Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Jiang Ning carried two stools with one hand, watching Xue Yuantong struggling with her heavy backpack, walking a few steps then stopping to rest.

"Looking at your fragile appearance, I guess I'll reluctantly help you out," Jiang Ning mimicked Xue Yuantong.

"I don't need it, I can do it!" Xue Yuantong hoisted up her backpack and carried it, inching forward.

Jiang Ning walked over to her side and from a higher position, lightly lifted the bag. Xue Yuantong immediately felt the weight on her shoulders disappear.

The heavy backpack was gone.

Jiang Ning passed Xue Yuantong and walked in front of her.

Xue Yuantong followed behind Jiang Ning like a little tail, staring at his back and pursing her lips. She realized she was quite short, needing to look up just to see Jiang Ning.

...

Building No. 3 was a semi-circular academic building, each floor consisted of several classrooms facing south and one classroom facing east, forming a right angle.

Class 8's classroom was exactly at the tip of the angle, capturing a southeast position.

Coincidentally, Experimental Class 1 was in that sole classroom on the east side.

Actually, under normal circumstances, that spot should belong to Experimental Class 2, but the head teacher of Class 1, Hu Hou, never lost his cunning ambitions and still thought of tricking Xue Yuantong into their class.

After all the desks were neatly arranged, Shan Qingrong stood on the podium:

"As discussed at the beginning of the school year, after the monthly exam we'll change seats, so please come out, everyone. We'll arrange the seats according to your grades."

Upon hearing about seat changes, the students in the class experienced a mix of emotions. Particularly Miao Zhe, surrounded by several "golden flowers" of Class 8, was leading a miserable life.

Ever since he had a fight with Pang Jiao, the girls nearby had never paid him any mind again, treating him as if he didn't exist. Occasionally, Miao Zhe would get excited and say something, but no one would respond.

It disgusted Miao Zhe to no end.

Now he could finally change seats. With his top ten ranking in Class 8, he could finally move away from this spot.

He looked around, carrying a sense of relief and a faint nostalgia.

Indeed, he was reminiscing about this hardship. For him, Miao Zhe, these trials on his life's journey were but whetstones, only making him stronger.

Miao Zhe, ever more resilient in defeat!

Upon hearing about the seat change, Dan Kaiquan's mind raced with countless thoughts, but he was resolute. He had long coveted this opportunity. For the girl he liked, he decided to be brave once.

What could be easier to foster feelings than sharing a desk with a girl?

Dan Kaiquan decided to heed the advice of Jiang Ning and others, to take initiative, cultivate the relationship, and then confess.

All the students left the classroom and gathered in the corridor, swarming with students, which drew the attention of Class 7 next door who were moving desks, and for a moment, they even forgot about the desks.

Class 7's boys scanned the Class 8 girls with eagle eyes, quickly identifying the pretty ones.

Afterwards, with expressions of envy, they cursed the boys of Class 8 internally. Class 8 had so many attractive girls, and the only good-looking girl in their class had even started dating a boy from an experimental class.

No, they had to walk past Class 8's door more often to see more of the girls from Class 8.

Shan Qingrong holding the grade list, shouted:

"Xue Yuantong, you're first. You choose first."

Xue Yuantong first glanced at Jiang Ning, communicating with him through her gaze.

Actually, she had already discussed this several times with Jiang Ning at home. She would choose her seat first, and Jiang Ning would choose second. If Jiang Ning dared choose another spot, he could forget about eating the meals she cooked in the future!

Xue Yuantong walked into the classroom and picked the desk in the third row by the window on the south side. She didn't take the seat by the window, leaving it empty instead.

"Jiang Ning," Shan Qingrong called out.

Jiang Ning entered the classroom and sat next to Xue Yuantong, her eyes instantly curved into a smile.

'I'll help you with your studies from now on,' Xue Yuantong thought to herself. With her assistance, she was determined to help him surpass Du Chuan, the second ranker, and become the next most prominent figure in Fourth Middle School after her.

"Chen Qian, Bai Yuxia, Dong Qingfeng," Shan Qingrong called out in order.

Chen Qian went to the second row, Dong Qingfeng sat at the same table with him, then they both looked towards Bai Yuxia.

Bai Yuxia was slow in choosing her seat, she scanned the class and went to the second row in the south, right in front of Jiang Ning.

Chen Qian was shocked, Bai Yuxia had betrayed them. They had agreed before the exam that they would sit together and form a study group, determined to surpass Xue Yuantong, but now she had switched to Xue Yuantong's side.

Chen Qian was greatly shaken, he, who had always been in control of his victories, was truly panicked this time. His study group had just been formed a few days ago, and now it was short of members. With morale dwindling, how was he going to lead the team?

"Xue Yuantong! Next time, I must surpass you and win back Bai Yuxia!" Underneath his grief and indignation, Chen Qian secretly swore.

"Miao Zhe, it's your turn," Shan Qingrong said.

Upon hearing this, Miao Zhe stepped forward as if treading on clouds, his head slightly lifted. As one of the top ten in the class, his grades were far beyond those of Pang Jiao, who didn't even qualify to sit with him.

Miao Zhe calmly walked into the class and chose a seat by the north wall. After sitting down, he quietly awaited his new desk mate.

As Shan Qingrong continued to call names, the students entered one by one, picking their favorable spots, but the later their names were called, the fewer options they had.

"Yang Sheng, Shen Qing'e."

Yang Sheng ranked ahead of Shen Qing'e. The bet about their grades ended with Yang Sheng overcoming Shen Qing'e by two points and claiming victory.

For the upcoming month of cleaning duties, all were assigned to Shen Qing'e. Since the start of school, Yang Sheng had barely done any cleaning duties.

In the crowd, Ma Shicheng eyed Jiang Ning sitting at the third row, a faint melancholy surged within him, but soon it was interrupted by Wang Longlong beside him:

"Brother Ma, let's sit together in the future. I'll watch you play games every day!"

"Alright, I'll position my phone towards you, so you can watch anytime." Although Jiang Ning had moved away, Ma Shicheng was a bit unaccustomed, yet he was willing to switch to Wang Longlong.

Wang Longlong's grades weren't bad; he occupied the middle seat in the last row, one of the four seats in that row.

The next three seats were reserved for Ma Shicheng, Guo Kunnan, and Dan Kaiquan.

Geng Lu, who followed closely behind Wang Longlong in grades, surprisingly chose the seat right behind Jiang Ning, her face smiling constantly.

As the corridor outside grew less crowded, Miao Zhe, who had always remained calm, started to panic.

"Why? Why is there no one beside me? Is my performance not good?" he thought.

When Guo Kunnan chose his seat, he glanced at Miao Zhe's side; Miao Zhe was definitely in a good spot, but surprisingly, no one sat around him.

Miao Zhe was the type who couldn't take a joke. Speak carelessly and he might scratch you, so the boys in the class were annoyed by him.

Guo Kunnan directly headed to the middle of the last row, taking one of the four linked seats.

As for the girls from Class 8, they had witnessed Miao Zhe and Pang Jiao fighting, Miao Zhe scratching Pang Jiao until her face bled. What girl would dare to sit next to such an unruly boy?

Thus, the seat beside Miao Zhe remained empty.

Dan Kaiquan's grades were mediocre; as more students chose their seats, his despair turned to hope. He had thought the seat next to Bai Yuxia would be taken, but when his turn came, it was still empty.

Heaven bestowed it, so I must take it!

Dan Kaiquan courageously chose the seat next to Bai Yuxia, which greatly surprised the classmates. They looked at Dan Kaiquan with odd expressions.

The intentions of Sima Zhao are obvious to all.

Guo Kunnan, one of the four linked seats, stared blankly at Dan Kaiquan; his former desk mate was gone.

Then he praised Dan Kaiquan's courage:

"Good brother, I took a bottle of fine wine from my dad last time, and I've been reluctant to open it. I'll wait for the day you're devastated."

Due to Dan Kaiquan's absence, the four linked seats were occupied by Wang Longlong, Ma Shicheng, Guo Kunnan, and Hu Jun.

And Miao Zhe, helplessly watched as the seats around him were taken by Wang Yanyan, Pang Jiao, and several Jin Hua.

It was as if entering a new cycle.

Miao Zhe was furious, roaring in his heart: "Heaven, how unjust are you!"