Spring of 2000.
The excitement of the New Year had yet to fade, and most countries around the world were thriving.
But for the employees and leadership of Huaifeng, the year had begun with an ominous shadow.
Jiang Han's head felt heavy as he slowly opened his eyes. A dull ache throbbed in his temples, his mind clouded with confusion.
What… happened to me?
Instinctively, he pressed against his aching forehead, trying to steady himself. That's when his gaze fell on the black-and-white photo frame in his trembling hands—
His father's picture.
His breath hitched. Isn't this… my father's memorial photo?
A sudden wave of realization crashed over him. His mind reeled, his body stiffened.
I've been reborn?!
His eyes widened as he quickly scanned his surroundings. The heavy scent of incense lingered in the air, blending with the sorrowful murmurs of mourning guests. Dressed in black formal wear, he was seated in the center of a solemn funeral hall.
Memories surged through his mind like a torrential flood, each fragment intertwining and colliding. He clenched his jaw, enduring the overwhelming rush. The dizziness lasted only a moment before everything settled—his past life and his present one merging into a single consciousness.
The weight of the truth sank deep into his bones.
I was reborn… at my parents' funeral.
Jiang Han's heart clenched. If he could turn back time, how wonderful it would have been to return to the days when his parents were still alive.
But fate was cruel. What had happened could not be changed.
He exhaled slowly, pressing his fingers against his forehead, as if suppressing the emotions threatening to spill over.
In his past life, when his parents died in a car accident, he had been too young and naïve—too powerless to resist the collective pressure of the company's board, filled with greedy shareholders.
On top of that, his reckless, indulgent lifestyle had only made things worse.
He had been nothing more than a spoiled playboy, squandering his inheritance on luxuries and entertainment, believing the world owed him everything. And when the money ran out?
He had shamelessly begged his sister for more.
By the time he realized the company was drowning in debt, it was already too late. Out of desperation, his sister had been forced to sell their shares and step away from the family business.
Huaifeng was lost.
And so was he.
But now…
Now, he had a second chance.
A sharp glint flashed through Jiang Han's eyes.
This time, I won't hand over my company so easily.
However, the thought of those scheming shareholders made his brows furrow. They won't just sit back and let me take control.
Just as he was lost in thought—
A mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Ding! Detection complete. Binding to host…
Jiang Han's entire body stiffened.
What was that?!
Before he could react, the voice continued—
"Ding! Binding of the God-Level Investment Return System complete. Host confirmation successful."
His breath caught in his throat.
A system?!
A wild, almost ridiculous thought struck him. Could this be the kind of system he had read about in time-travel novels?
"System?" he tested cautiously.
"The host can communicate mentally without speaking aloud," the cold electronic voice responded.
Jiang Han's heart pounded. A surge of excitement flooded his veins. He had always loved reading about these kinds of systems in novels, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he would get one himself!
"Tell me your function."
"This system will analyze all investment actions made by the host and determine a guaranteed return rate. No tasks are required."
Jiang Han's eyes lit up.
Guaranteed returns on investments?
As a former student of the Magic Capital University of Finance and Economics, he was well aware of how critical investment and risk assessment were. If this system could truly ensure a profitable return every time… then the world would soon be within his grasp.
At that moment—
A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Xiaohan, let's go."
An elder from the Jiang family stood nearby, watching him with sorrowful eyes.
Jiang Han blinked, snapping back to reality.
In front of the funeral hall, solemn music played, the heavy atmosphere pressing down on the grieving attendees.
Dressed in black, Jiang Han held his parents' portrait close to his chest as he led the crowd outside.
His fingers brushed over the frame, lingering over the familiar faces. If only they were still here…
At the roadside, a black Passat was already waiting.
A group of middle-aged men approached him. The one in front—an older man with deep nasolabial lines—placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed.
"No one wants to see such misfortunes, Xiaohan… But the dead are gone. You must look ahead."
Jiang Han remained silent.
Without responding, he climbed into the car. The man beside him exchanged a glance with the others before closing the door.
With a low rumble, the vehicle pulled away from the funeral hall.
As the car disappeared into the distance, the expressions of the men left behind shifted.
The grief and solemnity in their eyes vanished, replaced by something more calculating.
"Old Wu, what's our next move?"
"We need to act fast. Now that Jiang Hao is gone, Huaifeng is a sinking ship. We have to recover our investments before it's too late."
"Hmph. Reviving the company? That's a fool's dream. At this point, we should just salvage what we can before it collapses completely."
A heavy silence fell between them before another man muttered, "But what about Jiang Han? He's still the heir."
Old Wu scoffed.
"That reckless brat? He's nothing but a useless second-generation rich kid. Without his parents to back him up, he'll crumble in no time."
"Then we just need to push him a little."
A slow, knowing smirk curled on Old Wu's lips.
"Yes… We'll make sure he doesn't stand in our way."