Chapter 1: Reborn in Senior Year Three, the Underachiever's Awakening?

Laoli, Laoli, what are you spacing out for, kid? Hurry up and finish your scallion pancake and go to class—today is the first day of school, you don't want to be late and get caught by Laoban, do you?

Although we two brothers aren't exactly good students, still, on the first day of this new term, we ought to give Laoban a little face.

A scuffle accompanied by a few slightly anxious shouts startled Li Mingyang awake.

Looking at the face before him—black‑framed glasses, looking like a little uke—Li Mingyang instinctively said:

"Ahoge? What are you doing here, kid? Not right!"

As soon as he said that, Li Mingyang realized something was off—wasn't the face before him a bit too young?

At most ten!

But I'm already a man in my early thirties, a greasy middle‑aged guy—how could my high‑school buddy look so juvenile?

Wait!

He looked around—this seemed to be the gate of his old high school? Liangcheng City Third Middle School!

After all, he'd lived there for over three years, so Li Mingyang was sure he wouldn't mistake it; next came his buddy Luo Yuan's outfit.

If I'm not mistaken, this should be the high school uniform, right?

So…

Li Mingyang instinctively pulled out a phone from his pocket, saw his own youthful face on the screen, and froze.

Because in the phone's reflection, he too had a youthful face, no middle‑aged spread; though young, his handsome visage was already approaching the peak of his college‑years looks.

And looking at this off‑brand phone he'd secretly bought, it was clearly an old model from over a decade ago, nothing like the full‑screen phones he was used to.

Li Mingyang wasn't an idiot; by now he'd figured out that he had definitely encountered the legendary rebirth!

After all, as a seasoned bookworm, Li Mingyang certainly wasn't unfamiliar with this situation.

"Laoli, I'm calling you—you couldn't have stayed up last night reading novels and driven yourself stupid, could you?"

"Today isn't just the first day of school; we also have to check the summer homework, and we haven't done a single character—if we don't seize this rare chance to copy it quickly…"

Hearing that, Li Mingyang secretly pinched himself; after confirming he wasn't dreaming, the corners of his mouth almost split back to his ears.

Reborn!

Even if I'm still an underachiever with no special talent, having a vision ahead of this era by over ten years is my greatest confidence.

Although I won't become like some novel protagonists who, after rebirth, instantly crush heaven, earth, and air.

After all, before time‑traveling back, I was already a middle‑aged old hand who'd struggled through society.

He knew full well that in this society, no matter what you do, if you want to make a fortune, you can't escape connections and capital.

But his family was just an ordinary household from the countryside.

His parents, who'd worked hard half their lives, had merely bought a small apartment in Liangcheng and the provincial capital Lincheng.

Even the provincial capital apartment was remote, though a few years later the subway extension to the neighborhood spurred development, and the price shot up from over three thousand when bought to over ten thousand.

But this could only be called luck for an ordinary person; wanting to get rich, even if reborn, remains a dream.

But if he relied on his vision ahead by over ten years and the policy chances he'd seen slip by around him, he could lift his family from modest comfort to modest wealth, with a few tens of millions in assets.

That would let him live comfortably for the rest of his life, and that's still quite simple.

Forget Bitcoin and such—in this era, domestically, ordinary people have no way to buy it at all!

And forget about getting rich from it!

But buying some Maotai stock would be nice, and the plot of land slated for development in his hometown are also good opportunities.

His thoughts raced, but in reality only a few seconds had passed.

"Don't worry, we two are the class's bottom‑dwellers, and Laoban won't care about us at all."

"Whether we do the summer homework or not makes no difference to us anyway—I'm not doing it, so do whatever."

In his previous life, after everyone started working, Li Mingyang also had a few teacher friends; regarding holiday homework, those teachers wouldn't even glance at it.

And the present Li Mingyang doesn't want to waste his time on such boring stuff, compared to meaningless makeup work.

Li Mingyang would rather use the year he still has to properly catch up on his missed studies.

In his previous life, as a reckless youth he didn't want to study; even during senior‑year review, when he became a bit more sensible, he still didn't study seriously, ending up with an ordinary second‑tier university.

After graduation he drifted aimlessly, just getting by until thirty.

But look at his classmates with good grades—those who scored over six hundred and got into top schools; some were directly selected as cadre recruits, even without exams.

Those who entered via talent introduction became civil servants; within two years they were in the county and started moving up.

Some started out with a monthly salary over ten thousand upon graduation, and then lived comfortably.

Having been reborn, Li Mingyang now knows just how important education is.

The crucial point is, if I'm not mistaken… with my current grades plus my rebellious phase, at home I'm basically detested by everyone and even the dog!

Given his family's standing now, even if he said something, his parents probably wouldn't listen!

By then, eight or nine out of ten missed chances will still be missed, even if he reminds himself!

So… for his future happy life, Li Mingyang decided that from today onward, from the moment he steps into the classroom, he will start studying seriously.

Even if one year isn't enough, even if it takes two, he will surely get into a good university.

This is the most crucial link in changing his life—he absolutely cannot be careless!

……

"What are you doing? Weren't you supposed not to rush the summer homework?"

Upon entering the classroom, seeing Li Mingyang openly open a math reference, Luo Yuan was dumbfounded.

He had even believed your nonsense and was getting ready to secretly read novels, but when he turned around you stabbed him in the back, little master!

"I didn't do anything—just studying. You can't possibly rush the homework; that time would be better spent learning the textbook material."

After saying that, Li Mingyang saw Luo Yuan's face wear an expression of astonishment, as if he'd seen a ghost.

"You kid, you're also in senior year three; I think we really need to study, otherwise we won't even get into a bachelor's program…"

From now on, life will be very tough!

These words really resonated with Li Mingyang; in his previous life he had already suffered enough, but this guy in front of him is even worse off than he was!

He skipped retaking the exams, went straight to a vocational college, and then… splendidly became a layabout otaku who just eats and waits to die.

Earning just one or two thousand a month, as long as he doesn't starve, he spends each day with the computer in his rented apartment just getting by!

Besides, what's that look of yours, kid? Just because you're a poor student doesn't mean you can't awaken, doesn't mean you can't study well? That's pure prejudice, outright prejudice!

Now, turning back is shore; it's not too late for us!