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

"You remember everything now?" Zhang Jian asked.

Lu Chen stayed silent, which was answer enough.

Zhang Jian sighed. "You had me worried these past few days. Skipping classes like that..."

Lu Chen recalled hiding at the arcade, too humiliated to show his face at school.

"Seriously, why do you even like that ice queen?" Zhang Jian scowled. No matter how many times Liu Fei Fei trampled on Lu Chen's pride, he kept crawling back like a lovesick puppy.

Lu Chen shrugged. "Honestly? I don't even remember why I loved her." After countless rejections - both in this life and his past one - he couldn't fathom his own stubbornness.

Zhang Jian studied Lu Chen's calm expression, then said earnestly, "Brother Chen, if you consider me your real brother, stop chasing Liu Fei Fei. She's tearing you apart without a second thought."

She doesn't even see you as human. Can't you see that? Zhang Jian clenched his fists.

"Alright," Lu Chen said simply. "I'll stop pursuing Liu Fei Fei."

Zhang Jian froze. "...What did you just say?"

"Really?!" Zhang Jian grabbed Lu Chen's shoulders and shook him. Then, narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Did that lunchbox knock something loose in your head?" This rejection had been harsher than most.

Lu Chen shook his head. "No. I just finally realized - what has chasing her ever gotten me? Nothing. There's no point wasting more time."

Finally. He'd waited years for this moment.

"Hey! Why are you crying?" Lu Chen asked, bewildered.

Zhang Jian wiped his face roughly. "Dust. Just dust in my eyes." He threw an arm around Lu Chen's shoulders. "Forget about her. I know at least ten girls way better than that ice queen."

He started digging through his bag, pulling out what looked suspiciously like a prepared list.

Lu Chen held up a hand. "I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."

After years of exhausting pursuit, he had no energy left for romance. His focus now was protecting his family.

"Come on, Brother Chen! You can't quit because of one bad experience!" Zhang Jian waved his phone. "These girls are total wife material! Just look at-"

The classroom bell rang, cutting him off as their teacher walked in.

Finally! He Gets It.