The sunlight felt different.
Jian Chen's first coherent thought, as he sat on the edge of his bed — no, their bed, he amended quickly, looking at his sleeping sister — staring at his hands as if they were someone else's.
Which, in a way, they did.
These were not the hands of Liam Chen, the twenty-three-year-old billionaire who had died alone in a corner office at four A.M. Sure, those hands had been pale, unused to the hard labor of life spent typing on keyboards and signing contracts. Manicured. Expensive. Dead.
These hands were younger. Rougher. Calluses on the palms — proof of working part time, or struggling, or living instead of simply existing. The fingers were longer than he recalled, and the nails cut short by necessity rather than professional attention.
I'm really here. This is real.
"Ge?"
He looked up. Xiao Yu was awake, propped up on one elbow; her long black hair messily tousled from sleep. She looked anxious, her young face crinkled in worry that tightened his chest.
When's the last time anyone had worried about him?
Never. No one ever cared enough to worry about Liam.
"I'm fine, Xiao Yu," he said, and his voice hitched on her name. His little sister. He had a sister. "Just... had a really vivid dream."
"It must have been a dream," she said as she swung her legs out of bed. She wore pajamas well past their prime — cartoon characters faded; a slight tear at the sleeve that had been painstakingly patched. "You've been acting strange since you woke up."
Because I'm not the brother you knew yesterday, but smiled instead. "Good weird or bad weird?"
"Jury's still out." She smiled, and it changed the look on her face. Twelve years old. So young. So saturated with hopes and dreams that poverty could crush before they ever took root.
Not anymore. Not while I still have a say in the matter.
"Xiao Feng! Xiao Yu! Breakfast is ready!"
Their mother's voice floated down through the thin walls, warm and living and present, and Jian Chen had to blink hard against the sudden sting in his eyes.
"Coming, Ma!" Xiao Yu responded, already moving toward the door. She hesitated, glancing back at him. "You coming, or are you going to just sit there staring at your hands all day?
He laughed — really laughed, the sound rusty but real. "I'm coming."
The apartment was small. Small, I mean, in any objective sense. The whole place would have fit three times over in Liam's penthouse bedroom. Two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen small enough for two people to stand in but not to move about much, and a living space that served as dining room and everything else.
It was perfect.
His mother was standing at the stove with her back to him, stirring something in a pan. She wore an apron over simple clothes, her hair tied back in a pragmatic ponytail. There were a few greys thrown in with the black — signs of stress, of working too much, of giving everything for her children.
Not anymore, he vowed silently. Now I'm going to give you the life that you deserve.
"Good morning, Xiao Feng," she said without looking around, and the mere simple domesticity of it — being known, being expected, having a place in the world — nearly broke him. "Sit down. Breakfast is almost ready."
His father was already at the small table, reading yesterday's newspaper; they couldn't afford a subscription. Chen Weiguo had looked up when Jian Chen walked in, and their eyes met.
For an instant, the old man seemed to really see Jian Chen — saw something uncertain flash in weathered features, wondered if his son was not somehow different overnight. But then his father smiled, and, if only a little bit, and got it.
"Morning, son. Big day today?"
"Well?" Jian Chen slipped into his customary seat. The chair wobbled a bit — one leg shorter than the others and propped with a folded piece of cardboard. "And... yeah. I think it will be a big day."
Breakfast was plain: congee, a few sides, tea. A budget-stretching meal with humble origins. Liam would have sniffed at it, would have had his chef whip up something fancier, costlier, more impressive instead.
Jian Chen ate as if it was the best meal of his life.
Because it was. Because his family was here, alive and together. Because his mother kept looking over at him to see if he was eating enough. Because his dad was reading news about sports teams he'd never be able to afford tickets to see. Because his sister was jabbering on about her day, about her friends, about the art project she was doing.
This, he thought. This is what I died without. This is something money could never buy.
"Xiao Feng, are you really alright?" His mother was watching him with her brow furrowed. "You're crying."
He touched his face in surprise, realizing with a little shock that his cheeks were wet. "I'm fine, Ma. Better than fine. I'm just… so grateful to be here." With all of you."
His parents looked at each other—the wordless shorthand of a decadeslong partnership. His mother rushed over, placing her palm on his forehead.
"No fever," she murmured. "But you're acting strange. Should we take you to a doctor?"
"No, Ma. I promise, I'm okay." He took her hand, cupping it lightly. Her hands were callused from work, from cleaning, from whatever else she could do to keep their family going. "I was just told something important this morning. About how lucky I am."
Her eyes softened. "Oh, Xiao Feng. You've always been such a good boy."
No, he thought. Liam was never a good son. But Jian Chen will be.
After breakfast, he took Xiao Yu to school. This was something he'd apparently done a lot — the memories of this body, this life were present, accessible but far-off, like observing a movie of someone else's life.
"A little weird today, Ge," said Xiao Yu as they strolled through their neighborhood. The buildings were old, the streets teeming, the air thick with the stench of street food and exhaust fumes. "Did something happen?"
"Something did happen," he admitted. "But it's a good thing. I promise."
She regarded him with the disturbing acuity of children. "You seem... different. Happier, maybe? But also sad?"
Smart kid. "I'm happy because I understood what mattered. And perhaps a bit sad, that it took me so long to understand."
"That's kind of philosophical for 7 AM."
He laughed, ruffling her hair. "When did you get so smart?"
"I've always been smart. You just didn't realize because it was — you were so busy being stressed about money and school and everything." She said it like a fact, without accusation, but it stung all the same.
The previous Jian Chen was in a dilemma. Drowning. No wonder he missed things.
"You're right," he said. "But I'm going to do better. I will never let you have to struggle financially again. That you can follow your art, go to the best schools, and have everything that you have ever wanted."
She halted, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Ge, did you bump your head or what?"
"Or something," he agreed, smiling. "Trust me?"
"Always," she simply said, and the faith in that one word made him want to move mountains.
He walked her to the school gates, not leaving until she'd disappeared into the building. Then he took his phone out — an old model, screen cracked but still working — and checked the time.
He had two hours before his first class.
[DING!]
He heard the sound ringing inside his head, and out of nowhere, golden text gleamed in his eyes, visible only to himself:
[GOOD MORNING, HOST JIAN CHEN]
[HELLO AND WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST FULL DAY OF YOUR SECOND LIFE]
[TUTORIAL COMPLETE. FULL SYSTEM ACCESS NOW AVAILABLE]
Jian Chen ducked into a quiet corner of a small park and sat down on a bench. "Okay," he murmured. "Let's do this properly. System, show me my status."
[APEX LIFE SYSTEM — HOST STATUS]
[HOST: Jian Chen]
[AGE: 18]
[PAST LIFE: Liam Chen (Died Age 23)]
[CURRENT STATUS: ]
[Occupation: College Student (Beijing Film Academy)]
[Net Worth: $847]
[Fame Points: 0]
[Social Media Followers: 324]
[Reputation: Unknown Nobody]
[PHYSICAL CONDITION: ]
[Height: 5ft11 (180cm) → Aiming for 6ft1(185cm) within next 3 months
[Current: 140 lbs → Goal: ~180 lbs lean muscle]
[Body Fat: 18% → Target: 8-10%]
[General Health: Bad (malnourished, no exercise, and stress)]
[Attractiveness Rating: 6/10 → Potential: 10/10 (Most Handsome Man Alive)]
[SKILLS ACQUIRED: 1]
[ACTING - Level 100 (TRANSCENDENT MASTERY)]
[MISSIONS AVAILABLE: 3]
[SHOP: Unlocked (0 FP available)]
[LOTTERY: Daily 1 Free Draw]
[NOTE: You still have all the knowledge and experience of your previous life. And the financial skills, business brainpower, and strategic thinking are at all-time highs.]
[CURRENT LIMITATION: Physical body must accumulate experiences to employ skills at full potential. Acting skill is currently available at 30% capacity due to physical decrepitude.]
Jian Chen perused the information closely. So he had the acting ability—must have picked that up from finishing off a mission yesterday—but his body was too weak to land it right. That made sense. It didn't matter if you had perfect technique — if you couldn't do it, what good was it?
"Display current missions," he muttered.
[CURRENT MISSIONS]
[DAILY MISSION: ATTEND CLASSES]
[Make sure you attend all scheduled classes for university today]
[Incentive: 50 Fame Points, a Random Skill Draw]
[DAILY MISSION: PHYSICAL TRAINING]
[Exercise (Cardio + Strength Training), 1 hour]
[Reward: 10 Fame Points, +1 Stamina]
[MAIN MISSION: TRANSFORMATION BEGINS]
[Finish the "Physical Training" daily mission for 30 days straight]
Reward: Flesh Upgrade Kit, 5K Fame Points, Thanks for Doing the Soul Thing
[RECOMMENDED: Begin daily training immediately. Current physical condition greatly restricts the possibility.]
Thirty days of working out to sculpt his physique. That was... actually reasonable. With help from the system and his own willpower, he could do it.
"Accept all missions," he said.
[MISSIONS ACCEPTED]
[MISSIONS OF THE DAY: ATTEND CLASSES — IN PROGRESS]
[DAILY MISSION: PHYSICAL TRAINING — NOT STARTED]
[MAIN MISSION: TRANSFORMATION BEGINS — Day 0/30]
He checked the time again. An hour and a half until class. Time enough to locate a gym, register, and arrange his first workout.
No time like the present.
When he got up, his phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number:
"Audition results posted online. — Professor Wang Check the film academy site.
His heart rate kicked up. The audition. Right. Old Jian Chen had auditioned for a supporting role in a big movie production last week. He'd been anxious, unprepared, and — based on the memories — pretty sure he'd bombed it.
But that was before the system came into being. Prior to the Level 100 Acting skill.
He opened the website on his cracked phone screen and navigated to the announcements section.
There, right at the top of the list:
CASTING RESULTS — "CHASING DREAMS" PRODUCTION
He scrolled down, past the lead roles, past the major supporting roles, down to the minor supporting cast where he'd auditioned for a small part—
His name wasn't there.
For a moment, disappointment lifted through him. Then he noticed something. His name was on the list. Just... not where he'd expected.
MALE LEAD (REVISED): JIAN CHEN
He stared at the screen.
They had cast him as the lead. Not the small supporting role he had auditioned for. The real star of the film.
[DING!]
[HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: UNEXPECTED BREAKTHROUGH]
[REWARD: 1,000 Fame Points, Industry Attention Increased]
[NOTE: Your audition tape spread among the casting team like wildfire. The director specifically requested to meet with you.]
[REPORT TO PRODUCTION OFFICE MONDAY 9 AM.]
Jian Chen sank back down on the bench, absorbing this.
His life was back for fewer than twenty-four hours when he landed a lead role in the major film. The system was real. The second chance was real.
This is really happening.
He gazed up at the sky — clear blue, morning sun warm on his face. Somewhere in this city, his family was living their life. His mother was most likely at her cleaning job. His father is at the factory. — His sister in class, doodling in the margins of her notebook.
They were struggling. Barely making ends meet. Giving up everything to serve a future that, in the old timeline, may never arrive.
But that timeline was gone. Erased. In this timeline Jian Chen had a system, infinite potential and the most important thing—knowledge of what really mattered.
"I'm going to make you all so proud," he whispered. "I'm going to show you everything. And this time I will live properly as I do it."
His phone buzzed again. Another text — this one from a classmate:
"Man, did you check out the cast list? You got the LEAD ROLE? How?? The most hilarious was Qin Hao losing his mind lol. See you in class!"
Qin Hao. Right. The rich young master who had mocked him for weeks. Who'd tried out for the same role through his family's connections and expensive acting coaches.
The face-slapping started early, Jian Chen thought with a faint smile.
He got up, put his phone into a pocket, and walked toward the nearest gym he could remember from this body's memories. It was a little, inexpensive place — the type of restaurant serious people went to, actually work, not be seen.
Perfect.
As he strode, golden letters flashed in his vision one last time:
[WELCOME TO YOUR SECOND LIFE, JIAN CHEN]
[LIAM DIED WITH REGRETS]
[JIAN CHEN WILL LIVE WITH NONE]
[THIS TIME: LIVE FULLY]
"I will," he told the system, the universe, himself. "I absolutely will."
The morning sun rolled higher in the sky as Jian Chen strode toward his future with purpose in every step. Behind him lay death, loneliness, and wasted potential. Out there was everything — family, love, success and most of all a life worth living.
His second-chance day one, he thought. Let's make it count.