Fu Yichen had just woken up, feeling like he had a long dream, but he couldn’t quite remember the details.

The dream was bittersweet, revolving around him and the person he had secretly admired for an entire year.

He only remembered that he was willing to sacrifice his life for that person, even though they hadn’t even met. It was purely a one-sided crush on his part.

Fu Yichen had liked his senior, Yan Shuoyun, from the third year of the Economics Department for a long time. It was love at first sight.

Later, he was attracted by how, despite Yan Shuoyun’s carefree and rebellious attitude, he treated his juniors kindly and always paid for them out of his own pocket.

Yan Shuoyun also loved animals, which deeply moved Fu Yichen.

Moreover, there was the time Yan Shuoyun had helped Fu Yichen when he was being scolded for throwing things around. It was probably just a small, forgettable favor for Yan Shuoyun, but it was enough for Fu Yichen to fall completely.

Yan Shuoyun was straight, and he came from a wealthy family. He seemed like the type who would end up with a beautiful, well-matched girl.

Rumor had it that Yan Shuoyun was pursuing Ji Yuyu, a gorgeous girl from the Business Management Department next door.

Fu Yichen believed that all he could do was watch from afar.

But in the dream, it felt like he and Yan Shuoyun had gotten physically close, with Yan Shuoyun even passionately kissing him, unwilling to let go.

If only the dream had lasted longer, been a little more beautiful, and hadn’t ended with his death, it would have been perfect.

Fu Yichen had a tendency to have nightmares. Sometimes he dreamed of being chased by dogs, sometimes of being killed.

They say people with a lot of stress experience this, and Fu Yichen thought it might be because of the midterms this week. Maybe after next week’s exams, he’d feel better.

This was the first time his dream had started off painful, then sweet, only to end in bitterness.

Before, his dreams had always just been bitter.

It seemed like, in the dream, he and Yan Shuoyun even started a company together. How wonderful.

But the beginning of it all seemed to be the downfall of Yan’s family, and Fu Yichen, fearing something would happen to Yan Shuoyun, stayed by his side.

If his love had to be built on such a foundation, Fu Yichen didn’t want it.

He just hoped for a peaceful life for Yan Shuoyun.

Even if it didn’t involve him, that would be fine.

As the sunlight poured in through the window, Fu Yichen remembered he had an 8 a.m. class today, so he should get ready for school.

He checked his phone for the date and time. It was April 15th, 2018.

“Shuoyun, your dad and I are about to leave for our business trip. Do you want us to bring back any souvenirs?”

Yan Shuoyun woke up, and to his surprise, he wasn’t on his way to the underworld. Instead, he was lying in his bed from his school days.

His mother was looking at him kindly.

This was his mother, Zhao Anni, who had died in a car accident many years ago!

He was in shock, stammering as he looked at her.

“Mom? Mom? Is it really you?”

“Yes, what’s wrong?” Zhao Anni didn’t understand why her son was so shocked.

“What day is it today?”

“It’s April 15th.”

He was back. He had returned to the day his parents had the accident.

Yan Shuoyun couldn’t believe that he had really come back to this date.

“What year is it?”

He desperately wanted to confirm.

“It’s 2018. Did you hit your head? Why are you asking these questions?” Zhao Anni looked at her son, worried he had gone mad. He had only taken a nap, and now he was acting a little dazed.

“Mom, can I ask you to postpone your trip for a bit?”

Yan Shuoyun clung tightly to his mother’s sleeve. As he remembered that this was the day he had lost his parents, tears flowed uncontrollably.

Seeing her son’s intense reaction, Zhao Anni hesitated, thinking her son might be sick.

Today they were supposed to meet an important client, and it didn’t seem appropriate to be late.

“Son, you’re old enough now. Please understand that your parents need to work.”

“Just don’t take Uncle’s car, okay?”

“How do you know your uncle’s coming to pick us up?” Zhao Anni was surprised. Normally, they drove themselves, but today, Yan Shuoyun’s uncle had offered to give them a ride, so they hadn’t planned on driving.

Of course, Yan Shuoyun knew. Back then, his uncle had secretly racked up a lot of debt, and the debt collectors had convinced him that if he took Yan Shuoyun’s parents along to die, they would spare his wife and children.

Even after becoming successful and taking down those debt collectors, his parents lives couldn’t be brought back. He also hadn’t wanted to harm his uncle’s widow and children—there was no point in bullying the weak, especially since his uncle had died as well.

“Just don’t take his car, or I’ll kill myself.” Yan Shuoyun decided to act crazy.

“Alright, alright, calm down. Can you tell me why?” Zhao Anni didn’t think her son would act crazy for no reason, so she quickly asked for an explanation.

“Because Uncle’s car has a problem. At least ask him to check it before you go.” Yan Shuoyun spoke earnestly, “I have proof that I know things in advance. I know you bought buns from the shop in the next alley for breakfast today.”

Zhao Anni was shocked. She hadn’t mentioned buying breakfast. Normally, she would cook, but today, she had been running late and had decided to support the new shop down the street.

She had always been a bit superstitious.

“Son, did you have a dream?”

“No, I’ve been reborn. I came back from the future, from many years ahead.” Yan Shuoyun knew if he told his father this, he’d be called crazy, but his mother believed in gods and spirits.

He started telling her all the things he had experienced over the years, and her expression shifted from shock to sadness.

“My poor boy, you’ve suffered so much.” Although Zhao Anni didn’t want to believe in such a fantastical story, if this was really a second chance from the gods, then being cautious wouldn’t hurt.

“And… if we change our fate, will you meet that boy you fell in love with again?”

Zhao Anni hadn’t expected that after their death, her son would fall for a boy. Though she was uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuality, that boy had saved her son from going down a dark path and helped him achieve great success. She was very grateful.

But part of her thought that if none of it happened in this lifetime, her son wouldn’t meet that boy, and maybe he wouldn’t become gay.

“Either way, I have to save you and Dad. You two are important to me too.”

Yan Shuoyun whispered, “And… I will make sure our fates are connected again.”

“Mom… I know you want me to continue the family line, and I may not be able to give you a daughter-in-law, but please forgive me. I can’t live without him.” As he spoke, he bowed his head, knowing what his mother was thinking.

But apart from Fu Yichen, he hadn’t been able to love anyone else.

No one could fill the void in his heart, and so he had pleaded for years just to reverse things.

And now, the gods had answered him, and he just wanted to rush to thank that monk.

“It’s alright… let me think about it. I’ll talk to your dad in a bit. We’ll drive ourselves today, and your uncle can go on his own.” Zhao Anni agreed, “If your uncle acts suspiciously, I’ll be careful, okay?”

Knowing that his mother was willing to trust him, even just a little, was enough for Yan Shuoyun.

“Make sure to keep in touch with me at all times.”

“Okay.”

After reassuring her son, Zhao Anni told him to get ready for his midterms and went to talk to her husband, Yan Shijin, about what had happened.

Author’s Note:

Theme:
There may be no second chances in life, but I still hope for such beauty to happen.