Chapter 165 The End

Chapter 165: Conclusion

In the Microsoft office building in the United States, by the break room, Zhao Mingshi’s face, which had just been alight with laughter and camaraderie with his colleagues, visibly darkened as he looked at An Qiao.

An Qiao, however, beamed at him, greeting him with a cheerful, "Hi~"

Then, in a deliberately saccharine tone that grated on his nerves, she added, "What a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here. So you work here too."

"I guess we're colleagues now~"

She even extended her hand.

Zhao Mingshi, of course, had no intention of shaking it.

With a stern face, he lowered his voice. "Why are you here?"

"Me?"

An Qiao withdrew her hand, shrugging with feigned innocence. "Why shouldn’t I be here?"

"To work, obviously. What else would I be doing?"

She laughed again, then, turning to leave, said cheerfully, "I’m really looking forward to working with you."

"Alright, I’m off. See you around."

Zhao Mingshi watched her go, his expression now completely grim.

He strode quickly to the vice president’s office, pushing the door open without knocking. Inside, Zhao Mingshi demanded in English, "Why is that woman named Ann here?"

"What qualifications does she have?"

"How did she get in?"

"Is the company just hiring any riff-raff now?"

Peter, who had been working at his desk, looked utterly bewildered by the barrage of questions.

"Hey!"

Peter said, exasperated, "Knock before you come in, okay?"

"Have some manners!"

"Sorry."

Zhao Mingshi took a moment to compose himself, then approached, leaning his hands on the desk. "I just want to know why that Chinese woman, Ann, is here."

"Come on!"

Peter spread his hands and shrugged, looking perfectly nonchalant. "Why are you so tense?"

He explained, "China has 1.2 billion people! 1.2 billion! The market is huge!"

"It’s only a matter of time before we enter China."

"Ann’s company specializes in computer hardware—it’s very well-known in China, large-scale, and well-funded."

"Her boss introduced us to the relevant departments in China and welcomed our expansion there. It’s just one position for one woman—why shouldn’t we give it to her?"

"Of course we should. We’re going to expand into China…"

Zhao Mingshi calmly interrupted him. "We can trade anything as a condition. What’s the point of bringing such a useless woman into the company?"

"Hey!"

Peter looked puzzled. "Jake, what’s wrong with you? Is there a problem with that woman?"

"I don’t see any issue at all."

"She’s even a university student from a prestigious Chinese university. It’s not like she’s completely useless. Besides, the company has its own considerations…"

Zhao Mingshi argued fiercely with Peter, which, to colleagues outside the office, sounded like a major quarrel.

In the end, Zhao Mingshi stormed out of the office with the same force he had entered, clearly not getting the outcome he desired from Peter.

What Zhao Mingshi hadn’t anticipated was that, within just half a day of An Qiao’s arrival, she would single-handedly stir up a storm in the office—

After lunch, when he returned to his department, many colleagues were looking at him with strange expressions.

Zhao Mingshi immediately sensed something was amiss.

As he entered his office, a Chinese-American colleague he was friendly with slipped in and, in a low voice, said in Chinese, "Hey, so it turns out you and the new girl Ann used to date? Ann said she even tried to kill herself because of you."

"Did she come all the way from China just for you?"

Zhao Mingshi: "…"

Zhao Mingshi instantly felt a headache coming on.

If he denied it, those eager for gossip would only become more intrigued.

But why should he admit it? Why should he allow himself to be linked to An Qiao again?!

Why had An Qiao come to the U.S.?

Why couldn't she just leave him alone?!

Zhao Mingshi tugged roughly at his tie, visibly agitated and uncharacteristically losing his usual composure.

After his colleague left, he quickly calmed down and began to scheme, thinking of a way to send An Qiao back to where she came from.

But that afternoon, Peter introduced An Qiao to everyone in the open office area, announcing her as the new Marketing Manager—a position and status equal to his own.

Zhao Mingshi stood in front of his office, feeling so disgusted that he couldn’t even bring himself to clap or pretend to be polite.

An Qiao, however, was all smiles—grinning at Peter, at their colleagues on the same floor, and then, her gaze cutting through the crowd, at him. Her smile only made Zhao Mingshi feel even more sickened.

For the rest of the afternoon until the end of the workday, Zhao Mingshi felt deeply unsettled. He could already foresee how much trouble An Qiao would go out of her way to annoy him. Regarding this ex-girlfriend who had suddenly dropped in out of nowhere, Zhao Mingshi wasn’t naive enough to believe her arrival was just a coincidence.

He knew perfectly well that Bi Feng had suddenly vanished, and Bi Feng’s older brother—that local tyrant—had been arrested back in China. It was hard to say how much those back home knew about his own involvement.

If they didn’t know, that was best. If they did, Zhao Mingshi wasn’t afraid. After all, he was in the U.S.—far from the reach of any authority. No one could easily touch him here.

Now that An Qiao had suddenly appeared, and knowing that her boss was Jiang Luo, he guessed that Jiang Luo had probably already figured out the truth.

So what?

What could anyone do to him?

Zhao Mingshi wasn't particularly concerned.

But then again, if Jiang Luo really could do something more substantial to him, why not do it instead of sending An Qiao to mess with him?

Thinking this, Zhao Mingshi felt pleased at Jiang Luo's "powerlessness."

See? Just what can you do to me?

Just send an ex-girlfriend over?

No other tricks up your sleeve, huh?

Heh.

Having figured this out, Zhao Mingshi couldn't help but sing cheerfully on his drive home.

But when he got home, he couldn't sing anymore—

The lock had been broken, and his house looked as if it had been ransacked by thieves, turned completely upside down.

No, thieves would only steal valuables and get out quickly, not bother with anything else.

But Zhao Mingshi's house, from the living room to the dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms, from the first floor to the second, third, and even the attic, looked as if a tornado had swept through—everything in the drawers and cabinets had been pulled out and dumped all over the floor.

Appliances had their cords cut and were scattered everywhere, furniture was overturned, cabinet doors and panels were dismantled and scattered across the floor.

In summary: the entire house was trashed.

When Zhao Mingshi walked in and saw the scene, he went from confusion and shock to speechless anger—Damn it! Damn it!!!

Who!? Who did this!?

Are you insane!???

At this point, Zhao Mingshi still didn't overthink it, assuming it was just a burglary, albeit a particularly brutal one.

He followed the normal procedure: called the police.

Soon, the police arrived.

Zhao Mingshi was up until late cooperating with the police.

Late at night, he got a hotel room, lay down on the bed, and felt utterly worn out, body and soul.

Over the next few days, Zhao Mingshi was extremely busy—hiring people to repair the house, buying new furniture and appliances, all while still having to go to work.

At work, An Qiao was always there, finding ways to mess with him. After work, he had to deal with the house, leaving him with no downtime.

After a week of hard work, he finally got the house fixed up and installed better locks and security cameras. But when he returned home after work that day, he found the house ransacked again, with everything once again scattered and in disarray.

Zhao Mingshi: "..."

Zhao Mingshi's scalp tingled—Who!? Who is it!?

He immediately checked the surveillance footage, only to see several tall men wearing black masks breaking in and tearing the cameras right off the walls in front of the lens.

Where did they come from!?

At this point, Zhao Mingshi still didn't overthink it, assuming he had been targeted by criminals—after all, in the U.S., regardless of the neighborhood's safety, Asians are often easy targets.

Zhao Mingshi wised up this time. He left the house as it was and moved into a hotel—he had a job, with a heavy workload, and couldn't afford to waste time dealing with criminals.

If he couldn't fight them, he might as well avoid them.

Zhao Mingshi was sick about the money he had spent on the house, but he had no choice—he had to get out.

But after a long day at work, exhausted, he returned to the hotel, opened the door, and was shocked to find his hotel room had also been "ransacked"—all his belongings were pulled out and thrown on the floor. Clothes and other items had been cut up, turned into rags, and scattered everywhere.

Zhao Mingshi stood at the door, first stunned, then instantly felt his scalp tingle—

Someone was deliberately targeting him!

Zhao Mingshi, quick as he was, quickly realized it.

Without staying in the hotel any longer, he grabbed his papers and whatever was still usable, immediately drove away.

He drove for hours, terrified of what might happen next.

When he reached a new hotel, with some clarity of mind, he used the bedside phone to make a call. As soon as the call connected, he coldly gritted his teeth and said, "An Qiao, it's you, isn't it? You did all this, right!?"

"Don't tell me it wasn't you!!!"

"What's wrong?"

An Qiao feigned ignorance, then laughed: "Oh, you're back at the hotel. How was it? Quite a surprise, huh?"

She added, "How could you be so naive?"

"How could you think it was just a thief?"

"Thieves wouldn't deliberately mess up your place like that."

"Of course it was me."

"An Qiao!"

Zhao Mingshi was first furious, then, keeping his temper in check, he said, "I know you hate me. I understand."

"Let's talk, okay?"

"An Qiao, let's talk."

"Tell me, what do I need to do for you to call it quits..."

"Impossible."

An Qiao's voice carried a smug satisfaction. "How could I possibly let you go? Hmm?"

"Zhao Mingshi, you were the first man I ever loved, and the only man I've ever loved in my life. Yet you hurt me so badly back then."

"How could I possibly let you go?"

"Don't worry,"

An Qiao's voice was light and slow. "I will, without a doubt, haunt you like a ghost."

"Wherever you go, I'll be there."

"Where you are, I am..."

Just then, there was insistent knocking at the door.

Zhao Mingshi irritably answered the door. As it swung open and he looked up, he saw An Qiao standing right there, phone pressed to her ear—just as she’d promised, she was like a ghost, haunting his every step.

"Ah!"

Faced with An Qiao's ghostly grin, Zhao Mingshi was terrified.

An Qiao hung up the phone, smiled at Zhao Mingshi, then gestured to the burly white guys behind her. They pushed their way into the room together. An Qiao stepped over the doorframe in her high heels, strolled inside, and casually kicked the door closed.

"Ah!!!"

A wooden door couldn't block out the screams and other disturbing sounds coming from inside.

But there was no one else outside. No one heard, and no one came to help.

Zhao Mingshi—every minute, every second of his future life—would never break free from An Qiao's grasp.

An Qiao would let him live, and she would also let him die, but more than that, she would make him beg for death.

She would repay Zhao Mingshi a thousandfold for every wrong from their student days.

Just as Jiang Luo had instructed her before she came to the United States: Make sure he suffers.

I will.

Chen Xin smiled, deeply satisfied.

She felt deeply content, both for her own new strength of body and mind, and for the chance to avenge the naive, helpless girl she once was.

She said to herself, "I will.

I will make him pay, make him wish he were dead.

Make him experience the agony of clinging to life while longing for death—of wanting to die but being unable to."

Jiang Luo was fishing by the lake. He had just hung up on Chen Xin’s call from the United States when Yu Dong arrived.

Seeing Yu Dong approach, Jiang Luo—sitting casually with his fishing rod like he didn’t have a care in the world—said in a casual tone, "Your sister Xin was just talking about you, saying she misses you. She asked me to arrange for you to go to the U.S. and join her for a few days."

Yu Dong, wearing a beautiful dress, stood beside Jiang Luo and replied, "Once you okay my resignation, I’ll fly over right away."

Jiang Luo paused briefly but wasn’t particularly surprised. He continued watching the float on the lake’s surface and said calmly, "Thinking of leaving? Sure, no problem."

"Planning to branch out on your own? Doing what?"

Yu Dong also gazed at the lake, squinting at the shimmering water under the sunlight. "Not sure yet, haven’t figured it out."

"Go talk to HR at the company yourself."

Jiang Luo said casually, "I’ll give you an extra severance package. You’ve done a lot for the company over the years, pulled off so much."

Yu Dong turned her head, looked down at him, and said, "I’m actually kind of sad to go. I’ve been here for so many years."

"I’ve already moved my parents back to the country to retire."

Yu Dong continued on her own, "But I really have to go."

"I’ve made a lot of money. I want to travel around the world, sightsee, unwind."

"I also want to find love, to date, to marry."

Jiang Luo remarked offhandedly, "You Junyu isn’t the one, huh?"

"Don’t even mention him to me!"

Yu Dong scoffed, then added, "I need to find my favorite country and city, settle down there, bring my parents over, build a home, find a partner, get married, have kids, and live well."

"Yeah."

Jiang Luo didn’t say much. To each their own. "Go ahead."

Over the years, many people had stayed by his side—like Zhang Ningfu and Secretary Lu—while many others had left one after another, such as Wang Chuang and Mo Wanzhen, who had gone their own way.

Jiang Luo let them all go.

People come and go—it’s fate.

Jiang Luo still hadn’t gotten a bite. Yu Dong stood by the lake, making small talk with him.

"By the way."

Yu Dong suddenly thought of something and said, "Let me ask you something."

"Mm."

Jiang Luo was sucking on a lollipop, one cheek bulging. He hadn’t aged a day; he still looked every bit the eighteen-year-old.

Yu Dong looked down at him. "I’ve always wondered why you kept me by your side back then."

"Because I’m pretty?"

"Because you thought I was capable? That I could be useful to you?"

"No."

Jiang Luo denied it.

"Then why?"

Yu Dong was curious.

Jiang Luo had nothing to hide and said slowly, "Because of your name."

"My name?"

Yu Dong was puzzled.

Jiang Luo leaned back in his small chair, still watching the float on the lake. "Because your name is Yu Dong."

"It’s only because you’re named Yu Dong that I went easy on you."

"Otherwise, given that you lied to get me into that office back when I lent it to you to change clothes, I never would’ve kept someone like you around to work for me."

"What’s so special about my name?"

Yu Dong was curious and wasn’t offended at Jiang Luo calling her "that type of person."

Back then, she really was exactly that—there was no denying it.

"So unique."

Jiang Luo thought to himself, so unique that after all these years, he was still waiting, occasionally asking around, wanting to know where "Yu Dong" actually was.

Unfortunately, no second person named Yu Dong had ever appeared.

"I'll come back to see you all."

Yu Dong left, leaving these words before departing, "When I get married, I’ll definitely invite you all to the wedding banquet."

Jiang Luo: "Okay."

After Yu Dong left, Jiang Luo wiggled the fishing rod in his hand, causing the fishing line to tug the float up and down.

He wondered why. After all these years, why hadn’t he encountered another person named Yu Dong?

Was it because his fate had changed?

Jiang Luo had no other regrets now, only feeling sorry about this one thing.

He had always hoped to reunite with Yu Dong, to see what kind of person he was, to find out exactly who it was that had secretly helped him in his previous life.

He wanted to repay him.

Unfortunately...

—

Jiang Luo found himself busy again, not only because of the company’s original business and projects, and the various tasks at hand, but also because Huo Zongzhuo was preparing to take another path, gradually shedding his core businesses and stakes in various companies.

To this end, Jiang Luo specifically assembled a legal team to ensure that Huo Zongzhuo’s divestment was legally compliant and thorough.

At the same time, Huo Zongzhuo was also, through a series of maneuvers and by increasing his shareholdings, gradually entering the upper echelons of the postal system.

One day, at home, while chatting, Huo Zongzhuo and Jiang Luo discussed the divestment of the company and taking another path. As they talked, Huo Zongzhuo said, "By the way, there's something."

Huh?

Jiang Luo was watching TV and eating fruit—recently, "Kangxi Micro-Fashion Private Visit" was very popular, and the plot was engaging. Jiang Luo had been following it closely.

Huo Zongzhuo took out his wallet, pulled something from it, and handed it to Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo, watching TV, took it. He knew it was Huo Zongzhuo’s ID card but didn’t examine it, just puzzled, shot a glance at Huo Zongzhuo while still watching TV, and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Huo Zongzhuo: "To join the government system, I think it’s best not to use the name 'Huo Zongzhuo.'"

"You know, in my early years, because of my father, I was tangled up in a major corruption case."

"At the time, I was afraid of danger and also worried about dragging my mother into it, so I used another name."

Hmm?

Jiang Luo finally tore his eyes away from the TV, looked down at the ID card in his hand.

At a glance, the ID card showed a photo of Huo Zongzhuo from his younger days, and beside the photo, next to the two characters for "Name," were clearly two characters: Yu, Dong.

Jiang Luo went completely still.

Huo Zongzhuo continued, "I will use the name Yu Dong to enter the system. After all, too many people know the name Huo Zongzhuo. When the time comes..."

Jiang Luo wasn’t listening at all, couldn’t take it in. He was dumbstruck, his eyes fixed only on the two clear characters on the ID card: Yu, Dong.

Yu, Dong.

Yu.

Dong.

He finally confirmed, it was indeed this "Yu."

He finally knew, it was this "Dong."

Yu Dong.

Was Huo Zongzhuo?

So it was Huo Zongzhuo?

It was Huo Zongzhuo all along?

In the previous life, it was Huo Zongzhuo who helped him!?

Jiang Luo clutched the ID card in his hand, raised his eyes, and stared with a disbelieving yet profoundly touched expression at the man sitting beside him.

You!?

All this time, it was you!?

Jiang Luo suddenly laughed, then as he laughed, his eyes grew red, brimming with tears—

He had once, so very, very much, been bothered by the fact that no one loved him in his previous life.

After learning that someone had secretly helped him, after realizing Yu Dong’s existence, he always wanted to know what kind of person it was, who had been quietly looking out for him, helping him behind the scenes.

He felt that even if it was a stranger he didn’t know, someone willing to love him unconditionally in his previous life, then that life wouldn't have been a complete waste.

But the truth was, that person, the one he had searched for so long, was Huo Zongzhuo all along?

It was Huo Zongzhuo, who loved him unconditionally for two lifetimes?

It was Huo Zongzhuo.

Only Huo Zongzhuo.

The person who loved him had always been Huo Zongzhuo.

"What’s wrong?" Huo Zongzhuo asked, surprised, looking at Jiang Luo, wondering what was wrong.

Jiang Luo laughed through tears and shook his head, indicating it was nothing—it was you, it was always you, only you, everything was you.

So Huo Zongzhuo had been loving him for two lifetimes.

Clutching the ID card, Jiang Luo went to him and pulled him into a tight hug—Thank you. This was what he had planned to say all along while searching for Yu Dong.

And thank you, this was the heartfelt sigh Jiang Luo carried.

And thank you, this was also Jiang Luo’s genuine feeling.

Huo Zongzhuo, thank you for helping me, for loving me, for finally coming to my side and being with me in this lifetime.

"I love you."

Jiang Luo hugged Huo Zongzhuo, tears streaming down his face, repeating over and over: "I love you, I love you."

Yu Dong, it must have been hard for you when you learned of my death in the previous life.

"I love you."

Jiang Luo let go of the hug, tears still falling, and kissed Huo Zongzhuo: "I love you, I really love you."

"I will always be with you."

"I love you."

Yu Dong, thank you.

In May 1997, just before Hong Kong's handover, Huo Zongzhuo, under the identity and name of Yu Dong, entered the senior management of the postal and telecommunications bureau, which was then facing division, and later joined the renamed China Telecom, officially beginning his political career.

In the same year, Jiang Luo merged Shengfei and Zhikun, and the company was renamed Kunsheng Group.

Jiang Luo kept Huo Zongzhuo's original office and also preserved the Bodhisattva statue that Huo Zongzhuo had enshrined in a corner of the office.

The string of Buddhist beads that Huo Zongzhuo used to wear now belonged to Jiang Luo.

Every morning, Jiang Luo would arrive at the company, enter the office, light a stick of incense, and respectfully and sincerely offer it to the Bodhisattva in the corner shrine, bowing in respect.

He asked for nothing else—only for his own wealth and prosperity, for Huo Zongzhuo's smooth official career, and for both of them to stay healthy and grow old together.

—

Chinese New Year was approaching, and the Zhao family's Western-style home was especially festive this year—Su Lan had arranged for a renovation, and Zhao Shuo and Huang Bingbing gifted half of the furniture and appliances, while the other half were sent by Huo Zongzhuo in Jiang Luo's name.

These past few days, Huang Bingbing and Su Lan, along with their little granddaughter Yan Yan, had hung red lanterns and red paper cuttings around the house, making it both beautiful and festive.

"Great-uncle!"

Zhao Guangqian had also returned, and Yan Yan was overjoyed.

Zhao Guangqian picked up Yan Yan as soon as he entered, holding her in his arms—he couldn't have been more fond of the little girl.

The little girl told him, "Great-uncle! Uncle gave me several LEGO sets, they're so fun!"

Zhao Guangqian didn't know what LEGO sets were, but he was happy and amused, so he teased Yan Yan, saying, "So, do you like the gifts from Uncle, or do you like Great-uncle's red envelope?"

"I like Great-uncle!"

Yan Yan's words were incredibly sweet, delighting Zhao Guangqian, who couldn't bear to put her down. He carried the already quite tall Yan Yan everywhere, holding her in his arms and chatting with her nonstop.

Zhao Guangyuan was on the phone, smiling all the while, saying, "Okay, okay, no problem."

He added, "Happy New Year to you too."

"Okay, okay."

It turned out he was on the phone with Huo Zongzhuo, who was calling for Jiang Luo. Although Zhao Guangyuan couldn't hear Jiang Luo's voice, he was content and happy just hearing Huo Zongzhuo say, "Jiang Luo wishes you a happy New Year."

After he hung up, Zhao Guangyuan immediately called out to Yan Yan, "Yan Yan, Uncle will send you a New Year's gift on New Year's Eve too."

"Wow, really!?"

Yan Yan exclaimed happily, "I love Uncle the most!"

Then she quickly added, "Except for Great-uncle!"

This made everyone in the room laugh.

In Suzhou, at the old house, Aunt Zhao wasn't there—she had gone back for the New Year. Jiang Luo, Huo Zongzhuo, and Jiang Luo's mother were busy making dumplings together at the table in the living room.

Jiang Luo's mother remarked, "In the North, people make dumplings for the New Year. This is my first time making them for the holiday."

"We're just doing it for fun."

Jiang Luo was also making dumplings, but not very well—either the skin tore, or the filling leaked, or the dumplings ended up looking strange and misshapen.

Huo Zongzhuo, using his left hand wearing a wedding ring to mix the dumpling filling, saw this and couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "Just leave it alone. Don't make a mess."

"No, I won't,"

Jiang Luo continued, "I want to see if the ones I make are edible."

"Right, Mom?"

He then glanced at the old white cat on the sofa nearby, "Right, Xiao Hua?"

On New Year's Eve, after dinner, Jiang Luo brought out several large packs of fireworks he had bought and went out to set them off on the cobblestone path outside. All the children from the households in the alley ran out, following Jiang Luo and crowding around him to watch and set off the fireworks together.

Amid the laughter, Huo Zongzhuo used a camera with flash to capture every moment, especially focusing on Jiang Luo holding fireworks with a beaming smile.

At night, before going to sleep, Huo Zongzhuo, as usual, kissed the scar on Jiang Luo's waist—a small, round mark that differed in color and texture from the surrounding skin. It was the place on Jiang Luo's body that Huo Zongzhuo cared about the most.

Huo Zongzhuo kissed it, and Jiang Luo, feeling ticklish, kept laughing.

Laughing, Jiang Luo reached out and guided Huo Zongzhuo's head back to face him, kissed him, and said, "That's my badge of honor."

Huo Zongzhuo: "I wish that medal were on me."

"No, then it would become your medal."

Jiang Luo kissed him again, coaxing him, and said, "Can we have a special night tonight? It can't be short."

Huo Zongzhuo smiled, lowered his head, and gave him a deep kiss: "Of course."

The next day, Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo, each supporting one side, helped Jiang Luo's mother as the three of them walked along Pingjiang Road.

The shops on Pingjiang Road were all open, and on the first day of the New Year, there were many people out and about.

They not only browsed various small shops but also sat down at the spot where Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo had taken photos before, taking another photo for old times' sake.

They even asked a passerby to help, handing the camera to them to take a photo.

So Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo sat on either side of his mother, while the passerby held the camera, pointed at them, and said, "Okay, look at me, good, 'one, two, three, smile!'"

"Click!" The moment captured on the film was with the backdrop of Pingjiang Road's white walls, dark tiles, small bridges over green water, with Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo smiling together, holding the arms of his mother with a kind smile in the middle.

The Spring Festival holiday of that year passed happily just like that.

After the holiday, they left Suzhou—Huo Zongzhuo went back to work, and Jiang Luo returned to his company.

Kun Sheng Moving Company moved to a new place in Pudong, not far from the Oriental Pearl Tower.

After his prayers to the Bodhisattva, Jiang Luo stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, looking out into the distance. He could see both the tall TV tower and the Huangpu River flowing nearby.

The river surged endlessly, like the unstoppable march of time.

"Boss Jiang."

Someone called from behind.

Jiang Luo turned around.

It was 1998, and Jiang Luo was 26.

What new experiences and challenges would the new year bring?

Even Jiang Luo himself was looking forward to it.

Outside the window behind him, Pudong was already rising with skyscrapers.

Time marched forward, and so did fate and life—like the river's current, never ceasing.

—

"Jiang Luo! Jiang Luo!"

Jiang Luo heard crying. It was annoying him. He wondered who it was and wished they'd let him sleep. It was more annoying than the blaring music at the Oriental No. 1 nightclub.

Shut up, quiet, I'm sleeping here!

Jiang Luo ignored it completely. He woke up but didn't open his eyes, wanting to go back to sleep.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The monitor, which had shown a flat line, suddenly showed regular heartbeats.

"Doctor, get a doctor, quick!"

Someone screamed loudly.

Then came chaotic noises, making Jiang Luo even more annoyed.

He finally opened his eyes but was stunned. A crowd of faces was gathered around, all staring intently at him without moving.

He sat up abruptly, looking confused at them, and instinctively blurted out, "Who the hell are you people?"

Where is this?

Jiang Luo thought to himself: Wasn't I just out partying all night and come home to catch up on sleep?

What the hell is this place?

And who are all these people?!

Until a both familiar and unfamiliar chubby guy rushed over, between laughing and crying as he stared wide-eyed: "Luo-ge? You're okay? You're really okay? You're awake? You're alive again? That's great, that's really great!!"

"Wang Chuang?"

Jiang Luo looked at him, sizing him up, and said, "Damn, are you acting? Dressed like some cheesy businessman, even more vulgar than Brother Huazi's big-shot uncle."

This year, the 18-year-old Jiang Luo was reborn into a parallel universe on New Year's Eve, 1999. With his young, healthy soul, he repaired his failing body, healing his once-terminal lung cancer overnight.

What would he experience here?

-The End-

-----------------------

Author's Note: I gave up twice and picked it up three times, but I finally finished this book.

The results were poor, the readership low, but it doesn’t matter. Once I got my hands on the keyboard, I just went for it—nearly 500,000 words in two months. I can’t help but praise myself: I'm pretty damn amazing.

Thank you all for being with me on this journey. I’m endlessly grateful. [kiss][kiss]

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