Yu Chen jolted awake, his breath ragged. He stumbled to the mirror in his small bedroom and froze.
The reflection staring back at him… was his seventeen-year-old self.
His once-chiseled body was gone, replaced with the lean, untrained frame of a teenager. He tugged his shirt up—his hard-earned six-pack had reverted to a flat, ordinary stomach. Yu Chen stared, dumbfounded.
"How… How is this possible?" he muttered.
He remembered it all. The betrayal. Ying Yue stabbing him in the chest. His twenty-seven-year-old self had died in a pool of blood. And now… he had returned to the past?
"This doesn't make sense," he whispered.
Ding!
A familiar sound pulled him from his thoughts—a vintage flip phone ringing. He glanced at the screen. A text from Ying Yue, saying she was waiting outside his house.
He remembered this routine from high school—Ying Yue always came to pick him up so they could walk to school together. She would never press the doorbell repeatedly, knowing how much he hated the sound. It reminded him of his parents and brother, who had passed away long ago.
His jaw tightened. If he had known what she would do to him ten years later—how she would betray and kill him—he would have never let her in his life.
Without hesitation, Yu Chen blocked her number and email. He didn't understand why he had been reborn, but he knew one thing: he would never let her close again.
Yu Chen POV
This really makes me uncomfortable. The girl walking next to me is my ex-girlfriend, the one who killed me when I was 27 years old. I thought she was the right choice for me. I thought she was the one who would become my new family after my parents and my older brother left me when I was 13. But I was wrong. I chose a murderer in my life. A murderer who aimed for my life. Even though I don't know the reason why she killed me, I still can't accept her decision.
Ying Yue never truly loved me the way I once loved her.
Should I kill her now?
No.
If I kill her now, I'll go to prison. I'm still just a high school student, and I have no one who would protect me from the law. I also can't contact them because I would immediately become a suspect. There are only two ways to join them:
One is through connections.
Two is through observation.
If I go directly, I'll be suspected.
That's the basic rule for recruiting new assassins.
On the other hand, I also don't know when that person will stop or be stopped by them. He didn't mention the time or place back then.
"Kyaa!!"
Oh, she fell. I should help her and ask if she's okay. But she killed me in the past, so why would I even bother helping her?
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Hm? I've never seen her before. The one who bumped into Ying Yue is also a teenage high school girl. Her hair is tied in a single ponytail, and her black eyes look round. But it seems like those are contact lenses. It's obvious her real eye color isn't like that. Judging by her uniform, she must be from the same school. But I've never seen her before. Is she new? Let's see what's written on her name tag.
Shen Ruo Lan?
Wait. I think I've heard that name before. But where?
"Where are your eyes?! Can't you see someone is walking here?!"
Ying Yue is yelling angrily. And yet, she's the one who's been playing on her phone this whole time.
Shameless.
"I'm sorry. I'm suuuper sorry! Here. Here's money for medical expenses! I'm really sorry. Goodbye!"
A rich girl, huh. She just casually gave that much money. And look at her, she immediately ran off after that, leaving Ying Yue behind. She ran in the direction of my school. I'm sure she's from my school. But why does her face feel so unfamiliar to me?
Ying Yue is looking at me now. She must be hoping I'll help her.
Ha.
Get up on your own. You're a parasite to me, Ying Yue. I will never be in a relationship with you again, even if you were the last person on this earth.
I'd better hurry before the school gates close.
End of Yu Chen POV
Yu Chen left Ying Yue just like that. Ying Yue was shocked and hurt by how Yu Chen acted toward her. As a girlfriend, of course, Ying Yue had the right to be angry and sulk at Yu Chen. But she somehow couldn't bring herself to do it. Ying Yue wanted to be a gentle, kind, and elegant girlfriend. She wanted Yu Chen to be proud of having a perfect girlfriend. So, Ying Yue had to suppress her heart from getting angry or sulking.
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Yu Chen skipped class, choosing instead to sleep behind a long bench where no one would notice him. Attending lessons felt meaningless—he already knew everything that would appear on the tests.
Though Yu Chen was technically just a high school graduate, his knowledge rivaled that of a professor. He had been trained to be an assassin, not only mastering firearms and martial arts but also absorbing general knowledge at an elite level. Medicine, politics, culinary arts, psychology, law—every field of study imaginable, Yu Chen had learned and memorized.
That was why he was the most expensive assassin in the world within his secret organization. His mind and abilities were far beyond the limits of an ordinary human.
Only one area of knowledge remained forbidden to him:Royal families.
Yu Chen was never allowed to study the inner workings of any royal family in the world. That information was reserved exclusively for spies planted within royal circles.
"What did you mean in that chat earlier, huh? You want to break up with me? Why? How dare you say that! Do you even remember the consequences you'll face if you leave me?" a male voice snapped.
"I remember them very well. That's exactly why I want to break up with you. There's no point in staying with you anymore," a girl's voice replied.
Yu Chen's brow furrowed in his sleep; that voice sounded painfully familiar.
"I won't allow it! I won't let you break up with me!" the boy shouted.
"I'm not your doll. That's enough. Besides, you've already taken everything you wanted from me. I have nothing left to give. So, I'm ending this."
"I said no! I won't allow it!"
"Let me go! I said I'm breaking up with you!"
"Ruo Lan!!"
Yu Chen's eyes opened slowly. He stayed hidden, lying down, listening to the heated argument.
"I said let go! I'm not yours anymore! You have no right to touch me like this!"
Yu Chen finally sat up. He brushed the dust off his uniform before standing to his full height. Moving carefully but swiftly, he walked toward the edge of the rooftop, following the sound of the commotion that grew louder with each step.
As he drew closer, the scene came into focus—Ruo Lan's arm was gripped tightly by Mo Yi Tian, the principal's son, infamous as the school's top bully and self-proclaimed boss. Mo Yi Tian's face was flushed with anger, veins standing out along his neck, and his eyes glared fiercely at Ruo Lan, who trembled in fear.
Then, without warning, Mo Yi Tian yanked Ruo Lan toward him and forced a kiss on her lips.
Yu Chen's breath caught. His eyes narrowed sharply, a cold fury rising to the top of his head. Anger surged in his chest, ready to explode. He was prepared to spring forward and teach Mo Yi Tian a painful lesson.
But before he could move, Ruo Lan fought back with all her strength. In a desperate act, she bit Mo Yi Tian's tongue hard, until blood filled his mouth.
"Argh!" Mo Yi Tian grimaced and instantly released Ruo Lan.
Blood dripped from his lips, staining his once-pristine white uniform. Ruo Lan spat the blood onto the rooftop floor.
"I warned you. Now, stay away from me!" Ruo Lan's voice trembled, but it carried a sharp edge.
Ruo Lan didn't look back. She stormed off quickly, heading down the rooftop stairs.
"Ruo Lan! Wait!" Mo Yi Tian called after her, wincing in pain as he chased her.
Yu Chen let out a long sigh and leaned against the rooftop wall."Hah… what a boring drama," he muttered flatly.
He lay back down, closing his eyes to resume his nap.
Unfortunately, only a few minutes later, the school bell rang loudly. Yu Chen opened his eyes with an irritated scowl. With no choice, he stood up and trudged toward class, moving lazily down the hall.
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On his way to class, Yu Chen heard a loud crash from behind the cleaning supply storage room.
Bang!
Normally, anyone who heard a noise like that would stop and investigate. But Yu Chen was not normal. He was a cold-blooded assassin. He didn't care about what happened around him and kept walking, ignoring the sound entirely.
Then, as if some unseen instinct called to him, a memory rose from the depths of his mind.
He remembered an old rumor—one that had once circulated through this very school. A girl's body had been found here one morning. Her name was Shen Ruo Lan. They said she was murdered by her secret boyfriend. But no one ever discovered who that boyfriend was.
The memory triggered another image—The night he was killed by Ying Yue.
The blood on her hands. The knife clattering to the floor.
"I'm sorry… Yu Chen… I'm so sorry…" she whispered through her sobs.
Yu Chen's expression darkened. He knew the crushing weight of betrayal better than anyone.
Almost in a trance, he turned around and walked toward the source of the sound.
BANG!
Yu Chen slammed his shoulder into the storage room door.
BANG!
He struck again, harder this time.
BANG!
The door burst open with a violent crash.
Mo Yi Tian jerked his head toward the noise, startled, his grip on Ruo Lan's throat faltering for a second.
That single moment of distraction was all Ruo Lan needed.
Her hands shot up, grabbing a fistful of Mo Yi Tian's hair, and she twisted her body to bite down hard on his shoulder. Her teeth sank deep into his flesh.
"Arghhh!" Mo Yi Tian screamed, his face contorting in pain as he released her.
Ruo Lan didn't waste a second. She shoved him back, rolled to the side, and bolted toward the door. In her desperate sprint, she nearly knocked Yu Chen aside as she fled down the hall.
Yu Chen didn't move, his dark eyes following her every step.
Mo Yi Tian clutched his bleeding shoulder, his face twisted with rage. He glared at Yu Chen for a brief second, then stormed after Ruo Lan, shouting, "Get back here!"
Yu Chen stood silently in the doorway, the echo of footsteps fading into the distance. His eyes were cold, but his thoughts churned in the shadows of betrayal he knew all too well.
Ruo Lan ran as fast as she could, desperate not to be caught by Mo Yi Tian. Spotting an empty science classroom, she darted inside and quickly locked the door behind her. Without a second thought, she rushed to hide inside a cabinet—a cramped, stifling space barely big enough to fit her body.
With great effort, Ruo Lan folded herself into the narrow enclosure, tucking her face between her knees. She controlled her breathing, forcing each inhale and exhale to stay silent. She knew that even the faintest sound could give her away.
She resolved to stay hidden there until midnight, only emerging once she was certain it was safe.
Yu Chen strolled casually down the hallway, his hands in his pockets. Reaching the science classroom, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Without hesitation, he walked up to one of the cabinets and pulled it open.
Inside, Ruo Lan flinched in shock, her eyes wide. For a split second, she thought the one opening the door was Mo Yi Tian.
"…Oh, it's you," she exhaled in relief.
"You alright?" Yu Chen asked calmly.
"Yeah… I'm fine. Hey, can you close this cabinet again? He might see me," she whispered urgently.
Yu Chen tilted his head slightly. "Actually, this classroom will be used soon. How about the library instead? I know a safe spot there."
The safest spot in the library was a corner wedged between the bookshelf and the wall. It was there that Yu Chen and Ruo Lan finally sat together.
Ruo Lan kept her face buried between her knees, arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Across from her, Yu Chen silently observed.
"Ugh! This is so annoying!" Ruo Lan whispered, finally lifting her head. "That lunatic… Why is he so obsessed with me? There are so many other girls who want him. Why does it have to be me?!" She groaned, ruffling her own hair in frustration.
"You could report him to the principal," Yu Chen said flatly. "I can be your witness."
"Pointless. Even if I report him, I'll be the one who suffers for it. He's untouchable—there's no way I'd get protection." She leaned back against the wall, tilting her head upward, her whole body radiating exhaustion. "Whatever… At least his wish has been fulfilled. I'm no longer tied to him now."
Yu Chen's sharp eyes caught the marks on her neck—faint, reddened bruises from his grip.
"What do you mean by 'his wish'?" he asked, his voice low with curiosity.
"Sex," Ruo Lan said casually.
"…What?" Yu Chen blinked, caught off guard.
Ruo Lan met his eyes and explained with unsettling calm, "What he wanted from me was sex. From the very beginning, I knew he was only after my body. I went along with it because I got something in return. Now that he's gotten what he wanted, I have no reason to keep dating that psycho."
Yu Chen felt a strange surge of irritation at her nonchalant explanation.
"And you're saying that so casually? Are you… proud of it?" His voice held a sharp edge.
"Proud?" Ruo Lan tilted her head. "Haven't you heard the rumors about me? Everyone already calls me Mo Yi Tian's personal plaything. That's been going around for ages."
Yu Chen exhaled through his nose, clearly agitated. "And you just let that rumor spread without doing anything?"
"Yeah. Why not? It's the truth, isn't it?" she replied calmly. "I became his girlfriend only for sex. In exchange, my grandfather got free hospital treatment. I didn't sleep with anyone else, only him. Couples have sex, don't they?"
"That's not the point! The problem is the way people talk about you! Doesn't that bother you at all?!"
"I told you already—I knew from the start he only wanted my body. So no, it doesn't bother me. Rumors can't kill me. The only thing I care about is my grandfather. I have no money. Accepting Mo Yi Tian's deal was the only choice I had."
Yu Chen rubbed his forehead with a sigh, feeling a headache coming on. He had never met someone so casually resigned to being humiliated and used.
"Hahaha! Relax! It's just a rumor! I'm not going to die from it," Ruo Lan said with her usual mischievous grin.
Yu Chen stared at her silently. For the first time, he felt a mix of pity and reluctant admiration for someone who could be so… unshaken.
Still, the bruises on her neck gnawed at his attention.
He slipped a hand into his pocket, drew out his handkerchief, and folded it neatly. Then he rose to his feet and walked toward Ruo Lan with calm, measured steps.
"W-What are you doing?" Ruo Lan stammered, watching him approach.
"Your neck. Hold still," Yu Chen said calmly.
Ruo Lan tensed as Yu Chen leaned closer. His hands moved with surprising gentleness as he wrapped the handkerchief around her neck, tying it securely to cover the bruises. His cold, sharp eyes briefly met hers, and for a moment she felt her heart skip. She quickly averted her gaze, refusing to be captivated.
When Yu Chen finished, he leaned back, now sitting about a foot away from her.
"Thanks… for helping me," Ruo Lan said softly. "I owe you one."
"Pay me back when you have money," Yu Chen muttered, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes.
Ruo Lan smiled faintly. "Sure."
Seeing him start to doze off, she shifted into the corner, stretching her legs and folding her arms across her chest. Slowly, her eyelids began to close as well.
Only a few seconds later, she felt something draped over her legs. Opening her eyes slightly, she realized Yu Chen had covered her with his school blazer.
She glanced at the nametag—Liang Yu Chen—and remembered that this man already had a girlfriend.
"Oi," she called, tossing the blazer back toward him. "You're dating Ying Yue, aren't you? I don't want her to misunderstand. Put your blazer back on."
"We broke up," Yu Chen said simply, tossing it back over to her. "So you wear it."
"What?!" Ruo Lan exclaimed. "When? Why?! Did she cheat on you?!"
"Worse," Yu Chen replied, eyes still closed.
"What? Don't tell me she secretly got engaged to someone else?!" Ruo Lan gasped.
"Be quiet, or I'll tell Mo Yi Tian where you're hiding," Yu Chen said, his tone cold and unmoving.
"You—! Ugh! So annoying!" she grumbled, pouting.
She looked at his peaceful face for a moment, then down at the blazer in her lap. Her expression softened into a small, genuine smile. Quietly, she pulled the blazer back over her legs.
Little by little, they both drifted into sleep, each in their own corner, only a short distance apart.