Chapter 7: Divergent Paths

Since that summer, Xu Chen and Xie Bingran stepped into two completely different worlds.

Xu Chen became class monitor, model student, top of his class.

Xie Bingran, on the other hand, gradually went dark and earned the nickname “Ice Bro,” a gang boss whose grades slipped.

Rumors about Xie Bingran’s father also began circulating in that rural middle school.

Kids growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s were heavily influenced by triad movies—wild and over the top.

Parental and school discipline back then wasn’t nearly as strict as in later years.

Everyone was surprised when Xie Bingran barely qualified to enter Tiancheng No. 1 High School by the skin of her teeth.

A frequent negative example in class, she still managed to get into Tiancheng No. 1 High School, causing a small stir at the rural junior high.

……

Xu Chen snapped back to his thoughts and glanced at Xie Bingran’s retreating figure, feeling conflicted.

He suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask Chen Dahai,

“What’s the date today?”

Chen Dahai replied, “I think it’s the sixth. Why?”

Xu Chen said nothing but worry flickered across his face.

It was indeed the sixth. In Xu Chen’s previous life, today marked another major turning point for Xie Bingran.

That evening after school, Xie Bingran got tangled up in some off-campus “incident” and ended up in a juvenile correctional facility for about two years…

Xu Chen didn’t know the details of that case, but he remembered the exact time reported by the news.

In his last life’s memories, Xie Bingran stayed in the facility at least two years, and it was there, during a sports meet, that her running talent finally surfaced.

In academics she ranked first, in martial arts she was second to none.

When it comes to athletics, strength speaks for itself—numbers don’t lie.

No talk of fair play, no regard for age or seniority.

Against pure talent, all effort pales to nothing.

Xie Bingran’s athletic gift was so astounding that even in a correctional facility she caught the eye of the provincial and national teams.

In the early 2000s, China’s sprint and hurdling programs were still in their infancy and hungry for top prospects.

After her “reform,” she was fast-tracked into the provincial team and the Sports University, training intensively for two to three years.

Then she burst onto the scene: reformed delinquent, inspirational idol, trailblazing heroine…

Looking back, that juvenile sports meet was the crucial moment when Xie Bingran’s talent shone through.

But a stint in a correctional facility wasn’t a necessary prerequisite for her rise to sports stardom.

After all, Xu Chen knew her gentle nature—her fierce “Ice Bro” persona might just be a façade.

Years later her coach confessed in an interview that if she’d started systematic training earlier instead of wasting two years behind bars, she could have reached even higher levels…

Not to excuse her past mistakes—wrongdoing brings consequences—but it was still a pity.

Xu Chen watched Xie Bingran’s back, his eyes sparkling with resolve.

Right now, no one in the world knew of her athletic gift—not even Xie Bingran herself.

But in his past life Xu Chen had seen her dominate the track on television.

Whether it was the Koreans or the Japanese, she left them all in the dust.

He had to admit, the Xie Bingran he’d seen on the track radiated a thousand times more presence than the brash “Ice Bro” before him.

She was cooler, fiercer, more captivating…

The running Xie Bingran deserved the world’s adoration and applause.

Reborn at this moment, Xu Chen could rewrite her fate and steer her life back on track sooner.

He still felt guilty for coldly rejecting Xie Bingran’s confession in junior high.

He could have handled it more gently, more warmly, taking her feelings into account instead of shutting her out.

Xu Chen knew he had hurt her feelings.

Perhaps her “dark turn” back then was partly linked to his icy refusal.

Now that he’d been reborn, he had a chance to make amends for that regret.

He could also use this opportunity to forge a new bond with this future sports star and lay the groundwork for her future endorsements.

He had to thank rebirth for this!

Chen Dahai noticed Xu Chen’s odd expression and asked,

“What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Xu Chen replied. “Just eat your youtiao.”

But inside, Xu Chen was plotting his next move.

That case happened this evening.

If he could hold Xie Bingran back, he could help her avoid disaster tonight.

He didn’t have much time to plan. He swallowed his half-eaten youtiao, stood, and walked toward Xie Bingran.

Chen Dahai looked up in confusion at Xu Chen’s back.

Zhao Feng and the others stared blankly when Xu Chen suddenly approached.

Ignoring them, Xu Chen sat down facing Xie Bingran.

Xie Bingran lifted an eyebrow and silently continued eating.

Zhao Feng glared and snarled,

“Who the hell are you?! Our Ice Bro’s eating—don’t you know this isn’t your seat?!”

As Zhao Feng’s words fell, his blond-haired lackeys flanked Xu Chen from behind.

Xie Bingran tossed half a youtiao into her bowl, took a drag of her cigarette, then looked up at Xu Chen.

Her delicate features and cool gaze held a hint of brooding decay.

Xu Chen said, “Free after school this afternoon? Let me treat you to a meal.”

He felt emotional as he spoke.

In three years of high school, this was the first time Xu Chen had spoken to Xie Bingran.

Zhao Feng wanted to start trouble but, noticing the two actually knew each other, fell silent.

Xie Bingran exhaled white smoke and said expressionlessly,

“What are we eating?”

Xu Chen noticed Xie Bingran’s voice had grown much colder and rougher since junior high.

“The first McDonald’s in town just opened. I’ll take you there.”

Xie Bingran stubbed out her cigarette and said coldly,

“It’s been four or five years since I said I liked you in middle school. Is this your new response?”

Xu Chen paused, momentarily lost for words.

Sure enough, old wounds lingered.

Zhao Feng’s eyes widened in shock before he turned to Xu Chen and said,

“So she’s your squeeze!”

He then told his lackeys,

“Call her ‘squeeze’!”

Everyone faced Xu Chen and chorused,

“Squeeze…”

…

Xu Chen was speechless.

Nearby, Chen Dahai was so stunned his jaw dropped, while Xie Bingran calmly brushed back her slicked-back hair, revealing several band-aids and faint bloodstains on her right hand.