Chapter Three: The Future She Told Me About

He Tianran sat at his desk, though the person next to him had been replaced by Wen Liang.

"What is my favorite movie?"

"Legends of the Fall. You said if you could only recommend one movie in this lifetime, that would be it. Oh, and you also mentioned that Brad Pitt is one of the few male celebrities in the world who could turn you gay."

"...And my favorite song?"

"Your taste in music is eclectic, you listen to everything, but your absolute favorite is 'If We Never Met' by Mayday."

He Tianran clicked his tongue to himself, "You got it right again... but that song really is beautiful, and the lyrics are exceptionally well-written."

Wen Liang, who was laughing with her head resting on the desk, shook her finger:

"No, no, no, that’s secondary. The main thing is that you said every time you listen to it, you can imagine a tragic drama of unrequited love in your head. Hahaha... you’re such a dork."

He Tianran covered his face with one hand in embarrassment and asked, "Are we that close in the future?"

"Guess!"

Wen Liang straightened her back and looked at He Tianran with a playful smile:

"Guess what kind of relationship we have in the future?"

It happened!

The ambiguous question from a girl!

He Tianran’s toes curled. What was this? Wasn’t this the kind of ambiguous interaction only "normies" could experience? And now it was happening to him!

Was it logical?

No!

But if time travel and rebirth could happen... then...

It still didn't make sense!

He Tianran sighed and gave his answer:

"Whatever it is, it won't be a romantic relationship, because I don't want to deal with that mess."

Wen Liang looked at He Tianran, turned her head away, and rested her chin on her hand:

"Bingo! Correct answer!"

"Hey, I knew it!"

He Tianran felt relieved inside. There was no disappointment, nor any unnecessary fantasies, for his motto was: If I don't harbor hope, I won't be disappointed! The concluding remark: The benevolent are invincible!

"In that regard, the current you and the future you are truly no different at all..."

Wen Liang stared at the handwriting she had left on the blackboard and murmured softly. Then, she put on a hurt expression and said:

"Why, why emphasize so specifically that we aren't a couple? Am I not pretty enough?"

As expected, there is no right answer to a girl's question, He Tianran thought. If he had said they were a couple, she probably would have said he was overthinking things and started ridiculing him.

He Tianran anticipated the outcome and analyzed it rationally:

"Because it’s impossible for you to like me. Even I hate myself sometimes, let alone having any redeeming qualities that would attract a girl."

Wen Liang froze. She looked at He Tianran for a long time before smiling again.

"Do you know what kind of person you become in the future?"

***

This question piqued He Tianran's curiosity.

"Tell me the good parts."

Wen Liang rolled her eyes at him: "Do you think I'm a fortune teller?"

The boy giggled, and the girl slowly began to speak: "In the future, I’m a big star, and you... you’re a screenwriter! We started opening up to each other during the first movie we worked on together."

"A screenwriter? I do like to daydream and write things from time to time. What kind of screenwriter am I?"

"Nanhai Shisilang."

He Tianran was stunned. Wen Liang was referring to the title of a movie. The protagonist was a brilliantly talented screenwriter, but his environment and personality led him to a tragic end. The film was one of He Tianran's favorites, so he immediately grasped the implication.

The atmosphere turned silent. He Tianran spoke up:

"You said earlier that I was still alive, so in the future, did I..."

Wen Liang nodded, her tone heavy:

"It’s a long story. When you were 31, after finally saving up some money from screenwriting, you wanted to invest in your own film as a director. But later, someone stole your script, and years of hard work were destroyed. In utter despair, you..."

Wen Liang stopped there. He Tianran didn't dwell on it too much; given his personality, this outcome was already better than he had imagined. He forced a smile and self-deprecatingly remarked:

"With my personality, I could be a director in the future? Even if the filming started, I wouldn't be able to command the set. You're overthinking it~"

Wen Liang was frustrated by his lack of ambition: "It's exactly that personality of yours that makes you a pushover everywhere!"

He Tianran disagreed and asked, "By the way, weren't we very close in the future? Why didn't you ask me to be the lead in my movie?"

Wen Liang's eyes dimmed. She paused, about to speak, when she heard He Tianran finding his own reason.

"Right, right, I’m the kind of person who doesn't take initiative. You were a big star, your salary must have been high. I hate owing people favors, hahaha."

"You’ve always been like this..."

Wen Liang lowered her head and whispered.

"What... did you say?"

Wen Liang stood up abruptly and shouted:

"I said, you’ve always been like this! You never offend anyone because you're afraid of what they might think; you could solve a problem with a single word, but you’re agonizingly indecisive; you could do something well, but you’re always hesitant and shrinking away. When will you ever strive for something? When will you be kinder to yourself?"

Facing the girl's loss of composure, He Tianran was truly bewildered.

What was this typical anime-style dressing-down all about?

Am I not being kind enough to myself?

I’m a typical shut-in! I stay in my comfort zone, I don't bother anyone, so why am I being dragged out and lectured like this?

"Are you looking for excuses to let yourself off the hook right now?"

Wen Liang seemed to see right through He Tianran's thoughts and pointed at him.

The boy hunched his shoulders and said cautiously:

"I... I don't know. I haven't experienced the things you're spoiling for me, and besides... the current me is innocent..."

Wen Liang's chest heaved as she tried to calm down. He Tianran turned his head away, not daring to look.

"Look at me!"

"Okay..."

"Look up, where are you looking?!"

"Ah, yes!"

***

Wen Liang crossed her arms and said:

"From today on, you must make a change! Shed this lazy, weak personality of yours to avoid repeating the tragedy in the future!"

He Tianran felt very innocent, truly innocent, so he scratched his head:

"I think I’m... doing just fine right now..."

"I don't care what you think, I care what I think!! I think you are doing very poorly right now! Whether it's for now or the future, it is! Not! Good!"

"Where is it not good..."

Wen Liang narrowed her eyes and said:

"You were peeking at my chest, and you didn't even have the courage to admit it!"

Good grief, He Tianran thought. Do people who are reborn get heightened observation skills? How could she notice something so subtle?!

Wen Liang said playfully: "Your eyes were darting up and down; they looked like two bouncing ping-pong balls. I really want to put a mirror in front of you right now so you can see for yourself!"

What?! Can reborn people read minds too?

And what kind of weird metaphor was that?

"I... can you give me a moment to think about it?"

Wen Liang refused point-blank: "No! After today, you'll definitely think tomorrow will be another peaceful day!"

"You know that too?!"

He Tianran was shocked beyond measure. Wen Liang softened her tone:

"Tianran, I'm here to help you, not to hurt you..."

"Then... it can't be right now, can it?"

"Right now!"

"What the heck?"

"Start by doing something you've never done before—skip study hall!"

With that, Wen Liang suddenly grabbed He Tianran’s hand and marched out of the classroom in a flurry.

Without realizing it, the two had been talking for a long time. Along the way, they bumped into many students coming for the evening study session. Wen Liang was quite famous at school, so everyone who saw this scene looked shocked.

Wen Liang also seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally taking a longer route through the teaching building, letting more people see her dragging He Tianran along.

Especially when they passed by Ye Jiaqi, He Tianran's desk mate, who was chatting and laughing with friends about some online celebrity.

Wen Liang even stopped to greet her!

"Hi, Jiaqi, long time no see!"

"We... Wen Liang, you’re back? And you and... He... He Tianran..."

The young girl’s eyes darted back and forth between their joined hands.

"Oh, Tianran and I are going out for a bite to eat, so we’re skipping study hall. We’ll talk later, love you!"

Wen Liang blew a kiss to Ye Jiaqi and walked down the stairs, holding He Tianran’s hand openly.

And in the eyes of Ye Jiaqi and her friends, the fire of gossip was burning bright.