Capítulo 1: Chapter 1: Back to 2004
"Dongzi, wake up quickly, this class is Old Chen's!"
Li Dong smacked his lips and yawned, half-asleep and half-awake, saying, "Old Chen? Didn't they say there was a meeting today?"
Just after speaking, Li Dong's mind went blank. His eyes, which had been half-closed, suddenly widened. He was alone, at home, sleeping soundly—so who was talking to him?
Turning his stiff neck, Li Dong glanced sideways and was instantly stunned!
"Dongzi, what are you saying? This isn't a class meeting; this is Old Chen's class. Are you dazed?" Wang Jie scratched his neck, not caring that Li Dong had referred to Old Chen as Chen Zong instead.
"Wang… Wang Jie?"
Li Dong swallowed hard, his tone uncertain.
This was clearly his high school deskmate Wang Jie. After graduating high school, they had gone their separate ways and had not met in nearly a decade, except for occasional chats in their high school group.
But the person standing before him now was unmistakably Wang Jie from high school, with his distinctive watermelon head—there was no mistaking that!
"Alright, no more nonsense. Old Chen is coming!" Wang Jie was a bit annoyed by Li Dong's seemingly absurd expression.
What was even more glaring was that Li Dong was staring intently at Wang Jie's hairstyle. Wang Jie felt irritated but hurriedly turned around and began listening to the lecture as Old Chen had entered the classroom.
...
"Have I been reborn?"
Li Dong looked around at the familiar yet strange faces and finally confirmed that he must have returned to his high school days.
The first feeling that followed was not excitement but deep, heart-wrenching pain!
Li Dong murmured almost in anguish, "Damn it! Why couldn't this have happened a few months earlier? I worked so hard for seven or eight years after graduating from college just to get a loan to buy a house. I only moved in a few days ago, and now it's all gone. What a disaster!"
Thinking about how his parents had both passed away a few years ago, and how he was still single, the new house he had bought might now belong to some lucky bastard, and Li Dong felt frustrated.
Even though he had often fantasized about what it would be like to start over, the thought of that new house still smelling of paint made him feel even more vexed.
On the bright side, he realized he wouldn't have to wake up early to pay off the mortgage anymore, which provided some comfort.
Then Li Dong's mood brightened with excitement. After all, he was reborn—stocks, lotteries, and real estate were just fleeting clouds. Anything he wanted in the future would be within reach. He didn't have to worry about that outlying two-bedroom apartment anymore.
Old Chen, on the podium, had noticed Li Dong's distracted state but chose not to comment since Li Dong wasn't making any other disturbances.
When he saw Li Dong's features contorted in mumbling, Old Chen finally couldn't hold back and sternly ordered, "Li Dong, translate the ancient text I just covered!"
Li Dong, who had been lost in thought, jolted and looked up at Old Chen's glaring eyes. He quickly stood up, wearing a forced smile, and said, "Teacher, I'm sorry! I'll listen carefully from now on, study hard, and strive to get into a good university. I won't let my parents or teachers down…"
Li Dong's chaotic speech left Old Chen dumbfounded, and the other students in the class were stunned and baffled.
At that time, the academic atmosphere was still strict, and teachers were serious while students were obedient. Li Dong's shameless performance left everyone gaping.
Then came a burst of laughter. Wang Jie, embarrassed by everyone's gaze, wished he could dig a hole and hide. He twisted his face and gave Li Dong a sharp tug, which finally made Li Dong stop his tirade.
Seeing that everyone was still in shock, Li Dong couldn't help but smirk. This was nothing; he had worked in sales for seven or eight years and had won sales champion three times. He could talk for an hour without repeating himself.
The shyness and timidity from his student days were long gone. If not for his persuasive skills, how could he, a poor second-generation, afford a down payment and buy a car?
Old Chen clearly didn't expect Li Dong to be so thick-skinned. He had intended to scold him, but given Li Dong's remorseful tone, he didn't know where to start.
Holding back his anger, and seeing that the class discipline was in chaos, Old Chen could only grit his teeth and say, "Alright, sit down! There are only two months left until the college entrance exam. Everyone needs to be responsible for their future!"
The latter part of his statement was obviously directed at Li Dong.
Of course, Li Dong, with his iron-clad face, didn't take it to heart.
Li Dong was more focused on Old Chen's mention of the two months before the exam.
He remembered that his college entrance exam was in 2004, which meant it was around April 2004 now.
What was particularly frustrating was that he had to face the college entrance exam again. Considering he had only managed to get into a second-tier university in his previous life after working hard from dawn till dusk, doing it all over again was even worse.
After so many years in society, he had forgotten most of the knowledge from textbooks. With just two months left, he didn't have the capability to score higher than last time.
Li Dong never considered not going to school after his rebirth. Not for anything else, but to honor his parents who worked tirelessly to provide for his education; he couldn't let them down.
The Li family wasn't wealthy. His parents rented a small stall in the county town's market selling seafood. They left home at two or three in the morning to stock up and didn't return until eight or nine in the evening. They rarely had time off except for a few days during the New Year.
The couple worked hard all year round with the hope that Li Dong could get into a good university, find a good job, and marry well.
They couldn't even afford to buy lunch boxes, bringing food from home and eating it with pickled vegetables.
In his previous life, his parents had saved up some money after years of frugality, intending to use it for Li Dong to buy a house and get married. Unfortunately, they hadn't anticipated that their health would deteriorate.
At that time, Li Dong had just graduated from college. Both his parents fell ill, and the family's savings were entirely spent on their treatment. Li Dong even had to sell their old house in the county town to cover medical expenses, but his parents still passed away.
His parents had worked hard all their lives and never enjoyed a moment of leisure. Before they passed away, they tearfully apologized to Li Dong for not leaving any savings and even having to sell the house, leaving Li Dong alone.
Thinking about this made Li Dong feel a pang of sadness. He then thought about his rebirth and the chance to make amends. This time, he couldn't let his parents suffer or leave him early.
Even though he seemed talkative in society, no one could understand the constant loneliness he felt. After his parents' passing, he had indeed become the lonely soul wandering through the bustling city, just as they had feared.
No one knew that the strong facade Li Dong put on in front of others was often broken by tears at his parents' graves during family reunions on New Year's Eve. There were times he cried so hard he nearly fainted.
In his previous life, Li Dong felt the most regretful towards his parents, but alas, the dead were gone, and there was no chance for redemption.
Now that fate had given him another chance, Li Dong was determined to fulfill his parents' wishes.
Getting into a good university was his first goal. Although Li Dong's performance in his past life wasn't stellar, he remembered how his parents had cried tears of joy when he received his university acceptance letter. That was probably the happiest moment of their lives.
Such happiness was more important than any amount of money Li Dong could earn. He certainly wouldn't deprive his parents of their happiness and joy.
Achieving this goal wasn't too difficult or too easy. Although his memory was fuzzy, the college entrance exam was a significant hurdle in life.
Li Dong couldn't remember the exam questions from over a decade ago, but some question types, as long as he researched thoroughly from various books and materials, were still familiar. With a bit of hard work and diligent review over the next two months, maintaining his previous level of performance shouldn't be too hard.
Thinking this, Li Dong sighed in relief and began to drift off, thinking about various unrelated things.
With his rebirth, the first thing he knew he needed to do was to make money.
Without money, how could he provide for his parents, find a good wife, and live a good life? While money might not solve all problems, lacking it was certainly a huge problem.
What could make money in 2004?
Stocks?
Sorry, Li Dong had never engaged with them before and didn't have the capital. Besides knowing that companies like Baidu, Tencent, and Apple would rise, he didn't understand anything else.
Lottery?
Ahem, even though Li Dong had bought many and dreamed of sudden wealth, who remembers the jackpot numbers from the last lottery, let alone from over a decade ago?
Real estate?
Thinking about it, real estate might be a guaranteed investment, but even cheap housing required capital. Without money, nothing could be
done.
Thinking about this made Li Dong's teeth ache. He felt he had wasted his previous life, running sales for years without learning much except talking.
Fortunately, there were many opportunities in this era. As long as he found the right direction, becoming rich and successful shouldn't be too hard.
With this in mind, Li Dong relaxed and glanced up at the still-chattering Chen Guohua. His thoughts wandered further and further away, and then there was darkness.
Of course, this time, Li Dong wasn't traveling through time but had fallen asleep under hypnosis.
...
"Dongzi, wake up!" Wang Jie patted Li Dong's shoulder. "School's over, and Old Chen was green with anger when he left. You've got some nerve!"
Li Dong rubbed his sleepy eyes and said nonchalantly, "Anyway, graduation is in two months. Old Chen isn't going to eat me."
After speaking, he picked up his backpack and got up to leave. As he was about to leave, he patted Wang Jie's watermelon head and cheerfully said, "Watermelon head, good omen, hahaha…"
Wang Jie, feeling confused, touched his own head. Once Li Dong left, he finally snapped out of it and cursed, "Watermelon my ass. Next time you call me watermelon head, I'll beat you up!"
"Hahaha…"
Laughter filled the classroom.
As Li Dong walked away, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Youth is truly wonderful!
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