I'm back!
"Is this how it all ends? Such a bitter disappointment..."
As the suffocating sensation robbed Lorraine of the strength to struggle in the frigid lake waters, one name remained etched in his fading consciousness - Pan Jiajun! The illustrious scion of the Pan family, one of the four great aristocratic clans of the capital!
Even in death, Lorraine would never forget who had ordered his legs crushed, nor how the once-mighty Luo financial empire had crumbled to dust. The mysterious demise of his father, his mother's untimely illness, his uncle's abrupt dismissal from his position as municipal party secretary, even his grandfather's sudden passing while holding high military rank - all of it, he suspected, could be traced back to that one man.
In this ruthless world, merely offending such a person had brought about the utter destruction of Luo Lin's entire family. Yet in a way, he could hardly blame others for his fate. In life, Luo Lin had been arrogant to a fault, squandering his family's fortune and making enemies at every turn. When the Luo family's fortunes began to wane, those eager to kick them while they were down ensured Luo Lin would spend his remaining days scavenging through garbage just to survive.
If only he could do it all over again, might his destiny unfold differently?
...
Lorraine felt as though he had slept for a century. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself lying... on the living room sofa in his family home?
Wait a moment! I... I'm not dead? This place... it looks just like my childhood home.
Raising his head to survey the room's decor, Lorraine was utterly dumbfounded when he saw the date displayed on the wall clock:
August 14, 2005 - the Ghost Festival.
...This can't be real. 2005?! That year, he had been merely 17 years old! How could he have gone from 37 back to 17 in the blink of an eye?
Lorraine pinched his arm forcefully. It hurt! This was real, not a dream!
"Or perhaps I've just awakened from a long nightmare?" Recalling his desperate wish to live again as he sank beneath the lake's surface, Lorraine's heart skipped a beat. He instinctively leapt up from the sofa, but for some reason his head spun, causing his legs to give way. He collapsed to the floor.
"Ah." He let out a soft cry, grimacing. The dizziness felt exactly like the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking, his head pounding mercilessly.
As this realization dawned on him, Lorraine grew even more excited!
At 17, he had indeed been prone to drinking all night long. With his parents busy with business and rarely home, he had grown increasingly reckless, his lifestyle becoming more and more dissolute. The all-too-real sensation of his splitting headache was proof that Lorraine truly was alive! He had genuinely returned to that fateful year at age 17!!! Even more crucially...
Lorraine's heart raced as he tentatively moved his legs. The feeling of flesh and bone working in unison brought tears to his eyes.
"I really have come back... back to when I was 17... This was the beginning of all my misfortunes. Heaven has granted me this chance to start anew."
A thousand thoughts swirled through Lorraine's mind as he choked back a sob. It was all real - the Luo corporation still thrived, his father still lived, as did his mother, his uncle, his grandfather, all of them!
Lorraine discreetly wiped away a tear. Though he bore the appearance of a 17-year-old, his soul was that of a 37-year-old man. It felt somewhat awkward, yet wonderfully so.
As the minutes ticked by, Lorraine lay relaxed on the floor, quietly sorting through his thoughts and emotions until he gradually regained his composure. His mature mindset told him that if all this was indeed real, he must seize this opportunity to live his life anew, determined not to repeat past mistakes. Even if it was merely a dream, he was resolved to live brilliantly!
Taking a deep breath, a sharp glint suddenly appeared in Lorraine's eyes. Three years from now, in 2008, the capital would host a major investment conference, inviting powerful families from all walks of life. The Luo family, as a second-tier clan, had been fortunate enough to attend. In truth, the gathering had resembled more of a matchmaking event for the elite, with each family patriarch bringing along their most promising offspring. It was there that Luo Lin had reunited with Han Xuan, his secret crush from his school days. Young and impetuous, he had launched a fervent pursuit, not only failing to win her heart but making countless enemies in the process. It was this very act that had sparked his bitter rivalry with Pan Jiajun.
What began as a personal feud escalated into a war between financial empires, even descending into shadowy conflicts. To put it bluntly, the Luo family had been dragged into an inescapable abyss by Luo Lin's reckless behavior! Seven years of unrelenting, covert warfare had plunged the Luo family into ruin, with his entire family paying a grievous price for the transgressions of one arrogant young man.
The thought sent a stab of pain through Lorraine's heart, but he was grateful to the heavens for this chance to live again.
He had to admit, Pan Jiajun's methods had far surpassed the Lorraine of that time... but now, with this fresh start, how could he possibly lose? Three years - yes, that would be enough. Luo Lin's vision now extended far beyond anyone else living in this era. With this advantage alone, he could rise to dazzling heights, even without relying on his family's status. By his own merit alone!
"Click."
At that moment, the front door opened and a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure entered. Seeing Luo Lin sprawled on the floor like a wolf-dog, she started in surprise before rushing to his side to help him up without a word.
"Well, well, my little young master. What grand dreams were you having that even that big sofa couldn't contain you? Why are you gnawing on the floorboards?"
Her voice was lovely and delicate, gentle yet tinged with a hint of teasing reproach. Upon hearing it, Luo Lin was abruptly jolted from his reverie, a lump forming in his throat.
"Wanshu?... Qin Wanshu?"
As he was helped onto the sofa, Luo Lin clearly saw the beautiful woman's face, his heart racing! Flawless, milky-white skin, a pair of enchanting eyes, and a curvaceous figure that belied her conservative work attire.
Who else could it be but his "Auntie" Qin Wanshu?!
"Wanshu?..."
Lorraine's voice quavered slightly as he called out her name.Lorraine naturally understood Qin Wanshu's intentions. Though he was only 17 years old physically, his mental age approached 40, even more mature than his own parents. In his eyes, "Auntie Qin," barely 23 years old, was nothing more than a naive young woman.
Having experienced the unbelievable phenomenon of rebirth, the mature Luo Lin quickly regained his composure, burying this somewhat absurd secret deep in his heart. After all, even if he were to reveal that he had returned from the future, who would believe him?
"Auntie Qin, do you know when my parents will be back?"
For Lorraine, newly returned from the future, his greatest concern was for his parents. The thought that they were still alive and that the Luo family had not yet begun its decline filled him with an indescribable excitement.
"This child, always running wild. You don't even know when your own parents are coming home?" Qin Wanshu shot Lorraine a reproachful glance as she removed her outer coat. Underneath, she wore only a form-fitting white blouse that accentuated her full bosom. Lorraine's heart skipped a beat at the sight: Does this Auntie Qin really still see me as a child? Is she looking down on my level of physical development?