At 8 p.m., inside a dilapidated apartment building in Yongle Town.

The sound of a child's crying pounded against Jiang Yu's skull like a hammer, making his head throb unbearably. His body felt sticky and heavy, as if he were drowning in thick molasses.

With tremendous effort, he pried his eyes open. A little girl with pigtails was sobbing beside him, her small frame trembling with each hiccup.

"Am I... not dead?"

Jiang Yu stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind reeling. He had been on a business trip to the U.S. for a crucial company negotiation when the plane crashed. There was no way he could have survived.

"Brother, you're awake? Mom! Brother's awake!" The little girl wiped her tears in delight, her voice bright with relief.

"What?! He's awake?!" A woman with sallow skin rushed into the room, her eyes brimming with tears the moment she saw Jiang Yu conscious.

"Yu, my boy, you're really awake? You scared me half to death... sob... Does your head still hurt?"

Mom? What the hell is going on?

The woman's tears fell like raindrops. "Yu, I'll give you all the money we have at home. Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid again, okay?"

Dazed, Jiang Yu nodded. The woman wiped her tears, a fragile smile finally breaking through. "Good. Wait here, I'll get you something to eat. Yiyi, go pour your brother a bowl of water."

"Where on earth am I?"

Once the mother and daughter left, Jiang Yu sat up with a frown, scanning the cramped room. The walls, though painted white, were uneven and cracked with age. His gaze drifted to the calendar hanging by the bed.

With just one glance, Jiang Yu felt as though he'd been struck by lightning.

May 13th, 1983!

"What the hell is this?"

A sharp pain suddenly shot through the back of his head. Clutching his skull, he collapsed to the ground, convulsing violently as a flood of foreign memories crashed through his mind like tidal waves.

Jiang Yu, age twenty, from Xishui Village. Elementary school dropout. Father deceased, raised single-handedly by his mother Liu Lian, with a six-year-old sister named Yiyi.

Strangely enough, this person shared his exact name.

But unlike his own disciplined life, this Jiang Yu had dropped out of school and fallen in with a gang of troublemakers—loafing around, picking fights, and developing a gambling addiction. Six months ago, in a desperate attempt to reform him, Liu Lian had moved the entire family to town.

Yet even here, he remained incorrigible, still stealing his mother's hard-earned wages to feed his gambling habit. This time, when Liu Lian refused to hand over their last remaining food money, Jiang Yu had flown into such a rage that he'd smashed his head against the wall.

And that was the moment when the Jiang Yu from the 21st century had taken over.

Jiang Yu sat dumbfounded. Had he actually been reborn?

This was insane!

The original owner was nothing but a despicable scoundrel!

After twenty-plus years of relentless effort—climbing from salesman to CEO of a listed company—how could fate have dumped him into the body of such worthless trash?

The door creaked open—

The door creaked open as Liu Lian, her frame gaunt and frail, stepped inside clutching two steaming meat buns.

"Yu, dear, the neighbor gave us these buns. Eat them while they're still warm," she said, her voice gentle but weary.

Yiyi, her small hands trembling slightly, carefully offered a bowl of water. "Brother, here's some water."

Jiang Yu watched their timid, almost fearful gestures, and a pang of something indescribable twisted in his chest.

Taking the water and buns, he reached out and ruffled Yiyi's hair softly. "Thank you."

Both Liu Lian and Yiyi froze, their eyes widening in disbelief. Jiang Yu had always been gruff, even harsh—since when did he say "thank you"?

A shaky smile broke across Liu Lian's face as she wiped at the corners of her eyes. "Silly boy, no need for thanks among family. I'll go make you something more to eat."

"Brother, I'll get you some pickles to go with the buns!" Yiyi chirped, her earlier hesitation melting into excitement.

Jiang Yu hadn’t expected such a simple phrase to bring them so much joy. As he bit into the bun, a bittersweet ache settled in his chest.

He sipped the water slowly, then took another deliberate bite, savoring the warmth.

From the other room, Yiyi’s voice piped up, hopeful. "Mama, did you hear? Brother said thank you! Does that mean he’s getting better?"

Liu Lian’s reply was quiet but tinged with relief. "There’s hope yet."

Jiang Yu glanced toward the kitchen, where Liu Lian bustled over a pot, her movements weary but determined, while Yiyi handed her bowls with eager little hands.

Lying back on the bed, he took another bite of the bun and murmured to himself, "Don’t worry. Since I’ve taken over this body, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of."

His head throbbed mercilessly. Rest—he needed rest.

"Bang!"

A sudden, violent knock pounded on the door.

Liu Lian scooped the dough drop soup from the pot, wiped her hands on her apron, and hurried to answer. When she opened the door, a shifty-eyed man in a baggy suit stood outside. Her heart instantly clenched—it was their landlord, Wang Qiang. Last month’s rent had been stolen by Jiang Yu, and now Wang Qiang was undoubtedly here to collect.

Forcing a smile, Liu Lian greeted him nervously, "Brother Wang, what brings you here?"

"Cut the crap!" Wang Qiang spat on the ground, his face twisted in anger. "Don’t play dumb with me! When the hell are you paying the rent you owe?"

Liu Lian’s expression turned uneasy. "Brother Wang, I’m so sorry. Just give me till the end of the month—once I get my wages, I’ll pay everything back. Please, just a few more days?"

"Bullshit!" Wang Qiang snarled. "You’ve already dragged this out half a damn month! You think I’m running a charity? Pay up now—five dollars, not a cent less!"

Frantically, Liu Lian pulled a few crumpled bills from her pocket. "Brother Wang, here’s one dollar for now. I swear I’ll pay two months’ rent by the end of the month. Please, I’m begging you!"

Wang Qiang snatched the money from her hand. "Save your lies! With that gambling deadbeat in your house, you think I believe you’ll pay? Hand over the money now, or get the hell out!"

Liu Lian glanced at Yiyi, who was trembling in fear, then dropped to her knees with a thud, clasping her hands in desperate pleading.

"Brother Wang, please, keep your voice down—don’t scare the child. I swear on my life, I’ll pay by the end of the month. Just give us a chance to survive!"

Jiang Yu stirred restlessly in his sleep, the argument outside piercing through his haze. He struggled to wake, but his body felt paralyzed, his eyelids impossibly heavy.

With a brutal kick, Wang Qiang shoved Liu Lian aside and peered into the house. Spotting Yiyi cowering on a chair, a sly grin twisted his lips. He strode forward and yanked the terrified child into his arms.

"Listen here, it's me who's giving you a way out! Since you can't pay up today, I'll take your daughter instead—that'll cover two months' rent!"

"Brother Wang, you can't do this!" Liu Lian shrieked, lunging forward to grab Wang Qiang's arm.

With a vicious backhand, Wang Qiang sent her stumbling back. "Ugly bitch, don't dirty my sleeves!"

"Waaah!" Yiyi burst into hysterical sobs. "Don't hit my mom! You're bad! Don't hit my mom!"

Noticing the neighbors peering out from their doors, Wang Qiang dug his fingers into Yiyi's arm and snarled, "Shut your mouth!"

Tears streamed down Liu Lian's face as she pleaded desperately, "Let her go! Don't touch her!"

"Brother! Brother, come save Yiyi! Brother! Ah—!" Yiyi's screams tore through the air, raw with terror.

"What good is that useless brother of yours gonna do? Shut up and come with me—I'll get a pretty penny for you!"

"You son of a—!"

Jiang Yu's eyes flew open. Drenched in cold sweat, he bolted upright from the bed, shoved his feet into his shoes, and charged outside.