"Dongzi, wake up quickly, this is Lao Chen's class!"

Li Dong yawned and rubbed his eyes half-asleep, saying, "Mr. Chen? I didn't say there was a meeting today!"

Just as Li Dong finished speaking, his mind went blank. His half-closed eyes suddenly widened. He was the only one home, sleeping soundly. Who was talking to him?

Stiffening his neck and turning his head to glance sideways, Li Dong was instantly stunned!

"Dongzi, what are you talking about? This isn't a general meeting, this is Lao Chen's class. Are you asleep?" Wang Jie scratched his neck and didn't mind that Li Dong was calling Mr. Chen "Lao Chen."

"Wang... Wang Jie?"

Li Dong swallowed nervously, his voice laced with surprise.

This is clearly Wang Jie, my own high school deskmate. After graduation, the two of us went our separate ways. Besides chatting a few words in the high school group, we hardly see each other after almost ten years.

The guy standing in front of me now is clearly Wang Jie from high school. I couldn't possibly mistake that conspicuous watermelon head!

"Alright, no more beating around the bush. Old Chen is here!" Wang Jie was a bit annoyed by Li Dong's expression, which seemed like he had eaten a pile of poop.

What was even more glaring was Li Dong staring intently at his own hairstyle, feeling a surge of anger inside him. However, seeing that Head Teacher Lao Chen had already entered the classroom, he quickly turned and started listening to the lesson.

……

"Am I reborn?"

Li Dong looked around, seeing those faces, both familiar and strange. Finally, he confirmed that he must have returned to his high school days.

The first feeling that came was not excitement, but a piercing pain!

Lee Dong mumbled almost mournfully, "Damn it! You could have done this a few months ago. I worked hard for seven years after graduating from university just to buy a house with a loan, and now it's gone after only a few days living here. It's killing me!"

As soon as he thought about his parents dying a few years ago, and him being single with a new house that was probably stolen by some bastard like Li Dong, he felt a surge of resentment.

Although he had fantasized countless times about getting a second chance, when Lee Dong thought of that new house still smelling of paint, he couldn't help but feel stifled.

Fortunately, the thought that he wouldn't have to work so hard and pay off his loans anymore comforted Li Dong and lifted his gloomy mood.

Then Li Dong's face lit up again, he was reborn after all! What were box office earnings compared to that? He could have anything he wanted now, so why would he care about that small two-bedroom apartment in the suburbs?

Chen Guohua on the podium had long noticed Li Dong's restlessness, but seeing that Li Dong wasn't making any other moves, he held his tongue.

Until he saw Li Dongwu twisting and muttering to himself, Chen Guohua finally couldn't help it. He shouted fiercely, "Li Dong, translate what I just said in this ancient Chinese text!"

Still lost in thought, Li Dong involuntarily jumped. He looked up to see Lao Chen's wide eyes and quickly put on a smile: "Teacher, I was wrong! From now on, I will definitely listen carefully in class, study hard, and try my best to get into a good university. I will definitely not let my parents and teachers down…"

Li Dong's flurry of words not only left Chen Guohua dumbfounded, but also stunned the rest of the classmates.

The academic atmosphere at this time was not as open as it would be in later generations. The teachers were all serious, and the students were all obedient. Li Dong's shameless behavior left everyone dumbfounded.

Then came a burst of laughter, and Wang Jie at the same table was so embarrassed by everyone's stares that he wished he could burrow a hole in the ground. He twisted his face and pulled Li Dong hard, which finally made Li Dong stop, though still looking unsatisfied.

Seeing everyone still dazed, Li Dong couldn't help but smirk. This is just the beginning! After all, I've been in sales for seven or eight years and have won the sales championship for three months in a row. Even if you asked me to talk for an hour straight, I wouldn't repeat myself.

As for the shyness during school days, it's long gone, who knows where I threw it. If not for this bluff, how could a poor second-generation kid like me afford the down payment and even buy a car?

Chen Guohua clearly didn't expect Li Dong to be so thick-skinned. He originally wanted to scold him a few times, but Li Dong was just reflecting on himself and taking responsibility for his actions. He didn't even know where to start scolding.

Keeping a fire in my belly unexpressed, I watched as classroom discipline deteriorated. With gritted teeth, I muttered, "Alright, sit down! There are only two months left until the college entrance exam, everyone needs to be responsible for their own future!"

That last sentence was definitely a veiled reference!

Of course, Li Dong, with skin as thick as iron, wouldn't take it to heart.

Li Dong ignored Chen Guohua's warning. What he focused on was Chen Guohua's statement that there were only two months left before the college entrance exam.

Li Dong remembers that his college entrance examination was in 2004, which means it's around April 2004 now.

The most frustrating thing is that I have to take the college entrance exam again. Thinking about last time, I studied hard from morning till night but only got into a second-tier university. Having to do it all over again is even more disheartening.

Having been in society for so many years, I've forgotten most of the knowledge from books. In just two months, I wouldn't have the ability to take a second-tier exam again.

Li Dong had never thought that after being reborn, he wouldn't go to school. Not for any other reason, just because his parents worked tirelessly to pay for his education, and he couldn't let them down.

The Li family was not wealthy. Li Dong's parents rented a small stall in the county market to sell seafood. They had to leave home at 2 or 3 am every night to buy goods and didn't return home until 8 or 9 pm. They hardly had any free time all year round except for the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Both husband and wife worked hard all year just so their son could pass the entrance exam for a good university, then find a good job and marry a good wife.

I usually don't buy lunch boxes at noon, but I bring my own lunch from home and eat it with pickled vegetables.

The elderly couple had been frugal for over ten years, saving every penny they could. They planned to use the money to help Li Dong buy a house and get married, but unfortunately, their own health deteriorated before they could fulfill this dream.

At that time, Li Dong had just graduated from university. Both elders were diagnosed with serious illnesses one after another. As a result, their family savings were completely spent. In the end, Li Dong even sold his old house in the county to pay for their medical treatment. Sadly, both parents eventually passed away one after another despite his efforts.

The two elderly people had worked hard their entire lives and never enjoyed a single day of happiness. Before they left, they tearfully apologized to Li Dong, saying that they hadn't been able to save any money and had even sold the house where they lived, leaving Li Dong with nothing and facing a bleak future.

Thinking of these things, Li Dong couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Then, thinking about his rebirth, he felt a glimmer of hope. He finally had a chance to make amends. This life, he absolutely wouldn't let his parents suffer anymore, nor would he let them leave him too soon.

Although Li Dong seemed eloquent and sociable during those years he spent drifting through society, who could truly understand the relentless loneliness that gnawed at him? After his parents' passing, Li Dong lived out their premonition, becoming a solitary ghost lost amidst the bustling city.

No one knows, that in front of people, strong Li Dong, on those days when the whole family reunited for Chinese New Year's Eve, cried bitterly before his parents' graves, almost fainting several times.

In his previous life, Li Dongjue was most sorry to his parents. Unfortunately, the deceased were gone, and there was no chance to make amends.

Now that Heaven has shown mercy and given him another chance, Li Dong naturally wants to fulfill his parents' wish.

Getting into a good university was Li Dong's top priority. Although he hadn't done very well on his exams in his past life, he remembered the day he received his acceptance letter; his parents were so happy they cried tears of joy. That was probably the happiest day of their lives.

This kind of happiness is more important than how much money he makes himself, Li Dong certainly wouldn't deprive his parents of their joy and happiness.

To finish this wish, it's easy to say it is difficult. It's not difficult to say, but it is difficult.

Although my memory is hazy, the college entrance exam was a major hurdle in life.

Li Dong is incapable of remembering the exam questions from decades ago, even though he's been studying them for years. However, some question types can still be found by looking through books and materials carefully, which might trigger his memory. If he spends the next two months diligently reviewing, he shouldn't have a problem maintaining the level he achieved before.

Thinking of this, Li Dong couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Then he started daydreaming again, thinking about all sorts of random things.

The first thing to do after being reborn is to make money. Everyone knows that.

Without money, how can you bring happiness to your parents? Without money, how can you find a good wife and live a comfortable life? Money may not be omnipotent, but without it, it's absolutely impossible.

What could make money in 2004?

Tickets?

I'm sorry, in my previous life Li Dong never took on any projects and didn't have the capital to do so. Besides knowing that Baidu, Tencent, and Apple would rise in value, I didn't understand anything else.

Lottery?

Cough, cough, even if Li Dong had bought it and dreamt of becoming rich overnight, who in their right mind would remember how much the first prize was last time, let alone a lottery from ten years ago.

Thinking about it, buying a house seems like a surefire way to make money. Unfortunately, even if the price is low, you still need capital. Without capital, you can't do anything.

Thinking about this, Li Dong gritted his teeth. He felt so useless in his past life. For years he had been selling, but learned nothing except running around.

On the bright side, there are many opportunities these days. As long as you find your direction, becoming wealthy shouldn't be too difficult, even if you don't aim to be a billionaire.

Thinking this way, Li Dongxin relaxed again. She glanced at Chen Guohua who was still muttering to himself, her thoughts drifted further and further away, then came a darkness.

Of course, this time Li Dong didn't travel through time, but was hypnotized to sleep.

……

"Dongzi, wake up!" Wang Jie patted Li Dong's shoulder. "School's out, Lao Chen looked green when he left. You really have a big heart!"

Lee Dong-le's eyes were blurry with sleep as he nonchalantly said, "Anyway, I graduate high school in two months. Old Chen wouldn't eat people."

After saying that, he picked up his schoolbag and left. As he was leaving, he patted Wang Jie's head playfully and chuckled, "Watermelon head, good omen, hahaha..."

Wang Jie stared blankly at his head until Li Dong left, then he came to and scolded, "You watermelon-headed bastard, next time I'll bash your watermelon head in!"

"Hahaha..."

There were bursts of laughter in the classroom.

Li Dong, who had gone far away, couldn't help but sigh, "Youth is so good!"