"Can life truly start over?And if it does… will it really change?"
Hao sat on the wooden bench in the pavilion, the questions swirling endlessly in his mind.The breeze carried the lively chatter from the cafeteria, but he felt disconnected, as if sealed off from the noisy world around him.His mind was consumed with these questions about fate and the possibility of change.Having been reborn at the age of seven, was he lucky, or was he destined to repeat the same path again?
A subtle struggle rose within him.If he could start over, could he truly change the missed opportunities, take a better path?But soon, he found himself wondering—every decision in life came with a price.If he altered the past, what might he lose in return?
Hao closed his eyes, fell into silence for a moment, and then stood up.He walked toward the far end of the campus, seeking to clear his thoughts with the rhythm of his steps.
Reaching the basketball court, Hao paused. He looked at the group of classmates playing basketball, their laughter and carefree spirits filling the air.These faces, he would come to know again, but at this moment, they were still strangers to him.He imagined their fates, wondering if his small decisions would change them.
The sense of unease in his chest grew stronger. It felt as though an invisible hand was guiding him toward a future he couldn't avoid.But could he truly control any of this?He hesitated, standing at the edge of the court, watching the kids playing without a care in the world.Perhaps the point of this second chance was that—every choice would lead to a different outcome.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice broke through:"Hao, what are you doing here?"
It was Da Tou, approaching him with a naive smile."Didn't you just finish lunch? Why are you over here?"
Looking at Da Tou, Hao couldn't help but feel a rush of emotion.Could this really be the same Da Tou who would spend his later years lost in bars?
He lowered his gaze and replied softly, "Just needed a walk.""Oh," Da Tou didn't quite get it but quickly bounced off toward the game again.
Hao remained where he was, the clarity growing in his heart—This time, he didn't want to miss any opportunity to change his fate.But when would he make his first real choice?
Back in the classroom, Hao took his seat in the corner and silently opened his textbook.Today, he knew, would be different.Though he couldn't fully grasp how much change he could create yet, he knew one thing—he would no longer let life pass him by.Each page of the textbook seemed to remind him:This was a new beginning, and the fate of it was in his hands.