Gu Chenshi was reborn at the precise moment in his past life when he witnessed Lin Ranran, the school belle he had deeply admired, casually discarding a pink scarf he had knitted with his own hands for a month. In his previous life, this act of rejection shattered his dignity. He had confronted her, only to be met with cold indifference and blame. Heartbroken and humiliated, he later suffered a car accident that left him paralyzed, leading to a year of misery and an early death. Upon waking in his past, Gu Chenshi realized that his devotion had been misplaced. He picked up the discarded scarf, wiped it clean, and decided to live for himself rather than seeking validation from someone who did not value him.
Lin Ranran, accustomed to Gu Chenshi’s unconditional attention, was initially confused by his sudden change in behavior. When she attempted to take the milk tea he had bought for himself, he politely refused, stating he had purchased it for his own consumption. This small act of defiance embarrassed Lin Ranran in front of their classmates, particularly Kong Xiao, another admirer who mocked Gu Chenshi for being stingy. Gu Chenshi cleverly turned the situation around, causing Kong Xiao to buy milk tea for the entire group while he himself remained aloof. Lin Ranran, expecting Gu Chenshi to be jealous or upset when she allowed Kong Xiao to walk her home, was instead met with his complete indifference. His lack of reaction disturbed her, planting the first seeds of regret and confusion in her mind.
Back at home, Gu Chenshi found solace in his relationship with his parents. He reflected on how his obsession with Lin Ranran had neglected his mother, who had sacrificed everything for him, and his father, who worked tirelessly. Determined to change, he focused on his studies and spent quality time with his family. His best friend, Zhou Xiangyu, noticed the positive transformation and supported Gu Chenshi’s decision to prioritize his future over unrequited love. Meanwhile, Lin Ranran’s frustration grew as Gu Chenshi continued to ignore her. She attempted to provoke him by accusing him of tripping a classmate, but he calmly dismissed her accusations and walked away, leaving her stunned.
The conflict escalated when Lin Ranran’s mother, misled by Kong Xiao’s false accusations that Gu Chenshi had bullied her daughter, confronted Gu Chenshi at his home. She shouted insults and attempted to strike him, but Gu Chenshi defended himself and his family with composure. His mother arrived and demanded an apology. Gu Chenshi called Lin Ranran, who clarified that she had not been bullied, exposing Kong Xiao’s lie. The misunderstanding was resolved, but Gu Chenshi remained unfazed. He had already planted a seed of doubt in Lin’s mother’s mind regarding Kong Xiao’s character, which led to an investigation that revealed Kong Xiao’s parents were embezzling funds from Lin’s family company. As Kong Xiao’s family faced legal consequences, Gu Chenshi continued to focus on his studies and his relationship with his friends, leaving Lin Ranran to grapple with her growing realization that she had taken his devotion for granted.
