Saturday afternoon sunlight baked the school gate in late-summer heat. Students poured out like a flood, chatter and laughter clattering louder than frying woks.
Lin Chen crouched by the roadside, in front of him a cardboard sign propped up as a makeshift stall. Spread across it were rows of colorful cartoon stickers—Pikachu, Sailor Moon, motivational slogans like Study Hard!, and soft, cutesy animals. All of them were hot items he remembered from his past life. He'd gotten up at dawn to hit the wholesale market, carefully picking out the best-sellers.
"Cartoon stickers, fifty cents each! Buy two, get one free! Perfect for textbooks, notebooks, or gifts for your friends!" Lin Chen shouted, his voice hoarse but energetic. Sweat trickled down his forehead, soaking the collar of his T-shirt, but he didn't feel tired at all. He knew—back in 1998, these stickers were wildfire. Every girl's notebook was plastered with them, and even boys bought them to slap on pencil cases. This was his perfect chance to earn his first pot of gold.
Sure enough, a group of girls stopped by, their eyes sparkling. "How much for this Sailor Moon one?" asked a ponytailed girl.
"Fifty cents a piece, buy two, get one free! Three for just one yuan!" Lin Chen grabbed a few, showing them off. "Look at the quality—waterproof, won't peel, totally adds personality to your notebook!"
The girl happily pulled out a yuan, picking three different designs. With the first customer hooked, business snowballed. Within an hour, half the stickers were gone. Lin Chen handed out change and chatted nonstop, his hands never stopping, but his heart was soaring. This—this is my very first money after rebirth! This is the confidence I need to protect Mom and get closer to Su Wanqing.
By the time the sunset painted the sky orange, the last sticker had sold. Lin Chen packed up, sat on the curb, and carefully counted his earnings. Ten-yuan bills stacked up in his hands, one after another—twelve in total. A full 120 yuan! His heart pounded, almost leaping from his chest. In his last life, he'd slaved a whole month at a restaurant for barely 300 yuan. Now, in one afternoon, he'd made 120. With my own hands, I can definitely change my fate.
"Su Wanqing! I should bring her something." The thought struck him, and he sprinted to the corner shop. He remembered clearly—her favorite was strawberry popsicles. Every time they passed a store, she'd buy one, always saying, 'Strawberry's the sweetest.'
He pulled out two yuan and bought two neatly wrapped strawberry popsicles. Clutching them tight against his chest so they wouldn't melt, he raced toward her neighborhood. He timed it perfectly—every Saturday afternoon, she went to the bookstore near her community. He'd be able to catch her on her way home.
Panting, he reached her neighborhood gate, glancing nervously at the popsicles—still intact, not melted. He stood under a sycamore tree, eyes fixed on the corner of the street, heart pounding with both nerves and excitement. This was the first time he was giving Su Wanqing something he'd bought with money he earned himself. Would she like it?
Minutes later, a familiar silhouette appeared. Su Wanqing strolled into view, pink backpack on her shoulders, a fresh book hugged in her arms. The sunset gilded her in golden light.
"Su Wanqing!" Lin Chen called out, jogging toward her.
She looked up, eyes brightening as a smile spread across her face. "Lin Chen? What are you doing here?"
Lin Chen thrust a popsicle at her, his grin wide with excitement. "I set up a stall today selling stickers. Made 120 yuan! My first pot of gold! So I'm splitting the 'profits' with you—brought you your favorite strawberry flavor!"
The condensation beaded on the wrapper, dampening her fingertips with a chill. She let out a laugh like silver bells. "Wow! Boss Lin, you're amazing! First day and you already made that much? That's insane!" She tore open the wrapper and took a bite. The sweet strawberry burst across her tongue, making her eyes curve like crescents.
Seeing her smile that brightly, Lin Chen couldn't help grinning too. He ripped open his own popsicle and bit down hard. Sweet as it was, his heart tasted sweeter.
They stood together under the sycamore tree as he told her funny stories from the stall. "There was this little girl who bought ten yuan's worth at once, said she'd share them with all her friends. And this one boy was so shy, loitered forever, then finally grabbed an Ultraman one—said he'd stick it on his backpack."
Su Wanqing laughed so hard she nearly dropped her book, her eyes shining with admiration. "You're a natural at business! Next time you set up a stall, I'll help you yell! With two of us, you'll sell even more!"
Lin Chen's heart leapt. "Really? That'd be amazing! With your help, I'll earn double, and then I'll treat you to a big dinner!"
"Deal!" she giggled, then noticed the sweat still damp on his forehead. Pulling a tissue from her bag, she gently dabbed it across his brow. "Look at you, sweating buckets. You must be exhausted. Here, let me."
Her touch, warm and featherlight, sent a jolt straight through him. His whole body stiffened, heartbeat hammering wildly, breath catching in his throat. Around them, the noisy street melted into silence, leaving only the sweetness between them, shining brighter than the sunset.
"It's getting late. I should head home, or Mom will worry." Su Wanqing glanced at the sky, reluctant but firm.
"Yeah. Be careful on the way," Lin Chen said softly, watching as she disappeared through the community gates. Only after her figure vanished did he finally turn, clutching the rest of his money, steps light as air. This 120 yuan was just the beginning. From now on, he'd earn enough to give Mom a good life and make sure Su Wanqing never suffered again.
But far away, Zhao Kai sat in his room, fiddling with a stolen office key from an exam proctor. A cruel smile twisted his face as he studied a note labeled Monthly Exam Frame-Up Plan. Under the line "Switch answer sheets," he added: Also slip a cheat note into Lin Chen's desk. He thought the scheme flawless. He didn't know—Lin Chen, armed with his rebirth advantage, had already prepared a secret countermeasure for the monthly exam.