Chapter 3

Liu Meng didn’t even know how he had walked downstairs, mounted his old bicycle, and headed back to the dormitory. He really wanted to find a place to have a good cry. His slightly swollen eyes saw everything as double. After passing an intersection, he glanced and saw the green light, and absent-mindedly rode straight through.

Suddenly, a bright light shone over, and a speeding large truck couldn’t brake in time. Just as it was about to rush past, it saw Liu Meng riding his old bicycle, and it was too late to brake. With a loud thud, it collided heavily and sent him flying.

In the moment of flying, Liu Meng suddenly had a firm belief: I can’t die, I absolutely can’t die. I still need to stand in front of Zhao Linlin again.

“Roast chicken, roast chicken, authentic Dezhou roast chicken.”

Rubbing his slightly painful head, he was woken up by the noisy sales pitch outside. Opening his eyes, he saw the train compartment. What’s going on? Wasn’t I hit by a large truck? Where am I? Is this the afterlife? How can there be trains in the afterlife? Could there be too many ghosts?

His head was full of questions.

“You’re awake, the train has arrived at Decheng Station.” A sweet voice sounded. Liu Meng looked up and saw a little girl sitting opposite him. She had short hair, a small face, and if you put a palm on her face, you wouldn’t see her at all. Her features were small and delicate, but her eyes were not. Her fair face had some very light freckles, and she smiled sweetly.

This scene seemed familiar. Wait, let me think. Isn’t this the scene from ten years ago when I first went to university? Liu Meng was so shocked he couldn’t speak. Time travel? Rebirth?

He quickly grabbed the little girl’s hand and asked urgently, “What’s the date today?”

The little girl felt some pain, not knowing what this seemingly young guy was up to, but she still answered, “August 25th, yeah, it’s almost the 26th.”

“Which year?” Liu Meng asked urgently.

The little girl looked at him strangely. “2004.”

Liu Meng’s heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave, and his face turned pale instantly. But his naturally calm and strong personality kept him from losing composure, and he maintained a calm expression.

I’ve actually returned to ten years ago. Where’s Zhao Linlin? She’s only in junior high now, right? Will we still meet? Will we still fall in love?

His head ached from thinking, and he stared blankly out the window, suddenly falling back down.

......

Liu Meng decided to take immediate action. At the next stop, he got off the train, carried two large suitcases, and bought a ticket for the nearest train heading back to Suzhou. After 30 hours, Liu Meng finally arrived at Zhao Linlin’s hometown, Suzhou, near the Jianghai area.

The two had been in love for six years, and Liu Meng had secretly followed Zhao Linlin to Suzhou before, so he knew where she lived. It was in a lane behind the most bustling street in Suzhou, a large traditional Suzhou-style building.

Zhao Linlin’s family was wealthy. If she had followed her family’s arrangements, they would have bought her a house in Jianghai long ago, and she wouldn’t have to rent a dilapidated house.

Liu Meng went to the second floor of the roast chicken shop, from where he could see Zhao Linlin’s house. Back then, the two often met at school, and Liu Meng, who had arrived in Taigang City from his hometown early, had waited for her here many times.

At noon, a group of junior high school students walked by. Liu Meng quickly carried his two suitcases downstairs and ran to the opposite side. Upon closer inspection, he indeed saw Zhao Linlin.

At this time, she was just in her third year of junior high, still very innocent. She had short hair, a delicate face, and a lively demeanor. She was discussing something with her classmates, loudly arguing, and her face turned red from the debate, making her look even cuter.

After the group split up, Zhao Linlin walked alone inside. Liu Meng quickly followed and couldn’t help but call out, “Zhao Linlin!”

The little girl turned her head at the sound of her name. She saw a brother in front of her, sweating profusely, carrying two suitcases, with big eyes that looked very honest. She couldn’t help but flutter her bright, spirited eyes and asked, “Who are you? Do I know you? How do you know my name!”

This question left Liu Meng speechless. He had called out her name on impulse but hadn’t thought about how to answer. He couldn’t say, “I’m your future lover.”

“This is a long story. I not only know your name but also some other things. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

The little girl frowned and looked at the strange man in front of her. “Are you a bad person? Don’t follow me, or I’ll call for help. My house is just ahead.”

She turned and walked away, and Liu Meng had no choice but to follow, not expecting Zhao Linlin to be so alert.

“Hey, don’t follow me. Otherwise, my dad will let our big black dog bite you.” Zhao Linlin raised her small fist as a threat.

Liu Meng still followed. When they reached Zhao Linlin’s house, he saw her father leading a Tibetan Mastiff and releasing the chain. The big black dog immediately chased after him. Liu Meng dropped his suitcases and ran, with the big black dog in hot pursuit. Just as it was about to catch him, he tripped and fell, and the big black dog lunged forward, its mouth wide open.

“Ahh!” Liu Meng couldn’t help but scream.

“Are you okay?” A cool little hand was placed on Liu Meng’s head. He opened his eyes and saw that he was still on the train, and he couldn’t help but sigh in relief. It was just a dream, but it felt so real.

After waking up, his first reaction was to go back and find Zhao Linlin, but he hadn’t adapted yet and fainted again, leading to this dream.

“Thank you!” The little girl sitting opposite him handed him a tissue. Liu Meng took it and wiped the sweat from his forehead, a dream that had scared him so much.

At this moment, Liu Meng calmed down. He realized that things had changed, and the Zhao Linlin of now was not the Zhao Linlin of then, but he was still the same Liu Meng.

Liu Meng was lost in thought, looking out the window, when the train arrived at another station. A couple got on, the girl looking quite attractive, and the boy wearing glasses, looking quite refined.

Soon, the two started arguing.

The girl, with her hands on her hips, scolded, “You’re a big man, but you don’t do anything to earn more money. Why are you so obsessed with love? Isn’t it embarrassing!”

The boy, afraid to speak, said softly, “I want to work hard, but just thinking about breaking up with you makes me so upset that I can’t do anything.”

“You’re a failure. How did I ever fall for you? I’ve suffered so much. Now I’ve decided, we must break up.” The girl continued to scold.

Liu Meng didn’t hear what they said after that, but he suddenly felt a sense of clarity. I, Liu Meng, have always thought highly of myself, always been competitive, and always believed I’m not inferior to anyone. The only difference is the time and opportunities for struggle!

Now that I’ve returned to 2004, why not seize the opportunity and achieve something great?

Indeed! Love is important, but there are other things in life, like parents, family, friends, and brothers.

Zhao Linlin is now the apple of her parents’ eye, with a superior family background and envied by her classmates. Her smile is so bright. When I first met her, she smiled so purely and happily. But after we fell in love, her family opposed it, and she was under a lot of pressure, often waiting silently.

Now, I’m just a freshman, far from the Ph.D. graduate I was in 2014, and she’s only in her third year of junior high. Perhaps it’s best for her to grow up in such an environment.

In the past, Liu Meng often thought that if Zhao Linlin hadn’t met him in the library and they hadn’t fallen in love, she would still be lively and carefree, enjoying a leisurely university life, without the family conflicts and the pressure of waiting for me.

Zhao Linlin, grow up happily. I hope that without my appearance, you can always be happy, with a pure smile on your face. That smile is so clean.

Thinking of this, Liu Meng decided to let go. A wave of pain swept over him, but despite the turmoil inside, his face remained calm.

At this moment, he completely froze the hard shell that had already cracked on his heart, making it incredibly hard, so that his soft heart would no longer feel pain.

The little girl opposite him looked at the thoughtful young man curiously, thinking, “This guy fell asleep as soon as he got on the train, and now he’s even stranger, staring out the window for an hour, with a scattered and lost look. He must be troubled by something. Should I try to comfort him?”

Well, since I’m a soft-hearted person and can’t bear to see others sad, I’ll do a good deed and be a guiding light for this lost young man. The little girl felt happy inside.

“The scenery outside is beautiful, isn’t it? Our train crosses six provinces in China, and the scenery along the way is fantastic. If you come back during winter break, you’ll see the magnificent ice and snow of the north, as if you’ve entered a world of ice and snow.” The little girl spoke enthusiastically, hoping to inspire this somewhat depressed young man.

Liu Meng continued to look out the window, thinking about life, and replied, “What is the purpose of life?”

“Everyone will die, so why worry about how to live?” The little girl’s eyes widened, and she said casually, most annoyed by such pointless questions, but she regretted it after answering, as it sounded too negative.

She thought this young man must have some issues, starting to think about such profound philosophical questions.

“Since the end is already determined, why struggle in the process?” Liu Meng continued to ask.

“Hey, you, how old are you? It’s too early to think about these things. Even if you die, you should die happily, with no regrets, and not waste your life.” The little girl, dissatisfied with this overly philosophical guy, responded with some excitement.

“Life always has regrets, doesn’t it?” Liu Meng continued to question.

“So what if there are regrets? I just live one day at a time, eat one day at a time, and be happy one day at a time. Don’t overthink it.” The little girl said with wide eyes.

As the two engaged in this sharp exchange, Liu Meng’s thoughts gradually became clearer, and a smile appeared on his face. He had fully adapted to his new identity as a freshman at Ice City University of Technology.

From this point on, Liu Meng abandoned his plan to immediately find Zhao Linlin. One less lovesick man in front of Suzhou’s Guanqian Street.

The world will have an eternal legend, the story of an entertainment mogul and a business tycoon, which begins here.

---

[AD begins]

[AD ends]