Chapter 3 Time Machine

The faint sound of a song played in the background, mixed with muffled chuckles and murmurs. With a deep frown and a splitting headache, Jin Taifeng sat up from his sleeping position. His eyes, filled with confusion, darted around as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

Where was he?

In front of him, people were bustling around, adjusting equipment—some setting the camera angles, others arranging props. Beside him, a boy lay asleep, his face buried under a pillow. Hesitantly, Jin Taifeng reached out and removed the pillow, revealing the young face of his bandmate… Li Wei.

Shocked, he quickly scanned his surroundings again, his eyes darting around with newfound vigilance.

The room he was in was none other than their dance studio—exactly as it had been ten years ago.

Slowly, he approached the large wall mirror, his breath hitching as he caught sight of his own reflection. Staring back at him was a face he hadn't seen in years—his 20-year-old self.

His heart pounded. His legs wobbled. Stumbling over his own feet, he collapsed to the ground.

What… What was happening?

Why was he back in his 20-year-old body?

Was this a dream? A hallucination? Or something far beyond his understanding?

He stared at the mirror, unable to tear his eyes away—until a hand suddenly gripped his shoulder.

"Brother, is everything alright?"

The familiar voice sent a jolt through him. He turned, his eyes locking onto a face he knew all too well. In an instant, his sharp gaze darkened as a flood of unwanted memories crashed into his mind.

Overwhelmed, his vision blurred, and before he could process anything further—he collapsed on the spot.

It had been a month since he returned to this body—lean and far less muscular than his 30-year-old self.

A whole month had passed, and he had spent it reliving old memories, reminiscing about the past, and experiencing it all over again.

He was a member of a pop band that had once been on the verge of disbandment. But when he was 20, the group made one final decision—to release a last song.

Overnight, that song became a massive hit, turning them into an internationally renowned pop sensation.

To the world, it was a miracle. But to the five members of the group, it was the result of years of relentless hard work finally paying off.

"Gleam."

Gleam—that was the name they had chosen for their group, a symbol of their hope to shine brightly. And they had achieved it.

In the present time, they had already gained fame in their own country. Next month, they were set to embark on a world tour—a turning point that made everyone take notice, skyrocketing their fan following. To reach this stage, the five of them had practiced tirelessly, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into perfecting their performance.

But the real question remained—how had he returned to his body from 30 years ago?

After Jin Taifeng received the letter from Maia, he was utterly heartbroken, teetering on the edge of collapse. One day, a colleague from the special forces visited him and was shocked by his miserable state. With an unkempt beard, a slouched posture, disheveled clothes, and red, swollen eyes, he looked like a man who had lost all will to live.

To comfort and help him relax, his colleague took him to the mountains for recuperation. By coincidence, the mountain they visited had a Buddhist temple at its peak. Jin Taifeng and his special forces friend began visiting the temple every day, and each day, the monk there would say just one thing to Jin Taifeng:

"You are a good soul, child. Cease your mourning for the one who has departed. Steady your heart and prepare for what the future holds. If you carry out your duty with sincerity, the heavens may look upon you with mercy and grant the wish that weighs upon your soul."

Soon after returning from their holidays, the team received a new mission. A scientist, notorious for his "oddities", had invented a time travel machine and was using it to experiment on kidnapped victims.

At first, the matter was kept under wraps. However, when the daughter of a high-ranking minister went missing, the last trace of her location led authorities to the scientist's laboratory. As a result, the elite special forces team was assigned to handle the case.

Little did Jin Taifeng knew, while executing his duty—saving the victims and battling the mad scientist—that the scientist would catch him off guard. During the chaos, the scientist pushed him toward the activated machine, claiming it to be the Time Machine.

In reality, the scientist didn't have the strength to fight or physically push Jin Taifeng toward the bizarre machine. But there was something more—something deeper in his heart.

Maybe... maybe this was his last chance. The machine, despite its strange and dangerous nature, was his final hope—a twisted hope for something beyond time itself.

The thought consumed him—he could return to the past, be with her again, love her, and be loved by her once more.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he realized he was no different from the mad scientist. Was he really considering this madness?

But in that moment, when the scientist pushed him into the machine, something changed. A brilliant flash of light engulfed him.

When Jin Taifeng opened his eyes, everything had shifted. He had traveled back in time—ten years.

The year where his journey toward fame and success had begun.