Chapter 1: Reborn in 2002

Tonight at 8 PM, can you come to Baodao Coffee Shop? We have something to discuss.

Chen Yang looked at the text message Lin Wei sent on his phone, feeling a bit surprised.

He never expected to be reborn in this time period of 2002.

Lin Wei was his classmate at Xingcheng University and also the Student Union President.

In his previous life, Chen Yang missed the appointment due to diarrhea, and afterward their relationship drifted apart.

Chen Yang never understood the reason. Only before his rebirth did he learn that his university buddy Zhang Jun was behind it.

Zhang Jun was Lin Wei's devoted suitor, pursuing her from high school through college graduation and up until Chen Yang's rebirth, yet still with no success.

Once, Chen Yang was moved to tears by his deep affection. He never imagined he himself was the biggest fool.

"Chen Yang, do you know why you've been doing so poorly after graduation? It's all Zhang Jun's scheming."

"You can't find a job in Qingshui City because Zhang Jun gave advance notice, preventing employers from hiring you."

"Your wife being Zhang Jun's cousin—he actually knew from the start. He deliberately arranged for her to approach you, aiming to trick you into going to Shencheng to keep you away from Lin Wei. By the way, Lin Wei originally liked you, not Zhang Jun."

"Moreover, the three million yuan your wife was scammed out of was also a scheme set up by Zhang Jun."

"If he weren't aware that you truly have no feelings for Lin Wei, he would have wanted someone to kill you."

……

Chen Yang's mental world completely collapsed. He constantly wondered why his life was so exhausting. Work went poorly in every way, his wife found someone who had given birth to three children. After toiling for twenty years, he wanted to return to his hometown and just lie flat, but his wife was then scammed out of three million. He never imagined the culprit would be the brother he thought was his closest—Zhang Jun.

Burning with rage, Chen Yang ignored his wife's strong objections, drove all night back to Qingshui to settle scores with Zhang Jun, and then got into a car accident.

At this moment, the reborn Chen Yang has also calmed down.

The conflict between him and Zhang Jun ultimately comes down to Lin Wei. The issue is that Zhang Jun schemed against him because of Lin Wei, and he truly feels wronged.

Over four years of college, although Lin Wei had helped Chen Yang a lot, their opportunities for one-on-one contact were very few. One was busy with studies and Student Union affairs, the other spent free time working to earn money, hardly socializing. The only chance to talk more was the brief moments when they returned to Qingshui City for winter and summer breaks each year. During those times, Zhang Jun was also present.

Moreover, Chen Yang never felt that Lin Wei liked him. After graduation, they had no contact at all.

As for matters concerning Lin Wei, it was all Zhang Jun himself chatting with his university roommates.

So Chen Yang feels he's truly damned unfair.

He simply tidied himself up, preparing to keep the appointment. Incidentally, he wanted to observe whether Lin Wei truly had feelings for him.

Just as he stepped out the door, he saw Zhang Jun walking over with a grin, holding a bag of KFC.

"Chen Yang, I specially brought you this fresh-out-of-the-oven KFC."

Chen Yang tried to suppress the urge to beat him up. He carefully examined Zhang Jun, who was a head shorter than him, quite ordinary in appearance, and not fond of studying. If it weren't for having a father who is the richest man in Qingshui City, after graduation he would probably be living a harder life than his previous incarnation.

Besides being beautiful and capable, Lin Wei also had an official family background. Before his rebirth, she had already become the Party Secretary of Qingshui County, a true local powerholder. It's only natural that she looked down on Zhang Jun.

To scheme against an innocent person for a woman who doesn't love him, Chen Yang found Zhang Jun's actions ridiculous. He naturally had no desire to respond to the false enthusiasm Zhang Jun showed him.

He sidestepped to avoid Zhang Jun and continued walking toward the dormitory exit.

"Chen Yang, what's your problem? I kindly brought you food; if you don't appreciate it, fine, but you're putting on a stinking face for no reason!" Zhang Jun grabbed Chen Yang's hand and roared angrily.

Chen Yang glanced at him, then at the KFC bag in his hand, and the memories of his previous life suddenly became clear.

He remembered that back then, drinking Zhang Jun's iced cola caused his diarrhea, ultimately making him miss Lin Wei's date.

Moreover, he had asked Zhang Jun to buy anti-diarrhea medicine. This guy not only wandered outside all night without returning, but also secretly took his phone.

At the same time, Zhang Jun's two other roommates who were always inseparable from him—Zhao Shunfa and Tang Kun—also didn't return to the dorm that day. Afterwards they claimed they had gone to an internet cafe to stay up all night watching the World Cup.

Chen Yang didn't think much of it back then, but now, upon reflection, he feels something is off.

That year's World Cup was jointly hosted by Korea and Japan, with matches held in the afternoon and evening, requiring no all-nighters. Thus Zhao Shunfa and Tang Kun's behavior was clearly another deliberate arrangement by Zhang Jun.

"Zhang Jun, someone just messaged me saying you put something in the cola—is that true?"

Chen Yang was just trying to bluff Zhang Jun, but he didn't expect the other's reaction to be so rich—first surprised, then embarrassed, angry, and finally returning to his usual arrogance.

"Chen Yang, haven't I treated you well these past few years? I've fed you well, applied for various subsidies for you. Even if I put some laxative in the cola, what's the big deal? Can't I joke around?"

Chen Yang laughed, "Is that how you joke? The laxative in the cola made him squat in the bathroom all night, wishing he could expel his intestines. What a grudge! Such a vicious hand!"

Chen Yang suddenly thought of something and casually asked, "You gave me the drug—could it be because of Lin Wei?"

Zhang Jun's face darkened instantly, and he snorted coldly, "That's right. Lin Wei wanted to see you about something, and I didn't want you to get involved."

Chen Yang puzzled, "If you didn't want me involved, you could have just said so—why resort to drugs?"

"Because this matter is very important, I don't want any accidents!"

"What matter makes you so nervous?"

"You don't need to know."

"Alright, I'll go ask Lin Wei."

Chen Yang didn't want to waste more words with Zhang Jun.

He was actually also curious—what could make Zhang Jun so tense, and what exactly did Lin Wei want from him?

"A confession?"

Chen Yang quickly dismissed that thought. After graduation, his phone number never changed, yet he never received a call or message from Lin Wei. Even when he sent holiday greetings, she never replied. This situation left him baffled as well—after being classmates for four years, how could he mean less to her than a stranger?

Unable to figure it out, Chen Yang decided to go directly to Lin Wei to seek answers.

Likewise unable to understand, Zhang Jun angrily threw the KFC bag onto the dorm floor, then quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Zhao Shunfa, Tang Kun, you two bastards. You eat my food, drink my stuff every day, and now you've sold me out."

"You wait—I'm not done with you!"

Outside Xingcheng University at an internet cafe, Zhao Shunfa and Tang Kun, who were watching the game, stared at each other blankly, not knowing what kind of fire Zhang Jun had unleashed on the phone……