After Rebirth, I Married My Rival - Chapter 09

Chapter 9: You Don’t Actually Have Magic, Do You?

Xu Yuan pocketed the business card and turned to Li Xinran, who was eating an orange with a dazed, adorable expression while listening to the conversation. « Do you have a pen on you? » he asked.

« Oh~ I do have one. » Li Xinran rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pen, handing it to Xu Yuan.

« I’ll be in Jiangcheng for the next month. After that, I’m heading to the capital for university. Here’s my phone number. » Xu Yuan pulled a napkin from his pocket, wrote his number on it, and handed it to Zhang Chao.

« You’re still in university? » Zhang Chao was even more surprised. Could Xu Yuan be some rich kid from a wealthy family?

« To be precise, I just graduated high school. But I’m already an adult and can take responsibility for my words. » Xu Yuan didn’t hide his student status. The most important thing in investment is mutual trust between both parties.

Alright, I’ll be visiting the capital on September 20th. Let’s schedule a meeting then. Looking forward to our collaboration.

The two shook hands once more, signaling their agreement.

Xu Yuan couldn’t help but admire Zhang Chao—he didn’t dismiss him outright just because of his youth. Such a person truly had the potential for success.

For Zhang Chao, this was just a minor episode on the train. Even if Xu Yuan was spouting nonsense, he had nothing to lose. But if Xu Yuan wasn’t bluffing, he might just receive a substantial investment.

..

As Zhang Chao got off at the next stop, Xu Yuan finally couldn’t hold back a smile, happily pinching Li Xinran’s delicate cheek as she ate an orange beside him.

I told you you bring me good luck, didn’t I?

Li Xinran looked utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend why Xu Yuan was so excited. Though she had followed their entire conversation, its significance eluded her.

« Stop rubbing—you’re making me drool. » Finally breaking free, Li Xinran pouted with flushed cheeks, her indignant expression oddly endearing.

Noticing the glistening saliva on his hand, Xu Yuan curled his lips into a mischievous grin. Slowly raising it to his nose, he inhaled deliberately and remarked, « Mmm… orange-flavored. »

Li Xinran grew anxious at the sight of this, baring her little tiger-like teeth as she hastily grabbed Xu Yuan’s hand, fearing that even a moment’s delay might lead him to do something excessive. « Hey… don’t… is it what I’m thinking? »

Seeing Xu Yuan’s smug expression of having pulled off a cunning scheme, Li Xinran realized she’d been tricked. Annoyed, she shook off his hand and rolled her eyes.

« Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Just wait and see—you’re going to be a little rich lady someday! » Xu Yuan said, playfully flicking Li Xinran’s forehead as he always did.

Li Xinran had long grown accustomed to Xu Yuan’s habitual little gesture and didn’t mind it. Instead, she asked softly in a timid voice, « Do you really have five million? »

That’s five million yuan, so much money! If it were her, she wouldn’t even dare to wake up from such a dream.

It’ll come sooner or later!

Xu Yuan said with absolute certainty in his eyes. Even without the system’s investment quota, he still had some methods up his sleeve, after all, he’d been around for many years in his previous life.

For example, methods similar to foreign SPAC companies could create a massive capital pool without requiring too much initial investment. But it was too unethical, and with domestic market regulations being so strict, one wrong move could land you operating a sewing machine (in prison).

Xu Yuan wouldn’t easily dabble in such gray-area methods, as investment should still maintain ethical standards. More crucially, overusing shady tactics would erode trust with future business partners.

This industry carries high risks, and the greatest taboo is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Otherwise, one might dream of mansions tonight only to be begging on the streets tomorrow.

..

Finally, we’re here.

After six full hours on a hard seat, Xu Yuan’s back was really starting to ache.

Yet Li Xinran, who had made the journey with him, seemed full of energy. The moment they stepped out of the train station, she began curiously surveying their surroundings.

« Is that Mount Tai? » Li Xinran pointed excitedly at the towering mountain in the distance.

Yeah, we can go tomorrow morning. We’ll catch the sunset in the evening, rent a tent to stay overnight, and see the sunrise in the morning.

As Xu Yuan spoke, his gaze drifted toward the distance.

From afar, Mount Tai didn’t seem particularly tall. But this illusion was like seeing a mirage in the desert—just nature fooling humanity’s foolish minds.

The foremost of China’s Five Great Mountains specializes in curing all kinds of stubborn arrogance.

Let’s go, they’re waiting for us at the hotel.

..

Auntie, hello. Uncle, hello.

Finally, as evening fell, Xu Yuan and Li Xinran arrived at the hotel.

Seeing Xu Yuan’s parents waiting to greet them at the entrance, Li Xinran followed behind Xu Yuan. Though somewhat shy, she still politely greeted them.

Dad, Mom!

You must be Xinran, right? Our Xiaoyuan often talks about you—top grades, quiet and beautiful.

Li Xiang and Xu Donglai completely ignored Xu Yuan, who was carrying all the luggage, the moment they laid eyes on Li Xinran.

Li Xiang even took Li Xinran’s hand, showering her with endless praise, grinning from ear to ear.

Li Xinran’s cheeks flushed crimson as she cast a pleading glance at Xu Yuan for help.

Watching this scene unfold, Xu Yuan could only sigh helplessly and say, « Dad, Mom, why don’t you continue this conversation in your room? We’re sitting on hard seats here—it’s exhausting. »

That’s right… We should rest early tonight to conserve our energy for climbing Mount Tai tomorrow, » Li Xiang quickly agreed, then added meaningfully, « Xinran, if this rascal ever bullies you in the future, just tell me. His father and I won’t indulge his bad behavior.

« No, Auntie, Xu Yuan takes very good care of me. He’s never bullied me, » Li Xinran hastily waved her hands in denial. Though Xu Yuan often acted domineering and frequently flicked her forehead, she never considered those actions as bullying.

« Mom, I sometimes wonder if I’m really your biological son, » Xu Yuan sighed, feeling how desperately his mother feared the girl might run away.

Hmph! I’m talking to Xinran, what are you interrupting for?

Xu Yuan: « … »

..

For this trip, they booked a total of four double rooms, with Lin Jiadong’s family squeezing into one.
Xu Yuan’s parents took one room, Li Xinran and Xia Ke shared another as the two girls, leaving only Qi Wei and Xu Yuan together.

After showering, Xu Yuan took out his laptop from the bag and opened the Bitcoin trading website.

He traded online daily, though not as extensively as on the first day—just one or two transactions per day, totaling around a dozen or so.

« Brother Yuan, what are you working on? » Qi Wei, who had just finished showering, happened to see Xu Yuan’s computer screen filled with dense trading data he couldn’t comprehend at all.

« You should buy some stocks too while investing? » Xu Yuan completed today’s trades as he spoke.

« No way, I’m broke. » Qi Wei shook his head decisively. He didn’t have much money on him and didn’t think that small amount could generate much profit. If he lost it, he’d regret it instantly.

Hearing this, Xu Yuan closed his laptop and spread his hands, saying, « Fine, that’s your call. Don’t blame me later. »

« Bro Yuan, there’s something I’m not sure if I should ask… » Qi Wei ignored Xu Yuan’s advice and sat beside him on the bed.

« Then don’t ask. »

In most cases, when faced with the dilemma of whether to ask or not, the benefits of not asking likely exceed 50%.

« If I don’t ask, I’ll burst with curiosity! What exactly is your relationship with the top student?
I heard from our classmates that they saw you two delivering takeout together on the street that day? » Qi Wei’s heart was itching with unbearable curiosity, his gossip fire burning fiercely.

Unlike Xu Yuan, who had been reborn, he had personally witnessed Xu Yuan’s attitude toward Lin Wan’er throughout their three years of high school. How could it possibly change so suddenly?
« It’s exactly the relationship you’re thinking of. » Xu Yuan said while yawning. The six-hour hard seat ride had really worn him out.

What about the campus belle then?

« She’s always seen me as a brother. Besides, why do you care so much? » Xu Yuan sensed something off and gave Qi Wei a suspicious look.

« Nothing… I was just curious. » Qi Wei waved his hands defensively before turning away to drop the subject. Quietly, he pulled out his phone from under the blanket and started typing a text message to Xia Ke.

【Brother Yuan is serious】

..

Xia Ke sat on the bed, frowning as she read the message on her phone.

Her current state was a classic case of « the emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is »—she was rushing to play matchmaker.

Xia Ke, I’m done showering. It’s your turn now.

At that moment, Li Xinran stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

Okay.

Xia Ke put down his phone, and when he looked up, he froze completely.

Damp strands of black hair cascaded over smooth, fair shoulders, revealing the face previously hidden by stray locks in perfect clarity before Xia Ke. The thin towel could hardly contain Li Xinran’s almost unreal figure.

Without the confinement of her nearsighted glasses, Li Xinran’s demeanor and appearance were simply breathtaking! Even Xia Ke, being a girl herself, was momentarily stunned.

« Xinran, you… » Xia Ke stood up and walked over, gasping in astonishment.

« What’s wrong? » Li Xinran, without her glasses, couldn’t clearly see Xia Ke’s expression and asked in confusion.

..

Splash… the rain poured down heavily.

Early the next morning, a group of people stood ready at the hotel entrance, staring blankly ahead.

« Could my luck really be this bad? » Qi Wei howled at the sky. He’d clearly checked the weather forecast—today was supposed to be bright and sunny. So why was it raining?

Xu Yuan glanced at Li Xinran standing behind him. The girl was indeed hanging her head low, probably lost in her wild thoughts again.

« Lucky it started raining before we set off, otherwise we’d have been soaked halfway up the mountain! »
And this seems like a thunderstorm, it should stop soon, right? » Xu Yuan deliberately raised his voice a bit as he addressed the group.

No sooner had Xu Yuan finished speaking than the heavy rain, which had shown no signs of stopping, actually ceased. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing a clear sky stretching for miles.

« Brother Yuan, did your mouth get blessed or something? » Qi Wei turned to look at Xu Yuan with disbelief.

Let’s go now that the rain has stopped. It’s getting late anyway.

..

Rainbow!

As the group arrived at the mountain’s base by bus, they saw a rainbow bridge arching across the azure sky between the peaks.

Fellow tourists immediately pulled out their phones to capture the sight, exclaiming how fortunate they were to witness this during their trip.

Qi Wei and his companions also hurriedly took photos to preserve this magical moment.

Li Xinran looked up at the rainbow after the rain, her lips parting slightly. Only she knew this was the first time she had ever seen a rainbow in her life.

« You don’t actually have magic, do you? » Xu Yuan, standing behind her with bags in hand, whispered quietly into Li Xinran’s ear.

« Huh? » Li Xinran turned her head in confusion to look at Xu Yuan.

« Because the rain you brought gave everyone good luck, letting us all see the rainbow. » Xu Yuan grinned as he gazed into her eyes.

Li Xinran froze for a moment, then tilted her head up, breaking into a radiant smile that gradually narrowed her eyes into crescent moons.

You guessed it right.