Chén Zhāoyáng woke up in a haze, his head throbbing with a dull ache as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. Mottled white walls came into his view, the paint peeling slightly in a few places like curled-up fish scales. The air was filled with a pungent yet familiar smell of disinfectant mixed with old bedding, which made him snap to his senses a little.
He instinctively went to raise his hand to rub his head, only to find an IV needle stuck in the back of his hand, the movement pulling a sharp ache from his skin. That was when he realized with a shock that he was lying in a hospital bed. The medicine in the drip tube was falling slowly, drop by drop, making a monotonous "ticking" sound as if counting down to something.
"Why am I here?" Chén Zhāoyáng muttered to himself, his voice extremely hoarse, as if he hadn't had water in a long time. He tried hard to recall, but could only remember that in the busy and exhausted world of 2025, he had hustled for a living until late into the night, followed by a dizzying spin before waking up in this strange yet familiar place.
Suddenly, the ward door was pushed open with a creak, and a young girl in a nurse's uniform walked in. She wore her hair in a high ponytail, a gentle smile graced her round face, her eyes curved into crescents, and she was holding a medical chart.
"Awake? How do you feel?" The nurse's voice was crisp and melodious, carrying a hint of concern.
Chén Zhāoyáng looked at her in a daze, opening his mouth to ask something, but not knowing where to begin. Seeing him like this, the nurse assumed he was feeling unwell, and hurriedly put down the chart to step forward and check his IV drip.
"Don't worry, it's just a common cold and fever. A few days of drips and you'll be fine. You child, how could you be so careless?" The nurse chided gently while adjusting the flow rate of the infusion.
Only then did Chén Zhāoyáng realize the nurse had called him a "child," and his heart skipped a beat. He instinctively looked at the mirror in the ward, which reflected a young, tender face—he looked just like he did at fifteen! He widened his eyes in disbelief and touched his face; the skin felt smooth and delicate, without the slightest trace left by the passage of time.
"I... I've been reborn? I've really gone back to 1990?" Chén Zhāoyáng was so excited that his voice trembled slightly. He never imagined he would have the chance to return to his youth, everything feeling like an absurd yet real dream.
Taken aback by his reaction, the nurse looked at him in confusion: "Are you out of your mind from the fever, kid? What nonsense are you talking about? Get some rest and don't let your imagination run wild." With that, she gave him a few more instructions and left the ward with her chart.
Chén Zhāoyáng lay in bed, his thoughts tangled like a mess of hemp. Flashes of his past life continuously crossed his mind—those missed opportunities and lingering regrets all surged into his heart like a tidal wave. Especially when he thought about how his junior high grades had slipped, causing him to miss getting into the same high school as Lín Xiǎotáng, the campus belle he had a crush on, which had become a lifelong regret, his heart filled with remorse and unwillingness.
"In this life, I will definitely change my destiny!" Chén Zhāoyáng vowed to himself. He clenched his fists, a resolute gleam shining in his eyes. Since the heavens had given him a second chance, he would never repeat the same old mistakes. Not only would he get into the same high school and the same university as Lín Xiǎotáng, but he would also change the destiny of his father, who had died prematurely of illness, and let his family live an affluent and happy life.
Chén Zhāoyáng began to carefully recall every detail of 1990. Back then, his family wasn't well-off; both parents were ordinary laborers who sustained the family on meager incomes. His father was a stubborn fisherman who went out early and returned late every day, toiling hard at sea, which had left his body riddled with ailments. Although his mother had little formal education, she possessed a sharp mind and diligent hands, always managing household chores at home and even doing some small business on the side to supplement their income.
At this thought, a spark of inspiration struck Chén Zhāoyáng. He suddenly remembered that his mother used to make a secret recipe for chili sauce, which had a very unique flavor and was quite popular among the neighbors. If they could promote this chili sauce, it might just become a significant source of income for the family. Moreover, there was still some time before the high school entrance examinations, giving him enough time to help his parents develop a small business while working hard to improve his own academic performance.
Just as Chén Zhāoyáng was immersed in his thoughts, the ward door was pushed open again. This time, a tall and sturdy man walked in. His skin was dark, his face bore the traces of time, but his gaze revealed simplicity and deep affection. Carrying a thermal lunchbox in his hand, he immediately broke into a relieved smile upon seeing that Chén Zhāoyáng was awake.
"Son, you're awake? Feeling a bit better? Here, Dad brought you your favorite salted fish pancakes." The man's voice was deep and warm—it was Chén Zhāoyáng's father.
Looking at his father, Chén Zhāoyáng felt his eyes grow moist. In his past life, his father had overworked himself for the sake of the family and ultimately passed away young from illness. In this life, he was determined to filialize his father properly and let him live a healthy life.
"Dad, I'm much better. You've worked hard, traveling all this way just to bring me food." Chén Zhāoyáng took the thermal lunchbox from his father's hands and said gratefully.
His father smiled and patted Chén Zhāoyáng on the head: "Silly boy, what are you talking about? You're Dad's precious son, what's a little hard work? Hurry up and taste these salted fish pancakes your mom made, see if they're to your liking."
Chén Zhāoyáng opened the thermal lunchbox, and a familiar fragrance hit him instantly. Golden, crispy pancakes stuffed with savory and delicious salted fish made one's mouth water just by smelling them. He picked up a piece, took a bite, and the familiar taste spread through his mouth, sending a warm surge through his heart.
"Mmm, Mom's cooking still tastes the best. Dad, you have some too." Chén Zhāoyáng held a piece of the salted fish pancake toward his father's mouth.
His father smiled and shook his head: "Dad's not hungry, you eat. You're at the age where you're growing, you need to eat more."
A wave of emotion washed over Chén Zhāoyáng; he knew his father couldn't bear to eat it himself, wanting to save the best for him. He secretly vowed to improve the family's financial situation as soon as possible and let his parents live a good life.
Father and son chatted idly for a while. Chén Zhāoyáng learned from his father that he had caught a cold and fever after accidentally catching a chill while participating in sports activities at school. His father also reminded him to take care of his health at school in the future, and not just focus on playing while letting his studies slide.
Chén Zhāoyáng nodded repeatedly, while mentally plotting how to use this rebirth to take the first step in changing his destiny. He thought of some business opportunities at school, such as selling small items like snacks and stationery during breaks, which would be convenient for his classmates and earn him some pocket money. Furthermore, he could use the knowledge from his past life to help his classmates improve their grades, which might even help him build his own interpersonal network at school.
"Dad, I want to discuss something with you," Chén Zhāoyáng looked at his father and said earnestly.
"What is it? Go ahead," his father looked at him, his eyes full of trust.
"I want to sell some things at school, like snacks and stationery. You know, classmates sometimes get hungry during breaks and need stationery, and I think it's an opportunity. Besides, I promise it won't affect my studies," Chén Zhāoyáng carefully voiced his thoughts.
Hearing this, his father frowned slightly: "Will that work? Won't it interfere with your studies?"
Chén Zhāoyáng hurriedly explained: "Dad, don't worry. I'll manage my time properly. Besides, I won't be doing it alone; I can find a few classmates to help out, and we can divide the work. This will not only train my abilities but also earn some money to supplement the family. What do you think?"
After pondering for a moment, his father finally nodded: "Alright, since you have this idea, give it a try. But remember, studying is the most important thing. If your grades slip because of this, Dad won't let you off!"
"Thanks, Dad! Rest assured, I know what I'm doing," Chén Zhāoyáng said happily. With his father's support, he felt much more confident.
After talking with his father, Chén Zhāoyáng felt exceptionally lighthearted. He felt as though he was filled with infinite drive, and his future life had become full of hope. He knew that rebirth was only the beginning; there were still many difficulties and challenges waiting for him ahead, but he was ready to face everything bravely.
Outside the window, the sea breeze blew softly, carrying the scent of the ocean. Chén Zhāoyáng gazed at the azure sky outside, silently making up his mind: In this life, amidst the sea breeze of 1990, he would write a brilliant life of his own and make up for all the regrets of the past!