Morning sunlight poured through the sheer curtains of the luxurious house Hubert had arranged. Arthur opened his eyes, not to the squeaky fan and old wooden walls of his past life, but to the gentle hum of air conditioning and the scent of fresh sheets.
'So this is my new beginning… again,' he thought as he sat up.
Arthur quickly dressed in a casual yet expensive outfit,a crisp polo, tailored slacks, and loafers that probably cost more than what his parents in his past life earned in a month. He checked his reflection in the mirror,his youthful face, clear skin, and sharp features now carried a quiet confidence.
He walked out of the house, where Hubert was waiting beside the Rolls Royce.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you to the university, Young Master?" Hubert asked, concerned.
"No need, Hubert," Arthur said with a smirk. "I want to blend in, remember? I'll call for a Grab. Also, no more 'Young Master' while I'm here. Just call me Arthur."
Hubert hesitated, but nodded. "Understood… Arthur."
Arthur booked a ride to the university, the same university he had once dreamed of attending in his past life, but could never afford. Now, he was not only attending,it was under the name of one of the richest families in the country.
As he arrived at the gates, students in uniforms and modern outfits bustled in. Arthur stepped out of the car and into his second shot at life. Some eyes turned toward him,he was dressed too sharply to go unnoticed.
'Let the game begin,' Arthur whispered in his mind.
He passed through the university halls, walking confidently. Gone was the slacker Jom who wasted his life. Arthur was here with purpose,to dominate.
At the administration building, he handed over his ID. The staff immediately recognized the name and treated him with the utmost respect.
"Arthur Landaire? Ah, yes! We've been expecting you. Here is your class schedule, and your student ID has already been prepared," the secretary said with a smile that was both polite and slightly nervous.
'This family name really is powerful,' Arthur thought. 'I need to use this influence carefully.'
After settling in, he made his way to the dormitory. It wasn't anything like the ratty boarding rooms he had imagined. It was a premium wing of the campus reserved for "special donors",modern, sleek, and even had its own mini-gym and lounge.
He unpacked quickly and sat on the bed.
"I'm not here to enjoy," he told himself. "I'm here to change fate."
His first class was Economics,a topic he once hated, but now found deeply important. As he walked into the lecture room, the professor took notice.
"You must be the Landaire heir," the professor said, not bothering to hide it. "Take any seat you'd like."
Arthur nodded, walking calmly as whispers erupted around him.
"Isn't that the Landaire kid?"
"He's in our class? Damn…"
"I heard their family owns half of the city's high rises."
Arthur sat in the middle row and opened his pristine notebook. He wasn't here to just coast through. He was here to learn, to evolve, and to build something greater than before.
After the class, he walked to the courtyard where students lounged around. He took a seat alone, observing.
'Connections. Influence. Power. It all starts here,' he thought.
Just then, a tall, athletic-looking student walked over. "Yo. Arthur, right? I'm Diego. We were in the same class just now. Wanna grab lunch?"
Arthur looked at him, scanning for intention. But Diego looked sincere.
"Sure," Arthur replied. "Let's eat."
As they walked to the cafeteria, Diego laughed, "Man, I didn't expect someone like you to be so chill. You're kinda famous already."
Arthur smirked. "Famous for being born with the right name, maybe. But let's see if I can earn something more than that."
Diego raised a brow but said nothing.
Arthur's new life was just beginning,but this time, he wouldn't waste it.
They found a quiet corner of the cafeteria where the noise faded into a dull hum. Diego pointed out students who were children of CEOs, diplomats, and celebrities. Arthur listened silently, noting faces and names.
"That's Mia over there," Diego said, subtly gesturing to a girl sitting with a group. "She's the daughter of a senator. Smart, but cold. Real competition in academics."
Arthur's gaze lingered on her briefly. Her aura stood out. Refined, intelligent, focused. He made a mental note.
"How about you, Diego? What's your story?" Arthur asked, sipping his drink.
Diego grinned. "My dad owns a couple of car dealerships. Not as crazy as your family, but enough to get me in here. I play basketball too. Might go pro, who knows?"
Arthur nodded. "Keep at it. It's not always about money. Drive matters."
Diego looked surprised, but his smile widened. "You talk different, man. Most rich kids I met are all about flexing. You talk like you came from the bottom."
Arthur chuckled. "Maybe I did. In another life."
After lunch, Arthur explored the campus on his own. Memories of his old self surfaced with every hallway and classroom. The past was still a part of him, but it no longer defined him.
He stopped by the university bulletin board, eyeing the clubs and activities posted there. Debate team. Business society. Coding club. He tore a few tabs and stuffed them into his pocket.
"Might as well get involved," he muttered.
Back in his dorm later that evening, he received a message on his new phone.
Father: _"Have you enrolled in all required classes? I expect no delays."
Arthur replied swiftly: "Yes, Father. Everything is in order. I will make you proud."
He tossed the phone aside and stared at the ceiling. There was pressure,tons of it. But it didn't scare him.
It motivated him.
A notification pinged.
Mia A.: _"Hi. You're Arthur Landaire, right? I heard you joined the econ class today. You seemed... different."
Arthur raised a brow.
Arthur: _"Depends. Different good or different bad?"
Mia A.: _"Different interesting. Want to join the business society? We have a meeting tomorrow."
Arthur smiled. Things were falling into place.
Arthur: _"Sure. I'll be there."
Tomorrow was a new day. And Arthur Landaire was just getting started.