearly unimpressed.

Jian Fu casually slung an arm over Cen Xiao’s shoulder. “What about Brother Xiao? How’s… your romantic luck looking?”

Cen Xiao frowned, briefly considering the feasibility of hurling the offending bottle of sweetened milk at Jian Fu’s head.

Li Rong let out a soft snort. “Not great, I’d say.”

Jian Fu didn’t take kindly to that. His tone turned frosty. “How could that be? Cen Xiao has everything going for him. He can have anyone he wants.”

Li Rong’s faint smile remained. “Maybe he’s just not very skilled at it.”

Author’s Note:

Cen Xiao: This is slander. Don’t believe it. He’s just mad.