Chapter 1 Second Chance

The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the vibrant life Xiao Feng had once known. He lay on the cold, white sheets, his body frail, his breath shallow and uneven. The rhythmic beep of the heart monitor echoed softly in the room, a constant, mechanical reminder of how fragile and fleeting life could be. His skin, pale and waxen under the harsh fluorescent lights, seemed almost translucent, as if his very essence were slipping away with every passing moment.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Xiao Feng's mind was a kaleidoscope of fragmented memories. His youth, full of reckless decisions that created a rift between him and his parents. The face of his childhood sweetheart, her radiant laughter now a ghostly echo in his ears. Images of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams blurred into a disjointed narrative of regret.

In the last fifteen years of his life,he work as day and night like a machine without resting to make a living.Due to this his health started to decline and he is now in this situation.

Regret gnawed at him, an unrelenting ache more painful than his illness. He pushed away his parents due to his own rashness, alienated his closest friends, and lost the love of his life. Now, on the brink of death, he saw the hollowness of his achievements. For what he work so hard all my life to achieve, if it couldn't fill the gaping void in his soul?

A sudden, blinding light pierced through the room, washing away the cold sterility of his surroundings. His body felt weightless, as though his very soul was being wrenched free. Panic rose within him, but before he could process the sensation, darkness swallowed him whole.

When he awoke, it was with a startled gasp. The familiar scent of his old apartment greeted him, warm and comforting in a way he hadn't experienced in years. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding as his eyes darted around the room. It was his apartment—the one he had lived in before leaving for the capital. Everything was exactly as he remembered: the slightly worn couch, the framed photo of his when he was young on the dresser, and the faint scent of coffee lingering from an unseen past morning.

Disoriented, Xiao Feng stumbled out of bed and glanced at the calendar on the nightstand. His heart skipped a beat. July 5th, 2015. The date burned itself into his mind. He was back. Reborn. Somehow, fate had given him a second chance, a chance to rewrite the mistakes that had led to his lonely and bitter end.

Disbelief, fear, and an overwhelming surge of hope clashed within him, leaving him trembling. This was no dream. The weight of his past failures pressed against him, but now, for the first time in years, he felt unshackled. Determination sparked in his chest. He vowed to rectify his mistakes, to forge a life filled with meaning, love, and purpose.

---

The next morning, Xiao Feng arrived at the bustling office where his younger self had once toiled. The familiar sounds of ringing phones and clacking keyboards filled the air, but he no longer felt the same sense of dread or subservience. There was a nervous energy coursing through him, a mix of anticipation and resolve. This time, he would not be a mere pawn in someone else's game.

Mr. Chen, his team leader, was as he remembered: a man whose ambition knew no bounds, always hungry for power and recognition. He greeted Xiao Feng with a condescending smirk, his predatory eyes scanning him as if he were prey.

"Xiao Feng, you're late," he said in a sharp tone.

"The project is behind schedule, and I need you to pull an all-nighter to catch up."

The old Xiao Feng might have cowered under such a tone, apologizing profusely and throwing himself into the impossible task without complaint. But this Xiao Feng was different. His eyes met Mr. Chen's, calm and unflinching.

"Mr. Chen," he said evenly, "I believe there's been a misunderstanding. The project delays are not due to my negligence."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Mr. Chen's smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of confusion and unease. "What are you implying?"

He demanded, his voice a mix of irritation and defensiveness.

Without a word, Xiao Feng produced a thick folder from his briefcase, the pages inside meticulously organized.

"This,"

he said, placing the folder on the desk with deliberate precision, "is a report I've prepared over the past few days. It outlines not only the true reasons for the delays but also documents several instances of mismanagement and corruption under your leadership."

Mr. Chen's face darkened, the color draining from his cheeks as he realized the implications. Xiao Feng continued, his voice steady and unwavering. "I've already forwarded a copy of this report to upper management. I thought it only fair to present my findings directly to you before the scheduled meeting with the board this afternoon."

Mr. Chen sputtered, his words tumbling over each other in a desperate attempt to defend himself. "This—this is absurd! You have no proof—"

"I have everything I need," Xiao Feng interrupted, his calm demeanor like ice against Mr. Chen's rising panic. "Emails, financial discrepancies, and testimonies from colleagues you've wronged. It's all in there."

The color in Mr. Chen's face shifted from pale white to a furious shade of purple. He opened his mouth to retort, but Xiao Feng didn't wait. "And one more thing," he said, straightening his posture. "I'm resigning. This company doesn't deserve someone like me, and I refuse to waste another moment working under a man like you."

With that, Xiao Feng turned and walked out of the office, leaving Mr. Chen speechless, the damning folder still sitting on his desk. As he stepped into the elevator, a strange sensation washed over him. The air shimmered faintly, and an enigmatic voice echoed in his mind: "You've taken the first step. The path ahead will not be easy, but redemption rarely is."

Xiao Feng's lips curved into a determined smile. This was only the beginning.

.

---

Back in his small apartment, Xiao Feng sat on his bed, brimming with excitement because in front of him was a majestic screen.

"System, are you there?" he asked aloud.

[Ding!]

"It has been detected that the host is a reborn individual." "The first poor soul lost his job after working for less than three months." "System binding in progress…"

Xiao Feng's heart raced. So it's true. Every reborn protagonist gets a system. Even a dog with a system could reach the top.

[Congratulations, Host, on activating the Life Pinnacle System!]

[Current Status of Host:] [Name: Xiao Feng] [Age: 22 years old] [Height: 182 cm] [Appearance: 83 points] [Physical Strength: 70] [Agility: 70] [Intelligence: 80]

[Newbie Gift Pack Distributed!] [You have received:]

100 million Daxia Coins

1 Physical Enhancement Pill

5 Entry-Level Shopping Critical Cards (maximum cashback: 1 billion Daxia Coins)

Proximity Value Scanning Ability

[Note: All funds originate from legitimate international markets, ensuring legality.]

Excitement surged through Xiao Feng's chest like a tidal wave as he opened his palm to reveal a small black-and-pink pill, radiating a faint, mysterious glow. Without hesitation, driven by an overwhelming sense of curiosity and ambition, he popped the pill into his mouth. Almost instantly, a warm sensation began spreading through his body, like a gentle tide washing away fatigue and mediocrity. His heart pounded as energy surged through his veins, flooding him with strength and vitality he had never known. Every fiber of his being seemed to awaken, alive with newfound potential.

As the transformation unfolded, Xiao Feng felt his muscles tightening and his posture straightening. His vision sharpened to an almost unnatural clarity, allowing him to notice even the tiniest details in his surroundings. Driven by a mix of curiosity and disbelief, he ran to the bathroom, his heart racing with anticipation. When he reached the mirror, he froze, his breath caught in his throat. The person staring back at him was almost unrecognizable. His once-average features had undergone a complete metamorphosis. His lean, unimpressive frame was now adorned with perfectly sculpted muscles, and a chiseled six-pack rippled beneath his shirt. His face, though still his own, now exuded an irresistible charisma, with sharp cheekbones, a stronger jawline, and eyes that sparkled with a newfound confidence and cunning.

Xiao Feng leaned closer, his hand brushing over his face as if to confirm it was real. "Is this… really me?" he muttered, his voice a mix of disbelief and exhilaration. A wicked smile crept across his lips, one so effortlessly magnetic that it could easily leave an unforgettable impression. "If my smile were any more dangerous," he thought with amusement, "I'd be a certified heartbreaker. No… scratch that—I already am."

Savoring the moment, Xiao Feng quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes, opting for something sharp yet casual that would accentuate his newfound charisma. As he looked at himself one final time, satisfaction washed over him. But he didn't linger. There was work to do. This was just the first step on his road to greatness.

With determination burning in his eyes, he headed out, his thoughts racing with plans for the future. His first goal was clear: open a high-denomination bank account to claim the massive windfall his system had granted him. The mere thought of 100 million Daxia Coins being deposited in his name sent a shiver of excitement down his spine.

Thirty minutes later, he emerged from the bank, the sleek new bank card gleaming in his hand. The moment he stepped outside, a notification chimed on his phone, confirming the transfer. 100 million Daxia Coins credited. The number stared back at him, almost surreal in its magnitude. He gripped the card tightly, the weight of what it represented sinking in. A smirk spread across his lips as he felt an uncontrollable fire ignite within him—a hunger to dominate, to rise above, to prove himself.

As the afternoon sun bathed the city in golden light, Xiao Feng stood at the edge of the busy street, watching the bustling world around him. The possibilities stretched before him like an open road. "This," he thought, his smirk widening, "is just the beginning. Watch closely, world—I'm about to rewrite the rules of the history of this world. From now on, the name Xiao Feng will echo across every corner of this world."