Chapter 1 – An Accident and the Ability to Turn Back Time
Hiss...
It hurts...
Am I dying?
The sharp, overwhelming taste of blood filled Dong Xuebing's mouth. He couldn't move a muscle, and darkness pressed in from all sides. Desperately, he tried to lift his head, but nothing responded. Finally, with all his strength, he managed to open his eyes just a sliver.
Through his blurry vision, he could barely make out an overloaded dump truck nearby. Lying next to him in a pool of blood were an elderly man and a beautiful woman in her late twenties, both motionless. A crowd had gathered around them, their mouths moving as if they were shouting, but Dong Xuebing couldn't hear anything.
The old man was dead. Aunt Xuan was dead. Dong Xuebing was barely hanging on, and he knew he wasn't going to make it.
His heart twisted in pain as he looked at Qu Yunxuan's pretty face, the woman he secretly admired.
Earlier, at the traffic junction, Qu Yunxuan had seen the old man struggling to walk and had offered to help him cross the road. Despite the green light, a truck had come speeding toward them. Dong Xuebing, some distance away, had noticed the danger and rushed to save them, but he was too late. The truck hit them all.
*Regrets.*
Dong Xuebing had never felt regret this deep before.
If only I had noticed the truck sooner... If only I had been faster... We wouldn't be lying here now.
But it was too late.
His eyelids grew heavier, and he could no longer bear to look at Qu Yunxuan's twisted body or the lifeless old man. He shut his eyes, waiting for the end.
*Kaboom!*
A deafening thunderclap shattered the silence. It was so loud that it seemed to shake his very soul.
Suddenly, Dong Xuebing felt like he was being pulled out of the darkness. His strength, hearing, and vision returned. Dazed, he looked around and realized he was perfectly fine, standing at the traffic junction. Cars, taxis, and vans zipped by him as if nothing had happened. Under the dim streetlights, people walked past, unaware of the horror he had just witnessed.
"Sir, let me help you cross the road."
"It's fine. Thank you, young lady. I'm fine by myself."
"I'm just staying opposite, it's no trouble. Come, let me help you."
Dong Xuebing spun around at the familiar voice. There, at the pedestrian crossing, stood a smiling Qu Yunxuan, not far away. She noticed Dong Xuebing and waved. "Xiao Bing, you're back? Were you out with friends?" Beside her was the old man, alive and well, coughing gently.
"Ah... Yes... I'm back," Dong Xuebing replied, his voice distant as he tried to process what was happening.
*What's going on? I'm not dead? Aunt Xuan's not dead? The old man's not dead?*
He slowly raised his hand and opened his palm, clenching his fist and then releasing it. No blood, no wounds.
'Was it all just a dream? Was there no accident?'
The traffic lights changed, and the pedestrians began to cross the road. The old man, walking slowly with his stick, was helped by Qu Yunxuan.
'This... This is familiar. Very familiar.'
Suddenly, he heard the roar of an engine. Dong Xuebing turned quickly toward the sound. An overloaded truck was approaching, just like before.
'No... This isn't a dream. Time has... rewound?'
Dong Xuebing's heart raced. He had no time to think. "Stop! Watch out for that truck!" he yelled.
Everyone around him paused, confused.
"What truck?"
"Where?"
Qu Yunxuan looked at the truck and then at Dong Xuebing. "Xiao Bing, what's wrong? It's a red light, the truck will stop."
The old man seemed unconcerned too. "Don't worry, son. The truck's turning. We're safe."
But Dong Xuebing knew better. He remembered the accident that was about to happen. "Aunt Xuan, move! Get out of there!" he shouted, running toward them.
Qu Yunxuan paused, puzzled. "Xiao Bing, calm down. The truck is—"
Before she could finish, the truck crossed the stop line, showing no signs of slowing down.
Gasps and screams filled the air.
"Run!"
"It's going to hit them!"
Qu Yunxuan finally realized the danger and tried to pull the old man to safety. "Hurry! We have to move!"
"Leave me! Save yourself!" the old man cried, trying to push her away.
But there wasn't enough time. The truck was almost upon them.
*Four meters... Three meters...*
Qu Yunxuan and the old man froze in terror.
Just as the truck was about to hit them, Dong Xuebing reached them. With all his strength, he grabbed both Qu Yunxuan and the old man by the waist, dragging them forward as he sprinted. His muscles burned, but he kept running, pulling them with him.
"Watch out!" someone shouted.
"They're going to die!" another cried.
But just as the truck zoomed past, it barely brushed Dong Xuebing's back. The old man tumbled to the ground, sliding half a meter across the road. Qu Yunxuan fell forward, landing hard from Dong Xuebing's push.
Dong Xuebing collapsed, gasping for air, his body aching from the strain.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, cheers erupted from the crowd.
"They're alive!"
"That young man saved them!"
Applause broke out as people rushed to help.
---