Rebirth: The Comeback of the Girl
Chapter 66: Many Hands Make Light Work

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Many Hands Make Light Work

Sunday at eight in the morning, a group of youngsters gathered at the school gate, joined by the lonely figure of Qian Duoduo.

It was still that familiar little iron gate, still the same woods they visited for mushroom picking.

What was different, however, was that this time they headed deeper into the woods to gather and break branches simultaneously, to quickly amass enough firewood for everyone.

The woods were vast, and the birdsong in the early morning seemed to echo through the trees.

Zhen Yu divided everyone into two teams: the girls looked down at the ground to pick up firewood, while the boys looked up to choose and break off branches within reach.

-

"It’s my first time gathering firewood! It’s quite fun!" Qian Duoduo exclaimed excitedly.

She imitated Zhen Yu, kicking at the dried leaves on the ground with her foot, searching for broken branches buried underneath.

"Where did you get your firewood in the past? Did you buy it?" Bai Xue asked sarcastically.

She only knew that Zhen Yu was bringing her desk mate to gather firewood and only realized upon meeting her that this girl was dressed like a delicate little lady.

Who comes out to play wearing a skirt? It’s so inconvenient! Was she just here to look pretty?

Qian Duoduo didn’t catch the sarcasm in Bai Xue’s voice and earnestly replied, "No! My dad picked it! I thought it was just a casual thing, so I never went with him."

-

Three girls stood in a row with Zhen Yu in the middle.

She glanced at Bai Xue, then decided it was better to introduce everyone.

"Qian Duoduo, top student of our grade."

Qian Duoduo waved her hand shyly and said immediately, "Not anymore! Now you are!"

"Bai Xue," Zhen Yu paused before saying bluntly, "kind-hearted underachiever."

"Underachiever?" the three asked in unison, with Qian Duoduo and Bai Xue speaking at the same time, followed by a slightly delayed voice—it was Han Jiaoyang.

Zhen Yu looked at Han Jiaoyang and retorted, "Like you! Scores shattered like glass, not even all subjects combined would add up to a hundred points!"

Han Jiaoyang looked skyward, speechless, wondering why he prompted this question to begin with!!!

Why couldn’t he just quietly be that handsome guy like Fu Yu?!

Isn’t that good?

Swiftly walking away...

-

Bai Xue didn’t care one bit about people poking fun at her poor grades. Her eyes sparkling, she said, "That’s a funny term! What about someone like Qian Duoduo? What do you call them?"

"Straight-A student," said Qian Duoduo, but then she seemed to think better of praising herself and closed her mouth.

"Straight-Ad?" Bai Xue muttered to herself.

Unable to watch her struggle, Zhen Yu explained, "It’s ’dominant’—from the phrase ’to dominate.’"

"Oh! That term’s pretty fun too!" Bai Xue said, enlightened, then quickly followed up with, "What about someone whose grades are just average? What do you call that?"

Zhen Yu didn’t want to deal with her.

Han Mingyue noticed Zhen Yu looked like she didn’t want to talk anymore and stepped in to smooth things over, "Probably just a ’student.’"

"Pfft!" Qian Duoduo burst into laughter, asking Han Mingyue, "Are you serious?"

Before Han Mingyue could speak again, Zhen Yu chimed in, "He’s right! What else would you call them but a ’student’?"

Qian Duoduo looked at Zhen Yu, unable to stop laughing.

Bai Xue was still grumbling on the side, "Straight-A student! Student! Underachiever!"

"So, Zhen Yu, you three are straight-A students, we three are underachievers, which means there’s only one ’student’ here!"

Saying this, Bai Xue glanced at Zhen Yan—he was the singled-out ’student.’

She blurted out, "Zhen Yan! Why are you being such a loner?"

"Huh?" Zhen Yan, who was trying to snap off a branch from a higher spot, turned his head at the question, and his grip unconsciously loosened.

"Snap!" The branch sprang up, shook vigorously, and the leaves hanging on by a thread cascaded down on Zhen Yan’s head and shoulders.

-

Everyone watched his bewildered face and laughed uncontrollably.

Zhen Yan shook off the leaves on his body and joined in the laughter with everyone.

Perhaps it was the strength in numbers that made the task easier; with everyone pitching in, they managed to gather 14 bundles of firewood by noon, each one robustly thick.

Carrying two bundles each, they walked out the small iron gate, and when they reached the school gate, Qian Duoduo was about to say goodbye to everyone when Zhen Yu spoke up.

"Duoduo, come to my house for lunch."

"Ah?" Qian Duoduo was startled, then a little thrilled.

She was an only child and devoted most of her time to studying, so she didn’t often have the chance to play with peers her age.

She wanted to accept, but was afraid it was merely a polite offer. Hesitantly but eagerly, she asked, "Can I, really?"

"Let’s go!" Zhen Yu responded decisively.

"Ugh, stop dawdling! Hurry up and go!" Bai Xue nudged Qian Duoduo with her shoulder towards the direction of the Zhen family’s house.

She loved liveliness and a crowd, and had it not been for the inconvenience of carrying firewood, she would have pulled Qian Duoduo along already.

-

Unbeknownst to them, the gathering for lunch at the Zhen family’s house had become a weekend ritual for the kids.

Even Fu Yu, who lived next door, refused to go back to his own home for lunch.

Mrs. Fu cursed him several times from over the wall, wishing she could drag him back by his ears.

But for the sake of her son’s dignity, she always ended up scolding him and let it be, without really coming over to pull him away.

Zhen Yu’s cooking skills were becoming more refined, and there was a growing sensation that with further practice, he might become a master chef.

Zhen Yan opened the storage room and piled everyone’s firewood neatly in the corner.

Each time, those who came to play, played; and the only one who always conscientiously helped was Han Mingyue.

Qian Duoduo, being new, was a bit out of her element, not knowing whether to help or not.

Zhen Yu signaled Bai Xue to take her to the living room to watch TV.

Bai Xue gave Zhen Yu a suggestive glance and quickly led Duoduo inside.

-

Zhen Yu blinked, wondering what Bai Xue’s glance meant.

Seems like...hiss! That girl is too precocious!

He definitely had to warn her not to spread rumors carelessly; there’s nothing going on, don’t let her start something that isn’t there.

He really wanted to sew a zipper on that girl’s mouth... and slap a lock on it...

While Chef Zhen grumbled to himself, he washed a piece of meat, preparing to slice it.

"Let me do it," said Han Mingyue’s voice from behind.

Without looking back, Zhen Yu continued cutting and instructed him, "Go wash some cabbage, and wash two persimmons."

"Okay," Han Mingyue agreed but didn’t move; he added, "I sent out my manuscript."

Zhen Yu paused, his knife stilling before turning to look at him and offered encouragement, "Don’t worry! It will definitely get accepted!"

-

Han Mingyue took a deep breath and suddenly felt a sense of inner peace.

Gone was the previously suspended state of limbo.

Seated on a small stool, washing vegetables, the boy occasionally looked up at the girl’s silhouette, gaining some insight.

He deeply realized that this girl had unwittingly become a pillar of support for their group of friends.

Everyone, himself included, would seek her advice first in any matter.

His younger brother told him that the teachers always used Zhen Yu as an example for their classmates, talking about her perfect scores.

She was so outstanding, he had to work harder himself!

Since he had decided to submit his writing, he had to practice more! From now on, he would write one extra essay every night.

So without Zhen Yu realizing it, she inadvertently spurred on the top students of the first year of junior high, and the people around her, to strive even harder!

-

Lunch ended amidst Qian Duoduo’s repeated praises, with not a morsel left in the dishes.

Zhen Yu quietly cleaned up the aftermath with Han Mingyue (the tableware).