Volume One, Chapter 2: Could the Big Shot Actually Be Me?

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Dayan City, Yancheng University of Science and Technology, Male Dormitory Building 3, Room 303.
Zhou Boren, Du Ziyu, and Chen Jiahao sat in a row on the lower bunks, while Chu Xinghe paced back and forth in front of them with his hands behind his back, occasionally wearing a thoughtful expression.
“So you’re saying that tomorrow, when I go for an interview, I’ll get caught up in the strange corruption spreading through downtown, but in the end, I’ll turn misfortune into fortune by containing that anomaly and become the world’s first ‘Anomaly Tamer’?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re saying that a year from now, I’ll be the chief captain of the Dayan City Anomaly Control Bureau in the Xia nation, saving tens of millions of lives?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And two years from now, I’ll carry the fate of all humanity, boarding a space rocket to the moon to try to deal with a world-ending anomaly?”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”
Chu Xinghe’s eyes widened, staring at the three nodding heads like a drumbeat, trying to find any trace of a joke on their faces. After all, if this wasn’t a prank, his troubles would be far greater than he thought.
After painfully accepting the fact that he was the only one in the world who had not been reborn, he quickly adjusted his mood and began to inquire about the future.
What followed was a story of a savior rising from obscurity, told by Zhou Boren and the others.
“Wait, are you sure the person you’re talking about is me?” Chu Xinghe pointed at himself; it was hard for him to connect the ruthless, decisive, and invincible figure they described with the person he was now.
“Absolutely.”
“Even pearls aren’t that real.”
“If you don’t believe us, just open the class chat group now and see for yourself.”
The three swore solemnly, and Du Ziyu even pulled out his phone and opened the class chat group, which was filled with posts tagging Chu Xinghe.
[Whoa, you might not believe it, but the legendary Guardian of Dayan City is sleeping right next door to me.]
[Master Chu, do you need more charms on your lucky leg? Please take me under your wing! I want to become an Anomaly Tamer too.]
[Xinghe, do you need a girlfriend with a perfect figure? If not, would you mind having an extra one?]
[Xinghe, can you sign an autograph for me when you have time? My whole family are your fans!]
...
Looking at the fanatical classmates, Chu Xinghe’s scalp tingled. Now he had no choice but to believe he was a highly sought-after figure.
Awakening from the brink of death with a start—turns out the big shot is me!
“So what now? Even if you say I’ll become powerful in the future, right now I’m just a small fry,” Chu Xinghe said dejectedly.

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“Um…” Zhou Boren, Du Ziyu, and Chen Jiahao looked at each other helplessly; none of them could offer a good suggestion, since before their rebirth, they were ordinary people too.
Just as everyone was at a loss, a sharp knocking broke the stalemate.
“Who is it? I told you Chu Xinghe is busy right now. If it’s nothing important, don’t bother!” Zhou Boren stood up and shouted outside the door. It wasn’t the first time someone from the dorm had come looking, but all had been turned away.
“Anomaly Control Bureau officer, Wei Hongying.”
A capable and authoritative voice sounded outside.
“Whoa, the Anomaly Control Bureau?”
Not only was Zhou Boren startled, but even Du Ziyu and Chen Jiahao instinctively stood up. During that special period in their previous lives, the Anomaly Control Bureau represented the highest authority.
No matter who you were, when the Anomaly Control Bureau showed up, you’d better cooperate—that was a survival rule everyone would remember.
“Wei Hongying? Do you know her?” Chu Xinghe frowned; the last people he wanted to see now were the Anomaly Control Bureau agents.
“Whether we know her or not isn’t important. What matters is that in your previous life, you were once suspended. The reason was that you disobeyed retreat orders and forcibly entered the anomaly realm of an S-class anomaly to save someone. And that person you saved was named Wei Hongying.”
Squad leader Zhou Boren gave Chu Xinghe a strange look. The very person he was willing to risk his life to save now asked if they knew each other—this felt utterly surreal.
“I did something like that?” Chu Xinghe was stunned. He had only heard a rough outline of the story from Zhou Boren and hadn’t yet learned these details.
“Instead of being surprised, maybe think about how you’re going to greet her,” Zhou Boren said, walking to the door to open it. He believed that someone worth risking one’s life to save must be trustworthy.
With a creak, the dorm door opened, and the room’s light fell on a refined and heroic face with sharp features. Her dark eyes scanned the room quickly before settling on a somewhat helpless young man, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Ahem…” Wei Hongying cleared her throat, suppressing the curve of her lips and said formally, “Comrade Chu Xinghe, the organization and the people need you now. Please come with me.”
“Ah? Go… where?” Chu Xinghe’s worst fear was coming true. He was no longer the fierce man who had stormed an S-class anomaly realm and returned unscathed; now he was just an ordinary person who didn’t even know what an anomaly was.
“Where else? Of course to the city center about to be corrupted by an anomaly.” Wei Hongying sensed something was off about Chu Xinghe but time was urgent. They could discuss it later on the way.
“Wait, hold on…” Chu Xinghe barely started to speak before Wei Hongying dragged him downstairs.
…
In the dark night, a modified SUV roared like a streak of light along the silent national highway. The beams occasionally illuminated the faces of a man and a woman in the front seats.
“Alright, you can say what you wanted to say earlier now,” Wei Hongying asked while keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
If she could, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry, but every second gained might save another life.
“Miss Wei…”
Just as Chu Xinghe was about to speak, a cold snort came from the woman beside him.

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“Call me Hongying.”
Wei Hongying’s cool tone trembled slightly, and a flush crept up her pale cheeks.
“Hongying…” Chu Xinghe hesitated before continuing, “Miss Hongying, could you slow down a bit first?”
“120 kilometers per hour is already the slowest speed,” Wei Hongying said, but Chu Xinghe could clearly feel the car slowing down.
“Could you slow down a bit more? What I’m about to say might be a little too shocking for you.” Chu Xinghe wasn’t convinced it was safe enough.
“Too… shocking?”
Wei Hongying mused over Chu Xinghe’s words and suddenly seemed to realize something, her blush deepening like the evening glow reflected on a river, turning her into a coy young woman.
At first, she felt Chu Xinghe’s coldness toward her was too much. After all the hardships of rebirth, he showed no sign of emotion upon seeing her again.
But was he waiting for her here?
“Does it… really have to be now?” Wei Hongying’s voice was barely a whisper, her gaze evasive. Could it be that he was going to…?
“Yes! I’m afraid if I don’t say it now, it’ll be too late!” Chu Xinghe’s voice was resolute. If he didn’t speak now, would he really have to face the city center anomaly unprepared?
Too late?
Was he afraid he’d fail again like last time?
Wei Hongying’s mind flashed through memories of their time together. They would have died for each other, yet never had the courage to reveal their true feelings. In the end, they died with regret in the catastrophe two years later.
“Then say it. I… I’ll listen seriously,” Wei Hongying took a deep breath, ready to respond to his feelings.
“I…” Chu Xinghe glanced around to make sure the road was clear and finally mustered his courage to say,
“I’ve ‘lost my memory’!”
“I’m willing!”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”