Han Lie dragged his heavy feet onto the last subway train.
The carriage was empty, yet every face of those returning late was filled with weariness and numbness.
Han Lie found an empty seat at random, closed his eyes, and rested for a few seconds.
When he opened his eyes again, a faint panel suddenly flashed before him.
At the same time, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[The Consumption System is now reporting for duty]
The system!
Han Lie was all too familiar with this.
He had started reading web novels in his first year of high school and continued until now.
As a result, his originally decent grades had plummeted severely, and he had only managed to get admitted into a third-tier university, leading an insignificant life until the age of thirty.
Every time he thought of his rebellion in high school and his indulgence in college, Han Lie, who had been battered by society for over a decade, would sink into deep regret. If only back then... Unfortunately, there were no ifs, and he couldn't go back to that time.
However, regretful as he might feel, Han Lie always lacked the motivation to change. Because he knew very clearly it was all futile. He was just an average Joe who had squandered the most precious years of his youth and missed the opportunity of the college entrance exam. What difference could he make now by struggling? Would he be able to afford a house or find a wife? Rather than humbling himself to desperately seek a career and love, it was better to just lie flat comfortably, read novels, play games, and enjoy complete freedom.
He had continued to lie flat into his early thirties, remaining unaccomplished.
Until today, when the system unceremoniously smacked him in the face. Had Father Heaven finally decided he couldn't stand by and watch anymore? Is my time to shine?!
The surge of excitement had just risen when Han Lie heard another notification—
[Newbie gift pack opened]
[Consuming all accumulated consumption points, fulfilling one wish for the host]
[Please make a wish]
"I want to go back and start over!"
Without even thinking, Han Lie blurted out his greatest desire. No, that wasn't a wish. It was a dream woven from regret and dissatisfaction. I am a loser, but if I could start over, I want to be a winner.
「...」
Han Lie slowly woke up, only to find himself still seated on the train.
But it wasn't the spacious and bright subway anymore, but an old-fashioned train. This is... After the college entrance exam, on the way to report to the School of Humanities at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)?!
Han Lie looked at the girl sitting opposite him, instantly anchoring the current timepoint.
August 30th, 2013.
His first long journey in life.
Han Lie's memory of everything that happened today was still crystal clear.
Because seated opposite him was the great beauty from his school but a different class, Chen Yanfei.
And coincidentally, she got into the main campus of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), right next to Han Lie's college.
The young and naive Han Lie thought this was fate bestowed by the heavens. After struggling and wrestling with the idea for a long time, he eventually gathered the courage to talk to her halfway through the journey.
Only to be utterly humiliated by her classmate, Pan Shaohang.
That defeat had crushed Han Lie's beautiful illusions of university life, throwing him off balance for many years.
Han Lie nonchalantly took out a knockoff thousand-yuan phone, glanced at the time, and then at his ticket. Good, the train had just left, and the events from my memory haven't unfolded yet.
Feeling relieved, Han Lie lowered his head and started checking the system at ease.
The system panel was very simple. The current page listed a few lines of explanatory text.
[The host's total consumption points can only take you back to the night before the college entrance examination at most]
[Considering the potential severe consequences, the wish function has automatically selected the current time point for the host]
[Current remaining consumption points 12,588]
[Would you like to continue tracing back?]
[Yes][No]
Seeing the two flashing options on the panel, Han Lie broke into a cold sweat and decisively clicked [No]. Go back to the night before the college entrance exam... How terrifying! Why go back? To set a new record with 200 points and get a mixed doubles beating from my parents into the bargain?! PAH!
If he could return to the start of his senior year in high school, Han Lie would actually be willing to give it his all. Not for anything else, just to prove he wasn't utter trash. Even if he only got into a second-tier university, that would be a brand new start. Too bad there's no chance... Forget it, forget it. The School of Humanities at SISU is pretty good. At least there are plenty of beauties.
After he mentally gave up on further rewinds, a new prompt immediately refreshed.
[Wish function permanently closed]
[Consumption system officially in use]
Huh? I can't make wishes anymore? Okay, no big deal.
Han Lie wasn't very disappointed. Right now, this 'old boy' was immersed in an extreme state of satisfaction, the joy of a dream come true filling his entire being, so intense it spilled over, sweeping away all negative emotions.
The present Han Lie, upon seeing Pan Shaohang sitting diagonally across, actually found him quite pleasant to look at. Mm, the young fellow is handsome, with delicate features and a charming smile—quite the looker!
Eye contact was made, and Han Lie even nodded amicably at the other party, offering a smile that came from the heart. Kid, Dad loves you.
But Pan Shaohang didn't seem inclined to accept the kindness, his expression disdainful as he let out a slight snort through his nostrils. Perhaps he thinks I'm unkempt, shabbily dressed, and not worthy of his association? Han Lie mused.
Han Lie felt this brat was beyond saving, but he just smiled it off.
He lowered his head, pretending to read a magazine, and continued to check the system.
After Han Lie lowered his head, Chen Yanfei, who had seen the whole interaction, started to quietly size up the young man before her. Han Lie, however, knew nothing about this.
The words "officially activated" filled him with anticipation, capturing all his attention.
The whole consumption system only had three sub-pages.
[Attributes], [Items], [Messages]
The items page was naturally empty, and the messages page only contained the sentence [More functions to be unlocked after upgrade]. So Han Lie could only explore the attributes interface.
In the top left corner was a rotating 3D personal avatar.
Height 174 centimeters, weight 60 kilograms, with a thin physique. His hair, grown to mid-brow, was very messy. He wore a pair of old-fashioned black-framed glasses, and his skin was sallow.
A commoner's appearance, exuding an air of countrified awkwardness and timidity. Not ugly, but definitely not approachable. This was the 18-year-old Han Lie from a small town.
In the top right corner of the panel were various data figures.
They were—
[Basic Attributes: Strength 62, Agility 59, Constitution 63, Intelligence 65]
[Secondary Attributes: Charisma 66, Physique 58, Health 69, Special 75]
[Professional Knowledge: Mathematics Level 2, English Level 3, Accounting Level 1, Finance Level 3...]
[Skills: Driving Level 1, Vehicle Control Level 3, Cooking Level 2, Craftsmanship Level 4, Stock Trading Level 2, Writing Level 2...]
[Cash: 20,385]
[Experience: 12,588]
Focusing his thoughts on any term would bring up expandable options and relevant explanations.
Han Lie reviewed each item and soon got the gist of it.
At the core of the system was this principle: spending to earn experience, and experience could be distributed to any attribute or skill.
One consumption, two gains.
And that extra gain was the unbuyable "self-upgrade," which was truly exhilarating.
Consumption value converted to experience at a one-to-one ratio, deceiving neither the old nor the young.
The system's rules were simple and direct, which suited Han Lie's taste perfectly. Who would bother with brain-burning rules if they could find joy so simply?
So Han Lie would rather wait in Li Jiaqi's livestream to snatch deals than join the Double Eleven shopping frenzy. All those convoluted schemes, who are they trying to fool? The new generation has long stopped indulging anyone's arrogance. Arrogance comes at a price, Old Ma...
He chuckled and began to explore what the values signified for each attribute.
Below 60 points: sub-par, trash tier; one thousand experience adds one point.
60-69 points: normal range; ten thousand experience adds one point.
70-79 points: excellent; unlocks after system upgrade.
80-89 points: genius; unlocks after further system upgrade.
90-99 points: top-tier; dazzling as the sun.
Han Lie was not surprised to see that his Basic Attributes were mostly just over 60 points. An average guy, indeed! If geniuses are 'them' and ordinary people are 'us,' then most of the world is 'us.' Before today, I always had a clear understanding of myself: an exceedingly ordinary member of the teeming masses. But now, quietly observing the system panel, I suddenly realize... I will eventually break away from 'us,' surpass 'them,' and become a third kind of person—Them.
His Basic Attributes were normal, but the Secondary Attributes were quite strange... What exactly is 'Special'?
He sneakily took a look... and Han Lie's smile gradually turned somewhat wicked. Heh, so I do have a talent in certain areas! But having talent without excellent Strength and Constitution to back it up means that the talent can't be expressed—truly a sad story.
After feeling sad for a moment, Han Lie's face suddenly darkened. Dammit! What am I thinking? With my looks, physique, and emotional intelligence, I've been a perennial single loser. My 'talent' has never even been used, okay?!
Han Lie suddenly understood why there was an inexplicable Level 4 Craftsmanship among his skills. Damn it, this dog-eat-dog world really isn't fair to me...
While he grumbled, Han Lie actually knew very well in his heart that it was never the world's problem, but rather his own failure to find the right way to interact with it.
People always find it difficult to admit their own failures, preferring to blame objective conditions and the external environment.
Before today, Han Lie had been typically pig-headed. He always made excuses for himself to avoid reality and evade problems. He had wrapped his heart in a shell, forcibly deflecting all external stimuli. I wouldn't listen to nagging, wouldn't accept criticism, didn't want to distinguish between true and false intentions, and wasn't willing to show my true self… In short, I was against everything.
Han Lie's mediocrity and failure were largely due to his unhealthy mindset. Constantly battling myself internally, what energy did I have left to strive with?
However, after his rebirth, that shell had suddenly vanished. Han Lie felt an unprecedented lightness. Recalling many past events, right and wrong became clear, and they no longer stung my once fragile self-esteem. No, wait, I'm not fragile anymore...
Han Lie drifted in the ocean of his memories, slowly sorting through the events and people of his past years.
His mood was tranquil and fulfilled, filled with a sense of release regarding the past and anticipation for the future.
A feeling of happiness enveloped him tightly, allowing him to understand so, so much.
It's often said that a man's maturity comes in an instant. Now was that instant for Han Lie—the moment he reconciled with himself and made peace with the world.