Chapter Five: The Morning of the First Day of School

As I walked down the street, I took deep breaths of the crisp morning air, gazing at the familiar buildings that once existed only in my memories. I couldn't help but sigh with emotion—being able to return to the past felt truly wonderful.

C City was a small prefecture-level city located in the south of the Yangtze River. In 1997, its development was far from impressive, but thanks to the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the outskirts, the city had already become famous across the country in the 1980s for its beautiful scenery. Over thirty years ago, in response to the central government's call, the first domestically built hydroelectric station of Huaxia was erected outside C City, creating a massive reservoir. Since then, C City had gained national renown for its tourism, boasting a vast man-made lake dotted with over a thousand islands. The mountains, the water, the fresh air—all made this place a dream destination for countless travelers. However, because the reservoir flooded the basin plains, people had no choice but to rebuild their homes along the hillsides. Aside from the city center, which gained some wealth from tourism, the counties and villages below remained relatively poor. I was born and raised in this city, and naturally, I felt a deep pride in calling it home.

C City had a total of six secondary schools, and the one I was heading to was the only prestigious high school among them—C City No. 4 High School. My home lay in an old residential area not far from the school, so it took me just over ten minutes on foot to get there; there was no need for a bicycle, let alone a bus. As I walked along the path I had traveled for three years, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. If not for those two octopus-like aliens, perhaps I would never have had the chance to relive every tree and blade of grass as I once did. In my previous life, I had missed out on so much because of my timidity and lack of self-confidence, but now, I was ready to greet a brand-new future.

From the moment I awoke, I had been diligently studying the advanced alien technology left in my brain by those extraterrestrial octopuses. Only now did I realize that, in addition to gifting me with technology centuries ahead of this era, they had also poured all human knowledge into my mind. With this wealth of knowledge, it seemed impossible not to succeed! Still, I remained clear-headed; technology alone was not enough. Alien science was far too advanced for Huaxia in 1997. Everything had to proceed step by step. As I contemplated my plans, I soon found myself standing at the gates of No. 4 High School.

Although C City's economy in 1997 was not particularly developed, its proximity to the provincial capital, H City, meant that there were plenty of factories and companies. The streets were often bustling with traffic, and today, the first day of school, the road in front of No. 4 High School was lined with what were considered luxurious cars at the time. Affluent parents drove their children to school, a clear display of wealth in 1997, and so, in front of the school gates, students were outnumbered by their parents. As I approached the flower bed near the entrance, a faint anxiety crept over me. In my previous life, it was right here that I had encountered the girl I had secretly loved but dared not confess to—the very one who had called me before the accident. Because of her, I chose to return to my high school days upon being reborn. What I had missed in my past life, I was determined to reclaim.

Sure enough, before long, a Red Flag 7200 sedan pulled up on the street not far away. A girl in a pink short-sleeved blouse and a white chiffon skirt stepped out and waved back at the car. It was her—I remembered clearly. Her name was Su Xin, granddaughter of the governor of Z Province, where C City was located. In my previous life, we had met here for the first time.

As Su Xin finished her goodbyes and turned around, I was struck anew by her beauty, though I had seen her face before in my previous life. Her shoulder-length, jet-black hair, her fair, delicate cheeks flushed with a hint of pink, her bright, pearl-like eyes, her petite, upturned nose, and her cherry-like lips—all complemented by her graceful figure—were enough to make me lose myself in admiration.

"She really is stunning..." I couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. I recalled how, in my previous life, I had been even more overwhelmed when I first saw her. But now, having lived thirty years, my composure was much greater. Seeing her head toward the school gate, I quickly followed, knowing our first encounter was about to happen.

Just as in my previous life, as Su Xin walked, her handbag—swung carelessly in her hand—let her wallet fall out. Walking behind her, I immediately picked it up and held it in my hand. Watching her walk farther away, I smiled and called out, "Hey, you dropped your wallet!"

It seemed Su Xin hadn't heard me. I couldn't quite recall if it was like this before—over a decade had passed, after all. But no matter; I called out louder, "Hey, the girl in the pink blouse—you dropped your wallet!"

This time, not only did Su Xin hear me, but all the students heading to the gate turned to look. In the past, I might have felt embarrassed, but now, at thirty, I had experienced enough in life to remain unruffled. I simply put on a nonchalant expression and waved the wallet at Su Xin, who had turned to look at me.

When she saw the wallet in my hand, realization dawned on her. With a faint cry, her cheeks flushed as she hurried over. I took a step forward, handed her the wallet, and quietly said, "Be careful next time. If you swing your bag like that, things can fall out easily." With that, I walked past her and continued toward the school gate.

Su Xin tried to thank me, but I had already walked away, so she turned and called after me, "Wait! What's your name? I haven't thanked you yet!"

That was precisely the effect I wanted. I knew we would meet again soon, so a little mystery was in order. Without turning back, I simply waved my hand and said, "No need for names. We're all classmates—helping each other is only natural. See you around."

Su Xin stood there in a daze, watching me walk away, and silently thought, "A good deed without leaving his name—what a wonderful classmate! If I see him again, I must thank him properly."

I could easily imagine Su Xin's reaction. In my past life, I hadn't intended to stay anonymous—I'd simply been too self-conscious to stay. But this time, I did it on purpose, for I knew that Su Xin and I were actually in the same class, and we would soon meet again. The thought of her beautiful face filled me with delight. This time around, I was determined to make her my girlfriend.