Bringing My Rival Back to Life (Accidentally) - Chapter 14

After receiving the photo, Wu Jiu unexpectedly behaved himself for a few days, even softening his tone when speaking with Zhu Xiao—of course, Zhu Xiao didn’t notice, because Wu Jiu had simply replaced exclamation marks with more composed periods.

Coincidentally, Zhu Xiao had been busy these days. Not only did he have many tasks assigned by the school, but he was also preparing to attend an academic conference to present his recent findings. The cemetery cluster discussed at the conference happened to be one of the case studies in Zhang Yue’s thesis, so Zhu Xiao brought him along.

Clearly, Zhang Yue had no idea what kind of opportunity this was and packed his bag as if he were going on a spring outing. Being the only student under Wu Jiu’s tutelage, and perhaps due to some particular psychology related to that individual, Zhu Xiao didn’t really want to spoil his innocent naivety.

The conference was in the neighboring city, and it took them three hours by car to get there. Zhang Yue listened to the various academic heavyweights expressing their views, and all he could say was “Wow” whenever he opened his mouth. The more he listened, the more he felt like a tiny, insignificant crumb, so he spent his time thinking about what to eat later while listening.

Finally, the tea break arrived, and Zhang Yue wasted no time, launching himself out of his chair as if it were a springboard. He was particularly sharp during these moments, quickly grabbing delicious snacks and filling his plate while the heavyweights were busy talking. In just ten minutes, he returned with a full plate, looking like an academic version of Zhu Bajie from the classic novel “Journey to the West.”

Unfortunately, while he acted like an academic Zhu Bajie during the tea break, when it came to writing his thesis, he turned into an academic turtle—according to Wu Jiu, his thesis was as hard to understand as oracle bone script.

Zhu Xiao turned a blind eye to Zhang Yue’s behavior. However, he was surprised when Zhang Yue actually showed some consideration and pushed a plate of snacks towards Zhu Xiao upon returning.

“Teacher, I got this for you,” Zhang Yue said.

Zhu Xiao looked at him with some surprise and said, “Thank you.”

Zhang Yue replied sheepishly, “It’s what Teacher Wu taught me.”

Wu Jiu’s famous saying: During the tea break, teachers should maintain their elegance and find it inconvenient to serve themselves, so remember to take extra portions, including the teacher’s share.

At this point, Zhang Yue suddenly became melancholic, saying, “Sometimes I miss Teacher Wu too. Where on earth did he go?”

Zhu Xiao didn’t know how to tell Zhang Yue that Wu Jiu had passed away, so he evaded the question by saying, “He just went somewhere else.”

After that, he tried to comfort Zhang Yue with some clichés about the inevitability of partings and gatherings in life. Fortunately, Zhang Yue was not the type to dwell on sadness for long.

After the conference ended, Zhu Xiao relayed Zhang Yue’s words to Wu Jiu.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yue had brought snacks for Zhu Xiao during the tea break, Wu Jiu commented: [This kid has actually learned something from me.] He also felt that his reputation in the educational field wasn’t entirely ruined and proudly remarked: [He still remembers me; he has a conscience.] Then he pointedly asked: [What about you, Zhu Xiao?]

Wu Jiu: [You haven’t missed me even once since I’ve been gone, have you?]

Zhu Xiao asked curiously: [Why would I miss you?]

Wu Jiu: […………….]

Wu Jiu: […I really overestimated your conscience!]

Zhu Xiao sent back an elderly smiley face emoji.

Gritting his teeth, Wu Jiu said: [Fine, I’ll be the one with a conscience overflow.] He then added: [Zhu Xiao, you take full responsibility.]

Zhu Xiao, inexplicably accused, didn’t get very angry. Instead, he cleverly threw the question back to the accuser: [Don’t you already have a photo?]

If he was to take full responsibility, his photo had already fulfilled that duty.

Wu Jiu didn’t realize that having a photo of Zhu Xiao could come with so many losses. If he had known, he would have insisted on a video back then.

After thinking for a moment, he said: [I do have one, but don’t you still need one?]

Zhu Xiao feigned ignorance: [What?]

Wu Jiu clicked his tongue and muttered to himself, “Do I really have to spell everything out?” So he typed out the part he hadn’t finished earlier: [A photo of me.]

He had a photo of Zhu Xiao, and it seemed only fair that Zhu Xiao should have one of him too.

Zhu Xiao replied: [There are plenty online. Just search for them.]

Wu Jiu immediately began to hate the advanced internet of the human world. Although he knew Zhu Xiao was right, he stubbornly retorted: [I don’t believe it. Unless you search right now.]

As soon as Wu Jiu sent the first message, Zhu Xiao started searching. Wu Jiu hadn’t deliberately kept any photos. The most formal one was the ID photo they had published together in the newspaper, with somewhat harsh lighting, but fortunately, his face was photogenic enough to not look bad.

Calculating the time, it had been over a week since their last dream visitation. It had been over a week since he last saw Wu Jiu’s infuriating face.

As Zhu Xiao was thinking this, a system notification suddenly popped up on the Yin-Yang Messenger interface.

[The other party has booked a dream visitation.]

This notification appeared when one party unilaterally booked a dream visitation and the other party hadn’t booked yet.

Wu Jiu: [I accidentally clicked it. My hand slipped.]

Wu Jiu: [Don’t get the wrong idea. Your dreams are so abstract that I don’t even want to go.]

Zhu Xiao’s eyebrows lifted, and he immediately clicked on the “Book Dream Visitation” option on the Yin-Yang Messenger app.

Soon, a message arrived from Yin-Yang Messenger: [Congratulations! Your booking is successful! The dream visitation will take place in three days. Both parties will meet in the dream after falling asleep. It is recommended that you maintain a regular schedule before the visitation to ensure good sleep quality. Wish you a pleasant dream!]

The same message also appeared on Wu Jiu’s phone.

Before he had time to feel happy, Zhu Xiao’s message popped up: [Then don’t come.]

Zhu Xiao: [I booked it, but I didn’t see a cancel button. Either you don’t sleep tonight.]

Wu Jiu was still unsure whether this was a sweet offer or a threat—whether he was being invited or discouraged.

But whether it was a sweet offer or a threat, Wu Jiu decided to take it—after all, he was stubborn. Even if it was a threat, so what? Besides, did he always do what Zhu Xiao said? He never blindly followed Zhu Xiao’s wishes.

He typed in the input box: I’m coming anyway!

However, before he could send it, Zhu Xiao seemed to know what he was thinking and added: [Forgot to mention, I clicked it on purpose.]

Wu Jiu quickly deleted the message he had typed and sent a new one: [I knew it~ You want to see me~]

Zhu Xiao: [Remove the wavy lines.]

If he had to remove them, he would. Wu Jiu was flexible: [I knew you wanted to see me!!!]

Wu Jiu said triumphantly: [Zhu Xiao, that’s just how you are.]

Having learned from the previous experience, this time Zhu Xiao specifically watched three episodes of Baby Bus before going to sleep.

Thanks to his foresight, the dream this time was much more normal.

The dream scene was still Zhu Xiao’s home, and Wu Jiu entered as if he had been there many times before.

Zhu Xiao felt something was off: “Why are you so familiar with this place?”

Logically, Wu Jiu should have never been to his home.

Wu Jiu also realized he was acting too familiar and quickly made an excuse: “You forgot, our apartments have the same layout.”

That was what he said, but Wu Jiu was just too familiar—he had even taken out two cups from the sterilizer to pour water. Zhu Xiao’s doubts remained.

Wu Jiu seemed to want to cover up his embarrassment and struck up a conversation by picking up a blanket from the side, “Oops, you even dreamed this blanket in.”

“I’ll cover myself with it; I’m a bit cold sitting here.”

Zhu Xiao quickly became alert.

He calmly pointed out: “This isn’t a blanket.”

It was the bedspread from the spare bedroom, used for decoration.

Wu Jiu: [……?]

Wu Jiu: [Then what is it?]

Zhu Xiao didn’t answer him but instead asked, “What do you think the tassels next to this blanket are for?”

“For decoration, to look nice, and to make knotting more difficult.”

“……Because they’re not meant for knotting.”

Zhu Xiao recalled the same bedspread being mistaken that night, as well as the blanket-like covering technique.

The previously suppressed thought resurfaced.

Had Wu Jiu really been there that night?

And then—

Zhu Xiao couldn’t help but voice the unrealistic thought again, confirming with Wu Jiu, “You really can’t come back to life?”

At that moment, a loud ringing suddenly sounded.

The noise was so loud that the dream shook like an earthquake, with the ground trembling violently, leading Wu Jiu to ask if he had secretly watched 2012: Doomsday before bed.

The next second, his dream woke up.

Zhu Xiao opened his eyes and saw that his phone was ringing—it was still early, and his phone’s do-not-disturb mode hadn’t kicked in yet.

He glanced at the contact and saw it was a call from his mother.

He messaged Wu Jiu, “Phone,” before answering.

“Mom, what’s up?”

His voice sounded a bit muffled, as if he had just woken up. On the other end, Zhang Ruijun apologized, “Did I wake you? You went to bed so early today.”

Zhang Ruijun was a bit surprised. According to past routines, it was common for Zhu Xiao to stay up until eleven or twelve o’clock, and he had never gone to bed this early.

“It’s okay,” Zhu Xiao said, “What’s up?”

“Are you free this weekend?” Zhang Ruijun said, “Remember the lawyer I mentioned last time? Your aunt has made the connection, and the other party said if you’re free, you could meet up on Saturday and have a chat.”

“Another blind date?” Zhu Xiao raised his hand and rubbed his temples; he really wasn’t interested in blind dates.

“How can you say ‘another’? Your last blind date was a long time ago,” Zhang Ruijun persuaded him, “It’s rare to meet someone you like. Give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, it’s fine. Just consider it making a new friend.”

With Zhang Ruijun speaking to this extent, Zhu Xiao couldn’t refuse.

He agreed with a “Sure,” planning to quickly wrap up the blind date on Saturday and reject the match.

Zhang Ruijun happily said, “So it’s settled then. This Saturday, at the café near your school.”

Wu Jiu asked: [Whose call was that?]

Zhu Xiao replied: [My mom’s.]

Wu Jiu didn’t think much of it and assumed they had just chatted about family matters: [Oh, I remember you’re not from here. What did she say to you? Does she miss you?]

Zhu Xiao: [She misses me.]

There was no need to hide it, so Zhu Xiao directly told him: [She wants me to go on a blind date.]

Bringing My Rival Back to Life (Accidentally) - Chapter 14

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Hate that cliffhanger, don’t you?

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