Having been reborn and given a second life, I would never again live like a dog. I looked back toward the direction I had run from.
My lips curved upward without me realizing it, and I licked them slowly.
Once, with my hands in my pockets, no one stood a chance against me.
"That woman… that bitch who almost ruined me."
I even doubted myself a little. "Why do I go crazy over rich women like a dog goes after shit? This damn habit of mine."
"But she's definitely loaded. Driving a Porsche in this era means her family's filthy rich."
"Still, I'm starving right now." My legs were shaking so hard I could barely stand. I sighed.
I had to find a way to eat. As the saying goes, a penny can starve a hero — you either beg or starve.
"I'll start with this woman."
Using the original owner's memories, I headed to my shelter.
It was under a bridge.
The second I arrived, the stench of the isolated place hit me hard.
I stared at the mess, barely better than a stray dog's den.
Only a few tattered, moldy quilts lay on the ground. Next to them was a rusty pot caked with more grime than iron.
I couldn't help but sigh. "A man has to stand on his own two feet. This guy had arms and legs, yet he lived like a dog."
"Don't worry… since I've taken over your body, I won't let it suffer. If I have to be a dog… I'll be a rich woman's dog."
I cleaned up quickly, tossing away the trash around the quilt and several crumpled tissues that had been reused God knows how many times.
I lay quietly on the quilt and thought.
After a long while, a plan for my entire life took shape in my head: Seduce rich women… break free from my class… achieve financial freedom.
It was pretty much the only plan I had. After all, I had no other skills.
I stroked my chin. "Whatever, studying is too slow. The knowledge in my head is more than the whole world put together."
How to get my first sum of money? I touched my face and decided to start right away. I walked to the river.
Looking at my reflection, I was so dirty only my eyes and teeth were white. Grime was practically crusted over my skin.
I picked up an empty shampoo bottle someone had thrown away, filled it with river water, shook it, stripped naked, and started scrubbing.
I rubbed until my skin was almost raw, then put on the stolen clothes, shoes, and pants.
I looked at my reflection again. I was clean — not ugly, but not exactly handsome either. At 180 centimeters, I wasn't short.
Just really thin, with dark circles under my eyes, almost sunken cheeks.
I went back to the bridge. I'd still need this place for a couple more days. On the wall, someone had written a poem:
I came to this world not knowing suffering,
Half a lifetime in a mess, with nothing to my name.
Turning back to see the road I walked,
I finally understood why I cried when I was born.
With charcoal from the fire, I wrote underneath:
Only a rich woman's support ends all pain,
Feasting every night, I'll never be lonely again.
Turning back to see the road I walked,
Following a rich woman is the happiest path.
It was just the sad truth of ordinary people. When the original owner first entered society, he'd bragged about being a top-tier factory worker.
But in the end, a woman scammed him out of his money and heart.
When they broke up, she took every penny, even stole his phone and ID.
He couldn't find a job, so he ended up like this — a homeless drifter.
He was also an orphan. For me, it was a hellish starting line.
But so what? I didn't care.
What mattered was how I lived. As the saying goes: Only when a man realizes his weakness does he truly strive to become strong.
The journey is what makes life exciting. Too smooth and it's boring.
My stomach growled loudly. I lit some bamboo, pulled a hidden bread from the quilt, and ate it, saving half and stuffing it in my pocket.
I used charcoal from the fire to brush my teeth by the river until I no longer smelled.
Then a blazing light ignited in my eyes, and a wild, bright smile spread across my face.
I grinned widely, my teeth showing. "Hahaha… rich women, here I come."
Plan 1: Find a rich woman… fill my stomach.
Plan 2: Find a rich woman… get an ID.
The best way was to find a rich woman. Stealing was out of the question — get caught and I'd end up in jail.
I had to take the soft route, and make the rich woman willing.
I went back to the place where I'd met the woman that morning.
It was beneath a commercial building.
An 18-story tower. I saw her Porsche 911 still parked there.
My eyes turned sharp. I began to wait.
From day to night, from warm sunlight to dusk.
I waited until past ten o'clock at night.
Finally, the venomous woman who'd almost gotten me locked up in a mental hospital walked into my sight — my beloved rich woman.
My eyes were stinging, and I was nearly passing out from hunger.
But I'd waited long enough. I swallowed hard.
Tears pricked my eyes. "Finally, you're here. Oh my God… I almost died waiting."
She was smiling.
Her hair was slightly curled, her eyes lively.
Her red lips were like cherries, her figure graceful and alluring.
Her white dress fluttered in the wind, her aura noble and imposing.
But to me, she was just a woman — one who could fill my stomach.
The Bible of Love said: If you treat a woman like a goddess, you'll be a simp.
You'll tiptoe around her. Only by treating her like an ordinary person can you stay fearless.
I walked from her blind spot. She had already gotten into her Porsche and started the engine.
The second it revved, I sprinted as fast as I could in front of the car. "Aah! Ouch!"
A scream burst from inside the car: "Aah…!"
The moment I was "hit", I threw myself to the ground. Sophia quickly turned off the engine. My face, pressed against the ground, broke into a grin. I'd done it. I wasn't going to starve to death.
Sophia hurried out of the car and ran to me.
But she didn't help me up. Her panicked expression slowly cooled.
A soft, flustered voice came from beside me. "You… are you okay?"
I struggled to roll over — genuinely struggled. This body was so weak, I had no strength left at all.
A look of pain crossed my face, cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I whispered weakly, "I… I'm fine."
I knew perfectly well that Sophia was staring at my face in curiosity, suspicion in her eyes. She thought I was scamming her.
I used every last bit of energy to think.
I sneered inwardly: Scamming? That's too low-skilled. It insults my intelligence.
Sophia sighed in relief and reached out to help me up. "Thank goodness you're okay… thank goodness."
I took her soft, smooth little hand. So silky, I thought. If she were my wife, I'd hold it every day.
I pretended to stumble as I stood, my face full of apology.
I even added a hint of fear. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to run in front of your car."
Sophia froze, clearly not expecting me to apologize.
After a few seconds, she recovered.
She looked awkward. "Ah… I should be the one apologizing. It's just a car. As long as you're not hurt."
"Should I take you to the hospital for a check-up?"
I waved my hands so fast my vision blurred, but inwardly I sneered: Just wait. You're about to pay dearly.
I said weakly, "You're so kind… but no, no hospital. It's nothing serious. I'm fine. I should go."
I turned and left. Sophia opened her mouth to say something, then watched me stagger away. Just as she was about to get back in her car —
My eyes hardened. I fell straight backward, stiff as a board.
Sophia's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she stared at my body on the ground.
She sprinted over, patted my face, pure terror on her features.
She never thought she'd be scared twice in one day, each time worse than the last.
Through my ears, I heard her take out her latest flip phone and dial 120.
I lay motionless, muttering to myself: Damn… I almost starved to death.
She checked my breath. I immediately breathed shallowly, almost holding it entirely.
Sophia panicked and started CPR on me.
When I still didn't wake up, she had no other choice. She held my mouth — and suddenly, a fragrant scent filled my nose.
It was like the fresh spring breeze, or the gentle winter sun.
A warm, soft touch landed on my lips, like morning dew kissing a leaf.
I thought about flicking my tongue, but I couldn't move it at all. Not even a little.
Soon, I was loaded into an ambulance. I blacked out completely.
On the ambulance, the doctors called my name repeatedly but couldn't wake me. They scrambled to resuscitate me.
Maybe my body really was too weak.
I was sent straight to the ICU. I didn't know why I couldn't wake up.
The second that woman kissed me, I lost all control over my body.
Good thing I hadn't drunk anything. I would've embarrassed myself.
When I opened my eyes again,
beeping filled my ears, along with the distinct smell of hospital medicine.
My whole body ached horribly, and I groaned softly.
Movement came from beside me. The next second, Sophia's beautiful blonde face appeared above me. "Fuck…"
The word slipped out before I could stop it, but she didn't seem to care. She lit up with joy. "You… you're finally awake."
I noticed faint dark circles under her perfect eyes.
When she saw me awake, tears glistened in her eyes, but her face was full of relief.
I quickly slipped back into a weak act, my brain racing to plan my next move.
Sophia spoke to herself, "The doctor said you almost died… you scared me to death."
I sat straight up in bed. "Fuck… what? I almost died?"
I stared at her in disbelief. I'd only been pretending.
How could I have nearly died? Was this body really that starved?
Sophia stared at me, shocked. "Don't get excited. I don't know either. The doctor said you could barely breathe last night."
"Your body's extremely weak… long-term malnutrition."
She looked at me. "By the way, where's your family? Should I call them to let them know you're safe?"
I was confused. A weird thought popped into my head — no way. Lucky I'm tough.
To almost starve to death after being reborn? I'd be the laughingstock of the rebirth club.
I snapped back to my senses and smiled bitterly. "No need."
Sophia frowned. "Aren't you afraid they'll worry?"
I hung my head silently, a bitter smile on my face. I stared at the clean white hospital blanket.
My eyes were empty, like still water. I said calmly, "I'm an orphan. I have no parents."
Sophia's mouth fell open. She looked at my side profile, my lonely expression, my hollow, lifeless eyes.
She felt exactly what I wanted her to feel. The Bible of Love taught me: Women are the most motherly.
A woman's heart is soft and full of compassion. If you act pitiful enough, convincingly enough, they will help you.
Some people say women have no sympathy. That's wrong.
Everyone does — men too, just to different degrees.
And if I wanted to get my first sum of money from this woman, I had to use the character I'd built for her:
An orphan, kind and timid, too poor to eat.
Was I acting? Not really.
It was the truth.
I just knew how to use a woman's motherly instinct. All I wanted was to live a better life.
To drive the point home for Sophia, I decided to lay it on even thicker.
"Thank you, sis… you're so kind."