At eight in the evening, the deep night enveloped the sea, with a full moon suspended directly overhead.
The Ocean Anthem sailed through the vast ocean, its lively atmosphere starkly at odds with the sea's profound silence. A gentle sea breeze caused the cruise ship to rise and fall, as waves crashed against the luxurious vessel, propelling it further into the distance.
Brilliantly lit and steeped in decadence, the lower deck, in particular, seemed coated in a dazzling golden sheen, the air thick with the scent of money. The power games of high society burned brightly onboard.
Rock music, amplified by alcohol, filled the air with a boisterous din. In the center of the dance floor, men and women uninhibitedly displayed their graceful moves, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
Shen Muyun jolted awake, his consciousness suddenly snapping back. A powerful shove from behind instantly threw him off balance, leaving half of his body suspended in mid-air.
He cursed under his breath: "Damn, was I dreaming? Where is this? Starting with death? What kind of cursed luck is this? No, this place..." He felt a wave of dizziness and discomfort as he surveyed his surroundings.
Time seemed to freeze. People on the deck pointed and stared, their gazes burning with curiosity, all fixed on him as if watching some bizarre spectacle. More often than not, their faces twisted into ugly, gloating smiles.
The crowd erupted into a clamor, buzzing with gossip.
"See, I told you all along—Second Young Master Shen is no good. This is what they call 'the wicked get what they deserve.' He's always been arrogant and bullying. Look at him now, like a dog begging for help."
"His reputation has long been known throughout Jiangcheng. Few dare to provoke him here. You'd better watch your mouth. If he hears you, who knows what revenge he might take?"
"Tsk, he's brought this on himself by messing with the young master of the Zhou family. He had it coming! Of all people, why provoke someone like that? And did you know? Just a few days ago, he offended the young lady of the Lu family. Now, this is going to be quite a show."
The onlookers watched with gleeful malice, not a single one willing to lend a hand. They whispered among themselves, enjoying the unfolding drama.
He had only one thought: I cannot die. Absolutely not. These people will get what's coming to them. Besides, I haven't lived enough yet.
A white flash crossed his eyes, and memories flooded his mind. Just moments ago, he had finished an experiment and was preparing to rest. Now, words like "cruise ship," "falling into the water," and "party" all crowded into his brain. The moment his body hit the water, the icy shock gave him goosebumps, instantly jolting him awake. A voice automatically echoed in his mind.
"Ding dong! Welcome, lucky contestant number 1,314—oops, I mean, host. You are now the esteemed Second Young Master Shen. The system indicates that you have a sinister and eccentric personality, which is why no one is helping you. Being ostracized by the wealthy is just part of your daily life. Heaven's chosen, do your best to survive!"
"Wait! Who are you?"
Shen Muyun reached out, trying to grasp something, but his hand closed around empty air. To make matters worse, in that instant, icy pool water rushed into his mouth. The taste of chlorine mixed with the scent of hormones instantly overwhelmed his senses.
Memories of his past life made his head throb with pain, while the memories of his current body brought him to full awareness. In an instant, he recalled exactly what had happened.
In his previous life, he had lived to the age of 32, a seasoned office drone. In the eyes of others, he was a prodigy—an accelerated-degree Ph.D. who had entered the laboratory during his undergraduate years. His latest paper was published in the top-tier journal Nature, and at just 32, he became the youngest associate professor at Jiangcheng University. Basking in praise and applause, he enjoyed endless glory.
The events of his past life flashed before his eyes like a kaleidoscope. He had just finished his latest experiment and was about to fill out the experimental report.
He was confident—after all, he held absolute authority in academia. If this project went smoothly, he could apply for this year's Natural Science Foundation grant. If everything went according to plan, he could become a full professor within five years—an achievement others could only envy. By then, his work on quantum symmetry breaking in theoretical physics would stand as a testament to his efforts.
But such a significant discovery seemed to have attracted the envy of fate. While filling out the experimental report, he suddenly felt a palpitation, his heart pounding violently, followed by excruciating pain. His soul was forcibly torn from his body—cardiac arrest, the most common cause of premature death among young people.
He even witnessed the entire process of others trying to save him. A crowd gathered around, grief-stricken and sighing in regret.
His elderly parents knelt over his body, witnessing the tragedy of parents burying their child. He wanted to comfort them but found his fingers passing straight through the mourners—he had already become a spirit, powerless to change anything. Then, a flash of white light transported him to this damned place.
Shen Muyun struggled desperately in the water. Though he knew how to swim from his previous life, this body refused to obey. The original host's weakness had been transferred to him. After weighing his options, he decided that pride meant nothing—survival was paramount. He resorted to dog-paddling, inching his way toward the edge of the pool.
He thought to himself: Since these people enjoy watching a joke, I'll give them a show. In this life, I'll live as I please. Since I've been thrown here inexplicably, no matter what I was like before, I'll make sure they remember me.
Shen Muyun continued to struggle, inadvertently gulping down several mouthfuls of pool water. His face turned red from suffocation as he squinted up at the crowd on the deck, who were clearly enjoying the spectacle. They laughed heartily, as if the situation couldn't be more entertaining.
Seeing Shen Muyun's state, the people on the deck grew even more excited, starting a new betting pool on whether he would perish in the water. The stakes were surprisingly high.
"I say he'll last ten minutes at most. Any longer, and with his sickly appearance, he might just die in there. The Shen family would be rid of a pest. It'd be his just deserts."
"The Shen family is cursed. The eldest son is so outstanding, but luck balances out. While the eldest is worry-free, the second son is clearly a handful."
"Is no one going to save him? It'd be terrible if someone died. How about we bet? If he makes it out alive, I'll write my name upside down. If I can't, I'll pay 100,000!"
"What kind of bet is that? I'll wager 200,000 that he makes it ashore. Place your bets now! You're all witnesses—no backing out later, understood?"
Shen Muyun gritted his teeth, memorizing every word. He categorized those with sympathy in one group, while those who coldly enjoyed his misfortune would pay sooner or later. But he had to admit, this body was truly weak. In just a few minutes, his lungs felt drained, and he could even hear gurgling. He refused to die, refused to let tonight be his last. He hadn't had enough of this feeling yet.
Suppressing his discomfort, he mustered all his strength. Finally, his fingertips touched the edge of the deck. Seizing the opportunity, he took a few shallow breaths, feeling his lungs gradually fill with air. A sense of relief washed over him. He would make those who laughed at him pay the price.
The people on the shore, seeing his struggle, lost some of their earlier mockery. They scattered, afraid to be involved, some even losing their shoes in their haste.
"Look, the Shen family must be blessed. Despite being a sickly runt, the second young master managed to climb out of the water on his own."
"Exactly! You should have some decency. Who was it earlier, talking nonsense about him? See, he made it! Besides, Young Master Zhou was just joking—he wouldn't let someone die. The cruise ship lifeguards were waiting anyway. It was all just a joke!"
"What do you mean? You were the one who started this! Weren't you the one who proposed the bet? Don't try to deny it. Who should take responsibility?"
"Right, who said he wouldn't make it? That's 200,000 on the line. Everyone who witnessed it, transfer the money—no backing out now!"
The people on the shore kept chattering. Shen Muyun finally gripped the edge of the deck, gasping for air. The air was cool, but the deck's edge was slippery and wet. He needed to get ashore quickly. Pushing off the pool wall, he found it too slick to gain traction. His first attempt even pushed him backward. Clenching his teeth, Shen Muyun mustered all the strength this body could offer, kicked hard against the wall, and hauled himself onto the deck.
Seeing the crowd's reactions, Shen Muyun curled his lips into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His slanted phoenix eyes narrowed further into slits. This version of Shen Muyun was not the one they were familiar with. Since they showed no mercy, he would not hold back either.
Shen Muyun sat on the edge of the deck, collecting himself and catching his breath. His heart raced violently—this body was indeed frail and needed careful nurturing. He shook his head, scattering water droplets around him, and scanned his surroundings gloomily.
He walked straight toward the person who had pushed him into the water. With a sharp "Smack!" the man's cheek turned red, and five finger marks instantly appeared on his pale skin, standing out vividly against the swelling.
The air froze. The previously cheerful crowd fell silent, and a wave of whispers erupted from the onlookers.
Drawing on the original host's memories, Shen Muyun recalled that this man was Zhou Shiqing, the young master of the Zhou family. The two had been rivals since childhood. Zhou Shiqing, relying on his status as the eldest son of the Zhou family, always believed his family's influence would one day surpass the Shen family's. Now, their feud had escalated.
"Shen Muyun, who do you think you are! How dare you hit me! The Zhou family will not let this slide! Shen Muyun, you will pay for this! Who do you think you are, daring to challenge me?"
From Shen Muyun's memories, Zhou Shiqing was nothing special—just a longtime rival. The original host had been too weak. It was time to show them what a truly sinister and scheming young master looked like.
Seeing Zhou Shiqing's blustering attitude, Shen Muyun sneered coldly. "You? What are you? And what is the Zhou family? Oh, right, I remember now—that nouveau riche family that made a fortune through speculation a few years ago and climbed into high society. A small-time, no-account family. You bullied others as a child, and now you're trying to kill?"
"You!" Zhou Shiqing bristled angrily, reaching for Shen Muyun's collar. But being half a head shorter, he missed entirely.
" 'You' what? Worthless trash." Shen Muyun dodged smoothly, nearly sending Zhou Shiqing tumbling into the pool.
This spectacle quickly stole the show from the deck party, potentially making tomorrow's headlines. The crowd watched the confrontation with keen interest, occasionally spotting camera flashes—likely from paparazzi lurking in the shadows, capturing the drama of high society.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Weren't you all saying Young Master Zhou was more formidable? Look at how pathetic he is now."
"Doesn't Second Young Master Shen seem different? He was always a bit gloomy, but I've never seen him this ruthless."
"Simple. He's been pushed too far. If Second Young Master Shen hadn't held on earlier, who knows... Tsk, tsk... It's hard to say."
Shen Muyun glanced at the red wine on the table. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked over, picked up a bottle, and examined the label. "Three million? The Shen family can cover that."
With a "Thud!" crimson wine splattered everywhere, mixed with shards of glass. The cork bounced off the table corner and rolled under the table. The exquisite wooden tabletop bore slight scratches, and the air filled with the enticing aroma of wine. The tablecloth was stained a deep shade, crumpled and soaked.
In the eyes of the crowd, Shen Muyun was an eccentric figure. Seeing his dark expression, they quickly parted, making way for him. Those with sense waited to see if another act of the drama would unfold. Meanwhile, paparazzi openly appeared on the upper deck, some even whistling—this was a golden chance to snap exclusive shots.
Before Zhou Shiqing could react, he felt a sharp object graze his neck, followed by a stinging pain. Warm liquid trickled down his neck, staining his white shirt.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me? Shen Muyun, have you lost your mind?"
Shen Muyun smirked coldly, pressing the broken bottle's sharp edge against Zhou Shiqing's throat. "Who do you think you are, daring to bully me?"