A New Beginning

Rolo rubbed his forehead, feeling as if needles were stabbing into his brain. His body screamed in agony, and even after what seemed like an eternity, the pain showed no signs of easing. He struggled to sit up, only to find himself in a stark white room that could only be described as a bathroom—definitely not his own.

How did he end up here? His last memory was stepping out of his house, ready to attend his engagement ceremony, only to collapse immediately.

A shiver ran down Rolo's spine as he looked down to see that he was unclothed. Panic surged through him—today was his engagement day, and he had no intentions of being unfaithful to his fiancée. Even though he had been labeled a kept man by others, he had never entertained any other thoughts. After all, Qiao Sha was the daughter of a notorious crime lord, and asserting his masculinity in their relationship was nearly impossible.

Horrified, Rolo saw blood pooling around him in the bathtub. The source was a deep wound on his right wrist. What was happening? He had never contemplated suicide.

Desperately, he tried to staunch the bleeding with his hands. If he didn't stop the blood flow, he'd be dead in no time.

Passing a large mirror, he was shocked to see a young man staring back at him, mirroring his own look of terror. The reflection showed a seventeen or eighteen-year-old with a pale, but strikingly handsome face, messy black hair, and eyes that betrayed recent tears.

For someone who had always been seen as the weaker party, this appearance only seemed to spell more trouble.

Rolo stared blankly at the mirror, realizing that he had somehow been reborn. It was a rare second chance at life, but did it have to be on his engagement day? He actually liked the sweet and fiery girl he was supposed to marry. No one wants to face rebirth on what should have been the happiest day of their life.

Feeling increasingly cold, Rolo abandoned the mirror and rushed to the bathroom door, desperate to call for help. He kicked the door, but it didn't budge. He tried again with both feet, but still no luck. The door was clearly locked.

Frustrated, he pounded on the door, shouting, "Hello? Is anyone out there? Help me—please—someone, I'm about to die!"

The door suddenly slid open on its own, leaving Rolo sprawled on the floor, stunned. He looked up to find a minimalist room beyond—a bed, a nightstand, and a set of matching sofas, nothing more.

Wrapping a bedsheet around his waist, he stumbled around, searching for a phone. As he was about to check the nightstand, it moved. A round metallic ball emerged, sprouting arms and legs, and transformed into a robot.

"Hello, Mr. Rolo. How can I assist you today?" the robot asked in a polite, mechanical voice.

Rolo nearly jumped out of his skin, stumbling backward until he fell onto the bed. With no weapon or means of defense, the only thing he had was the bedsheet around his waist.

Staring at the robot, he managed to ask, "What are you?"

"I am R1, your personal household assistant robot," it replied.

A robot that could talk? Where on Earth—or rather, where in the universe—had he ended up?

"Can you help me? I'm injured and need immediate medical attention. Please call for an ambulance, or give me a phone."

The robot's head lit up green, and it moved to a white wall, pressing a panel. The wall slid open to reveal a spacious closet and other storage areas. R1 retrieved a metal box and approached the bed.

"Mr. Rolo, for minor injuries, R1 can provide medical treatment," it said, opening the box to reveal a device that quickly healed his wound.

Rolo stared in awe as the pain vanished and the injury healed before his eyes. This advanced technology was astonishing.

"Is there anything else you need?" R1 asked.

Seeing the potential benefits of his new situation, Rolo requested, "Please find me a set of clothes."

Without delay, R1 provided him with a beige outfit. Once dressed, Rolo turned to the robot and asked, "Where am I, and who am I?"

"You are at the residence of General Rolo. You are Rolo," R1 explained while handing him a glass of water.

Relief washed over him as he realized he hadn't been given a new name. His father was a general, making him an official's child with access to advanced technology and resources.

He asked, "Is General Rolo my father?"

"Technically, yes. According to R2, you are General Rolo's illegitimate son. You've been brought here by your mother to claim your identity, but your status has not yet been officially recognized. You're temporarily staying at the General's residence," R1 elaborated.

Rolo was stunned. His new identity was that of a secret child seeking acknowledgment. The robot R1 mentioned that the General's wife and family were not pleased with his mother's attempts to integrate them into the family. This only reinforced Rolo's realization that he didn't belong here and that his presence was unwelcome.

"Which year is it now?" Rolo asked.

"It is the year 4019 of the Cosmic Era."

Rolo felt a pang of dread. "And the Earth calendar?"

R1 looked puzzled. "You mean that ancient planet? Humans have not lived there for four thousand years. The Earth calendar would have been 2012 at the time of the Belen Accord."

Rolo felt disoriented. He had jumped through time and space, leaving him stranded in an unfamiliar future.

After breakfast, R1 took him to the living room. Rolo's mother stood beside him, while the General's wife sat in an imposing chair.

The General's wife was elegant, and next to her was a young, handsome man exuding natural aristocratic charm. Rolo and his mother were ignored by the pair.

The butler, exuding disdain, addressed Rolo's mother, "Madam's decision is that Rolo may stay, but you have two choices: leave with a monetary settlement and never return, or stay under the conditions set by Madam. If you choose to stay, you must follow all of Madam's directives."

Rolo's mother, visibly distressed, tried to persuade the wife to accept them. Rolo, sensing the urgency of their situation, interjected, "I choose to leave. I forgo any claims to the Rolo family name and will not reveal my identity."

His mother was horrified, but Rolo remained resolute. The General's wife agreed to the arrangement, but with a stipulation: Rolo must remain on the planet and attend a designated school until he graduated from university in five years.

Accepting the terms, Rolo was handed a card and enrollment documents by the butler. He hesitated but ultimately decided to take the opportunity and leave, even though it meant leaving his mother behind.

At the exit, his mother handed him a necklace, urging him to come back if things went awry. Rolo, with a heavy heart, accepted it and left the mansion.

As he walked through the futuristic cityscape, with towering skyscrapers and flying vehicles, he felt completely out of place. Four thousand years had passed, and he was an artifact of the past.

With a sigh, Rolo reviewed the card and documents. The unfamiliar script and complex terminology only deepened his confusion. In this strange new world, how would he survive?