Chapter 1 Back to 2004

I was deeply in love with the school beauty, Jenny Bell. Everyone knew I was her devoted admirer. To make her happy, I scrimped and saved to buy her various luxury items. But she took advantage of my love and tricked me into a $500,000 loan. My parents went bankrupt because of this, losing our house, and I was sentenced to ten years in prison, enduring endless humiliation. When I was released, I had nothing. With no home and no job, I became a homeless man. Meanwhile, Jenny Bell had transformed into a wealthy lady. I wandered aimlessly in the slums, living among trash and rats. Hiding in dark sewers, I was filled with regret. If only I hadn’t loved her so much, if only I hadn’t trusted her, maybe everything would be different. But there were no "ifs." On the verge of death, I seemed to hear a voice. --- “Fox Jordan! Read your love letter out loud for everyone!” The loud voice echoed in the classroom, the teacher throwing the letter at Fox’s face. “Ha ha ha!” “Look at him, who would accept him?” “Who’s the unlucky one who got his love letter? So pathetic.” The class erupted in laughter. Fox looked around. The teacher was still angry, and his classmates looked at him with disdain. This scene was too familiar, unforgettable. It was 2004, his high school days. He glanced at the love letter in his hand, deep in thought. This was the letter he wrote to Jenny Bell a week ago. She was the acknowledged beauty of the school, very popular among the boys, and Fox was no exception. But who knew, after receiving the letter, she handed it to the teacher. Fox glanced at Jenny; she was whispering to her desk mate, looking pleased. “Dear Jenny, I dream day and night of a beautiful future with you.” “I want to ask which university you plan to attend, hoping to follow you there.” Fox naturally read the letter aloud. In the past, he would have been terrified, stuttering. This would naturally lead to more ridicule. But now, he read it with a rhythmic tone, pouring out feelings as if it were a beautiful poem. People wanted to embarrass him, but he made them feel awkward instead. Sure enough, Jenny seemed embarrassed, her face red. She wanted to make him look foolish, but he turned the tables. Classmates looked surprised; this was not what they expected. “Shut up, Fox! Do you know what you’ve done?” The teacher angrily pounded the desk. “Just reading the love letter as you asked.” Fox shrugged. This teacher was overreacting. Was it necessary to make him read a love letter aloud? “Get out!” the teacher screamed hysterically. Jenny was the top student, while Fox was a good-for-nothing. How dare he like Jenny? Look at his condition. Fox quietly left the classroom. Standing in the corridor, he began to sort out his current situation. In his previous life, he was a complete loser, obsessed only with Jenny. His family was average. He lied to his parents, saying he wanted to get into a prestigious university, but his grades were too poor. His parents gave him money for advanced tutoring, but he spent it on gifts for Jenny. The result was a mess; he ended up in an ordinary university, studying a useless major. Back home, jobless, he lived off his parents. Finally, his dad used connections to get him a decent job. The job was busy and exhausting, but well-paid. Then Jenny reappeared, and he eagerly approached her again. Under her influence, he took out a $500,000 loan. Jenny vanished with the money, leaving him dumbfounded. His parents lost their home, wandering the cold streets of Los Angeles. Robbed and beaten by other homeless people. In his seventh year in prison, his parents, unable to bear the hardship, committed suicide. Fox wept with regret. He wanted to slap himself. “You fool, letting a woman play you like that, such a loser.” He scolded himself harshly. With clenched fists and a determined gaze, he vowed that this time, love would mean nothing to him. This life was all about making money. He wouldn’t let his parents end up homeless again. As the class bell rang, Fox’s resolve strengthened. Jenny was irrelevant now; the past was gone with the wind. He had too much to do now. In his past life, he pretended to study hard but failed miserably. His father sighed, but still supported him fully. He didn’t want to see that disappointed look on his father’s face again. It was time to excel in studies and get into a good university. He remembered some details about the ACT and STA exams from his previous life. Knowing the questions in advance, the exams would be a breeze. But he still felt he had to study hard. “Failing isn’t a problem, the key is learning from it.” “As long as you keep learning, you’ll improve.” “You’re competing with yourself, not others.” His father’s words echoed in his mind, profound wisdom. Studying wasn’t just for exams or college. He needed to gain experience, surpass himself, and become a better person. “Fox, are you okay? I think the teacher overreacted.” Jenny approached with a gentle smile. Fox’s heart was as hard as a diamond, unaffected by her fake smile. “I accidentally submitted the letter with my homework. It wasn’t intentional. Can you forgive me?” Jenny looked at him with hopeful eyes. But earlier, she had clearly been laughing when he was called out. Why was his love letter the only one the teacher received? Accidentally submitted with homework? Ridiculous! It was clearly deliberate. “Of course, it’s no big deal.” Fox said indifferently. Jenny meant nothing to him now. Don’t let a woman cloud your judgment, Fox, aim for greatness. He bypassed Jenny and returned to his seat. “Jenny, you’ve gone too far this time.” “I was planning a trip, but without Fox the fool to fund us, how will we get money?” Jenny’s best friend, Rocco, complained. “Rocco, it’s fine. I know Fox too well.” “Guess what, he’ll sit back down and pretend to read.” “Then I’ll give him a little attention, and he’ll obediently give me money.” Jenny sneered. As she predicted, Fox sat back down. But this time, he wasn’t pretending to read; he was genuinely studying. “Hey, man, you were awesome just now, standing up to the teacher.” “Aren’t you afraid of getting in trouble?” His friend, Peterson, whispered to him. “If she calls my parents, she’ll look incompetent.” “And she’s already given up on me, letting me fend for myself. So there’s nothing to fear.” Fox said, now an adult with years of experience. The outside world was far more complicated than school, filled with unpleasant things Fox had seen many times. He quickly analyzed the situation. “Dude, you’re amazing.” Peterson looked at him in awe.