After eating the breakfast prepared by his mother, Zhou Rui slung his bag over his shoulder and headed toward the residential area where Li Wenqian lived.
The slightly damp air of the early morning seeped into his lungs, refreshing him. Although he had only slept a few hours, Zhou Rui felt surprisingly energized.
This was the advantage of youth.
Unlike later in life, when even a single sleepless night would make him feel as though he were suffering from a terminal illness. In his thirties, staying up late left him feeling miserable for days. Yet, because of life's pressures, sleepless nights and fatigue were inevitable. Smoking and drinking became common escapes from mounting anxieties, even as they eroded his health.
He was, in the end, risking his life for landlords and bosses.
With the experience of hypoglycemia fresh in his mind from yesterday, Zhou Rui decided to stop by a corner shop and buy snacks, just in case hunger struck again and affected his focus or progress with the system.
He also planned to pick up two strips of Fruit Danpi for Li Wenqian. His pocket money was limited, but he wouldn't allow himself to owe her even something as trivial as Fruit Danpi.
As he descended the stairs, a piece of paper stuck to the mottled wall caught his eye.
"Urgent sale of this building, no agents please, contact number 139XXXXXXXX."
There was no specific door number listed, just a simple floor plan. Below the message, a series of comb-shaped slips of paper bore the contact number. All were still intact, untouched.
Zhou Rui paused. Who would want to buy an old house like this?
Still, he pulled off one of the slips and tucked it into his pocket. Opportunities like this were too good to ignore.
Whatever reason the seller had for offloading the property didn't concern him. After all, even if the reborn Zhou Rui weren't here, the seller would still miss the impending demolition windfall.
The streets were still mostly quiet. Senior high school students like himself were just leaving for school, while the office workers hadn't yet started their morning routines.
Two blocks later, Zhou Rui arrived at the corner shop.
"Boss? Got Snickers? And Fruit Danpi?"
As a teenager, he had loved Snickers bars, though in his later years they had seemed overly sweet and indulgent. Now, however, their quick energy boost was precisely what he needed.
While waiting for the shopkeeper to gather the items, a faint fragrance wafted past him. The aroma was sharp and distinct—something almost alien in a small county town.
Turning instinctively, Zhou Rui saw a tall figure with long hair cascading over her shoulders. She appeared about his age, but she wasn't wearing a school uniform.
"She must be at least 1.7 meters tall," Zhou Rui thought.
Her legs were strikingly long.
In this era, most of his peers sported awkward hairstyles and unflattering, shapeless school uniforms. The height of "fashion" was the garish, "non-mainstream" style popular at the time.
But this girl? She seemed different—stylish and ahead of her time.
"Not wearing a uniform, and walking around at this hour? Could she be trying to take a shortcut in life?" Zhou Rui wondered idly, though it was none of his business.
The storekeeper handed over the snacks, and both he and Zhou Rui turned to watch the girl's retreating figure. But the shopkeeper's expression soon changed as another figure emerged behind her—a thin man in a faded denim jacket, hunched over and silent.
"What's the matter? Didn't give me the right change?" Zhou Rui asked, puzzled.
The shopkeeper hesitated before whispering, "That guy's a known thief. He's been caught here before."
The revelation caught Zhou Rui off guard. The shopkeeper, wary of trouble, waved him off and went back to arranging his shelves.
Zhou Rui glanced again at the thin man. He trailed behind the girl, his eyes fixed on her every move. She, seemingly oblivious, turned into a side alley.
Thieves often worked early in the morning, Zhou Rui realized. The sleepy, drowsy hours made for easy targets, especially the elderly or those lost in thought.
Feeling uneasy, Zhou Rui followed them from a distance.
---
Han Zinyin, wearing her canvas shoes, strolled through the narrow streets. She marveled at the unique charm of this small county town, a stark contrast to the bustling cities she was used to.
As she turned into an alley, curiosity led her gaze to a pigeon coop on a nearby rooftop. But her moment of wonder was cut short when she felt a hand in her pocket.
She froze. Turning slowly, her wide eyes met the sight of a stranger's hand reaching for her belongings.
Her mind stalled for two seconds before realization struck. This man was a thief!
Instinctively, she grabbed his hand, but before she could cry for help, the thief pulled out a knife and slashed toward her.
"Ah!" Han Zinyin stumbled back in terror.
The man sneered, ready to flee, but as he looked her over—her tall, striking figure and expensive, urban appearance—a more sinister idea crossed his mind.
With a predatory glint in his eyes, the man lunged, grabbing her wrist. His other hand clamped over her mouth as he tried to drag her further into the alley.
---
Zhou Rui had been debating whether to intervene when he saw the man's movements turn violent.
There was no more hesitation. Spotting a brick in the corner of the alley, Zhou Rui picked it up and quietly approached.
The man, too focused on his victim, didn't notice until—
Bang!
The brick struck the side of his head, and he crumpled to the ground.
---
Han Zinyin, trembling and wide-eyed, looked up at Zhou Rui.
He stood there in his school uniform, clutching the brick with both hands. He let out a shaky breath and offered her a reassuring smile.
"Are you okay?"
Han Zinyin's lips quivered. She nodded, tears streaking her cheeks as relief swept over her.
---
What Zhou Rui didn't realize was how drastically this single act of intervention had changed fate.
In the original timeline, Zhou Rui had been late this morning. By the time he walked past this alley, Han Zinyin's life had already been cut short by the thief. He hadn't even noticed her lifeless form in the shadows.
Now, because of his interference, the course of her life had shifted completely.
Every action of the reborn Zhou Rui caused ripples in the fabric of fate.
And this time, those ripples had saved a life.