Reborn: I'll Never Fail My Childhood Sweetheart Again

For some reason, sitting in a car can be particularly exhausting; even if you don’t do anything, you still feel very tired.

At first, Xiaoyanzi managed to keep up, but soon she couldn’t be bothered to talk. By noon, all the girls had fallen asleep, having gotten used to taking naps at school, their biological clocks kicked in.

They didn’t know how much time had passed when the car suddenly stopped, and they woke up.

"Senior, have we arrived?"

Huang Panpan rubbed her eyes and woke up.

Looking outside, it wasn’t the familiar hometown scenery but an unknown small town.

The Santana had stopped at the entrance of a local restaurant.

"No, but I’m hungry, let’s grab something to eat first!"

Qin Shiqing checked her phone and realized it was already afternoon.

The group got out of the car, and Xiaoyanzi and Qin Shiqing went to the restroom. Away from the others, Tang Yan couldn’t hold it in.

"Shiqing, why are you being so nice to Huang Panpan? Can’t you see her arrogance, acting like she’s declaring her sovereignty? Anyone unaware would think Su Zelin is her boyfriend!"

It had a vibe of "the empress isn’t anxious, but the maid is."

"Come on, Xiaoyanzi, Panpan is just being childish; why fuss over such trivialities?"

Qin Shiqing seemed quite open-minded.

"You’re too big-hearted; Huang Panpan is a college student, not a kid!"

Xiaoyanzi looked down at her own small breasts.

She felt underdeveloped compared to a kid; she might as well find a block of tofu to knock herself against.

"Alright, just go to the bathroom!"

Qin Shiqing took a pack of tissues from her pocket, handed it to Xiaoyanzi, and gently pushed her towards the restroom.

With childhood love affairs, it has to be mutual, a two-way street. If Su "Boss" isn’t interested, what could she do?

Qin Shiqing felt a bit helpless. She had hinted enough, but he seemed to play dumb or be oblivious. She couldn’t possibly confess her feelings first, that would be too forward.

Actually, Qin Shiqing was quite frustrated too.

She’s not lacking in qualifications, is she? In both high school and college, she’s been surrounded by admirers, yet she’s met a guy who just won’t date someone from the same social circle. She’s at her wit’s end, and can only let things take their course for now.

The food at this small restaurant was quite delicious. Before the expressway from Lin’an to Jianglan was opened in her past life, Su Zelin often drove through this town and would stop to eat here. Their secret recipe roasted chicken was especially fragrant, crispy on the outside and tender inside. A bite into it filled your mouth with flavor.

The owner relied on this roasted chicken to make the restaurant famous over the decades, even becoming an internet sensation. Many people visited just for it. Once, when Su Zelin was returning home, he even took a detour off the highway just to bring Qin Shiqing here for a meal.

"This roasted chicken is delicious!"

The three girls were hungry. They hadn’t eaten much in the morning for fear of motion sickness. But it turned out fine; Su Zelin was a skilled driver and considerate of the girls’ comfort, driving smoothly with few abrupt stops or sudden accelerations.

The tempting aroma of the roasted chicken whetted their appetites, and they all dug in heartily.

Qin Shiqing and Huang Panpan didn’t care about their image, their lips glistening with oil as they ate.

After finishing their meal, they continued their journey, driving for another two hours until they finally returned to Jianglan.

The apartment complex where the junior student lived, Lijing Garden, was nearby, so they dropped her off first.

The Santana stopped at the entrance, where Huang Hongbo and Li Juan were already waiting.

The couple had always doted on their daughter, especially since this was her first time home from college. Although she didn’t have much luggage, just a rolling suitcase, they insisted on personally greeting her.

Su Zelin got out to take out Huang Panpan’s luggage and greeted the couple.

"Zelin, thank you for taking care of Panpan during the trip."

Li Juan’s way of addressing him had changed.

She had long stopped opposing her daughter’s association with Su Zelin. Now that Su Zelin was doing well, he had become the kind of son-in-law who grew more pleasing to her eyes over time.

"Haha, it’s nothing, Auntie. We were on the way anyway. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading off!"

"Sure, take care! Come visit us when you have time!"

As she said goodbye to Su Zelin, Li Juan’s gaze drifted to the back seat.

She’d heard from Huang Panpan that among those returning this time was Su Zelin’s childhood friend, her daughter’s rival.

Her husband had once said that because of this childhood friend, Su Zelin might not consider their daughter.

Li Juan had never been convinced, but she was curious to see if this girl was truly remarkable enough to threaten her own daughter’s place.

The wealthy lady’s first gaze landed on Tang Yan.

It couldn’t possibly be this one. Lacking beauty and physique, with high cheekbones and thin lips, she seemed like a shrew type. Su Zelin wouldn’t have such poor taste.

Her gaze lingered on Xiaoyanzi’s face for less than half a second before moving past her.

When she finally saw Qin Shiqing, Li Juan understood why her husband had acknowledged the competition.

This girl, in terms of looks and figure, was comparable to her own daughter. Although without the same regal air as the little princess, she still exuded an extraordinary gentle elegance and confidence from within.

It would be hard for any boy not to like a girl like that.

It wasn’t until the Santana drove off into the distance that Li Juan retracted her gaze, her expression tinged with worry.

It’s no wonder Panpan saw her as the biggest rival. This love race could be intense.

The man she’d never taken seriously had now become quite the sought-after catch.