Chapter 0003: Things Remain the Same, but I Am Not

A world that seemed familiar, yet a strange world.

Sitting silently on the sofa for a long time, Zhao Fusheng finally confirmed this result.

He casually picked up the mirror on the coffee table and looked at himself in it.

His skin was not the fair complexion of a奶油小生, but rather a dark tone similar to Louis Koo's; with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a straight and prominent nose bridge, he was his twenty-year-old self.

He remembered that later, when Louis Koo was at the height of his popularity, his wife had pointed at the TV and said that the reason she had liked him back then was because she thought he looked just like Louis Koo.

But times had changed; when intense feelings faded, all that remained between two people was the indifference after passion.

"Brother, you're crying."

Fan Beibei, held in Zhao Fusheng's arms, saw the brother who had driven away the bad guys suddenly shed tears. She raised her little hand with effort and gently wiped the corner of his eye.

"It's nothing, big brother is happy." Zhao Fusheng said softly to Beibei.

In his memory, this girl should be three or four years old now. Because it had been so long, he couldn't remember clearly anymore.

Time is the most terrifying thing in the world, always able to silently annihilate the beauty and pain deep in our memories. Years ago, the sun was just right. Waking from a dream, all worries were forgotten. Time flies in an instant, youth grows old. Outside the window, it is dim and gloomy; who wakes up with you?

The red that flickers in the darkness reflects hands that open and close. All these things, the past is like smoke. We always live under the net of contradictions, unable to escape, day after day, year after year.

This is life. It may not be what you want, but it is certainly what you brought upon yourself.

Since you are here, take it easy.

Zhao Fusheng, holding the little girl in his arms, comforted himself like this.

……

……

Before long, Zhao's mother walked in, carried Fan Beibei back to the Fan family, and then turned to look at her son.

"Why are you back?"

Today was not the weekend; her son had come home for no reason, which really surprised Zhao's mother.

Of course, she wouldn't say how proud she was when her son rode on top of the thug who had pushed her down and beat him up.

It is often said that raising a child provides for old age. In Zhao's mother's simple worldview, raising a son is precisely for moments like this when someone can shout and stand up for her. Otherwise, why would she have gone through the pain of ten months of pregnancy to give birth to him?

"Well..." Zhao Fusheng hesitated. He couldn't tell his mother that he thought he was dreaming and had run out of school.

If he really said that, his parents would definitely give him a mixed doubles beating.

"Alright, since you're back, stay home tonight and go back to school tomorrow morning." Zhao's mother said indifferently.

Since Zhao Fusheng had been admitted to Ninghai Normal University, aside from weekends, he had hardly ever stayed home.

Zhao Fusheng nodded repeatedly. He now needed to think carefully about what to do next, so he naturally agreed to his mother's arrangement.

"By the way, do you like Baobao?"

The next moment, Zhao's mother's words almost made Zhao Fusheng jump up.

"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? I have no interest in her." Zhao Fusheng shook his head like a rattle-drum.

Are you kidding? That woman Fan Baobao, aside from having a pretty face, what is there to like?

Fan Baobao, the eldest daughter of the Fan family, had been Zhao Fusheng's nightmare since childhood.

In Zhao Fusheng's own words, the childhood spent with Fan Baobao was a living history of blood and tears.

When they first started elementary school, every time Zhao Fusheng went to school with Fan Baobao, he would be exploited by her—helping her with homework, carrying her backpack, and even doing her classroom duties after school.

If he didn't, Fan Baobao would pitifully complain to Zhao's father and mother, saying that Zhao Fusheng bullied her.

So, it would be either a men's singles, a women's singles, or occasionally a mixed doubles beating.

In middle school, Zhao Fusheng became Fan Baobao's little sidekick. Even when someone wanted to pursue Zhao Fusheng, they had to first hand over their love letter to her. In Fan Baobao's own words, this was called censorship.

Finally, after the high school entrance exam, Fan Baobao performed poorly, scoring more than thirty points less than him. Zhao Fusheng thought he could escape the sea of suffering. But on the day of registration, he was shocked to find that Fan Baobao had transformed into an art student.

The miserable life began again.

It wasn't until the two were respectively admitted to Ninghai Normal University and Ninghai Film Academy that Zhao Fusheng's miserable life came to a temporary end.

In his past memories, Li Yuan had disappeared with Fan Beibei, Fan's father had also vanished, and Fan Baobao had struggled alone in the film and television circle for many years, eventually achieving fame and success.

Of course, her connection with Zhao Fusheng had been cut off. Occasionally, he would see her again, but only in entertainment news.

Perhaps she no longer remembered that there was once a childhood playmate.

"What are you thinking about?"

His mother's voice sounded in his ear, startling Zhao Fusheng. He quickly shook his head: "Mom, don't say that. I will never like that crazy woman Fan Baobao."

"This child, you still blame Baobao for bullying you." Zhao's mother said with a smile. "Think about it, if you hadn't pulled down her skirt in kindergarten, would Baobao hold such a grudge against you?"

Ahem...

Zhao Fusheng coughed dryly, his face red like a big apple.

That's right, the fundamental reason Fan Baobao bullied Zhao Fusheng in every possible way was that in kindergarten, this guy, in order to verify the difference between boys and girls, had pulled down her skirt.

That time, Zhao Fusheng tasted for the first time the flavor of a mixed doubles beating—bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat.

This dark history was undoubtedly something he never wanted to recall for his entire life, and it was also the reason why Zhao Fusheng, repeatedly bullied by Fan Baobao, always endured it.

A good man doesn't fight with women.

Zhao Fusheng often comforted himself like this.

"Son, I know what you're thinking, but what you did this time was still a bit rash. That girl Baobao is not bad, but her father is really not a good person..." Zhao's mother started nagging again, basically feeling that Zhao Fusheng shouldn't have so rashly taken on the debt of the Fan family.

Although Zhao Fusheng wanted to explain the situation, he didn't know where to start. He couldn't tell his mother that he thought he was in a dream at the time, so he dared to make such bold claims.

If he really said that, his mother would probably break his legs.

The problem now was that Zhao Fusheng had said those words, telling the debt collectors to come back for the money in a month. When the time came, if they couldn't find Fan Baobao's father, Fan Jian, they would surely come to the Zhao family.

People were still very simple back then; words spoken were like water spilled—since you made a promise, you had to keep it.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng knew very well that Fan Jian would disappear without a trace from then on. If he didn't find a way to help, how could Li Yuan, a helpless woman, repay the debt?

But even for Zhao Fusheng, earning fifty thousand yuan in a short period was not an easy task.

Simply put, the internet that Zhao Fusheng was familiar with had not yet developed in the country at that time, so the timing was not right.

Moreover, given Zhao Fusheng's current status as a student and the obstacles of the external environment, if he dared to tell his parents that he wanted to quit school to do business, his mother would surely beat him until he couldn't recognize himself.

Most importantly, having finally returned to the time when his youth was in full bloom, Zhao Fusheng really didn't want to waste this time, because it was the best period of his life. Perhaps one day he might achieve fame and success, but looking back, would he regret, like in his previous life, not being able to say 'I love you' to the girl he liked, or not being able to try what he wanted to do?

A person must have some pursuits in life.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Fusheng was about to speak when the door to their home opened and his father, Zhao Aiguo, walked in.

"Fusheng, why are you back?"

Seeing his son at first glance, Zhao's father Zhao Aiguo blurted out.

He now worked at the city's beer factory. His son usually only came home on weekends, but today was Wednesday, and he had come back. Zhao's father instinctively felt that his son must have gotten into trouble at school.

Seeing his father's face darken, as if he was ready to take action if he couldn't give a good explanation, Zhao Fusheng quickly nudged his mother, hoping she would come to his rescue.

Thank heavens, Zhao's mother understood her son's intention and promptly explained what had happened that day, finally saying proudly: "When my son saw that I was pushed down, he beat that bastard until he cried for his mom and dad. The neighbors all praised our Fusheng for being so chivalrous."

No matter what, her son had brought her honor today, and she was in a good mood, even if taking on someone else's debt afterward was a bit foolish.

Zhao's father nodded and looked at Zhao Fusheng: "Not bad, knowing to stand up for your mother. But you hit too lightly; next time, aim for the joints..."

"Uh." Zhao Fusheng hesitated but still nodded obediently.

In his heart, however, he raised his father's level of brutality up a notch.

"But since you plan to take on that debt for the Fan family, have you thought about whether you can handle it?" Zhao's father looked at his son and slowly spoke.

"Dad, I was impulsive at the time. Actually, I..." Zhao Fusheng opened his mouth, about to explain.

But at that moment, Zhao's mother said something that, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, completely stunned Zhao Fusheng.

"Husband, don't you understand? Fusheng did it for Baobao."

Zhao's mother said to her husband: "That bastard Fan Jian gambled away all the family savings and now he's run off, reportedly to the south. Today those people said they want Baobao to pay off the debt by working at a nightclub. What do you think they intend to do?"

Zhao Aiguo was taken aback, then glanced at his son, whose face was flushed with 'shyness.' He paused and nodded: "If that's the case, we really can't watch that child fall into the fire pit."

After all, she was a girl they had watched grow up. If they really saw Fan Baobao go into a nightclub, they couldn't bear it.

More importantly, if his son really liked Fan Baobao, the Zhao family could still scrape together fifty thousand yuan.

Zhao Fusheng's face was red, not from shyness but from anxiety, because he didn't know how to explain his rebirth to his parents. Just as he was about to say he had been impulsive, his mother's next words completely dumbfounded him.

Zhao's mother looked at her hesitant husband and said softly: "Moreover, Li Yuan told me she wants Baobao and Fusheng to get engaged. That fifty thousand yuan can be considered our betrothal gift."

Thump!

Zhao Fusheng fell off the sofa onto the floor.