That night, the rain fell relentlessly, striking the road with a force that created an almost haunting rhythm. The streetlights flickered uncertainly, their dim glow reflecting off the rippling pools of water scattered across the pavement. Li Wei drove at a steady pace, trying to maintain control despite the uneasiness tightening in his chest. Something felt wrong, yet he pushed the feeling aside, hoping it was nothing more than a passing worry.
Throughout the drive, fragments of his day replayed in his mind. Just that morning, he laughed with his colleagues, discussed weekend plans, and imagined a simple, ordinary future. There had been no sign whatsoever that the night would take such a tragic turn.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the road. It happened too quickly for him to react.
Instinctively, Li Wei slammed on the brakes. The tires struggled to grip the rain-soaked surface as time seemed to slow. His headlights cut through the curtain of rain, illuminating the figure of a pedestrian, someone whose face he oddly recognized.
A deafening crash followed.
Then a blinding flash.
And finally, complete darkness.
Everything disappeared in an instant. His body was thrown forward, collapsing onto the wet road, his blood mixing with the falling rain. The world he knew dissolved around him. Voices faded away. His final breath slipped from his body.
Yet, this was not his true end.
When Li Wei opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place. He was lying on a soft bed; inside a room he had never seen before. Morning light streamed gently through the window, filling the space with a calm, comforting warmth.
Confused, he slowly pushed himself upright, his heartbeat unsteadily. As his eyes wandered toward a mirror in the corner of the room, he froze. Staring back at him was the reflection of a young girl, small, bright-eyed, with long black hair. Shock surged through him as he realized that the child in the mirror was now his new body.
Before he could make sense of it, a soft whisper echoed through his mind.
"Welcome, Echo. You know exist between life and possibility. Every choice you make will create a different version of yourself. Every step carries its own risk. Whether you are prepared or not, your new journey begins now."
Li Wei swallowed hard. His previous life had vanished, but a second chance now lay before him. With a deep breath, he gathered his courage. He would learn to survive, to adapt, and to reclaim whatever he had lost.
The tragic night had ended, but the true journey of his new existence had only just begun.