It Seems I’m Not The Only One Who Reincarnated (Patreon)

Chapter 103: Defining the Scope

“That’s right. The rooftop has always been my territory—you’re the one who suddenly barged in.”

“Then why did I go to the rooftop last time?”

“I don’t know, and I didn’t ask. Back then, we only met briefly, and since I didn’t know you yet, I didn’t treat you kindly. After I warned you, you left right away.”

“I see…”

So it probably was because of the letter that he went up there.

The difference was that at that time, Tian Shui wasn’t a reborn individual, so Shi Hai didn’t linger.

Honestly, Shi Hai couldn’t think of any other reason why he would go to the rooftop.

Sure, there’s always the possibility of some inexplicable impulse leading him there, but it was more likely he chose the old dormitory rooftop simply because it was a “place nobody ever goes to.”

Well, besides the restroom… But back then, Shi Hai thought it was a love letter. Reading a love letter in a restroom? That would’ve been awkward, and it might’ve absorbed the, uh, ambiance.

“Not long after that, I went abroad for my studies. The next time we met was at the campus job fair. I was giving a presentation to promote my newly founded company. While a lot of people came to watch, most were just there to see how good-looking I was. Only a handful were genuinely interested in the company…”

Tian Shui reminisced about the scene as she continued.

“And then you showed up. After listening to my presentation, you signed the contract on the spot… And as for the woman I mentioned, she was right there beside you at the time.”

Finally, they’d arrived at the crucial point.

So that woman had accompanied him to the campus job fair?

And they chose Tian Shui’s newly established company, of all places…

Shi Hai carefully asked, “First, Senior, what kind of company were you starting?”

Though Shi Hai hadn’t figured out his future plans yet, one thing was certain—he wanted to work in a field that genuinely interested him, rather than just chasing a high salary.

Besides, fresh college graduates without exceptional skills or knowledge usually wouldn’t land high-paying jobs anyway.

If the pay wasn’t going to be high regardless, he might as well follow his passions.

“The main business was in network communications, but we also invested in research and development for cutting-edge technologies, like virtual reality.”

“That does sound like something I’d be interested in… But since you specifically mentioned her, it means she’s involved in this too, right? The woman with the last name Bai… And you said she was the ‘first.’ Does that mean she was already a reborn individual at that time?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hiss…”

So even in Tian Shui’s timeline, there were already reborn individuals…

What’s going on here?

Does this mean Senior Tian Shui returned to the past from a branch of a branch timeline?

This was getting too convoluted!

“I know more about reborn individuals than others because I knew that woman. She explained these things to me.”

When Tian Shui first heard about all this, she too found it unbelievable.

But as research results emerged later, she had no choice but to accept it.

That technology wasn’t something that should exist in this era.

Shi Hai, brimming with curiosity, was just about to ask what that woman had told her when Tian Shui suddenly shifted the topic.

“Also, Junior, earlier you said that if a reborn individual appeared around you, you wouldn’t notice… That statement is wrong.”

By now, Tian Shui had organized her thoughts and began addressing Shi Hai’s earlier questions one by one.

“Huh? How is that wrong? If they hide it well, I really wouldn’t be able to tell. For example, if you, Senior, deny being a reborn individual, all I can do is remain suspicious—I’d have no way to confirm it definitively.”

“That’s not the point. The key is that most reborn individuals can’t hide it. Did you forget about that warning letter?”

“Women who approach me with obvious goodwill…”

“Exactly. That already encompasses all reborn individuals. That’s why I was so surprised when I saw it.”

Wait, was that phrase subtly defining the scope of reborn individuals?

Thinking back, Shi Hai realized that seemed to be the case.

Whether it was Jian Sichun, Shi Meng, or even Tian Shui herself, they had all shown him varying degrees of goodwill.

If that’s the case, then the likelihood of Zhu Lingjie being a reborn individual increased significantly.

But if that’s the case, it raised even more questions.

For instance, why did they all feel the need to approach him?

“So, do reborn individuals have some ulterior motive in getting close to me?”

Tian Shui crossed her arms and thought for a moment before answering.

“If they have a motive… It’s probably that they all want to be with you.”

“Uh… Are you serious, Senior?”

“Of course I’m serious. My foot’s still in your hand, after all.”

What kind of blackmail is a foot supposed to be?

But… maybe that is a motive?

Isn’t that a good thing?

"And there's also..."

"Also?"

"They’re probably craving your body."

"..."

Shi Hai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This was starting to sound like he had turned into Tang Sanzang, and all the reborn individuals were like female demons craving the flesh of a monk.

But if it wasn’t about eating in a literal sense… how should he put it? For a man, this would probably be considered a happy kind of trouble.

“So, Senior, does that include you too?”

Tian Shui’s heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, she had accidentally dug a hole for herself and fallen in!

There was no way she could admit it.

But denying it didn’t feel right either…

Caught in this contradictory emotional whirlpool, Tian Shui threw the question back at him.

“This sounds familiar… I think I asked you something similar before, didn’t I?”

“Oh, yes, during our first meeting. I said you were the dream girl of every boy in school, and then you asked me, ‘Every boy in school includes you?’”

“Can’t believe you remember that so clearly…”

“Well, it wasn’t that long ago, so it left a pretty deep impression.”

Tian Shui was a little pleased and continued to ask.

“So, how did you answer back then?”

“I said, ‘Of course.’”

“But the follow-up you added totally gave you away.”

“Cough… Well, let me answer again now. I really think you’re very charming, Senior—not just as a typical rich, beautiful woman but in a way that’s uniquely yours. I guess I’m a little captivated by you.”

“Heh~ Junior, you sure know how to flatter people, don’t you?”

“That’s because it’s the truth.”

“…”

Tian Shui grabbed at her hair, using it to cover her blushing face.

What’s going on… She was long past being a shy schoolgirl. Just one compliment, and here she was, blushing.

But seeing how earnest he was, she couldn’t help feeling giddy.

This uncontrollable emotion… Could this be what they call “love”?

As she thought about it, Tian Shui could no longer suppress her feelings and said,

“Then… my answer is the same as yours. I really want you too.”

However, faced with such a confession, Shi Hai could only smile helplessly and say,

“Senior, you’re doing it again…”

“…Huh?”

Shi Hai thought this was another one of Tian Shui’s deliberate, ambiguous remarks meant to tease him.

Just like the boy who cried wolf, she’d teased him so many times with jokes and misleading words that, when she finally said something genuine, he didn’t believe it.

“Wait, this time I’m not teasing you—!”

“Oh, I get it now. It’s just like earlier, when you asked if I wanted to be your housekeeper—or even let you ‘keep’ me, right?”

Shi Hai shrugged.

“So, what you’re saying is that you admire me as a talent and want to recruit me. That’s all, isn’t it?”

“…Hmph!”

But Tian Shui just gave a cold snort—neither confirming nor denying his statement.

Shi Hai assumed she was upset because he had seen through her intentions so easily.

“Besides, my little sister is a reborn individual too. There’s no way she’s craving my body, right?”

Tian Shui silently grumbled in her heart.

Who says your sister couldn’t be craving you too?

Maybe you’re the only one who doesn’t realize it!

“So clearly, Senior, your idea that all reborn individuals crave my body is impossible. But… it might be true that they all have some level of fondness for me.”

Although the identity of the letter’s sender was still a mystery, with Tian Shui’s confirmation, it seemed the letter’s contents were indeed accurate.

The scope of reborn individuals was now clear.

Reborn individual = A woman who has feelings for Shi Hai.

In other words…

All reborn individuals were women.