[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of":3,"chapter-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-6":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dreaming Back to 1997: I Became the Forefather of Web Novels",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2348240,4589,"Chapter 6: Women Only Affect the Speed of Drawing the Blade","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>Tan Lei is quite talkative these days, perhaps because Cao Sheng was her high school classmate and is now her university alumnus; she has a very close attitude toward him. Even though they never spoke during high school, she is able to chat with him like an old friend after this chance encounter at the train station today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She first asked Cao Sheng how his New Year went and whether he had gathered with any high school classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng shook his head and said no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then enthusiastically began talking about her own New Year, how she had met up with two female high school classmates, where they had eaten hot pot, and discussed the current status of certain other classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They chatted until the staff at the train station ticket windows began their shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing other passengers in the waiting hall heading up to buy tickets, she finally went to queue for tickets with Cao Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While queuing, she deliberately stood in front of Cao Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng stood behind her, looking at her fair neck and the fine hairs on it from a close distance, and he couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought flashed through his mind: Should he try pursuing her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thought only flickered in his mind for a moment before he suppressed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that he had no interest in Tan Lei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he was interested in every beautiful woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, he was more interested in building his career and making money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long since passed the stage where his mind was filled only with women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew very well that as long as one had money, one could have a connection with anyone; without money, even if you were together now, it would be hard to make it last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, for the time being, he would stay away from any person or thing that might affect the speed at which he draws his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, even though he had some thoughts about Tan Lei, he did not want to take any action for the time being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only wanted to publish his recently written new book online as soon as possible, then find a way to make some money to improve his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei was truly very enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was queuing in front of Cao Sheng, and when it was her turn to buy a ticket, she actually turned back to ask Cao Sheng for his student ID, saying she wanted to help him buy his ticket too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a student ID to buy a ticket could get a half-price discount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng didn't think much of it; he took out his student ID and twenty yuan and handed them to her, thinking she just wanted to help him with the ticketing process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, she smiled, took only his student ID, and did not take the money he offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wants to pay for my ticket?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng was very surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn't make a scene by pulling and tugging with her, nor did he rush to pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited until she finished buying the tickets, saw the two tickets pinched in her hand, left the queue with her, and returned to the seat they had occupied earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should pay for my own ticket!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng handed the twenty-yuan note in his hand to her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had entertained the thought of being a kept man on his way to the county town today, Tan Lei didn't look like a particularly wealthy rich girl, and most importantly, he still had a psychological barrier against being a kept man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need! My treat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei looked at the money in his hand with amusement, raised her hand to push his hand back, and casually handed him a ticket. \"If you feel bad about it, then wait until we get to school and you can treat me to a meal! Come to think of it, we've been classmates for so long and haven't even eaten together once. How about today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng looked into her smiling eyes, unable to tell if she was using this method to ask him out for a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what she said did make sense; they were classmates in high school and in the same university, yet they had never eaten alone together, which was a bit unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded. \"Alright! It would be my honor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two chatted for a while longer, and the train they were waiting for rumbled into the station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They immediately stood up and went to queue for ticket inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a green-skinned train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind that stops at every small station along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its normal cruising speed was not fast either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding this kind of train was exhausting; even though it was only a journey of a little over a hundred kilometers, it took four or five hours, and sometimes it would even be delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After boarding, Tan Lei asked Cao Sheng without hesitation to help her lift her suitcase onto the luggage rack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down, she enthusiastically offered Cao Sheng melon seeds and peanuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their seats were adjacent; she sat by the window, Cao Sheng sat next to her, and there was a middle-aged man next to Cao Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them were squeezed together, and it was impossible to keep any distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng's hip bone was pressed against Tan Lei's, and he could even feel the shape of her hip bone; Tan Lei didn't mind and continued to chat and laugh with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to be in a very good mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even the most endless topics have an end; an hour or two later, the carriage gradually quieted down, and many people were drowsily leaning against their seats, closing their eyes to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng squinted at the scenery slowly passing by outside the window, feeling a bit emotional; he hadn't ridden this kind of green-skinned train for over twenty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After graduating from university, he had never ridden a train on this route again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery along the way, which he had once grown tired of, felt so intimate when seen again today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you thinking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft inquiry from Tan Lei suddenly came from beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng came back to his senses and turned his face slightly to look at her, only to discover that she had opened her eyes at some point, and was now looking at him with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled slightly and answered in a low voice, \"Nothing, just lost in thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked, leaned her body slightly toward Cao Sheng, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, \"Hey, can I ask you a question?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng couldn't help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: Since you've already asked like that, can I say no?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei: \"Hmm, among all the girls in our class back then, who did you like the most?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this question, a sweet smiling face involuntarily flashed through Cao Sheng's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a girl he had a crush on during high school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could he possibly tell Tan Lei about such a deep secret?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he looked at Tan Lei with a smile in his eyes and asked in a low voice, \"Guess?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei stared at him for a few seconds, shook her head, sat up straight, and sighed softly, \"I can't guess! But it seems it definitely wasn't me. Hey! Do you know? Several girls in our dormitory used to talk about you in private.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng: \"Talk about what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lei looked at him and remarked with emotion, \"You're handsome! As far as I know, there were several girls in our class who liked you back then. Didn't you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Sheng didn't answer this question, just smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, he did know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was in high school, someone had tucked a love letter into his Chinese textbook, and he had accidentally caught several girls secretly looking at him from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why, when he first transmigrated back before the New Year and looked at his face in the mirror, he felt that this was a face that could make girls chase after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since middle school, he had received more than one love letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But time is a butcher's knife; in his original timeline, when his youth was gone, his success rate in actively pursuing women was not high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was a major reason why he didn't want to fall in love for the time being, and only wanted to build his career and make money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply because he had long understood that youth and handsomeness would disappear in the blink of an eye; if he couldn't stand tall in his career before his youth and handsomeness faded, his life would just repeat the same mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>",1502,"2026-06-21T01:55:54.452Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","bf393ee4166da76410e2376956447cca403c498cd7a7a514ac5db9feed47a608","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-7","dreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-chapter-5",338,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdreaming-back-to-1997-i-became-the-forefather-of-cover.jpg"]