After the Reborn Young Master Embraced a Life of Wellness – Chapter 27

Xi Siyan was momentarily stumped by Chen Mo’s words and had no choice but to drop the topic for now.

Over the next few days, Chen Mo seemed to have completely shed the pressure of the monthly exams, just as he had claimed. His daily priorities had been reduced to only two things: eating and sleeping.

With the exams over, Xi Siyan’s tutoring sessions also came to an end. He no longer woke Chen Mo up twenty minutes early every morning, stopped conducting surprise knowledge checks, and no longer monitored his homework progress.

By the second day of the new school week, most of the monthly exam papers had already been graded.

When Sun Xiaoya came to collect corrections for wrong answers, she saw Chen Mo sleeping soundly, his coat draped over his head like a makeshift tent. Unable to hold back, she turned to Xi Siyan, who was sitting next to him, and muttered, “Are all the top students this willful? If they want to study, they can place at the top of the grade. If they don’t feel like it, they just slack off completely. You’re leaving school in a few days—if he keeps this up, won’t he just slip back to the middle of the rankings in the next exam?”

“No,” Xi Siyan said simply, handing over the homework.

Sun Xiaoya took the two homework books and looked down in shock. “Wait, you’re still doing his homework for him?”

“I wrote it myself, thanks.” A muffled voice came from beneath the coat.

Sun Xiaoya watched as Chen Mo lifted half of his school uniform jacket, revealing a pale face tinged with sleep-induced redness. His hair was a complete mess, and he squinted drowsily at Xi Siyan. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“You said you didn’t sleep well last night.”

Chen Mo grumbled, “And whose fault was that? Yours.”

Sun Xiaoya looked between the two of them.

Something must have clicked in her mind because her face suddenly turned an alarming shade of red.

Then, flustered, she hurriedly blurted, “Xi Siyan, don’t forget about tomorrow night!”

And with that, she bolted.

Chen Mo, still a little groggy, frowned in confusion. “What was that look she just gave me?”

Without even looking up, Xi Siyan replied, “Everyone in school knows you’re a guy, but if you keep saying things like that, misunderstandings are inevitable.”

Chen Mo fell silent.

He had only said he didn’t sleep well because last night, Xi Siyan had been packing his bags to go home for a few days. He wouldn’t be returning to the dorm before heading off to competition training. Chen Mo had simply used that as an excuse for his insomnia. Did she really think he had intentions toward Xi Siyan?

I’m not crazy.

But he quickly brushed it off and changed the subject. “Sun Xiaoya just said I’d slip back to the middle of the grade. Why did you say no?”

“Would you?” Xi Siyan countered.

Chen Mo wanted to say probably not.

Instead, he nodded and gave a definitive answer: “Of course not.”

Xi Siyan simply hummed in acknowledgment.

Chen Mo had no idea where his unwavering confidence came from. After all, he had no plans to go back to being the kind of academically obsessed student he once was.

He had only ever promised himself to try his best, with no ulterior motives.

But for him, it was different.

What Chen Mo didn’t know was that from the very first day of tutoring, Xi Siyan had already noticed how strong his foundational knowledge was. It wasn’t that he didn’t know things—he had just forgotten them. With a simple reminder, he could recall and apply concepts almost immediately.

So, out of everyone, Xi Siyan was probably the least surprised that Chen Mo had managed to break into the top ten in just a short period of time.

As for his current lax attitude, the only way his grades would actually decline was if he deliberately gave up.

And while Xi Siyan might have found that unfortunate, he wouldn’t try to stop him.

It was a shame to see someone who had clearly worked so hard just give up halfway. But he knew Chen Mo well—beneath his carefree attitude, he had a sharp insight into everything around him.

If Chen Mo chose to give up, then it must be because that decision made him happier.

Without a word, Xi Siyan pulled out a thick notebook from under the desk and handed it to him.

Chen Mo blinked. “What’s this?”

“Key subject points, plus some reference materials for extra question types. Consider it a graduation gift. Or if you prefer,” he added, “think of it as my return gift for the clothes you bought me.”

Chen Mo took the notebook and flipped through it.

The handwriting was impeccably neat, but more importantly, the contents were so densely packed with formulas, notes, and problem sets that it made his head spin.

He promptly snapped the notebook shut and looked up.

“What?” Xi Siyan asked.

Chen Mo sighed dramatically. “I truly appreciate the thought… but how do I say no?”

“You don’t.”

If this notebook were given to the experimental class, it would probably be fought over within seconds.

Unfortunately, the recipient of this valuable resource was none other than Chen Mo—someone who lacked ambition.

Now forced to accept the gift, Chen Mo placed the black leather-bound notebook in the upper right corner of his desk. Under Xi Siyan’s watchful gaze, he reluctantly promised, “Fine, I’ll definitely read it every day. As long as I’m alive, it’ll be here. And even if I die, it’ll still be here.”

Xi Siyan frowned. “Don’t say stuff like that.”

Chen Mo chuckled. “You actually believe in that?”

As someone who had truly experienced rebirth, he didn’t believe in fate. Every so-called predetermined outcome had a cause leading up to it.

His gaze drifted toward the window.

The senior-year teaching building was located in the best spot at No. 1 High School.

Outside, just beyond the schoolyard, two classes were playing basketball, their cheers filling the air. Someone sat alone on the stone steps, staring up at the experimental class’s windows.

Chen Mo’s eyes locked onto Yang Shule’s from a distance. Though neither could clearly make out the other’s expression, they both knew without a doubt that they had recognized the right person.

Still looking outside, Chen Mo casually asked, “What did you agree to do for the student council rep?”

“She needs an opening dance partner for her cousin’s engagement dinner tomorrow night. She asked me to help.”

Chen Mo’s tone slowed slightly. “Oh.” Then, after a pause, he added, “Don’t tell me her cousin’s fiancé’s last name is Zhou?”

“…Yes.” Xi Siyan studied him. “You’re from your biological mother’s Zhou family. Are you planning to go too?”

Chen Mo pretended to think seriously for a moment before saying, “I hadn’t planned on it… but my mom’s been calling me nonstop, saying I’ve been back for so long and still haven’t formally met the Zhou family.”

Leaning back in his chair, Xi Siyan tapped his pen against the table. “If you don’t want to go—”

“I’ll go.” Chen Mo smiled. “Why not?”

That afternoon, Chen Mo went to ask Xiang Shenglong for leave.

Xiang Shenglong was very pleased with this student—Chen Mo—who had emerged like a dark horse, astonishing the entire younger generation. Even though the buzz about him within the grade never ceased—his background, personality, even his rumored sexual orientation—there was always something controversial surrounding him.

Absurd as it all was, none of these factors could be easily overlooked.

Yet to Xiang Shenglong, Chen Mo still seemed young.

He had also noticed that Chen Mo had recently been getting along well with Xi Siyan and the rest of his dormmates. Given that, he didn’t think the kid would actually step out of line. In fact, he even asked if Chen Mo was interested in signing up for next quarter’s physics competition.

Unfortunately, Chen Mo had little interest.

If the college entrance exam was like a thousand troops fighting to cross a single-plank bridge, then the major academic competitions each year were a brutal battlefield where students fought tooth and nail for just one or two coveted admission spots.

Chen Mo shrugged. “That kind of thing is either for hardcore study fanatics like Xue Ping or geniuses like Xi Siyan. Me? I’m just an ordinary guy, diligent and conscientious. Please, just let me live in peace.”

Xiang Shenglong was so annoyed that he kicked him and snapped, “Get lost.”

Chen Mo made a swift exit.

That night, Xi Siyan wasn’t in the dorm.

Instead, Gou Yiyang (a.k.a. Lao Gou) showed up. Apparently, after failing multiple subjects on the monthly exam, he was facing serious pressure at home and refused to go back for the night. He insisted on crashing in the dorm—specifically, in Chen Mo’s bed.

“This makes me really want to live on campus,” Lao Gou sighed as he walked into Room 413.

Qi Lin and the others slung an arm around his shoulder. “You’re welcome to stay, but don’t even think about getting a bed in our dorm. You do remember how Chen Mo got his, right? Unless you can kick Xue Ping out of the experimental class too.”

Lao Gou turned to Chen Mo. “What do you think? Could I beat Xue Ping?”

“Yes.” Chen Mo nodded solemnly. “When you leave the experimental class in disgrace, I’ll light a candle for you.”

Lao Gou was so pissed he declared Chen Mo was no longer his brother.

That night, Gou Yiyang took over Chen Mo’s foot bath, used a disposable cup to make Chen Mo’s health tea, and by ten o’clock, had peacefully fallen asleep in Chen Mo’s bed.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo’s insomnia continued.

Though his condition had improved over time, he still had nights where he simply couldn’t sleep.

Tonight was one of those nights.

Two tall boys crammed into a narrow bed, both forced to sleep on their sides. Lao Gou snored like a chainsaw. By midnight, Chen Mo was wide awake.

Giving up on sleep, he pulled out his phone—the one he had retrieved earlier after getting permission for leave from Xiang Shenglong.

He scrolled through WeChat and noticed that three hours ago, Lao Gou had posted on his Moments.

The familiar light blue foot bath basin appeared in the photo, captioned:

“This little life is truly, truly messed up.”

The comments section was already bustling:

• “I was still grinding through exam papers, and now suddenly I’m on the road carrying an eight-meter-long sword.”
• “Spill it, which little demon did you end up in bed with?”
• “That foot bath looks familiar.”
• “To the person above, have you ever seen another high-end foot bath bucket with ball bearings in this entire school? No need to ask, if you’re asking, it’s definitely owned by our health expert—Brother Mo.”

Chen Mo chuckled.

He was about to tap “Like”, but before he could, a message popped up.

XSY: “Still awake?”

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “No. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

XSY: “Had something to do.”

XSY: “Can’t sleep?”

Chen Mo, feeling particularly mischievous, turned on the voice recorder, captured Lao Gou’s obnoxious snoring, and sent it over.

XSY: “…”

XSY: “You two are sleeping together?”

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “What else? You want me to sleep on the floor?”

XSY: “My bed’s empty. Go sleep there.”

This time, Chen Mo was the one left speechless.

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “I will never forget the time you washed an entire set of bedding just because of a pair of clean underwear. If I sleep in your bed, I bet when you come back, you’ll dismantle the whole bed frame and rebuild it.”

XSY: “I’ve told you a million times—it wasn’t because of the underwear.”

XSY: “Go to sleep. It’s late.”

Chen Mo stared at his phone. Why was he having this conversation so late at night?

Still, he really couldn’t handle sharing such a cramped bed. He turned to glance at the empty one next door.

Same bedding, but he knew Xi Siyan had changed it out.

He hesitated.

XSY: “Not going?”

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “…Really going?”

XSY: “Yeah. Lie down and send me a photo as proof.”

Meanwhile, at the Xi Family’s Old Estate

Just as Xi Jianxing stepped out of the elder’s study, he spotted his nephew—who hadn’t been home in a long time—still sitting on the sofa, engrossed in his phone.

“When did you become so addicted to your phone?” Xi Jianxing leaned against the back of the sofa, teasing.

As he glanced down, a photo popped up on Xi Siyan’s screen.

Even Xi Siyan himself seemed unprepared for it.

For two whole seconds, he just stared at it before swiftly turning off his phone.

His brows furrowed. “What’s your problem?”

“Oh, I have plenty of problems,” Xi Jianxing smirked like a fox, reaching for the phone. “Who just sent you a photo? I didn’t get a good look—let me see.”

Xi Siyan grabbed his uncle’s hand and said expressionlessly, “It’s just a classmate. Nothing to see.”

“Oh? If there’s nothing to see, why are you hiding it?”

Xi Siyan stood up. “It’s late. Grandpa’s asleep. I’m going back to my room.”

Back in his room, Xi Siyan reopened the photo.

It had only been sent as proof that someone was sleeping in the bed. But…

Maybe because the dorm lights weren’t fully off, Chen Mo had accidentally taken a half-lit selfie.

His face was mostly obscured, tucked under the quilt, with only his chin visible. But because his pajama collar was loose, his delicate collarbones were exposed.

The dim light made his skin appear almost luminescent.

Just as Xi Siyan was about to type a reply, the photo was withdrawn.

A new message appeared.

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “Okay, I admit… after I sent it, I realized it kinda looked like a ‘bed photo.’ Do you believe me?”

At that moment, Chen Mo lay on a bed that wasn’t his, wrapped in a familiar scent.

Especially after sending that photo…

He could only hope Xi Siyan hadn’t really seen it.

Trying to play dumb, he asked: “What bed photo?”

A few seconds later, a message arrived.

XSY: “It’s clear that you’re seriously harassing your male classmates.”

Silence Is Not Golden. Your Grandfather: “…I’m giving you three seconds to retract and resend that.”

And then—

The message was retracted.

XSY: “Fine. It was a great photo.”

XSY: “Go to bed early.”