After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Hello, 2009

The studio was messy, dark, and filled with the pungent smell of smoke. The only window was open, blocked by a slender figure, its shadow stretching long.

Looking at the signature already on the divorce papers, Jiang Xia fell silent for a long moment, hesitating to put pen to paper.

"So what’s next? Where do you plan to go?"

"I don’t know. Maybe I’ll take a trip first." Lin Yanwan looked out the window at the alley below and said softly, "It’s been eight years. I’m a little tired."

"With who?"

"Just me and my guitar."

At her words, the corner of Jiang Xia’s eye twitched. He glanced at the guitar in the corner, wanting to say something but holding back each time.

After a long while, the silence was broken by a soft meow. A moment later, his voice filled the room.

"Clearing your head... yeah, that’s a good idea."

Lin Yanwan squatted down and gently stroked Yuyuan’s head. Wisps of her bangs fell forward, hiding half of her face.

"I hope you don’t sell yourself short or let this temporary failure get you down. Pull yourself together. True talent will always shine through in the end. And... stop smoking. I really hate it."

Jiang Xia swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay."

"It’s been eight years. Do you regret marrying me?"

"What’s the use of saying that now?"

A bitter smile touched Jiang Xia’s lips.

’It’s true. It’s all pointless now. No matter how perfect our love was in the beginning, it was ground down by the daily necessities of life. The warmth we once had was slowly replaced by ever more frequent arguments.’

"I’m sorry."

"Jiang Xia, you haven’t wronged me. You’ve only wronged this family." After a pause, Lin Yanwan gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. "I’m sorry, too."

’There was no right or wrong, no one to blame. It was just the seven-year itch.’

"I’ve already divided the assets, fifty-fifty."

Jiang Xia sniffled and continued, "I hope you find happiness in the future."

"You too."

He took a deep breath and slowly began to write his name.

However, just as he wrote the first stroke of his name, the room suddenly began to shake violently.

’An earthquake?!’

Just as the two of them realized what was happening, the dilapidated old building collapsed.

The ceiling came crashing down. Jiang Xia subconsciously threw himself over Lin Yanwan, shielding her with his body. Then, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness completely.

◇

Hiss—

’Pain, pain, pain!’

"Hey, hey, Old Jiang, how are you feeling? You okay?"

The sound of a basketball bouncing reached his ears. Jiang Xia clutched his head and struggled to open his eyes. His vision was hazy, and what came into view was a basketball court that was once incredibly familiar but had been almost forgotten. freewebnovёl.ƈom

’This... isn’t a hospital?!’

He snapped back to reality. ’The divorce, the earthquake, the collapsing ceiling, and... Lin Yanwan!’

Jiang Xia scrambled to his feet, a tense look on his face as he frantically looked around. There was no earthquake, no collapsed ruins, and certainly no rescue workers. Instead, there was—

Not far away, a banner for the "100-Day Pledge Rally" was stretched across the main stage. Energetic student athletes were running laps around the track, and the basketball court was filled with youthful faces that were at once familiar and strange.

He froze, distant memories gradually surfacing.

’Is this high school?’

’Or did the falling ceiling knock me out, and now I’m dreaming?’

Seeing his best friend’s dazed look, Wang Ming waved a hand in front of his face.

"Old Jiang, don’t scare me! C’mon, let’s go, we’re going to the nurse’s office. You guys keep playing." Without another word, he grabbed Jiang Xia and started pulling him toward the infirmary.

"You’re... Wang Ming?"

Looking at the medium-built, dark-skinned guy in front of him, Jiang Xia’s mind was a complete mess. He still hadn’t snapped out of it, letting himself be pulled along in a daze.

"???" Wang Ming stopped in his tracks to look at him.

"Bro, don’t fucking tell me you got amnesia from a basketball. I’ve been hit, too. It hurts, I’ll give you that. Fatty Er from the next class over got a front tooth knocked out last time he was hit. But amnesia? That’s a little far-fetched, don’t you think?"

Jiang Xia closed his eyes, ignoring his buddy chattering on and on beside him.

’A friend I once lost has suddenly appeared in front of me. Does that mean he’s dead too? Or is this my life flashing before my eyes as I die?’

"Whoa, whoa, hang in there, don’t pass out! Is it really that bad?" Wang Ming hurriedly supported him.

Jiang Xia looked up at his friend’s youthful face and suddenly smiled.

"You son of a bitch. I always told you you were born with a permanent tan, but you kept arguing, claiming you only got it on that trip to Sanya."

At his words, Wang Ming’s expression darkened.

"Old Jiang, that’s out of line. I am dark, sure, but when the fuck have I ever been to Sanya?"

"The summer after the college entrance exams, I think. You told me then," Jiang Xia recalled, his expression complex.

Wang Ming looked at him like he was an idiot. ’This guy couldn’t have actually gotten his brain scrambled by that basketball, could he?’

"The college entrance exams are in three months. Did I tell you that in a dream or something?"

Jiang Xia grinned and suddenly punched him in the chest, muttering, "Hmm, a dream that feels this real?"

Wang Ming was knocked back two steps. He rubbed his chest and stared. "What’d you say?"

"Old Wang, try punching me."

"Are you serious?"

Jiang Xia nodded with a completely serious expression.

"I’ve never heard a request this goddamn weird."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Ming swung a retaliatory punch with full force.

Jiang Xia’s vision went black, and he almost passed out.

"Holy shit, you son of a bitch! You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Why’d you hit so hard?!"

Cursing, he plopped down onto the field, trying to catch his breath.

"’Hard,’ my ass! I was holding back. Want another? I guarantee a full-body treatment that’ll leave you feeling relaxed."

"No, no, just let me catch my breath first."

Jiang Xia took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and carefully sorted through the information he had.

’If I’m still buried under the rubble, and this is all just a dream from my subconscious... then it’s way too real.’

’So real it feels like... I’ve been reborn.’

After a long while, Jiang Xia opened his eyes.

He looked at the eye-catching slogan on the banner hanging from the main stage: "Three years of forging our blades through bitter study, all for the moment we seize victory."

’The scene... it was just like that year.’

"Old Wang, what year is it?" he suddenly asked in a hollow voice.

"Are you fucking stupid for real? It’s 2009, of course! The college entrance exams are in three months. How about I take you to the hospital to get your brain checked?"

Haaaah...

Jiang Xia let out a long sigh and suddenly pulled Wang Ming into a fierce hug.

"Old Wang, seeing you alive... holy shit, that makes me even happier than the fact that I’m not dead."

"???"

Wang Ming forcefully pushed him away, speechless. "Why do I feel like you’re cursing me to die?"

"Ha, I’m serious, Old Wang. I’m really happy to see you again," Jiang Xia said, his tone sincere.

Wang Ming froze for a second. ’Okay,’ he thought, ’this guy’s brain is definitely broken.’

"You’re sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?"

Jiang Xia waved him off. "It’s fine, I’m okay now. You go on back and play basketball. I’m going to... walk around a bit."

"Alright then, but if something’s wrong, don’t fucking try to tough it out, you hear?"

"Go on, go on."

Watching his friend turn and walk back to the court, back to all the vibrant young men and women, Jiang Xia clenched his fists and took a deep breath, still unable to suppress his wildly beating heart.

"2009."

"I’m... back." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

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