Chapter 1: Back to 2004

　　“Dave, wake up, this is Old Brooks’s class!”

　　David Thompson smacked his lips, yawned, and mumbled half-asleep, “Mr. Brooks? Didn’t say there was a meeting today!”

　　As soon as he finished, David Thompson’s mind went blank. His half-closed eyes suddenly widened—he was a bachelor, sleeping soundly at home, so who was talking beside him?

　　Stiffly turning his head to glance to the side, David Thompson was instantly stunned!

　　“Dave, what are you talking about? It’s not a class meeting, this is Old Brooks’s class. You must be really out of it.” William Clark scratched his neck, not paying attention to the fact that David Thompson said Mr. Brooks instead of Old Brooks.

　　“Wang... William Clark?”

　　David Thompson swallowed, his tone a bit uncertain and surprised.

　　This was clearly his high school deskmate William Clark. After graduation, they went their separate ways, and except for the occasional chat in the high school group, they hadn’t seen each other in almost ten years.

　　But the guy in front of him now was unmistakably the high school-era William Clark—that distinctive bowl cut was impossible to mistake!

　　“Enough, I’m done talking to you, Old Brooks is here!” William Clark was a bit annoyed by David Thompson’s expression, as if he’d just eaten something disgusting.

　　What was even more irritating was that David Thompson kept staring at his hairstyle. Feeling stifled, but seeing the homeroom teacher Old Brooks enter the classroom, he quickly turned around to listen to the lesson.

　　……

　　“Did I just get reborn?”

　　David Thompson looked around at the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar faces, finally certain that he must have returned to his high school days.

　　But the first feeling that hit him wasn’t excitement—it was heart-wrenching pain!

　　David Thompson almost wailed, muttering, “Damn it! Even a few months earlier would’ve been fine. I worked so hard after graduating college for seven or eight years just to get a mortgage and buy a house. I’d only lived there a few days before it was gone—what a rip-off!”

　　Thinking of how his parents had both passed away a few years ago, and how he was still single, and now his newly bought house would end up in someone else’s hands, David Thompson felt a wave of frustration.

　　He’d fantasized countless times about how great it would be to start over, but thinking of that new house still smelling of paint, David Thompson couldn’t help but feel stifled.

　　Luckily, realizing he wouldn’t have to get up early and work late to pay off a mortgage anymore, David Thompson managed to comfort himself and suppress his gloom.

　　Then David Thompson’s face turned incredibly excited—he’d been reborn! Stocks, lotteries, real estate—those were nothing now. Whatever he wanted in the future, he could have. Why care about that two-bedroom on the outskirts?

　　On the podium, George Brooks had long noticed David Thompson’s absent-mindedness, but since David Thompson wasn’t causing any trouble, he held back from saying anything.

　　But when he saw David Thompson’s face contort as he muttered to himself, George Brooks finally couldn’t hold back and barked, “David Thompson, translate the passage of classical Chinese I just explained!”

　　Still daydreaming, David Thompson jolted, looked up to see Old Brooks’s bulging eyes, and quickly stood up with a big grin, saying, “Teacher, I’m sorry! I’ll pay attention from now on, study hard, and get into a good university. I won’t let my parents or my teachers down…”

　　David Thompson’s rambling not only left George Brooks dumbfounded, but also stunned the rest of the class.

　　At this time, school discipline wasn’t as relaxed as it would be in later years—teachers were strict, students obedient. David Thompson’s shameless display left everyone speechless.

　　Then the whole class burst into laughter. William Clark, his deskmate, was so embarrassed by everyone’s stares that he wished he could crawl into a hole. He twisted his face and yanked hard on David Thompson, finally making him stop, though he was still reluctant.

　　Seeing everyone still hadn’t recovered, David Thompson couldn’t help but curl his lip. This was nothing—after all, he’d worked in sales for seven or eight years, winning the sales champion title three months in a row. He could talk nonsense for an hour without repeating himself.

　　As for the shyness and timidity of his student days, he’d long since thrown that out the window. If it weren’t for his silver tongue, how could a poor kid like him have managed a down payment and even bought a car?

　　George Brooks clearly hadn’t expected David Thompson to be so thick-skinned. He’d planned to scold him, but since David Thompson’s every word was self-reflection and remorse, he didn’t even know where to start.

　　Holding back his anger with nowhere to vent, and seeing the class discipline falling apart, he grunted, “Enough, sit down! There are only two months left until the college entrance exam—everyone needs to take responsibility for their own future!”

　　That last sentence was clearly directed at someone!

　　Of course, with a face as thick as iron, David Thompson didn’t take it to heart.

　　George Brooks’s warning didn’t register with David Thompson; what he noticed was the mention that there were only two months left until the college entrance exam.

　　David Thompson remembered that his college entrance exam was in 2004, which meant it was now around April 2004.

　　The annoying part was that he’d have to take the exam all over again. Thinking about how he’d worked so hard last time only to get into a second-tier university, having to do it again was even more frustrating.