After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up

Zhao Guodong stood tensely, wanting to stay but feeling awkward, so he looked at Zhang Linong. Zhang Linong smiled but didn’t rush to speak, making Zhao Guodong’s eyes widen further.

Ye Ling sat on the heated bed, watching the two and decided to speak up for Zhao Guodong, "You don’t need to worry. Back in the rural days, especially when I was young, my grandma always went to the fields with the production team, and I was alone at home. Even when it got dark, I wasn’t scared. Now that I’m grown, there’s even less to fear."

"What, what, what, can’t you change your accent? Look at your sister." Zhao Guodong felt embarrassed being seen through by Ye Ling, randomly shouting about something else to change the topic. But in doing so, he forgot and mentioned Ye Qian, only stopping when he saw Ye Ling’s changing expression, "I’m only doing this for your good. Look at the classmates at school, they laugh at you behind your back."

"I talk however I want, let those who want to laugh, laugh. The mouth is on others, I can’t stop what they want to say." Ye Ling knew this person’s mind lacked a thread, and there was no need to be angry with him. "Zhang Linong, take Zhao Guodong back. No need to come tomorrow; there’s enough leftover food for tomorrow. If there’s anything, let’s talk about it the day after at school."

"You’re ungrateful." Zhao Guodong felt a ball of fire in his chest, running around for her and not receiving a word of gratitude, while she considered Zhang Linong a good person.

Watching Zhao Guodong leave angrily, Zhang Linong smiled and nodded at Ye Ling, "Dongzi is just like that, you know him, so I won’t say much. We’ll meet at school the day after tomorrow, Dongzi and I will bring your school bag then."

Ye Ling thanked him, sitting on the heated bed, watching Zhang Linong close the main door and then reach outside to latch it before withdrawing her gaze. Zhang Linong and Zhao Guodong were indeed attentive; someone brought a cotton quilt from someplace which, coupled with the warm bed, didn’t need a mattress for a night’s sleep. Dinner too was already prepared and brought, with plain white rice and egg cake packed in a lunchbox. Ye Ling had no appetite, and with an injured hand, she ate a few bites and left it there. Eating it for breakfast tomorrow was fine; skipping lunch and dinner wouldn’t make her hungry.

Finally having a small space to daze, Ye Ling sat for half the night without feeling sleepy, thinking about past lives and this life, her mind a jumble which she couldn’t unravel.

It was very quiet at night except for a few dog barks, no other sounds. The roof of the flat house looked like it hadn’t had its straw replaced in years, and when wind blew by it made a ’woo...’ sound.

Ye Ling used to be scared of such sounds as a child, even when hugged close by her grandma. She wouldn’t dare move, afraid a ghost might jump out. Now with the lights off and moonlight seeping through the windows, she could see everything in the yard clearly under the faint glow, recalling dying alone in a dark room in a past life. But this life is different; at least when she ran away from home, two people helped her find a place to stay.

Hearing the main door sound, Ye Ling became alert, leaning against the wall watching the door in the moonlight. A pair of hands reached in to remove the latch and gently pushed the door open, Ye Ling unknowingly relaxed seeing the hunched figure entering.

Who else could it be but Zhao Guodong, who left angrily that afternoon? In the moonlight, she saw him stealthily close the door, holding a small cloth bundle. Wearing an ill-fitting military green jacket which made him look thin, Zhao Guodong was tall, but it looked like he was wrapped around a stick wearing Ye’s father’s jacket.