After Rebirth, I Clung to the School Bully for Kisses and Hugs

Su Nuonuo awakens in a burning building, the last thing she hears being Lu Zhiye’s desperate scream as he pushes her to safety before perishing in the flames. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself back in her high school classroom, staring at a countdown of one hundred and one days until the college entrance exam. She realizes she has been reborn to the moment eight years prior, when Lu Zhiye was still alive, healthy, and unaware of the tragic fate that awaited them both. In her previous life, Su Nuonuo was a timid top student who secretly admired Lu Zhiye, the school’s notorious bully, from afar. She never confessed her feelings, and he died saving her, leaving her with a lifetime of regret and depression. Now, armed with the knowledge of the future, she is determined to change their destiny and ensure that Lu Zhiye survives.

Driven by an urgent need to confirm he is alive, Su Nuonuo climbs over a wall to find him, an act that shocks the student body. She finds Lu Zhiye smoking behind the teaching building and, without hesitation, jumps down and embraces him, declaring that she will chase him. Lu Zhiye, who is cold and distant to everyone else, is visibly flustered by her boldness. Although he tells her to stay away, his reaction is not one of rejection but of confusion and hidden curiosity. Su Nuonuo’s persistence begins to chip away at his defenses. She learns that in her previous life, Lu Zhiye had saved her from vocational school hooligans in an alley, an event that sparked her crush. Determined to prevent the suffering that followed that incident, she intervenes again, stopping him from fighting and protecting him from the legal and financial troubles that had burdened his grandfather.

As Su Nuonuo continues her pursuit, she navigates the complexities of high school life while trying to bridge the gap between her privileged background and Lu Zhiye’s modest, struggling life. She visits his home, where he lives with his elderly grandfather, Lu Weiguo, who runs a small breakfast shop. Su Nuonuo helps with the morning rush, endearing herself to Grandpa Lu, who is wary of her intentions but appreciates her kindness. Lu Zhiye, however, remains guarded, fearing that his humble circumstances make him unworthy of someone like her. He pushes her away with harsh words, yet his actions betray his true feelings; he secretly follows her home and ensures her safety. The dynamic between them shifts as Su Nuonuo refuses to be intimidated, interpreting his coldness as shyness rather than rejection.

A significant turning point occurs during a basketball game, where Su Nuonuo publicly offers Lu Zhiye water and wipes the sweat from his face. This act shocks their peers, as Lu Zhiye has never allowed any girl to touch him. He accepts her care, and the gesture marks a deepening of their connection. Later, they discover a stray kitten, which Su Nuonuo names Little Nuomi. Lu Zhiye agrees to raise the cat, and the shared responsibility creates a bond between them. He begins to let his guard down, allowing Su Nuonuo into his private spaces, including his part-time job at a repair shop. Despite his attempts to maintain distance due to his poverty and rough reputation, Su Nuonuo’s unwavering support and affection gradually melt his resistance. The story follows their evolving relationship as Su Nuonuo works to rewrite their tragic past, turning a one-sided secret crush into a mutual, budding romance while racing against the clock to prevent the future disasters that once destroyed their lives.