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No. 009 A Moment Filled with Dazzling Light

No. 3 Middle School, where I attended, was a junior high school whose reputation lagged far behind the average in the Upper Capital City.

Like No. 2 Middle School, it was known as a “half-baked” or “subpar” school.

In other words, it was where most of the teachers deemed undesirable by the Upper Capital City parents ended up.

A school was essentially a microcosm of society. Without good academic results, there would be no good students, and consequently, no good teachers. Since the Education Bureau was located nearby, both No. 3 and No. 2 Middle Schools were prohibited from holding extra classes on Saturdays, further contributing to their declining academic performance year after year.

After all, they were teaching students one less day per week compared to other schools. Over three years, that amounted to nearly 150 days. For a business, those 150 days could translate to a fortune.

“Hey, did you review last night?”

“Review? Hell no. I spent two days playing ranked games. All noobs. Don’t even get me started.”

“I heard there’s a new champion coming out.”

“Why did you ditch me on Saturday?”

“Oh, my boyfriend suddenly asked me out. Sorry!”

Back then, I graduated from No. 3 Middle School with the highest score in the school and the second-highest in the entire city. It was a sensation, mainly because I was a student from a “trash school.”

For days, the principal couldn’t stop smiling. He personally awarded me several certificates and scholarships, and my name was displayed at the school gate for three months.

But it was all for naught.

Despite being hailed as a genius and getting into the best high school and then the best university in Upper Capital City, I became one of the least “successful” students at a junior high school reunion years later.

From that point on, the vibrant colors of the world gradually faded in my eyes.

“Yo, you’re early today.”

As I entered the classroom, I saw my deskmate putting down his backpack.

His name was Lan Zhuoyue, a year younger than me. Yes, we shared the same birthday, just different years. His family had pulled some strings to modify his ID so he could enroll early. Since there was an odd number of both boys and girls in our class, and Lan Zhuoyue and I consistently ranked third and fourth from the bottom, the homeroom teacher naturally assigned us as deskmates.

“I went to bed early last night and woke up around six.”

I pulled out my chair and sat down.

The truth was, I had come early because I was excited to be back in school.

School days, the darkest yet most beautiful time in a person’s life.

Yi Yao’s home was several kilometers away from school. She usually biked alone and was often late, earning her countless scoldings from the homeroom teacher.

“You’re pretty early yourself.”

Lan Zhuoyue chuckled.

I pointed at the clock above the blackboard, which read, “119 days until the high school entrance exam.” “It’s not even seven yet.”

“Heh, I went out drinking with some old buddies last night. Came home and crashed. Woke up around six too.”

He pulled out his textbooks for morning reading. “By the way, did you finish the weekend homework?”

Lan Zhuoyue was one of the few people Yi Yao considered a friend in this class. Despite his poor grades, he had always treated her well, not in a romantic way, but as a true friend.

As for me, I rarely paid attention to the troubled students back in my own junior high. So, I wasn’t sure what became of Lan Zhuoyue in the end.

“No way!”

I pretended to be dejected as I pulled out my homework and a few test papers from my bag. When Lan Zhuoyue turned to me with a mischievous grin, I feigned a sudden change of heart. “Just kidding, I finished it.”

“Huh?”

Lan Zhuoyue’s face fell, like a husky that had been denied a treat. “Are you serious? Over twenty pages of practice problems and five test papers? You finished them all?”

I dumped all my homework onto his desk. “You’re welcome.”

Life in ninth grade was similar to the first year after graduating from university.

Although our school, for some inexplicable reason, gave us two days off every week, the amount of homework was more than double that of other schools.

The teachers seemed to take pride in assigning homework that was impossible to complete over the weekend.

Printing test papers didn’t cost them anything, so they printed them like crazy whenever they had the chance.

“Are you for real?”

Lan Zhuoyue picked up a notebook and stared at the densely packed calculations, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Who did you copy from?”

I shrugged. “I did it myself.”

It didn’t take me much time to finish those assignments.

For me, solving junior high problems was as easy as copying the answers. Same school, same class, same test papers. I had already solved most of these problems in my past life. Just a glance at the question, and the answer would pop into my head.

“You’re the best, “bro”.”

Perhaps realizing time was running out, Lan Zhuoyue didn’t press further. He grabbed a pen and started copying furiously.

It was an unspoken rule in school: never question the source of copied answers.

That’s how we always did it. We never did our homework over the weekend, then panicked when Monday arrived. If we could find someone to copy from, we would all copy together. If not, we would all be summoned to the teacher’s office for punishment. Usually, Lan Zhuoyue got the brunt of it… because I was a girl…

As my deskmate diligently copied my homework, I started organizing my messy desk.

Okay… I take back what I said about being a girl. How could Yi Yao’s desk be this chaotic?

Test papers covered in red marks, crumpled copies of “Story Club” and “Comic Fans” magazines for entertainment during class, two lollipops, a few coins, and this notebook… what was this for again?

Yi Yao could be quite absent-minded at times. Even with her memories, I couldn’t recall when most of these items ended up in her desk.

I opened the notebook. The first page was a calendar from November. The dates from the 23rd to the 29th were highlighted in pink. Flipping through the pages, I noticed similar markings on the days after the 20th of every month.

Once a month… Ah… I got it.

I closed the notebook and stuffed it back into my bag, a wry smile on my face.

“Hey, deskmate, I need to tell you something.”

Lan Zhuoyue suddenly spoke up, still busy copying my homework. “I want to go on a trip.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I replied absentmindedly, turning my desk upside down to make sure there was nothing else hidden inside before putting the books back in.

“I want to go to Paris.”

His next words almost made me drop my books.

“Paris? You want to see the Eiffel Tower?”

“No, I just want to go to Paris. The books say it’s beautiful.”

I tilted my head, confused. “Do you even have enough money?”

He pulled out three red hundred-yuan bills from his pocket. “This is all I have.”

“That’s not even enough for a plane ticket.”

“It’s fine. I have a plan. The airport in the Upper Capital City is full of security loopholes. I’ll sneak into the cargo hold of a plane and escape when we reach Paris.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m not crazy. I’m serious.” He looked up at me. “Look, don’t worry about how I’m getting there. I just need you to do me a favor. Don’t tell anyone. I’m leaving tomorrow. If the homeroom teacher asks about me, just say I’m sick and resting at home. Try to buy me a day, okay?”

“I can’t guarantee she won’t call your parents.”

“It’s fine. Just say I’m sick. If she finds out, so be it.”

“Fine, fine. It’s your money. Do whatever you want.”

Lan Zhuoyue was always like this, impulsive and reckless. He once climbed over the school wall and went to play soccer in the middle of class. Since there was no rule about punishing both deskmates for one person’s mistake, I didn’t care what he did.

“Homework! Hand in your homework!”

Our group leader walked over.

Lan Zhuoyue and I sat in the last row of the first group. The group leader usually collected homework from the back.

“Oh, what a surprise. You actually have homework to copy today.”

He saw Lan Zhuoyue scribbling away and made a sarcastic remark. He reached for my notebook on the desk, but Lan Zhuoyue swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch it!”

The group leader was taken aback. “Don’t be so sensitive. It’s not even your homework. Who are you yelling at?”

Lan Zhuoyue mumbled without looking up. “I don’t care if you touch anyone else’s stuff, but if you touch Yi Yao’s, you’ll regret it.”

“Yi Yao’s?”

The group leader stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. “Hahaha… You’re copying Yi Yao’s homework? What’s the difference between that and doing it yourself… Hahaha, you two are hilarious. Wake up, Yi Yao already has a boyfriend at No. 2 Middle School…”

“Bang!”

A loud thud echoed through the classroom, attracting everyone’s attention.

Lan Zhuoyue had slammed his hand on the desk. He glared at the group leader, his expression menacing. “Say that again, I dare you.”

Although Lan Zhuoyue was a poor student, both in my memories and Yi Yao’s, he was a man of his word, fearless and loyal. With his 1.7-meter tall frame and muscular build, few dared to provoke him.

“I…” The group leader’s face turned pale under the scrutiny of the entire class. At 1.6 meters tall, he looked scrawny compared to Lan Zhuoyue. He stood frozen in the aisle, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

The atmosphere in the classroom was tense.

“Is he wrong?”

After a long silence, a bespectacled boy stood up.

Tan Lijiang, the top student in our class and the leader of the “Tan” faction.

Yes, even in a small class like ours, there were two factions: the “Tan” faction and the “Li” faction. They were essentially two groups of students who constantly butted heads. Lan Zhuoyue and I were among the few who remained neutral.

“Everyone knows Yi Yao has a boyfriend at No. 2 Middle School. What did Liang say that was wrong?”

Tan Lijiang adjusted his glasses and spoke with a hint of mockery. “I admit, Yi Yao is pretty, but she’s already taken. Give it up, Lan Zhuoyue. Have some dignity. It’s not right to steal someone’s girlfriend. Besides, you have neither the looks nor the grades. How can you possibly compete?”

“Hahahahaha…”

His words were met with a chorus of laughter. Some of the “Tan” faction members were practically rolling on the floor, their exaggerated expressions resembling caged beasts.

“You…”

Lan Zhuoyue, unable to bear the humiliation, grabbed his chair and was about to charge at Tan Lijiang, but I held him back.

“Let me go, Yi Yao! I swear, I’ll beat that bastard to a pulp…”

“I’ll handle this.”

I said calmly, walking past him with my hands in my pockets. I stopped in front of Tan Lijiang. “Tan Lijiang, do you honestly believe that girls in school care about a boy’s grades?”

“What do you mean? Are you two together?”

I brushed my bangs aside. “No, I’m just curious.”

He scoffed. “You’re a girl. Your looks are your biggest asset. Take my advice, if you can’t study, just focus on finding a rich husband. Don’t waste your time on someone like Lan Zhuoyue…”

“So, if I get better grades than you, you’ll apologize to Lan Zhuoyue? Is that what you’re saying?”

“You?”

He looked at me incredulously. “Forget about getting better grades than me. If you can even make it to the top ten in our class, I’ll kneel before him and beg for forgiveness.”

“Fine. Let’s use the upcoming English test as a bet. If you score higher than me, I’ll do whatever you want. But if I score higher, you will apologize to Lan Zhuoyue in front of the entire class.”

“Hahahahaha…”

Another wave of laughter erupted, filling the classroom with a joyous atmosphere.

“Are you… are you serious?” Tan Lijiang clutched his stomach, unable to contain his laughter.

“Even if he asks you to sell yourself?” another boy chimed in.

I glanced at them, then turned back to Tan Lijiang, my voice calm and steady. “I’m serious.”

“Are you out of your mind? You, the bottom feeder of Class 11, want to bet on grades with me?”

Our first class that day was an English test. It was a two-hour test, and the teacher would grade the papers on the spot and announce the scores as she went. Whoever finished first would have their paper graded first. The teachers claimed this method provided motivation.

“I’ve made myself clear. If I lose, I’ll accept any punishment.” I turned to leave. “But if you lose, remember to apologize to Lan Zhuoyue in front of everyone.”

“Hah, me? Lose? Don’t be ridiculous.” Tan Lijiang’s arrogant voice followed me. “Are you feeling alright, Yi Yao? Did your boyfriend dump you or something? Just so you know, I’m not short of girlfriends.”

I paused briefly, glanced at him over my shoulder, and returned to my seat.

“Yi Yao, you…”

Lan Zhuoyue, for the first time, didn’t call me “bro.”

“Don’t worry.”

I continued organizing my desk as if nothing had happened.

“Their era is over.”

No. 008 Smiling Through It All

After finishing my ginger tea and washing the dishes, I returned to my computer.

Three new messages blinked on the simple, black DOS interface:

“Greetings. This is Long Teng, CEO of Heavenly Fire Network Technology.”

“Can you truly resolve our current crisis?”

“Hello, are you there?”

It had been less than three minutes since I sent the password. Even accounting for the time it took them to verify it, receiving three messages in such a short time spoke volumes about this “Long Teng” and how much he valued his company.

Well, it was one of the top three tech giants in the country ten years from now.

“Hello, I am.”

I deliberately avoided using any honorifics. I knew I couldn’t appear weak or desperate. They needed my help, not the other way around.

“Thank you. The password is correct.” A reply came quickly. “However, our files are still encrypted…”

“That’s why I want to make a deal.”

I took a deep breath and brushed my hair away from my eyes.

“What kind of deal?”

He seemed hesitant, adding quickly, “As you know, we are a legitimate company. We cannot condone any illegal activities or anything that violates our company’s values and ethics.”

“Don’t worry. My request is simple. I’ll tell you how to decrypt the files, and in return, you will send your son to a different school outside of this city within a week.”

Silence.

It was clear that my request had given this “Long Teng” pause.

He was probably trying to figure out my relationship with Long Fei. Or perhaps, Long Fei was right beside him, watching this unfold?

I wasn’t in a hurry. I opened my QQ and browsed through my friends list, a list of familiar strangers.

VoidBug, the gaming prodigy who would become a top streamer in six months. Hmm, I’ll deal with him later.

Qing Lan… My childhood friend. He had deleted me after entering high society in 2020. I never heard from him again, not even after I died. I didn’t expect to see his name here.

BigIronPillar… I remembered him. He was someone Yi Yao had met online. He always called me “bro” despite my gender and was terrible at games. But he was a good person. He apologized sincerely whenever he made a mistake and always invited me to play whenever I was online.

Perhaps I should tell him the truth when I had the chance.

“Do you have some sort of grudge against my son?”

Five minutes later, Long Teng finally replied.

“You could say that.” My fingers danced across the keyboard. “A friend of mine has a relative who’s been skipping school and going to internet cafes because of your son. He asked me to take care of it.”

This was the excuse I had prepared beforehand.

I wasn’t stupid enough to say, “I’m your son’s girlfriend, and I want him gone.”

“Are you sure you’re not his enemy?”

“No. I don’t care where you send him, as long as he leaves this city. Once that’s done, my job is complete. If you agree, reply with a ‘1.’ I’ll send the decryption method to your email within one minute.”

Honestly, even if I didn’t help them, they would be able to resolve this crisis on their own in a day or two. I was simply exploiting their desperation.

On a normal network, direct communication like this would easily expose my IP address. But I wasn’t worried. The technology fifteen years from now offered countless ways to mask one’s IP. The current internet security was, in my eyes, as flimsy as a child’s toy. I could probably write a more secure operating system myself if given enough time. Hiding my IP address was child’s play.

More silence.

Finally, Long Teng caved and sent a single digit: 1.

As promised, I sent the decryption method and a few preventative measures to his private email address.

“Remember our agreement.”

“Of course. May I know how to address you?”

“Just call me ‘bee.’”

“The mysterious expert who wreaked havoc on our forum yesterday?”

“You’re free to interpret it however you like.”

“Heh, my apologies for not recognizing your expertise sooner. Then, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

I ended the conversation, stretched, and stood up.

Just then, the front door opened.

Dad had returned with a bag of groceries. He frowned when he saw me. “Playing on the computer again? Your exams are next week, and you’re not even worried? I swear, you’re hopeless.”

“I…”

“Your mother is on her deathbed, and all you care about is playing games? Are you trying to give me a heart attack so you can have this house all to yourself?”

He looked at me with such resentment, as if I were his worst enemy.

Anger, despair, disappointment.

“…”

In the eyes of many, this was what children were: burdens.

Children with bad grades were bad children.

Children who brought shame upon their families were worthless.

“I’m sorry.”

I knew explanations were futile. I shut down the computer, walked over to him, and picked up the bag of groceries he had dropped on the floor in his anger.

That’s when I noticed another person standing by the door.

My cousin, Yi Qiansheng, my uncle’s son.

Both in this life and my past life, I had never been close to my cousin, who was only a month younger than me. I glanced at the bespectacled boy and looked away, not bothering to greet him.

“What’s this? Ignoring your own cousin?” Dad shoved me angrily. “He ranked third in his class in the last monthly exams. Look at you! When will you ever be half as good as him? Then, I wouldn’t have to pray to your ancestors for a miracle.”

And yet, this “outstanding” cousin of mine would, in five years, collude with my uncle to seize our house and savings, leaving my family bankrupt and driving my father to an early grave. I would spend years after graduating from university living on the streets, struggling to repay their debts, barely scraping by.

I looked at my furious father, then silently gathered the scattered fruits and placed them on the table.

“How’s Mom?” I asked, my voice devoid of emotion.

There was no waking someone who was determined to stay asleep.

No one believed in the future, and no one would accept it.

All I could do was become the “ideal child” they envisioned.

“She’s not dead yet, thanks to you.” Dad turned to my cousin, his expression softening. “Come in, Xiaosheng. Make yourself comfortable. If your sister bullies you, just tell me, okay?”

“Okay, Uncle.”

My cousin walked in without a hint of hesitation, kicking off his shoes. He turned to me and flashed a mocking smile, his tone saccharine sweet. “Good afternoon, Yi Yao Jie.”

“Yi Yao, your cousin is greeting you!”

“Oh.” I nodded curtly. “Good afternoon.”

“You’re a disgrace.” Dad snorted and turned away. “I’m going back to the hospital. Xiaosheng will tutor you this afternoon. I expect to see some improvement when I get back tonight.”

What?

Before I could protest, Dad had already left, slamming the door shut behind him.

“Well, well, well.” My cousin grabbed an apple from the table, took a bite, and chuckled. He was nothing like the well-behaved child he pretended to be in front of my father. “So, you and your dad aren’t on good terms, huh? Bombed another test?”

“None of your business.”

“How is it not my business?” He pulled out two crisp red bills from his pocket and stood up, waving them in my face. He leaned in close, his voice a mocking whisper. “Your dad gave me this. Two hours of tutoring, two hundred yuan. Two. Hundred. Yuan.”

His hot breath tickled my ear.

“What are you trying to say?”

I had no recollection of my family being this dysfunctional in my past life. If it weren’t for Yi Yao’s memories, I would have thought my cousin was just messing with me.

“Nothing much. I just wanted to let my dear cousin know that I can earn my own money now. One hundred yuan per hour. Heh, how long are you planning to leech off your parents?” He tossed the half-eaten apple into the trash can and sauntered towards my room. “Now, let’s see what kind of abysmal grades my dear sister has gotten this time.”

“Stop right there.”

“Didn’t anyone teach you it’s rude to enter someone’s room without permission?”

“All I know is that your dad told me to tutor you, and your test papers are in your room.”

He ignored my protest and barged into my room. I had no choice but to follow.

“Whoa, 39! You got a 39 out of 150 in math? Not bad, not bad. Still better than that kid with polio in our class. He only got a 40.”

His voice echoed through the room.

“Wow! 51 out of 100 in physics? That’s practically a passing grade! You’re getting there. Only forty points away from my 98. Not bad, not bad.”

He was clearly doing this on purpose.

“Oh, your Chinese isn’t too shabby. You actually passed! Let’s see… ‘If I Had a Brother’? What kind of a title is that? And you got 48 points for this? Is the teacher blind?”

I lay down on my bed, waiting for him to finish his little performance. “Are you done?” I asked flatly.

“Yes, I am.” He turned away from my messy desk and looked at me, a smug grin on his oily face. “My conclusion is this, Yi Yao Jie: your grades are beyond saving.”

“Do you honestly believe,” I asked, fixing him with a calm smile, “that grades are everything?”

“Not really. But in our family, they are.” His playful smile vanished as he tossed my test papers onto the desk. “You know, Yi Yao Jie, there’s one type of person I despise the most: those who come from poor families yet can’t even be bothered to study hard… Honestly, you’re a disgrace to the Yi family.”

Oh really?

If bad grades were considered a disgrace, what would they call themselves five years from now?

“Huh? You’re not even angry?” He sounded surprised.

“Angry?”

“Well, yeah. Anyone with a temper would have reacted to what I just said.”

“Why should I react? Because of a few snide remarks your dad taught you?”

I rolled over and propped my chin on my hands, looking at him with amusement.

There was no way a sixteen-year-old would say such cruel things to his own cousin unless he had been instructed to do so.

“Haha, you’re right. My dad did tell me to say those things. But I meant every word.” He walked over and patted my shoulder condescendingly. “Let me tell you a secret, Yi Yao Jie. My new house is almost finished. We’re having a housewarming party in two weeks, and we’re inviting all the relatives. I can’t wait to see the look on your and your dad’s faces then.”

As if I cared.

“Is that so?” I sat up. “Let me tell you a secret too. You won’t be laughing then.”

“Hahaha, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard.”

“Believe what you want. But since my dad is paying you, shouldn’t you start tutoring me, my dear, intelligent cousin?”

Two could play at this game.

He might have been instigated by his father, but his attitude still rubbed me the wrong way.

I wasn’t a saint. I remembered kindness, but I wouldn’t hesitate to fight back against those who wronged me.

“Ugh… fine. Since you’re so eager to learn, I’ll grace you with my knowledge.”

Perhaps unnerved by my confidence, my cousin behaved himself for the next two hours, diligently explaining the test questions.

Time crawled by in a haze of boredom.

…

After my cousin left, I decided to visit Liang Zhenyi at the hospital.

“Xiaoyao.”

Liang Zhenyi seemed to be in much better spirits.

“I’m sorry about what I said earlier.” I sat down beside his bed.

I had let my emotions get the better of me, influenced by my parents’ situation.

But if given the chance, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. I had no regrets about standing up for my friend.

“It’s okay. I was being weak.” He struggled to sit up. “Xiaoyao, Hua She told me about your mother…”

“I’ll take care of it,” I interrupted, not wanting to discuss it.

No. 007 An Unexpected Blessing Amidst the Drizzle

The next morning, I woke up groggily in the warm sunlight.

Was it all a dream?

The distinct weight on my chest reminded me of the previous day’s events.

I was Yi Yao, the Yi Yao who had died from a serious illness and transmigrated into the body of a suicidal girl in a parallel world.

The small alarm clock by my bed displayed the time: 8:15 AM.

It was Yi Yao’s habit to wake up before 9 AM every day, even on weekends, to have breakfast and exercise.

Skipping breakfast was detrimental to one’s health. Having died once due to an unhealthy lifestyle, I knew this all too well. So, I decided to maintain this particular habit of Yi Yao’s.

I got out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, changed into a clean set of clothes, completed a Taekwondo routine in the living room, made myself a simple yet nutritious breakfast, and finally sat down at the computer desk.

I had to admit, having a girl’s body felt incredibly light. There were no awkward morning surprises, and I didn’t have to worry about injuring myself while stretching.

However, a girl’s body was also much more sensitive. Last night, after dinner with Dati and the others, perhaps out of habit from my previous life, I accidentally brushed against a certain area while showering, and it took me a good half hour to finish. By the time I put on my pajamas, my face was beet red.

Yi Yao wasn’t the cute type. She had inherited her mother’s delicate features and possessed a figure that could only be described as perfect. Long, slender legs, healthy tanned skin, and a figure that left no doubt about her gender. With her short hair, she looked quite handsome.

Dad had left early. I remembered that I would be home alone for the rest of the day, free to do as I pleased.

After booting up the computer and logging into the Heavenly Fire Forum, I was greeted by nearly 99 notifications.

Clicking through them one by one, I realized they were mostly expressions of awe and admiration.

“I can’t believe you can write code like that!”

“Oh my god! I spent the entire night working on that problem, and your solution is the correct one! You have my respect.”

“Thank you for answering my question. I learned a lot. May I ask which company you work for? Our boss is interested in speaking with you.”

“You must be a researcher in this field, right? Could you tell us where you work?”

“Hello, I have a private matter I’d like to consult you on…”

“Are you there? Your skills are impressive. We are the largest software company in Upper Capital City…”

The messages went on and on. Feeling my eyes getting strained, I turned off the notifications and went straight to the Q&A section. I effortlessly answered all the new questions before logging off.

This wasn’t my main task for today.

The forum was my backup plan. With my newfound reputation, I wouldn’t have to worry about money. Besides, this forum would experience explosive growth in two years. It wouldn’t hurt to familiarize myself with the community beforehand.

My priority today was to deal with Long Fei.

No way was I going to have a boyfriend, even if it was just for show.

Based on Yi Yao’s memories, this Long Fei did have feelings for “me.” My first order of business was to let him down gently.

The easiest way to break up a couple was to create distance.

Even the most passionate couples would eventually drift apart if they lived far away from each other.

Besides, Long Fei and I weren’t even dating.

My plan was to hack into Long Fei’s father’s company, help them overcome their current crisis, and then use that as leverage to get Long Fei to leave the city and attend a different school.

After all, I was a girl now. Even if my plan failed, I could always just say, “I don’t have feelings for you,” and be done with it.

Just as I finished writing the hacking program and was about to put my plan into action, I heard a knock on the door.

I thought I had misheard. Three seconds later, the knocking came again.

Dad was back this early?

I glanced at the clock on the wall. I couldn’t recall what time Dad usually came home on this particular day. With a sigh, I got up and opened the door.

A delicate figure reeking of alcohol collapsed into my arms.

“Hey?”

I quickly caught the unconscious girl. I almost dropped her in surprise when I saw her face.

It was the Taekwondo girl, Xiaodie, the one I had fought at the food stall last night.

“Hey, wake up.”

I shook her roughly, but she showed no signs of regaining consciousness. Instead, she clung to me like an octopus.

What was going on now?

I couldn’t just leave her passed out in the hallway. With a sigh, I carried her into the living room and laid her down on the sofa.

A rich girl like her must have a phone, right?

Unlike last night, she was dressed in a beautiful dress and high heels, as if she had just come from a party. This made my search much easier. I found her phone in her pocket within seconds.

Luckily, her phone wasn’t locked. I opened her contacts, found the entry labeled “Dad,” and dialed the number.

The call connected quickly. A man’s voice answered, “Hello? Xiaodie, is that you?”

“Hello, I’m…”

“Beep! Beep! Beep!”

As if on cue, the phone chose that exact moment to die.

Of all the…

I went to my room, found my charger, and plugged in her phone. After waiting for it to power on, I dialed the number again.

“Hello, the number you have dialed is out of service due to unpaid bills. Your current balance is -0.01 yuan…”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Left with no other choice, I used my own phone and dialed the number displayed on the screen.

“Hello? Xiaodie? Where are you fooling around again? Get back here this instant!”

The man on the other end seemed to have been expecting my call. He didn’t even wait for me to speak before launching into a tirade.

“Uncle, it’s… it’s Xiaodie’s friend.”

I struggled for a moment before settling on the word “friend.”

“Oh? Where’s Xiaodie? Let me speak to her!”

I glanced at the girl, who was still sound asleep on the sofa, and shook my head. “Uncle, you misunderstand. Xiaodie stayed at my place last night. She’s still asleep. I just realized I hadn’t informed you, so I called.”

“Oh… really?” Perhaps my polite tone calmed him down a bit. His voice softened slightly. “Tell her to come home immediately. All she does is fool around outside.”

“Of course, Uncle. I’ll let her know as soon as she wakes up.”

“Alright. I apologize for the trouble she’s caused.”

“Not at all, Uncle. Xiaodie helped me a lot with my studies last night. I’m very grateful to her.”

“Please. Her? Helping with studies? You kids and your lies… What’s your name?”

“My name is Yi Yao.”

“Yi Yao? I don’t recall Xiaodie ever mentioning you… Perhaps I was mistaken. Anyway… As long as Xiaodie is safe at a classmate’s house, I’m relieved. I have some matters to attend to. I’ll let you go.”

“Okay, Uncle. Goodbye.”

I hung up the phone and looked at the girl on the sofa. She was sound asleep, as harmless as a kitten. I carefully adjusted her dress, took off her high heels, and draped a blanket over her.

This felt like playing with fire…

How did she even know my address? Did she ask last night? Do drunk people instinctively go to their nemesis’ house to turn themselves in?

Despite my curiosity, I resisted the urge to dig through her pockets and went to the balcony to grab some ginger. I headed to the kitchen to make some ginger tea with brown sugar.

This was too much. One troublesome dad and one Long Fei were enough. Now, I had the mayor’s daughter on my hands. Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone so hard on her last night.

After spending five minutes preparing the ginger tea, I returned to the living room, only to find the girl sitting up on the sofa, wrapped in the blanket, staring at me with her usual emotionless expression. Her bare feet were surprisingly eye-catching.

“I told your dad you stayed at my place last night. My name is Yi Yao. Remember to get your story straight.”

The girl remained silent.

“If you can’t hold your liquor, don’t drink so much. It’s bad for your liver. You need to take better care of yourself.”

The girl looked up at me, still silent.

“What? You want to fight again?”

I placed the ginger tea on the table in front of her. “You couldn’t beat me last night. Don’t even think about it in your current state. Drink this ginger tea and sober up before you leave. Your dad sounded pretty scary.”

“Hmph…”

She let out an almost inaudible snort, threw off the blanket, and tried to stand up. However, whether due to dizziness or low blood sugar, she stumbled and nearly fell. I rushed forward and caught her.

She instantly pushed me away, regained her balance, and marched towards the door, her heels clicking against the floor. She fumbled with the doorknob for a while, unable to open the door.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Pull down the latch.”

With my instructions, she finally managed to open the door.

“Next time you’re drunk, don’t just throw yourself at anyone. Not everyone is as nice as me.”

The girl froze, her already flushed face turning crimson.

“Don’t think this means I forgive you for what you did to Qinghao.”

With that, she stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.

So, she wasn’t an emotionless robot after all. Just a tsundere.

The ginger tea on the table was still steaming. It seemed a waste to throw it away. I picked up the bowl, returned to my computer desk, and continued working on my program while sipping the tea.

Once everything was ready, I entered the familiar IP address of Heavenly Fire Network Technology.

Let the hacking begin!

Streams of data flowed down the dark screen.

Under the command of the “Queen Bee Algorithm,” dozens of programs worked in unison, effortlessly bypassing all firewalls within a minute. I had gained administrator access.

I put down my half-finished ginger tea and opened QQ.

Yi Yao’s QQ account was identical to mine, same username, same password, even the same friends list.

Of course, this Yi Yao had selected “female” as her gender.

I glanced at a small program running in the background. Based on its progress, the encrypted files should be unlocked within two minutes. Then, I could finally negotiate.

I had to admit, I was curious about the hacker who managed to cripple a company as promising as Heavenly Fire for an entire week.

Hackers were categorized into two types: white hats and black hats. White hats hacked for the challenge and to improve their skills. They wouldn’t steal or damage any data. At most, they would copy something that piqued their interest and maybe patch a vulnerability or two before leaving. Black hats, on the other hand, were in it for the money.

Well, I could worry about the hacker later. Right now, I had a Long Fei problem to solve.

Long Teng, CEO of Heavenly Fire Network Technology.

Like father, like son, I guess.

“Surrender now, and I’ll pretend this never happened.”

A message suddenly popped up on the screen.

Although I was the one who deliberately alerted them, I had to admit, their security team was quite responsive.

“I want to make a deal.”

I typed with one hand, still sipping my ginger tea.

“We’re not interested in dealing with amateur hackers.”

The program in the corner beeped, signaling that it had successfully decrypted the files.

“Amateur? I assure you, I’m no amateur. I have something you need.”

I copied the decrypted content into a notepad file.

“Heh, kid, you do realize I can track your IP address and find your home within ten minutes, right?”

“I’m sure your boss wouldn’t want that. I’ve bypassed all your security measures and recovered the compromised superuser password.”

“You?”

“Superuser password: fclza.8812345. Be my guest.”

No. 006 Yearning for Wings

Dati was different from the others in our group.

He was Long Fei’s sworn brother, yet he rarely participated in the Black Dragon Society’s activities. He would disappear for weeks on end, and even I, the “girlfriend” of his sworn brother, had only met him twice formally. Long Fei once told me that Dati’s background was very mysterious and that I should never involve him unless absolutely necessary.

“Of course, you can hang out with him if you want, but try not to disturb his work.” That’s what Long Fei had told “me” a few months ago.

Honestly, I wasn’t that interested in Ouyang Dati’s background. What intrigued me was what he had just said.

The Jiang Nan Gang wanted to treat me to dinner? They wanted to treat the person they had just fought with to dinner? Was this a trap?

“Don’t worry, their higher-ups aren’t taking this matter seriously. This dinner is mainly a farewell party for their leader. The problem is that guy whose hand you broke.”

As we reached the electric bike parking area downstairs, Dati explained.

“He’s the sworn brother of ‘that person.’ Communication might be a bit difficult later. She’s not easy to talk to and has some powerful connections.”

“‘That person’?”

“Ah, you’ll know when we get there.”

He tossed me a helmet and gestured for me to get on his bike. “It’s just a formality. Don’t worry, with so many people around, she won’t dare do anything to you.”

Easy for you to say.

I put on the helmet and silently got on the bike, carefully holding onto his sturdy shoulders.

“What’s wrong? Something on your mind today?”

Dati started the engine.

“Yeah, my mom is sick. It’s quite serious.”

Long Fei had once told me never to hide anything from Dati. Even if I wanted to lie to him, I shouldn’t even try to deceive this seemingly kind and gentle man. It was clear that he had a powerful backing.

“She’ll be alright.”

He offered a generic word of comfort as he steered the bike out of the residential complex.

“I knew this day would come when I saw you practicing martial arts.”

His voice was calm and even.

I was taken aback. “You all knew?”

“Heh, Long Ge only has a few close friends. Of course, I knew. He told me not to interfere, said that with your personality, you wouldn’t cause any trouble. But I always had a feeling that your usual gentle demeanor was an act. Seems I was right.”

I remained silent.

Yi Yao wasn’t acting.

She was indeed a fragile girl who could be crushed by any setback.

But I wasn’t.

People always said that in life, you only need to conquer yourself. However, Yi Yao had conquered herself, only to lose to the world.

“Hahaha, don’t get me wrong. I’m praising you. I’m not interested in those ordinary girls.”

“Where’s Long Ge?”

Not wanting to dwell on this topic, I changed the subject.

“His dad’s company ran into some trouble. He probably won’t be back for a while.”

His dad’s company? That promising company ran into trouble?

I racked my brain for a while before recalling from those fragmented memories that Heavenly Fire Network Technology did indeed experience a crisis ten years ago. It seemed someone had hacked into their important accounts and changed the passwords, encrypting crucial files on their servers, essentially turning the company into an empty shell.

Perhaps I could use this opportunity to “improve” my relationship with Long Fei.

The bike smoothly navigated the streets, finally stopping in front of an ordinary-looking roadside stall.

After parking, Ouyang Dati led me to a small table. The sun had completely set, and the place was already bustling with people eating and drinking. A young man with dyed blonde hair at a nearby table saw Dati and immediately stood up, giving him a bear hug. “Dati Ge!”

“Haha, Hai Lao Da, long time no see!”

Dati plopped down next to the blonde-haired, earringed young man, who looked every bit the stereotypical delinquent. He downed a glass of beer in one gulp and then gestured to me. “Let me introduce you. This is Xiaoyao, Long Ge’s girlfriend.”

“Oh… Xiaoyao.”

Despite his intimidating appearance, the blonde-haired young man had a friendly expression. He picked up a beer glass and filled it for me. “Can you drink?”

“I…”

Before I could answer, a wave of killing intent washed over me. Instinctively, I turned and assumed a defensive stance.

“Thwack!”

A powerful kick landed squarely on my arm, sending me flying backward. I crashed into a small tree by the roadside, a meter away.

Thanks to my quick reaction, I escaped with only a numb left arm. Despite the frightening force behind it, the attack hadn’t caused any substantial damage.

As I looked up, I saw… a girl?

She was a head shorter than me, with delicate features, milky skin, a slender figure, and long, flowing hair that reached her waist. Her expression was cold and aloof as she stood there in a standard Taekwondo stance. She couldn’t have been older than fifteen.

“Xiaodie!”

The blonde-haired young man barked, but the girl ignored him. She lifted her right leg and launched herself at me with a spinning kick.

Scoffing inwardly, I took a quick step back, pivoted on my toes, and raised my leg.

“Crack!”

I blocked her attack with the same technique, using the momentum to launch myself into the air. My left leg shot out in a roundhouse kick aimed at her head.

As if anticipating my move, the girl swiftly retracted her leg and twisted her body, narrowly avoiding my attack. With lightning speed, she retaliated with a spinning hook kick, her long hair whipping around her like a dancing butterfly.

“Haa!”

Her voice was like a songbird’s, yet laced with chilling killing intent.

Black belt?

No, judging from her strength and technique, she probably hadn’t even passed her red belt test.

“Crack! Crack!”

I blocked two more attacks, then decided to stop holding back. In that confined space, with everyone watching, I unleashed a series of attacks. The girl, seemingly angered, retaliated with her own flurry of kicks.

Another Taekwondo enthusiast who specialized in legwork?

Although Taekwondo relied heavily on kicks, it also incorporated punches. Yet, throughout our exchange, the girl chose to dodge or block whenever I presented an opening for a punch, indicating she wasn’t comfortable with hand-to-hand combat.

Moreover, her overall strength was clearly inferior to mine.

“Xiaodie! That’s enough!”

Finally, after more than three minutes of our back-and-forth, the blonde-haired young man slammed his hand on the table and stood up. “Have you no shame, fighting like this in public?”

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I cautiously maintained my guard as I watched the girl.

The emotionless girl walked back to the blonde-haired young man, her chest heaving slightly. It seemed she was starting to tire.

“This isn’t over.”

She downed her drink in one gulp, shot me a cold glare, and turned to leave.

“A-Pian Jie! Wait for me!”

Several other teenagers at the table shot me dirty looks before following after her.

What was going on?

“Hahaha, that was amazing! As expected of a martial art designed for performance.”

Dati laughed heartily, pulling me towards an empty chair beside him. “You know, I was worried for a second there. With your skills, taking her down shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

I hesitated. “But you said she had a powerful backing.”

“Hahaha, interesting, you girls are so interesting.”

Dati took a large gulp of his beer and looked at me with amusement. “So, Xiaoyao, do you know who she is?”

I shook my head.

“She’s the mayor’s daughter, his only child.”

The mayor’s daughter?

That unfortunate mayor who would be sentenced to death for corruption in 2017?

“Eh? You’re not scared after hitting the mayor’s daughter?”

I shrugged. “Is it too late to apologize?”

“Pfft…”

This time, it was the blonde-haired young man who burst out laughing. “This girl’s got guts! Good taste, Long Ge.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s their private matter. Let’s not talk about it.”

Dati waved his hand dismissively and turned to me. “Xiaoyao, this is Huang Tianhai, the true leader behind the Jiang Nan Gang. You can call him Hai Ge.”

Huang Tianhai!

My body jolted at the name.

The legendary figure who, after studying abroad for two years, would return in 2017 and single-handedly clean up Yixian Province, transforming the provincial capital of Upper Capital City and earning the respect of all? What was he doing here?

“What’s wrong?”

My reaction piqued Huang Tianhai’s curiosity. “Not afraid of the mayor’s daughter, but scared of a nobody like me?”

“You flatter me, Hai Ge.”

I snapped out of it and raised my untouched glass of beer. “I’ve read a few of your articles in the newspaper, Hai Ge. They were very insightful. I never expected to meet the author himself.”

That was close. Thank goodness I was an avid reader in my past life.

“You… read them?”

Huang Tianhai seemed surprised. He ignored my compliment and clinked his glass against mine. “I heard that newspaper doesn’t have many readers.”

“The one about the current situation in Upper Capital City was spot on.”

I downed my beer in one gulp.

So bitter!

Although I was used to it in my past life, this body clearly wasn’t. The bitterness lingered in my mouth and traveled all the way to my stomach, making me grimace.

“Girls shouldn’t drink alcohol. Have some juice.”

Noticing my expression, Huang Tianhai snatched my empty glass and filled it with orange juice.

It seemed he believed that I had indeed read his articles.

“First time drinking? Haha, and here I am, just a nobody.”

“No, I truly admire you, Hai Ge.”

I wasn’t lying. If it weren’t for this blonde-haired young man, Upper Capital City ten years later might have been a very different place. What I didn’t expect was to find the man who would one day rule Yixian Province looking so… unmotivated.

“Heh.”

Huang Tianhai chuckled dryly and looked down. “I don’t even know when I’ll be back after I leave. What big shots are we talking about?”

“Hai Ge, don’t say that.”

“Yeah, Hai Lao Da, life’s full of ups and downs. Who knows what will happen in three years?”

The other delinquents chimed in with words of comfort.

“Brothers, enough with the depressing talk. Let’s drink!”

Ouyang Dati grabbed two bottles of beer, bit off the caps one after another, and slammed one down in front of Huang Tianhai. “Fix that attitude of yours when you’re out there. It’s not like here. No one will bail you out if you get into trouble.”

His tone turned serious. “But don’t look so glum when you’re with us. We’re all brothers here. Who are you trying to impress with that frown?”

“Alright, alright, cheers!”

Huang Tianhai took the bottle and downed a third of the beer in one go. “Xiaoyao, I heard about what happened between you and Xiaodie. We’ve already sent someone to apologize to Lao Liang…”

“Hai Ge…” I started to speak.

“Don’t,” Huang Tianhai interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. “Let’s just say I, Huang Tianhai, owe you a favor. Consider yourself a friend. I apologize for my subordinate’s behavior. You must have been quite frightened… Do you have your phone with you?”

I hesitated for a moment before taking out my phone and handing it to him.

He punched in a few numbers and returned the phone. “That’s my number, and the other one is my grandfather’s. If you ever need anything, just call either number and say you’re a friend of Hai Ge.”

“Thank you, Hai Ge.”

Although I had no idea who this “grandfather” was, I knew better than to ask or refuse his offer. These people were straightforward. Accepting their kindness openly would only improve the atmosphere.

My straightforwardness brought a satisfied smile to Huang Tianhai’s face.

“Listen up, everyone. Xiaoyao is one of us now. If anyone dares to mess with her, you’ll have to answer to me, Huang Tianhai.”

“Of course, Hai Ge. It was Qinghao and his buddies who broke the rules in the first place.”

“Haha, besides, Xiaoyao Jie(sister) is a beautiful young lady. How could we possibly lay a finger on her?”

“Good. Now, let’s drink! Xiaoyao, order whatever you want. It’s on me tonight. But no alcohol for you, alright?”

“…”

“…”

As if I would ever touch that stuff again.

No. 005 A Void Devoid of Love

“Hahahahaha, did you hear that? An order? Don’t make things difficult for her.”

Under the bright, almost blinding sun, The Red Hair huy walked towards me step by step, reaching out as if to grab my chest. I dodged deftly.

And then, I landed a roundhouse kick to his head.

“Thud!”

The Red Hair guy was hit square in the face and collapsed.

The attack was so sudden that for half a minute, no one reacted. They just stared blankly as one of his lackeys rushed to help him up. Only then did the rest of them realize that their 1.7-meter-tall buddy had been knocked down by a girl.

“You…”

After the initial shock came anger and bewilderment. They all looked at me as if I were a monster.

Even Hua She, who had brought me here.

“Yi Yao, why…”

Humans are such predictable creatures.

Power, authority, money.

“Do you know the consequences of messing with our Jiang Nan Gang?”

Perhaps because they were used to being on both sides of a beating, the shock quickly faded, replaced by instinctive threats.

But their words had no effect on me.

I had heard it all before.

From relatives, friends, colleagues, and even my boss.

What makes a beast a beast is the countless wounds it carries.

“I gave you a chance.”

That kick would probably put The Red Hair guy in the hospital for a month or two. I was quite good at controlling my strength—of course, it wasn’t entirely my own doing. I was simply utilizing the wealth of experience Yi Yao had left me.

“It’s not too late to apologize.”

“Go to hell! Who would apologize to that loser? Get her, boys!”

As expected, seeing their comrade fall only fueled their rage. They pulled out their weapons and charged at me.

Hua She was about to step forward, but I stopped him.

“Someone’s called the police. Stay out of this.”

With that, I lashed out at the closest delinquent, two swift kicks connecting with sickening crunches. He clutched his right hand, face contorted in pain, the steel pipe clattering to the ground.

“Honestly, I admire your spirit. I hope you can hold onto it when you enter society.”

Ignoring the boy’s cries, I pivoted, delivering another kick to the guy on my right. Using the momentum, I spun, my left leg connecting with another attacker.

Most Taekwondo techniques relied on legwork, which was disadvantageous in a real fight. But any skill, when mastered, could unleash its true potential. The same applied to Taekwondo. Through six years of rigorous training, Yi Yao had honed this martial art, originally intended for fitness, to a level beyond her years. Dealing with these punks was child’s play.

In Yi Yao’s memory, the Jiang Nan Gang was a small faction under a more powerful organization. It was only because of that organization’s backing that this gang of mostly minors could survive amidst the numerous other gangs in the area.

The same went for the Black Dragon Society. Without a true leader backing them, small gangs like theirs wouldn’t last long.

Two minutes. It only took two minutes for seven or eight teenagers to lie groaning on the ground.

The shrill siren of approaching police cars pierced the air.

A few elementary school students, drawn by the commotion, pointed at me from the entrance of the internet cafe.

Lowering my guard, I walked over to Hua She. “Let’s go.”

“Nobody move! Everyone squat down!”

However, I had underestimated the police’s efficiency. Before we could get far, a police car screeched to a halt in front of us.

…

At the police station, Hua She, a few members of the Jiang Nan Gang, and I were held in a small room.

A small, windowless room with whitewashed walls.

“Talk. Why were you fighting?”

A portly police officer sat in front of us, his tone impatient.

“I…”

Hua She started to speak, but the officer cut him off. “You delinquents, if you don’t value your own lives, don’t drag us down with you!”

“Where are your parents? How did they raise you scum? Especially you, weren’t you just in here for robbery? What, itching for another beating?”

The officer pointed his baton at one of the Jiang Nan Gang members, his face full of disdain. “Can you please get out of Upper Capital City? It’s because of trash like you that society is in such a mess!”

He looked at them like they were cockroaches in a sewer.

Back in university, our counselor had given that same look to one of my roommates. Yet, ten years later, that roommate became a famous actor. When asked about his counselor, he simply said, “I’m grateful to my teacher. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

It wasn’t strength, courage, or kindness that kept us going. It was jealousy, anger, and the scorn of others.

“You tell me. You’re the only girl here. Why were you fighting?”

Perhaps wanting to close the case quickly, the officer turned his attention to me.

Fighting?

I looked up at the middle-aged man, his beer belly threatening to burst out of his uniform.

My friend was bullied, and we retaliated. Was that reason enough?

“We weren’t fighting. She had nothing to do with it.”

Just as I was about to stay silent, one of the Jiang Nan Gang members, his face still bruised, spoke up. “We were just messing around, officer. It had nothing to do with her, really.”

I turned to look at him.

It seemed they understood the gravity of the situation. If they admitted that their entire group had been taken down by a single girl, the Jiang Nan Gang’s reputation would be ruined. Better to settle this quietly than make an enemy of me.

Which meant that Liang Zhenyi’s matter was more or less settled.

“Messing around?”

The officer slammed his hand on the table. “Messing around? One concussion, one broken bone. That’s what you call messing around?”

The boy flinched. “We got carried away…”

“Fine, fine. Whatever.”

As if prepared, the officer pulled out a document from his pocket. “Messing around, huh? I like messing around too. Sign this, and you’re free to go.”

The boy took the document. I snuck a peek at its contents. It was basically a waiver stating that they were “responsible for their own actions” and “medical expenses.”

“Here.”

After signing, the boy returned the document.

“Go home and study hard. Be good to your parents. And stop getting into fights, you hear?”

The officer waved us away dismissively. “Get out of here.”

We left the police station, relieved.

“Yi Yao.”

As we watched the Jiang Nan Gang members walk away, Hua She suddenly stopped.

“Hmm?”

I brushed my hair away from my forehead and turned to face him.

“You…”

Hua She avoided my gaze. “Did something happen?”

“What do you mean?”

He fell silent as the setting sun cast long shadows on the street.

“It’s nothing.”

After a while, he waved at me. “Go home early. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Without waiting for my reply, he led the other boys across the street.

I knew what he wanted to ask.

Probably something like, “Why are you acting so different?” or “Did something happen at home?”

But they could never guess the truth.

Yi Yao was dead, dead in this, the best of times.

My name was also Yi Yao, but I came from another, identical world.

If that incident hadn’t happened, perhaps our fates would have been the same.

The Yi Yao of this world, the girl, was too fragile. If things continued this way, she would eventually end her own life.

Heh… who was I to judge?

When I returned home, the empty house was as quiet and cold as ever.

I remembered that Dad had to stay at the hospital to take care of Mom and wouldn’t be back until late.

As I changed into my slippers, familiar scenes flashed through my mind like a dream. Everything around me suddenly felt unreal.

This home… this world would soon crumble, wouldn’t it?

I looked down at my slender feet. Apart from the slippers, which used to be blue but were now pink, nothing had changed.

It seemed that whether I was a boy or a girl, this home remained the same.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the living room, took off my jacket, tossed it onto my small bed, and turned on the computer.

I had made up my mind. No matter what, I would save this family from falling apart.

Let the relatives scold me, let the friends misunderstand me. If I could change everything, I would bear all the blame.

In the fading light of the setting sun, the old, pre-2016 LCD screen flickered to life.

Most computers in this era still ran on the notoriously vulnerable Windows system. The Heavenly Fire Forum was probably still in its infancy. Which meant that if I played my cards right, I might be able to influence the entire internet landscape.

No, I had to do it.

After spending about an hour browsing the current internet forums, my initial anxiety gave way to elation.

As I had guessed, the internet and computer systems of this era were unbelievably fragile.

At least, in my eyes.

About ten years later, the “Queen Bee Algorithm” would be made public, exposing numerous vulnerabilities in the Windows system. In those chaotic three months, countless companies would have their systems paralyzed by hackers, even the supposedly secure Linux systems. A new wave of cybersecurity crisis would grip the world, and the “Queen Bee Algorithm” would become a hot topic.

Although that crisis would last less than six months, and Microsoft would eventually release a patch, for me, this algorithm was more than enough to crack any software in existence right now.

I had only learned about cybersecurity after graduating from university in my past life. To pay off my debts, I had studied day and night. I knew that in this society, without eloquence or connections, only true skill could make up for my shortcomings.

And I had succeeded.

“Heavenly Fire Forum… found it.”

I opened the familiar website. It was a barebones forum with minimal design and only a handful of posts. I registered an account named “bee.”

No one could have imagined that this insignificant forum would, in ten years, become the world’s largest platform for cybersecurity exchange.

I answered all the questions on the forum one by one. Looking at the quiet homepage, I figured there was nothing else to do for now and shut down the computer.

I needed to pee…

A familiar yet strange sensation in my lower abdomen sent me scrambling for the toilet paper on the coffee table. However, as I pulled down my pants and squatted down, I suddenly realized the problem.

This…

Right. Sorry, Xiaoyao.

Images of Yi Yao’s usual bathroom routine flashed through my mind.

They felt so real, so natural, as if they were my own memories.

Hmm… this would take some getting used to, especially considering the one week of every month… Based on Yi Yao’s memories, those were particularly troublesome days.

Well, it was my body now.

After finishing my business with mixed feelings, I returned to the living room and heard a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Dati.”

A deep voice answered from outside.

Dati?

I rummaged through Yi Yao’s memories for a while before recalling who it was and opened the door.

Ouyang Dati, a man Long Fei had once saved and now a member of the Black Dragon Society. He had short, dyed white hair, a muscular build, and a rather mysterious aura. He rarely showed up at their usual hangouts.

“Yo, Xiaoyao.”

Dati greeted me casually. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet,” I replied with a smile. “Dad’s still at the hospital. I’ll eat later.”

I wasn’t that familiar with him, so I decided to play the good girl for now.

“Perfect timing,” Dati said, waving me over. “Come on, those guys from the Jiang Nan Gang are throwing a dinner party. They asked me to invite you. We can talk about Lao Liang’s situation there.”

No. 004 The Fading Song of the World

Ten years later, Liang Zhenyi was the roommate with the most tragic ending I met after graduating from university and starting work.

He was a good man.

I didn’t know much about his past, but in the few months we lived together, I rarely saw him complain about life. Because of my unusual work schedule, I slept late. He thought he snored, so he would always cover himself with a blanket or go to the living room to feed the mosquitoes when he slept. Every morning, he would buy me breakfast. When he occasionally watched movies or played games in the dorm, he would always wear headphones and type softly, trying his best not to disturb me.

At first, I thought Liang Zhenyi had many friends. I often saw him talking on the phone with them or going out to have fun. But later, I realized that those so-called friends only ever contacted him to borrow money or ask for favors. No matter how difficult his own situation was, Liang Zhenyi always prioritized their requests. The most extreme example was one month when he clearly didn’t have enough money to eat, yet he still scraped together two thousand yuan to lend to a “college classmate’s” girlfriend for an abortion, while he himself survived on instant noodles for a month.

Liang Zhenyi often told me, “We should help our brothers out whenever we can. They’ll definitely be there for me when I’m in trouble.”

Liang Zhenyi came from a poor family. His parents were farmers. My first impression of this young man from the countryside was that he was honest, and my second impression was that he was foolish. I never saw any of his friends return the money they borrowed or even treat him to a meal.

“Everyone has their own difficulties when they’re away from home. It’s okay if they can’t pay me back now, as long as they remember it in their hearts.”

He would recite motivational quotes every morning, greet his friends and colleagues with a smile, work hard, and maintain a regular schedule. This was Liang Zhenyi’s daily life ten years later.

However, the reality was that after three months, all the employees who joined the company with Liang Zhenyi received promotions, except for him. His salary only increased by 200 yuan.

None of his friends mentioned the money they owed him, and even more people kept asking him for loans.

Liang Zhenyi was a programmer. His monthly salary, including bonuses, was over 6,000 yuan. Logically, this salary should have been enough to live comfortably in Upper Capital City. However, to help his friends, I often saw him working late into the night, returning to the dorm exhausted, skipping dinner, and collapsing into bed.

I didn’t know how to advise him. After all, it was his personal business, and I had only known him for a short time. I also had to be frugal to repay my student loans.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Then one day, I received a call from the hospital.

He was sick, very sick.

That’s how it was in this world. When you’re away from home, what you fear most is not people’s hearts, nor your salary, nor even the housing prices or the cost of living. What we fear most is losing our health.

“Brother, I’m so sorry. I owe you so much money, and now I need you to take care of me.”

These were the first words Liang Zhenyi said to me when I saw him lying on the hospital bed.

I glanced at the empty ward without saying a word and sat down beside him.

For the next week or so, I took leave from work to take care of this first friend I made outside of my hometown.

It was worth mentioning that none of his friends came to visit him during that week.

I couldn’t imagine how he must have felt, having to rely on someone who wasn’t even considered a close friend.

When someone faces great difficulties and has to ask for help from someone who’s barely an acquaintance, the blow to their pride must be heavier than the physical pain.

Half a month later, I attended Liang Zhenyi’s funeral.

Besides his parents, his friends were also heartbroken.

This was Liang Zhenyi’s life.

Ten years ago, he was a little punk who got into fights, skipped class, and climbed over the school walls. Ten years later, he passed away as the kindest soul in Upper Capital City.

Yes, humans are such strange creatures. Students who fight, cause trouble, and skip class in middle school often become the most well-behaved in high school. And those top students and model citizens in high school often become the most isolated and troubled teenagers in university.

“Rest well and recover. Leave this to me.”

After saying this to Liang Zhenyi, who was still stunned by my forceful demeanor, I beckoned to Hua She. “Lead the way.”

“W-wait a minute!”

Finally snapping out of it, Hua She rushed in front of me, his face full of disbelief. “Xiaoyao, we can’t reach Long Ge right now. Is this really a good idea?”

I shot him a glare. “Are you planning to wait until those bastards have their fun and leave before letting Long Ge search the entire city for them to avenge Lao Liang?”

My words stunned everyone in the room.

Well, it was probably their first time seeing such a domineering “Yi Yao.”

If it were my sister, she would never take the initiative to confront those people, nor would she speak to Hua She like that. At most, she would just ask about Liang Zhenyi’s well-being and then find an excuse to go home.

These people didn’t know that “I” had been practicing martial arts for many years. Even Long Ge would protect me during fights.

“Um…” Sensing the tense atmosphere, a younger boy beside the bed cautiously approached me. “Xiaoyao, what happened?”

“It’s nothing.” I waved my hand and walked towards the door. “One question: are you in or out?”

From the reflection in the smooth surface of the door, I saw the younger boy exchange glances with the others.

“We’re in, we’re in! Long Ge isn’t here right now, so your words are his words. Since Sister-in-law has spoken, how can we back down?”

Encouraged by the younger boy, everyone in the room stood up.

“Should we bring some tools?”

“No need.”

Yi Yao’s daily training included combat. Although Taekwondo had evolved into a martial art that focused more on fitness, it was more than enough to deal with a few internet-addicted middle schoolers. In my memory, Yi Yao could single-handedly take on five trainees below the green belt level.

“Alright, Lao Liang, we’ll head out with Xiaoyao first.”

Judging from Hua She’s tone, he didn’t seem to have any real intention of fighting. But I didn’t care.

I could handle this alone.

“Just teach them a lesson. If anything happens, make sure to protect Xiaoyao. Otherwise, Long Ge will break our legs when he comes back.”

As we walked down the hospital corridor filled with the smell of disinfectant, I heard Liang Zhenyi’s voice from the ward.

Along the way, Hua She explained the cause of the fight.

From his fragmented explanation, I finally understood what had happened.

The ones who beat up Liang Zhenyi were a gang from No. 4 Middle School in Upper Capital City called the “Jiang Nan Gang.” They were quite notorious in the area, often robbing lone pedestrians for internet cafe fees. Because they were all minors, the police couldn’t do much about them.

Three hours ago, Liang Zhenyi was just planning to play a game at the internet cafe when a group of Jiang Nan Gang members suddenly surrounded him and demanded he give up his seat. In the heat of the moment, Lao Liang refused, saying he just needed a few more minutes to finish his game. Perhaps his tone was a bit harsh, because those arrogant brats immediately attacked him. Outnumbered, Liang Zhenyi’s right leg was broken.

The internet cafe was quite far from Fifth Hospital. Hua She and I walked for a good half hour before we arrived. Fortunately, those kids were still there, yelling and screaming excitedly over their game.

“Xiaoyao, how many hours today?”

The owner of the internet cafe was also an acquaintance. Seeing me walk in with four or five boys, he greeted me with a greasy smile, as if the incident with Lao Liang never happened.

“No need, I’m here to see someone.”

My sister would occasionally come here to play games with that “boyfriend” of hers when she had free time. But most of the time, it was “me” watching my boyfriend play, the computer just taking up space.

“Quick! Garen! Q him, Q him! Ultimate, ultimate!”

Following Hua She’s instructions, I walked up behind one of the kids. On the large screen in front of him, the boy was frantically manipulating the mouse and keyboard, controlling his hero to “fight for justice” in the virtual world.

So League of Legends was still this popular in 2016.

I took off the headphones of the person in front of me.

They said that being interrupted while playing this game was the easiest way to provoke someone.

“Who?”

As expected, the boy exploded like a lit fuse. He slammed his keyboard and turned around, only to be stunned when he saw me. “What’s up, beautiful?”

“We need to have a chat outside.”

“Don’t have time.”

After saying that impatiently, the boy put his headphones back on.

Hmm… quite patient.

If I were a boy, I would have been beaten up by now, right?

“Xiaoyao… maybe we should just forget about it…”

Hua She grabbed my shoulder and shook his head.

“Why should we forget about it? What do you mean ‘forget about it’? If you let them off the hook today, will you be happy when they beat us up next time? When they become bolder and stab your parents to death on the street, will you be happy then?”

The air in the internet cafe was thick with cigarette smoke and the stench of sweat. It was suffocating.

Hua She looked at me as if I were an alien.

“I’ll say it again, if you’re scared, go back. I’ll handle this myself.”

I squatted down and pressed the power button on the computer in front of me.

“Hey!”

The screen, which was showing an intense team fight, instantly went black. This sent the boy over the edge. He threw his headphones aside and stood up. “Are you fucking looking for trouble?”

The commotion attracted the attention of everyone nearby.

“Yes, I am.”

I said with a faint smile. “Tell your friend to come out here. We’ll settle this outside.”

Seeing Hua She behind me, the boy probably understood what was going on. He waved to the seven or eight other delinquents around him. “Stop playing, someone’s looking for trouble.”

There was an unspoken rule among these young thugs: to avoid disturbing others, fighting was forbidden inside the internet cafe.

“Damn it, lost another ranked game.”

Cursing under their breath, the delinquents got up from their seats one after another. They all glanced at me before turning their attention to Hua She, who had a natural air of authority. “You brought a girl with you to a fight? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at by the others?”

“Laughed at? Hahaha, by you guys?”

Hua She wasn’t just sinister-looking; he was also quite vicious. The main reason he didn’t fight them earlier was that Long Ge wasn’t there, and he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries with their limited numbers.

Now that he saw I had escalated the situation, Hua She revealed his true colors. “Let me tell you something. This is our sister-in-law. If you know what’s good for you, go to Fifth Hospital and apologize to Lao Liang. We’ll let this go. Otherwise…”

“Apologize? Hahaha, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. Even if Long Ge was here today, he wouldn’t be able to save you. If we don’t leave each of you with one less hand today, we’ll stop calling ourselves the Jiang Nan Gang.”

Emboldened by their numbers, these brats showed no restraint in their words.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire internet cafe, the two groups walked out into the open space outside.

“Alright, we lost a ranked game because of you. Tell us, what are you going to do about it?”

The apparent leader, a boy with dyed red hair, spat his chewing gum onto the ground and looked at Hua She provocatively.

“I…”

Hua She was about to speak, but I stopped him.

“How about this,” I said to the red-haired boy, my expression calm. “No need to kneel. You guys started it, and our friend got hurt. Just go to the hospital, apologize to Lao Liang, and pay for his medical expenses. We’re all from the same school. We’ll see each other again. Let’s not make things too ugly.”

“Who are you… oh, quite a pretty girl.”

The red-haired boy’s eyes lit up with a sleazy glint as he looked at me. “Haven’t you heard that women shouldn’t interfere in men’s business? Are you trying to reason with me, little missy?”

“This isn’t reasoning, it’s an order. I’ve made myself clear. Go apologize, pay up, and we’ll drop it.”

Ignoring the red-haired boy’s lewd gaze, I continued in a flat tone. “I’m not in a good mood today. I hope you won’t make things difficult for me.”

No. 003 The Beautiful Dream Torn Apart

At first, when I heard that uncle was going to mortgage our house to pay off my debts, I resented him deeply.

But later, all I felt was sympathy.

To think of money first when a loved one is in trouble, you can only feel sorry for such a person.

I once heard a saying: In this world, what’s sadder than being looked down upon is being pitied.

“Okay, I’ll be there in five minutes.”

In the parallel world I came from, Mom didn’t pass away until my senior year of high school.

Since even the news is identical in this world, such things should logically be the same.

It’s worth mentioning that my father didn’t call to tell me about Mom’s critical condition back then. He just told me to study hard before leaving that morning. I was still wondering why he came home so late on February 6th.

What is it like to know the exact time of your loved one’s death but be powerless to do anything?

To make matters worse, my mother was a nurse.

“Fifth Hospital.”

After rushing out in my school uniform, I hailed a taxi.

The sunlight outside was a bit harsh.

The February air had already begun to warm up.

This body had perfect vision because it hadn’t been strained, which felt strange to someone who used to be nearsighted.

Fifth Hospital wasn’t far from our house. It would only take less than ten minutes to walk there, but at this moment, for both my sister and my own feelings, I had to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.

“Keep the change.”

Looking at the meter showing 7.5 yuan and the 1 yuan fuel surcharge notice next to it, I threw down a 10 yuan bill and got out of the car.

Indeed, I was afraid.

I was afraid that in this world, Mom would leave me early.

I was afraid that Mom’s illness would develop complications because I was a girl.

I was even more afraid that everything was just a dream.

Aplastic anemia, a type of chronic leukemia. People with this disease experience various complications due to impaired blood production. Their immunity is also significantly weakened due to insufficient white blood cells and platelets, making them susceptible to infections. In severe cases, it can even induce other cancers.

My sister had been to Mom’s ward several times. Following the body’s memory, I climbed to the third floor of the hospital, only to be told by the nurses at the nurse’s station that Mom had been taken to the operating room.

Surgery?

I never remembered Mom having any surgery scheduled for today. Why didn’t Dad tell me back then?

This was a blank period in both my and my sister’s memories.

Knowing my sister, she probably wouldn’t come after what uncle said.

Yes, my sister was fragile. She was afraid to face such things, especially after her recent poor exam results. She was very resistant to seeing Mom.

“Rather than visiting Mom looking like I can’t do anything, I might as well die.” – That was what my sister thought.

But since I was using my sister’s body now, I had to make sure I didn’t disappoint her. Otherwise, her sacrifice would be in vain.

If this was my cursed fate, then I would change it with my own hands!

I ran to the waiting area outside the operating room on the fifth floor and saw Dad sitting on a chair with his head down. Several relatives, including my uncle, were trying to comfort him.

I walked over to them.

“Dad.”

My soft voice echoed through the empty waiting area.

Dad, sitting on the chair, lifted his head.

It was the face that had only ever appeared in my dreams countless times.

After Dad passed away, I graduated from college and faced countless rejections while job hunting. I wandered the streets countless times, enduring the disdainful gazes of others, bowing and scraping just to survive and repay the millions in debt.

While my classmates were either throwing tantrums in their parents’ arms because they couldn’t find jobs or becoming shut-ins, I was still on the streets, forcing a smile at every passerby, handing out flyers, and introducing them to the promotional activities of the new company I had found.

Those passersby looked at me with pity, mockery, and disdain.

Now, the person who had passed away, the one I thought of first whenever I was tired or exhausted, was right in front of me.

“…”

Under my affectionate gaze, Dad stood up from the chair.

And then he slapped me hard.

“Slap!”

The slap echoed through the entire waiting area, instantly driving back the tears welling up in my eyes.

It also attracted the attention of many patients’ families nearby.

Caught completely off guard, I was dazed from the blow, my ears ringing.

“You still have the nerve to show up?”

Dad’s face was flushed, the veins on his forehead throbbing. Seeing him raise his hand again, a relative quickly pulled him back. “Alright, alright, calm down, calm down.”

“Get out of my sight!”

Held back by the relative, Dad struggled and pointed at me, almost shouting, “Why are you here? Are you trying to be the death of your mother with your grades?”

“Alright, alright, Xiaoyao is just worried about her mother. Don’t be angry.”

“Worried? She just wants Li Yuehan dead!”

In my blurry vision, Dad broke free from the relative’s grip and, ignoring everyone’s stares, kicked me. I didn’t dodge, letting him kick me to the cold floor.

“You cry! What good is crying? Will your mother get better if you cry? Will your grades improve if you cry? Do you want us dead before you’re satisfied?”

His scolding attracted everyone’s attention in the waiting area.

Even two passing nurses pointed at us from the hallway.

“I’m sorry.”

I covered my swollen left cheek and slowly stood up from the ground.

“What good is sorry?”

Dad kicked me again without hesitation. “Thud!” This time, I was kicked under the table, my head hitting the corner with a loud “bang.” Blood immediately flowed down my forehead.

“Xiaoyao!”

A relative couldn’t bear it anymore and ran over to help me up. “Quick! Doctor!”

“No need.”

I pushed the relative away and stood up from the ground for the second time.

“It’s all my fault. If this can appease Dad…”

Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, the five tenets of Taekwondo.

Haha…

Hahaha…

Yi Yao, I finally understood how you felt.

So, different genders and different pasts could lead to such drastically different outcomes.

So, academic performance was such an important thing in Dad’s eyes.

My father, in that other world, had never hit me or scolded me. He would always comfort and encourage me when I made mistakes.

“Go away.”

“What are you doing here?”

“How many times have I told you? Don’t do anything unrelated to studying. Are you deaf?”

“Get back to your room. You’re not going anywhere tonight.”

As if to reinforce the point, all the memories of being scolded by Dad from my sister’s past surfaced one after another.

Something seemed to shatter in my heart.

Perhaps my apology had calmed Dad down a bit. He snorted coldly and turned away, ignoring me. The relative who had helped me up earlier took me for a simple bleeding control and disinfection. When we returned, the light under the “Surgery in Progress” sign on the operating room door had just gone out.

Dad, with a haggard face, rushed over. “Doctor, how is she?”

“The surgery went smoothly. The patient is very weak and needs to rest. You should all go back for now.”

As I watched, several nurses pushed the bed Mom was on out of the operating room.

“But don’t let your guard down. We only removed the affected organs. There’s still a risk of infection, so be prepared.”

The doctor pushed his glasses up his nose, his eyes filled with sympathy as he looked at Dad.

Sunlight streamed in from outside, reflecting a faint rainbow on his glasses.

By “prepared,” the doctor meant Dad should be prepared for the cost of emergency treatment.

I knew our savings were running low. Dad could still borrow 200,000 yuan from these relatives to extend Mom’s life for another three years. After that, we would have no choice but to give up treatment because we couldn’t afford the hospitalization fees.

“Oh… Okay, as long as she’s alright.”

Dad’s expression was a mix of relief that Mom was safe and worry about the money.

“You all go back first. I’ll stay with Xiao Yuehan.”

Dad walked past me without even glancing my way.

“Dad.”

I called out to him.

“I’m sorry.”

My apology was met with a cold snort.

“Give me some time, I will become someone you can be proud of.”

“Get lost. I’ll burn incense and pray to Buddha if your grades can even reach the top ten in your class.”

Dad scoffed and walked towards Mom’s ward.

“Fine, next month’s monthly exam, if I don’t get first place in the grade, I’ll leave this house.”

Since I had already said this much, I might as well go all out.

For me now, grades weren’t the hardest part. The real problem was money…

“Please take good care of Mom.”

My voice didn’t seem to reach Dad’s ears because he had already disappeared from my sight before I finished speaking.

“Alright, alright, let’s go back.”

The relatives walked past me.

“Hahaha, first place in the grade? Did she hit her head or something?”

“My son studies every day at home, and he’s only second in his class. Her? First place in the grade? Don’t make me laugh.”

“See, having a daughter brings misfortune even to the relatives.”

“That’s right. Even if she’s going to get married eventually, at least good grades are something to brag about. She’s already a girl, and her grades are terrible. What’s the use of raising her?”

“Shh, keep it down. The nurses here might report you for gender discrimination…”

The faces of the relatives who used to be so kind to me merged with the faces of these people before me.

So strange, so silent.

Silent and cold.

Was this the world Yi Yao lived in?

A world devoid of hope, devoid of warmth, a world shrouded in darkness.

Trying to suppress the turmoil in my heart, I took a deep breath and turned towards the stairs.

Words were useless now.

My sister’s grades were indeed terrible.

They did nothing wrong, said nothing wrong.

I just had to prove them wrong with actions.

Biting my lip to hold back tears, I reached the second floor of the hospital and saw a familiar figure smoking listlessly.

“Hua She.”

I walked over. “What happened?”

Hua She was someone “Yi Yao” knew in this world, a member of their little gang, the “Black Dragon Society.” He got his nickname because people said his face had a snake-like quality, and he liked to wear floral shirts.

“Sister-in-law.”

Seeing me, Hua She quickly put out his cigarette. “Lao Liang got beaten up.”

Lao Liang, Liang Zhenyi, a member of the Black Dragon Society, a student in Class 1, Grade 9 at No. 2 Middle School in Upper Capital City, and also my roommate in another timeline.

“What happened?”

I was surprised to see Liang Zhenyi here. I never imagined that this honest and simple guy would have been in this kind of group fifteen years ago.

“Come with me.”

Without another word, Hua She beckoned me to follow him into a ward.

Several boys were squatting in the room. Seeing me, they all greeted me with “Sister-in-law.”

The person on the bed had a cast on his right leg and a worried expression.

“We were playing at the internet cafe just now, and Lao(Old or Senior) Liang got into an argument with some guys sitting next to him. They beat him up like this.” Perhaps noticing my unpleasant expression, Hua She explained, “We can’t get through to Long Ge’s phone, so we brought him here first.”

I remained silent.

“If those bastards weren’t in a big group, I wouldn’t be afraid of them.”

Lao Liang on the bed said indignantly.

“What’s so great about ganging up on someone? If it were any other day, they’d be kneeling at Long Ge’s feet, calling him ‘Dad’!”

“A bunch of snot-nosed brats, pah!”

“Playing a game, they think they’re hotshots. In the end, they still resort to using steel pipes. If they were in the game, I could take them all out with one hit.”

“…”

Their incessant complaining finally made me take out my phone and hand it to him.

Liang Zhenyi looked up at me in confusion. “What for?”

“Take a selfie, post it on your QQ space or WeChat Moments, and ask your friends to like it. Or go confront those guys face to face.” I said calmly, “What’s the use of complaining here? Let everyone know that you’re just a coward who hides behind others and talks big.”

Liang Zhenyi seemed taken aback by my words. He stared at me for a long while. “A selfie? What do you take me for?”

I retrieved my phone and stood up from the bed.

“I take you as my brother, that’s why I call you a coward.”