Like a tiger thrown into a swimming pool, Han Zhi was completely disoriented.

The moment he opened his eyes, he found himself transported from 2023 back to the national college entrance exam hall in 1999.

One second, he was a successful middle-aged programmer; the next, he was an 18-year-old greenhorn again.

"Am I dreaming?"

Han Zhi pinched his thigh hard, wincing at the sharp pain.

This wasn’t a dream. The dark bruise forming on his leg was undeniable proof—this was really happening.

Dazed, he lifted his head and stared at the blackboard above the teacher’s desk.

Neatly written in chalk were the words: "1999 Lanhai City Unified College Entrance Exam," "July 8th, Chemistry," "Exam Time: 15:00–17:00."

The chemistry test paper in front of him might as well have been a cruel joke. The sea of technical terms made his head spin.

Moles, HCO3, anions and cations, electrons, the periodic table, Avogadro’s number…

All the knowledge he had once mastered now looked like gibberish.

"Who the hell picks this kind of rebirth timing?" Han Zhi wanted to cry but had no tears left. "What kind of sadist sends me back right in the middle of a chemistry exam?"

Staring at the densely packed questions, his mind buzzed with frustration.

Forget solving them—he couldn’t even understand half the problems.

After more than two decades without touching chemistry, he had forgotten every last bit of it.

Rubbing his throbbing temples, Han Zhi couldn't help but marvel at how ridiculously overpowered the protagonists were in those rebirth novels.

Who could possibly memorize every single knowledge point and exam question overnight, then ace the test with a perfect 700?

This—this right here—was what a real rebirth looked like!

His mind was still packed with memories from 2023, and now, staring at the dense symbols and equations on the chemistry paper, he felt nothing but a splitting headache.

Luckily, he had already finished most of it. The last two big problems? Forget it.

He'd take whatever score he could scrape together.

The 1999 college entrance exams followed a "3+2" model, and as a science student, he only had one final subject left: English, tomorrow.

Thinking back to his past life, this was where he had utterly face-planted.

A pitiful 70 out of 150—humiliating.

But this time...

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Han Zhi's lips.

Those years of grinding overseas hadn't been for nothing. Two years of working abroad had completely transformed his English.

The thought sent his mind drifting back to the days before his rebirth.

Back then, as a programmer in Huawei's software division, his annual salary had long surpassed the million mark.

That night, Han Zhi had finally reached the pinnacle of his life.

The company threw a grand celebration banquet for their R&D team, marking the triumphant launch of a smartphone operating system that exceeded all expectations.

As a core technical lead, Han Zhi not only secured a promotion and a raise but was also promised a substantial stock incentive.

Basking in the joy of success, he allowed himself a rare moment of indulgence.

But when he woke up from his drunken stupor, he found himself inexplicably transported back to the 1999 national college entrance exam hall.

"What the hell? I haven’t even touched a single cent of those bonuses yet!"

Han Zhi’s mind raged, but he quickly steadied himself.

This sudden rebirth brought back memories of that fateful day—the day that changed everything.

July 12, 1999.

That was the day his father, Han Yi, was caught in an affair at the Dawn Hotel and, in a panic, fell to his death from the eighth floor.

His mother, Mo Xinshen, rushing to the scene upon hearing the news, was tragically killed in a car accident.

Within a single hour, he lost both his parents.

The wound ran so deep that it completely altered the course of his life.

Now, sweat beaded on Han Zhi’s forehead, his eyes burning with fierce determination.

Fate had given him a second chance—and this time, he *would* stop the tragedy from happening.

He *had* to save his mother.

As for Han Yi, whether he lived or died didn't matter anymore.

There was still time. Han Zhi reminded himself that the 12th was still a few days away—no need to rush just yet.

In the exam hall, he was busy scheming, hoping to use his sharp eyes to discreetly peek at others' answers and find a solution to those two major problems.

But the moment he lifted his head to glance around, the invigilator's piercing gaze locked onto him. Those sharp eyes seemed to see right through his little plan, forcing Han Zhi to pretend he was just stretching his stiff neck before obediently lowering his head and returning to his paper.

Since he couldn't figure out the answers, he couldn't just hand in a blank sheet. He scribbled down a few formulas he remembered and padded the rest with whatever came to mind—better than nothing.

When the school bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, relief washed over him.

Stepping out of the classroom, Han Zhi paused on the second-floor corridor, lost in thought as he gazed at the view before him.

In his memories, twenty-four years from now, Lanhai No.1 High School—this place that held the youthful dreams of countless students—would be long gone, replaced by towering commercial buildings.

"Better hurry home and see Mom," Han Zhi thought. "She should be on leave these days."

Just as he reached the first floor, a chubby-cheeked boy with a round face came bouncing toward him.

"Zhi-ge!"

The kid sported a bowl cut, and when he grinned, his dimples were impossible to miss.

Han Zhi stared blankly at the boy for a long moment. He looked familiar, but for the life of him, Han Zhi couldn't recall his name.

"Hey man, you're...?"

"Holy crap, Zhi! Did exams fry your brain or something?" The guy looked utterly baffled. "It's me, Yao Yan!"

"Ohhh, so it's you, you fat bastard!" Han Zhi suddenly recognized him, slapping his own forehead. "Damn, you look so young now, I almost didn't recognize you."

Of course! This was his childhood buddy Yao Yan!

They'd been inseparable since diapers—bathing together, gaming together, even chasing stray dogs together. There wasn't a dumb thing they hadn't done.

They'd always used nicknames though, so hearing his full name threw Han Zhi off for a second.

Memories flooded back—how Yao Yan later got married, became completely whipped by his wife, and gradually drifted apart. A pang of nostalgia hit Han Zhi.

"Hey Zhi, how'd you do on that chem exam just now?"

"Piece of cake." Han Zhi shrugged casually.

"What answers did you get for the last two big problems?"

"Those? I didn't do them."

"Thank god! Me neither, haha!" Yao Yan visibly relaxed, then suddenly winced. "Gotta run—my bladder's about to explode!"

The two bolted to relieve themselves, their footsteps echoing down the hallway.

While washing his hands, Han Zhi took a moment to study his reflection in the mirror.

The young man staring back at him was brimming with vitality—sharp features, an undeniable handsomeness that made him crack a grin. At eighteen, his body pulsed with restless energy, every inch of him radiating untapped strength. It was a far cry from the middle-aged man decades later, who’d be wheezing after a single flight of stairs and struggling to toss out the trash without stumbling.

"Zhi, honestly, I was kinda worried about you earlier," Yao Yan said, adjusting his school uniform. "That whole thing with Meng Yazhi must’ve hit you hard, huh?"

"Huh? Who?" Han Zhi blinked, momentarily drawing a blank on the name.

This sudden rebirth had left his high school memories a little hazy.

Just then, a crisp female voice cut in from behind: "Idiot."

Both boys turned to see a girl standing in the doorway.

She wore a simple cream-colored T-shirt and blue jeans, yet there was an effortless elegance about her. Her fair skin was flawless, her delicate features like something out of a painting. A high ponytail swayed slightly with her movements. Though her face was free of makeup, it exuded youthful radiance—yet there was also an aloofness, a cool distance in her gaze.

Then it clicked.

This was none other than Gu Zhi, the renowned school beauty of their alma mater, No. 1 High.

Not only was she stunning, but she was also a top-ranking academic prodigy.

However, rumors had it that she was somewhat of a loner—keeping to herself outside of class—and whispers of violent tendencies followed her like a shadow.

"No wonder so many guys had a crush on her back then," Han Zhi mused inwardly. The school belle standing before him truly lived up to her reputation as the "unattainable white moonlight."

Word had it that Gu Zhi was no pushover. A few boys had once tried to corner her in the bike shed with ill intentions, only to end up hospitalized, while she walked away without a scratch.

As luck would have it, Han Zhi was even in the same class as her.

At that moment, Gu Zhi emerged from the restroom and stood beside him at the sink, washing her hands.

"Were you just talking about me? Calling me an idiot?" Han Zhi met her gaze in the mirror.

"What else?" Gu Zhi shot back through the reflection, her tone dripping with indifference.

Staring at the haughty school beauty, Han Zhi scoffed internally. Just a brat who knew how to throw a punch—what gave her the right to act so high and mighty?

"Zhi, let’s get out of here!" Fatty tugged at his arm, urging him to leave. "Don’t go looking for trouble."

Han Zhi: "…"

Fine. He was a reborn man, after all—no point picking a fight with some teenage girl.

But just as he took a few steps away, an abandoned soda bottle caught his eye.

Glancing at a nearby trash can, Han Zhi suddenly got a mischievous idea—he wanted to pull off a flashy move like Stephen Chow.

With a swift kick, the plastic bottle veered wildly off course.

*Thwack!*

The bottle smacked straight into the back of a middle-aged man’s balding head.

Han Zhi, Fatty, and Gu Zhi, who was trailing behind, froze in horror.

Fatty trembled like a leaf. "We’re dead… That’s the dean!"

The balding dean’s face turned livid with rage. In two strides, he was right in front of them. "Who the hell has the nerve to hit me with a water bottle?!"

Han Zhi put on an innocent face, his eyes darting slyly before he pointed straight at Gu Zhi. "Sir, it was her!"

*You called me stupid just now? Well, enjoy taking the blame for this one.*

This was what they called turning the tables—a taste of her own medicine.