Midas_goldturner

Lying in a pool of his own blood, Lu Chen watches helplessly as his wife clings to another man. His vision blurs, but the betrayal is crystal clear. Rage burns in his veins, but his body is too weak to move. Powerless, he can only watch as his life slips away. The final words he hears before darkness claims him are cold and mocking:
"You will always be nothing but second place."

A bullet rips through his chest, sealing his fate.

As the light fades, waves of regret wash over Lu Chen. The faces of those he neglected—those who once loved and trusted him—haunt his dying thoughts. If only he had cherished them. If only he had a second chance.

But fate isn't done with him yet.

Inexplicably, Lu Chen awakens to find himself in his 18-year-old body. The same face. The same youth. But with memories of betrayal and death still fresh in his mind. It seems the heavens have granted him the chance he so desperately wished for.

No longer the naive man who lost everything, Lu Chen is determined to rewrite his future. With the wisdom of his past and a heart hardened by pain, he vows to protect those who truly matter—and destroy those who once tore him apart.

But can he defy fate, or will the ghosts of his mistakes catch up with him once again?

3-chapters a day

From Shadows to Silver

A few days earlier, when the lunch bell rang, Lu Chen immediately grabbed two elaborate three-tiered lunchboxes and jumped up from his seat.

Zhang Jian saw the lunchboxes and instantly blocked his path. "Brother Chen, stop this. She's told you a hundred times she's not interested."

"This time is different," Lu Chen said with complete confidence. "I've got everything perfect."

Zhang Jian just stared. That's what he said last time too. "I'm not moving."

Lu Chen sighed dramatically, then suddenly pointed behind Zhang Jian. "Look! Isn't that the new transfer student everyone's talking about?"

"Where?" Zhang Jian spun around immediately, then groaned. "Damn it!" He'd fallen for the same stupid trick again.

By the time Zhang Jian recovered, Lu Chen was already entering Liu Fei Fei's classroom. The other students took one look and started whispering:

"What's our goddess going to do to him this time?"

"Check out those lunchboxes. This is going to be good."

Lu Chen ignored them all as he walked up to Liu Fei Fei. "Fei Fei, I made you lunch. All your favorite dishes."

Liu Fei Fei didn't even glance up from her phone. "Lu Chen, how many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?" Her voice was flat with exhaustion - this had gone way beyond simple annoyance into full-on harassment.

But Lu Chen just kept going. "Just give me one date. That's all I ask. You'll see—"

"I have a boyfriend!" Liu Fei Fei finally looked up, her eyes flashing. "Your behavior is beyond shameless at this point."

At the mention of Long Shen, Lu Chen's face twisted. "That worthless commoner? What could he possibly—"

The whole room went silent. Liu Fei Fei stood up slowly, her voice deadly quiet. "Say one more word about Long Shen. I dare you."

When Lu Chen opened his mouth again, she moved faster than anyone expected. The first lunchbox went upside down on his head - rice, pork and vegetables sliding down his face. The second one hit the floor with a clatter.

"You're pathetic," she spat. "Know your place."

As Liu Fei Fei stormed out, the classroom erupted in laughter. She nearly ran into Zhang Jian in the doorway.

"Brother Chen, are you—" Zhang Jian started, but Lu Chen was already running past him, leaving a trail of rice and humiliation behind.

School Part 2