The 120 emergency vehicle roared in, then roared away.
After the examination, aside from the injuries on Zhang Jian’s face, his body showed signs of a high fever, possibly caused by catching a cold from exposure to outdoor wind while intoxicated.
Other than that, there were no major issues.
To be safe, the doctor recommended staying hospitalized for observation for one day.
After paying the fees and returning, Rong Xianning noticed a plainly dressed middle-aged woman pacing at the entrance of the hospital room.
Rong Xianning thought of something and stepped forward to speak softly, "Hello, are you a family member of Mr. Zhang Jian?"
The woman turned around, saw the young man in front of her, and drew a sharp breath.
The young man was of average height, wearing an oversized white hoodie paired with light blue jeans, his slender frame highlighted by his clean and gentle brows and eyes.
Like the first ray of sunlight at dawn, fresh and radiant.
Summer’s heat had just passed, and the oppressive scorching days were ongoing, yet the youth’s conservative attire somehow conveyed a refreshing gentleness, like a breeze.
Especially when his eyes met yours, it felt as though your entire body was soaked in a mountain spring stream, an indescribable sense of comfort washing over you.
The woman stood there in stunned silence, and the young man didn’t rush her, patiently waiting for her to regain clarity on her own.
"Ah, yes, Zhang Jian is my cousin; I came after receiving An’an’s call. She already told me everything. Thank you, Mr. Rong."
Luo Wan felt a bit self-conscious, realizing that she had been staring at a young boy not much older than her son. How embarrassing.
"It was no trouble at all. The doctor has already examined him; Mr. Zhang’s health shows no serious issues. But as a precaution, the doctor advised one day’s inpatient observation. Here is Mr. Zhang’s phone and the receipt for the fees paid; please take them."
Luo Wan accepted the transparent folder, glanced at the numbers on the bill, and while pulling out her wallet, she said, "I truly appreciate your help. I’ll pay you back the medical expenses immediately. Later, for lunch I..."
Luo Wan looked up, but the young man had already disappeared.
Are young people these days really so kind and selfless? He even refused repayment for the medical expenses he covered.
Luo Wan called Shen You’an to explain the situation, pausing to remark, "Mr. Rong is truly a good person. Most people would avoid a drunken man collapsed on the street for fear of trouble. He not only sent Zhang Jian to the hospital but also paid upfront for his medical costs. I tried to repay him, but he wouldn’t accept a cent... In this world today, pure-hearted people like him still exist..."
"I understand, Auntie. Thank you for taking care of Uncle these next few days."
"It’s no trouble at all. Your cousin has helped me so much in the past; it’s only fair for me to help him now. You don’t need to bother yourself with it."
Rong Xianning left the hospital and walked into a flower shop across the street.
When he emerged, he held two bouquets in his arms: one of carnations and another of yellow-and-white chrysanthemums.
Mellow sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches overhead, scattering lightly upon the flowers.
At this hour, the summer heat had not yet surged; it was the coolest time of day, with the sunlight draping a faint, hazy warmth over everything.
Rong Xianning carried the flowers, strolling leisurely along the roadside, as passing pedestrians couldn’t help but have their eyes drawn to him.
It wasn’t merely the youth’s striking figure, appearance, and demeanor—there was also his incongruous attire, making him stand out all the more.
While everyone else fought the heat in sleeveless shirts and tank tops, the young man alone, dressed in long sleeves and pants, defied convention.
Ignoring the curious gazes, he walked calmly and unhurriedly.
Then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and instinctively frowned beneath his delicate brows.
As he ignored the call, the person on the other end continued, relentless, refusing to give up.
With a helpless sigh, he finally brought the phone to his ear.
"Where have you run off to now? Do you even realize that tomorrow is the signing event? President Ding has high hopes for you, founding a youth group just to propel you to stardom. Don’t let your chance slip away."
Stopping in his tracks, the youth looked up at the blinding sunlight.
"Today is my grandmother’s death anniversary."
The woman on the phone went silent.
"Tomorrow, at this hour, you have to be back. Otherwise, you’ll see how I deal with you."
With those words, the call ended abruptly.
Rong Xianning slipped his phone back into his pocket, his face now devoid of even the faintest smile, replaced by an air of unbroken apathy.
Shen You’an hung up the phone, only for a notification from the memo app to pop up unexpectedly.
Staring at the event reminder she’d entered months ago, she froze completely.
She then collapsed onto the couch, burying her face against her knees, overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness.
Having lived a second life, she’d mended many regrets from the past.
Yet one regret remained—a wound she knew she could never heal in this lifetime.
She had kept herself busy—studying, investing in stocks, training... Over the past nine years, not a single moment was left idle. She filled every fragment of time, trying to distract herself from the agony and regret etched deep into her soul.
The system sensed the host’s immense emotional upheaval, an opportunity to exploit her vulnerability and retrieve shards of her memory.
But the system didn’t act.
[An’an, I can feel your sorrow. Talk to me—what’s happening?]
Shen You’an was someone of immense emotional stability and formidable mental fortitude, precisely the kind of host the system sought.
Over these nine years, it had stayed by Shen You’an’s side, and at times, even the system found her frightening.
It was hard to imagine what kind of ordeal she had faced in her previous life.
Shen You’an ventured deep into her sea of consciousness.
A thatched cottage rested beside a pristine lake surrounded by a vibrant garden of flowers and medicinal herbs. Butterflies and bees danced among the blossoms.
In the distance, mountains wrapped the landscape in layers of peaks and ridges.
Under a cerulean sky, a round sun cast its gentle beams across the scenery.
The lush mountains, flowing waters, and celestial beauty felt like paradise itself.
A slender girl approached the lake, where fish leapt eagerly from the water.
Plucking a peony blooming by the lakeside, she gently twisted its tender petals between her fingers. The vibrant blossom emitted a faint shimmer, transforming into fish food that scattered into the lake and caused a frenzy among the fish.
Staring dazedly for a while, the girl suddenly spoke, "Earth has over seven billion people—why choose me alone?"
[Because of the magnetic field]—a childlike voice from the system murmured through the breeze.
"Really?" The girl raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Electromagnetic fields are generated by charged objects emitting electromagnetic waves, which move in one direction under the influence of Earth’s magnetic field. This creates a collective field of electromagnetic waves. Based on the theory of relativity concerning the attributes of time and space, electromagnetic field devices can move objects, humans, or information across time or space—achieving the desired effect of dimensional traversal in the realms of time and space."
[An’an, you’re so clever—no wonder you aced physics!]
Unmoved, Shen You’an continued speaking, "The system is essentially an extremely powerful electromagnetic field device. According to relativity, the greater the gravitational force created by the electromagnetic field, the greater the relative mass. Reflecting Einstein’s mass-energy equation, accelerating the speed, altering gravity, and intensifying the electromagnetic field strength—all enable the realization of dimensional traversal in time. It’s called temporal retrogression in physical science."
Although time and space cannot be isolated in relativity and the theory remains without significant empirical evidence, Shen You’an could easily dismantle its premise using irrefutable scientific principles exposing flaws in merging ideology with speculative existence.
However, the existence of the system rendered those theories utterly feeble.
It was the only rational way Shen You’an could explain her reincarnation.
Her sharp rhetoric silenced the system.
The system even felt fear.
Exposed by the host—what now? Online, waiting anxiously.
As Shen You’an gazed upon the vibrant garden, her dark eyes glimmered with unwavering determination. Whatever lay ahead, no matter how thorny the path, she feared nothing.
Her reincarnation proved the plausibility of temporal retrogression.
If only she could go back—just a little further. Far enough to heal both lifetimes of regret.