In the springtime of May, the breeze gently flowed through the port of Southampton, the very place where the Titanic began its fateful journey. It continued along the channel, heading towards the vast and profound English Sea. On the charming and well-kept Town Quay, people bustled about, despite it not being summer yet. The area was alive with the vibrant energy of young women in miniskirts.
Julian, also known as Gu Ran(Chinese name), found himself outside a Costa coffee shop at the quay's corner. His gaze was transfixed on the reflective glass, not paying attention to the flirty miniskirts or the blond couple inside the café engaged in ventriloquism. Instead, he was lost in his own reflection, taking in his youthful and handsome, yet confused visage.
Julian pulled out his iPhone 4 to check the date and time. It read 2010 May 20, 11:38 AM. Could it be that he had been reborn like Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, and transported back to the time when he was a high school student in the UK? His last recollection was from November 11, 2022, watching his golf friends surprisingly beat the Guoan team in a local match, followed by a night of celebratory drinking.
The suddenness of his situation overwhelmed him, but he felt a glimmer of excitement. A fan of online reincarnation stories, Julian had often wondered if he would ever get the chance to live a second life. Now, standing in Southampton's familiar seaside air, he had earned at least 12 more years of youth.
As he tried to compose himself, his iPhone 4 rang. The caller ID displayed "Sophie Turner." Julian furrowed his brow, recalling a past memory. Sophie was his classmate and landlord's daughter from his UK student days. Known for her charm, intelligence, and burgeoning acting talent, she was the star of their school's drama club.
Before his rebirth, Julian had no idea that Sophie would become a global sensation, playing "Sansa Stark" in the hit TV show "Game of Thrones." Her exceptional acting skills would make her a world-class celebrity.
Prior to his rebirth, Julian was unaware that Sophie would achieve global stardom in the future.
During that period, Julian was a typical academically-focused individual, with his main objective being to gain admission into the University of Southampton.
He didn't really keep tabs on the landlord's attractive daughter once she started her filming career. It was only a few years later, when he saw "A Song of Ice and Fire" that he recognized having encountered a future celebrity in passing...
Julian cleared his throat before answering the phone.
"Good afternoon..."
However, Sophie's voice on the line was less than pleased. "What's with the smug greeting? You've been lurking outside the café for five minutes! Do you want the entire school to mock me for having such a clueless boyfriend?"
Julian paused to consider her words.
It was true that in his past life, he had agreed to a "relationship" with Sophie for a brief month. This was a mutually beneficial agreement; she sought his help to ward off overzealous admirers by pretending they were together, and in return, she promised to assist him with his English poetry and accent when she had the opportunity.
This café was the setting for their first public outing together, which was a part of the ruse. However, their arrangement ended shortly after Sophie received an opportunity to audition for "Game of Thrones" and her subsequent departure from school.
Julian felt a bit overwhelmed by her outburst but knew he had to respect their agreement. "Okay," he said calmly.
Having hung up, he observed that she had quite the temper. With a helpless smile, he collected himself and walked into the café.
The café was dimly lit, with the scent of roasting coffee beans filling the air. The "Titanic" theme song played softly, creating a romantic ambiance.
As Julian searched for his "girlfriend," he failed to notice a waitress approaching with a tray of coffee. She was focused solely on balancing the cups and didn't see him standing in the aisle.
The inevitable collision occurred, and while Julian swiftly steadied the tray, the coffee cups fell to the floor, spilling their contents everywhere.
"I'm sorry, sir," she said quickly.
"It's fine," Julian replied automatically, and was then surprised by an unexpected system notification.
"Feeling 38 negative emotions from Tina Simpson, bubbles are forming..."
Tina was the waitress? Julian found it hard to believe that the courteous and apologetic server was harboring such resentment.
Indeed, the coffee had been spilled, necessitating the cleanup of the floor and the preparation of a fresh cup. Should the situation not improve, I would likely receive encouragement from patrons and a firm talking-to from my superior. Furthermore, there are additional considerations!
A bubble?
???
Julian's heart raced as he realized a dark-lit bubble had appeared beneath the adversary's feet at some point. This bubble was approximately [-] centimeters in diameter. Upon closer observation, he noted that neither the waiter, busy with the mess on the floor, nor the other onlookers displayed any astonishment.
Could it be that only I can see this phenomenon?
Julian approached the bubble calmly and extended his foot to make contact.
Upon contact with the gray bubble, it shattered instantly and transformed into a beam of light, which then integrated with Julian's being.
"The host has acquired the skill from the damaged bubble: Hand Punch +1. Today's acquisition progress is 1/10."
Julian felt a peculiar sensation as he absorbed the new knowledge: the ability to handle mixed drinks for an hour without his hands becoming tired.
Julian: "..."
This is the skill I get for not having sore hands? It seems like a stretch for something to be considered a skill, especially if I'm not planning to work in a coffee shop.
"Julian, over here! What are you doing just standing there?"
Sophie Turner, a 16-year-old girl of notable beauty with blonde hair and blue eyes, called out to him. Despite her young age, she stood tall at 175 centimeters and had a well-proportioned figure. The only aspect of her appearance that might be considered less than ideal was the modest size of her chest.
Sophie had dressed up for a date, with a touch of makeup that highlighted her youthful features. As she stood, her A-line skirt and long legs added to her allure at the coffee shop.
Currently, Sophie had her slender arms wrapped around her chest, while the delicate features of her face, which typically radiated a youthful appeal, were instead clouded with a noticeable expression of discontent.
"Detecting 17 units of negative sentiment from Sophie Turner, generating system bubbles..."
Julian, who believed his actions were inconsequential, was taken aback for a brief moment. He quickly approached her with a puzzled look, covering the five-meter distance between them.
The cluster of bubbles before him retreated.