Darkness.
It was deep, endlessly deep, with no light in sight.
In this infinite darkness, there was an unbearable sense of suffocation, accompanied by an incessant feeling of sinking—inescapable and overwhelming.
It was a profound despair, a helpless, suffocating sensation.
Just then, in the farthest reaches of the abyss, a faint light appeared.
The light was ethereal at first, growing from hazy to distinct, until it steadily illuminated the entire world, bringing color to the void.
At the exact moment the colors solidified, a pair of eyes snapped open.
A decrepit wall came into view, and the sharp sting of suffocation and pain still clouded his mind.
He struggled to raise his head. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something—a taut noose dangling before him.
Hanging from it was a young man clad in a blue-and-white school uniform, his face turned an unnatural shade of purple.
"Ah!"
The young man's eyes widened in terror, his body thrashing wildly. He didn't know how he'd ended up here, but one thing was clear—he didn't want to die hanging like this.
Creak—
The rope swung violently with his frantic movements, groaning under the strain.
But it seemed futile. The noose tightened mercilessly around his neck, cutting deeper into his flesh as suffocation claimed him. His vision blurred, white-hot spots dancing before his eyes.
Just as he was about to lose consciousness—
Snap!
The old steel frame above gave way, collapsing with a resounding crash.
Boom!
The young man plummeted to the ground, landing amidst a pile of debris.
The thunderous noise shattered the stillness of the night, reverberating sharply.
Cough, cough!
The young man lay sprawled on the ground, gasping desperately for air, gulping down the fresh oxygen with greedy fervor.
Thud, thud!
Footsteps echoed urgently from beyond the door. Moments later, it was flung open, and two figures rushed in. Spotting the young man on the floor, they shouted in excitement:
"We found Su Ming! He's here!"
The young man, now identified as Su Ming, weakly lifted his head to look at the figures by the doorway. Before he could gather his thoughts, more people hurried in, surrounding him in a chaotic frenzy.
"Quick, get him to the infirmary!"
---
Later in the infirmary...
Su Ming lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his face void of emotion and his eyes devoid of clarity.
The infirmary buzzed with chatter from students in identical blue-and-white uniforms:
"What's wrong with Su Ming? He hasn't said a word. Do you think he's snapped and gone crazy?"
"Understandable. If my love letter got published for the whole school to see, I might lose it too."
"Man, that's rough."
"Quiet! No more nonsense!"
The sharp reprimand came from a thin, sallow-faced middle-aged man in a gray teacher's uniform. Suppressing his irritation, he scolded the murmuring students.
"Yes, Mr. Tang."
The students exchanged sheepish glances before falling silent.
At that moment, the infirmary door burst open with force. In strode a portly middle-aged man, barely five feet tall, sporting a beer belly and dressed in a black tailcoat. His meticulously combed hair gleamed with oil, and a small, neatly groomed mustache adorned his face. Trailing behind him was a tall, elegantly dressed woman in a red gown, her neck adorned with a gemstone necklace.
The couple rushed to Su Ming's bedside, their faces fraught with concern.
"My son, are you alright?"
"Does anything hurt?"
"Who did this to you? Tell me, and I'll make them pay!"
Su Ming stared blankly at the middle-aged couple, unresponsive.
Their worry deepened as they continued to prod him.
"Son, what's wrong? Say something!"
"Don't scare us like this!"
"Please calm down, both of you," Tang Yan, the teacher, intervened alongside an elderly school doctor, trying to soothe them.
"Doctor, what's wrong with my son?" Su Ming's parents pressed.
"Your son was found hanging in the storage room," the doctor explained gravely. "Though we managed to save him, oxygen deprivation may have caused slight brain damage, affecting his cognitive functions. He needs rest—he might recover with time."
Tang Yan nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's give Su Ming the quiet he needs. Please, everyone, return to your dorms and get some rest. Classes resume tomorrow."
Though reluctant, the students gradually filed out of the infirmary.
Su Ming's parents, slightly reassured, turned their attention back to their son.
"My dear, look at me. I'm your mother," his mother said, her voice trembling as tears filled her eyes.
Su Ming glanced at her briefly but remained silent. His head throbbed fiercely, the pain clouding his thoughts.
"Don't you recognize me?" his mother pleaded.
"Mother?" Su Ming whispered hoarsely, the word feeling foreign on his tongue.
Suddenly, fragments of memories surfaced in his mind.
In one, he stood in the schoolyard, surrounded by jeering students in blue-and-white uniforms, their mocking laughter piercing his ears.
In another, he leaned against a classroom window, gazing at the graceful silhouette of a girl on the field.
The influx of fragmented memories grew more intense, and Su Ming clutched his head as searing pain tore through his skull.
"Ahh!"
"Son, what's wrong?" his parents cried, panic-stricken.
"My head—it hurts!" Su Ming writhed on the bed, his screams echoing in the room. Memory shards cascaded into his consciousness like an unstoppable tide.
"Hold him down!" the school doctor shouted, rushing forward with a sedative-filled syringe.
Tang Yan and the others scrambled to restrain Su Ming. Just as the torrent of memories was about to reach its peak, the syringe pierced his arm. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, and his vision darkened as he succumbed to sleep.
---
The Next Day
Gentle sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the spacious room.
Su Ming slowly opened his eyes and sat up with effort. Holding his aching head, he stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom.
Turning on the faucet, he splashed cold water on his face. The icy sensation jolted him awake. Raising his head, he looked into the mirror—and froze.
Staring back at him was a round, pudgy face.
"Ah!"
A shiver ran down his spine, and his mind went blank.
Who am I? Where am I?
After a long moment, Su Ming forced himself to calm down and collect his scattered thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he looked into the mirror again.
He studied the reflection, dumbfounded.
This was the first time he'd seen his face.
Five minutes later, Su Ming sighed in resignation, accepting the reality of his situation.
"So… this is my new body?" he mutt
ered to himself. "Must weigh at least 180 pounds…"
He glanced down, inspecting his rotund frame with a bitter smile.
Guess I have to live with this now.
"Actually, this face isn't too bad. Even though it's chubby, the features are decent—well-proportioned, at least. If I could slim down, I might look pretty good. Thank goodness this face has proper symmetry. If it were crooked or ugly, I'd really be doomed," Su Ming muttered to himself.
What he didn't realize was that this very body—tipping the scale at over 180 pounds—had saved his life. If he hadn't been this heavy, the storage room ceiling wouldn't have collapsed under his weight, and he'd have died hanging from that noose.
After what felt like an eternity, Su Ming stepped out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed, exhaling softly. His head still ached, but it was far better than the searing pain he'd experienced before.
During his unconscious state, he'd absorbed a considerable portion of this body's memories. While some fragments remained unclear, it was nothing too critical.
Looking around the room, Su Ming took in his surroundings. The decor was impressive—well-designed and comfortable. The shelves displayed various intricate models and figurines.
Standing up, Su Ming approached one of the shelves. On it were figurines of strikingly beautiful women dressed as starship commanders, exuding elegance and authority. Alongside these were models of dazzling mechas and intricate spacecraft.
The centerpiece of the collection, however, was a breathtaking black star-destroyer model. Even as a miniature, its design was astonishingly lifelike, radiating a sleek, obsidian glow. Every turret and missile port was meticulously detailed. It was nothing short of magnificent.
This star-destroyer was none other than the Gray Angel, the most powerful warship of the Old Federation.
Su Ming ran a hand across his forehead and returned to the bed, sighing with resignation. The dream of the body's original owner had been clear since childhood: enlist in the military, pilot a mecha, and meet a graceful, beautiful ship captain.
But dreams are often at odds with reality. Despite years of hard work, this body's owner had mediocre aptitude and barely average grades.
---
Creak.
The door opened, and a young maid in a black uniform with faint freckles on her face peeked in. Her eyes lit up when she saw Su Ming sitting by the bed.
"Young master, you're awake!" she exclaimed.
Hearing her, Su Ming turned toward the door. He immediately recognized her—Chen Hui, the family maid. He gave her a slight nod in response.
Overjoyed at the acknowledgment, Chen Hui dashed downstairs.
---
In the bright, spacious dining room, Zhao Ning, Su Ming's mother, was setting up an extravagant spread. The table was laden with dishes—roast chicken, braised pork belly, and juicy pork knuckles, each dish glistening with rich, savory aromas.
"Madam, madam!" Chen Hui called out urgently.
"What is it?" Zhao Ning asked, turning to the maid rushing down the stairs.
"Young master is awake!" Chen Hui reported excitedly.
"He's awake? That's wonderful!" Zhao Ning exclaimed with relief. "I just finished preparing all his favorite dishes. Quickly, take it to him."
"Understood!" Chen Hui nodded.
Just then, Su Ming descended the spiral staircase. Seeing his mother's beaming face, he said, "No need to trouble yourselves. I'm already here."
"My precious son, are you feeling better? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Zhao Ning rushed to him, her joy palpable.
"I'm much better now," Su Ming replied with a small nod.
Hearing this, Zhao Ning wasted no time leading Su Ming to the dining table. Her tone brimmed with concern as she said, "You haven't eaten properly for an entire day. You must be starving. These are all your favorites—eat as much as you like."
Su Ming's heart warmed at her words. He could feel her genuine love and care for her son. Taking a closer look, he observed his new mother for the first time.
She stood about 5'7", wearing a fitted red gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her complexion was fair, her features soft and refined, with a small beauty mark near her lips that added a touch of charm. Her every movement radiated an air of elegance and nobility.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Ning asked, noticing Su Ming staring at her curiously.
"It's nothing," Su Ming replied, shaking his head. He shifted his gaze to the feast before him.
The sight of the lavish spread left him feeling uneasy. The entire table was loaded with meat. This body was already overweight—continuing to eat like this would only make things worse.
Zhao Ning noticed his hesitation and asked, "What's wrong? Don't these dishes suit your taste?"
"Uh… not really hungry. Do we have any vegetables? I'd prefer something lighter," Su Ming explained, trying to sound convincing.
Zhao Ning and Chen Hui exchanged surprised glances, unsure how to respond.
"Is something wrong?" Su Ming asked, noticing their puzzled expressions.
"No, no problem at all! If you want vegetables, I'll make sure you get them. I'll place an order with Maerons right away—you'll have fresh greens by tomorrow morning!" Zhao Ning promised enthusiastically.
"Order? There's no need for that. Just grab some from the market. Ordinary vegetables are fine; nothing fancy," Su Ming replied, confused.
"Son, have you forgotten? Vegetables aren't so easy to come by. You have to reserve them in advance," Zhao Ning said gently, her concern evident.
Chen Hui quickly chimed in, trying to ease Zhao Ning's worry. "Madam, the young master has never liked vegetables before, so it's normal for him not to know."
Hearing this, Su Ming suddenly recalled that this body's memories indeed lacked any association with vegetables. Partly because of a personal dislike, and partly because vegetables in this world were a luxury item, akin to rare treasures. Meat, on the other hand, was relatively cheap, as it was artificially farmed using processed monster fat.
Realizing this, Su Ming fell silent, lost in thought. Zhao Ning, misinterpreting his quietness as displeasure, hurried to reassure him.
"Don't worry, my dear. Just make do with what we have today. Tomorrow, I'll prepare fresh vegetables for you," she said soothingly.
"Alright, I'll eat a little," Su Ming relented. He picked up a piece of meat and tasted it. To his surprise, it was delicious—tender, flavorful, and melting in his mouth.
Before he realized it, he'd reached for a second piece, then a third.
Zhao Ning watched him eat with a smile, her eyes full of maternal affection.
But when Su Ming picked up his eighth piece of meat, he froze, staring at it with a conflicted expression. His mind protested: What's going on? How have I eaten this much already? I can't keep this up!
Though his rational mind screamed at him to stop, his body seemed unwilling to comply. His hand instinctively moved to bring the meat to his mouth. With great effort, he forced himself to put the meat back onto the plate and stood up abruptly.
"Not hungry anymore?" Zhao Ning asked, concerned. "If you don't like these dishes, how about some dessert?"
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