Chapter 1 (1/2)

Virtual Evolution Chapter 1: Born Again? No crossing

China.

Southern Jaingsu, WX.

8 AM.

Situated on the outskirts of the city, within a certain district of a certain house of a certain bedroom, as the alarm rang, a young man grumbled, sitting up, “Why don’t I remember setting up an alarm clock? And such an vintage sound too… ” Despite his constant complaining, the drowsiness he felt started to wane as he stood.

This young man was named Le Yuan, and he lived alone since he was sixteen after his parents died in a traffic accident; there were no relatives around to take him in. His blood relatives aimed to deceive him and take his property. Fortunately, before his parent’s death, they managed to save and pay for insurance which was enough to settle the cost of living, especially adding the fact that Le Yuan did not splurge much on anything.  And in spite being in high school at the time, he at least learned a thing or two on how to survive by himself.

As a result of his parent’s pa.s.sing, day by day, Le Yuan began to become more withdrawn; lonely. He had almost no friends, and spent most of his time watching shows, anime, and reading novels. After graduation, Le Yuan still had millions from what his parents had left him. Instead of going out and working, Le Yuan just stayed at home.

“On today’s schedule, don’t forget to finish reading that new fan from last night, and I have to update the novel too,” Le Yuan said sheepishly as he rubbed his eyes, and prepared to wash up.

But as he entered the bathroom, with one look in the mirror, any bit of drowsiness that he had had vanished. And that was because, in the mirror, instead of a face of that of a young man, the age of sixteen to seventeen year old face stared back at him. This was not an adult’s face. This was a teenager’s.

Le Yuan blinked, scratched his hair, pinched his cheeks, and moved his tongue round and round , but no matter what he did, every action he took was mirrored. He let out sounds whether it was surprise or wonder,“rest! You need rest.” And then he began to curse, and continued to pinch his face, but nothing. There was no difference.. Not believing this, he pulled his hair, and punched himself. It was soon he noticed something… The face in the mirror, was it not exactly his face when he was younger?

Realizing this, Le Yuan reacted immediately and ran to the living room looking everywhere for a calendar, and when he found one, the date said July 17th, 2010.

I’ve gone back? Le Yuan sat quietly on the sofa stunned. Ten years, if I read it right. I’ve gone back a decade… What am I going to do now?

Why wasn’t it earlier? If it was six months earlier, no, as long as it was three months, I could have found a way to gain the trust of my parents and save them from that tragedy.

Should I buy a lottery ticket? No, I only remember the occasional winning numbers but not the time they were placed.

How about s...o...b..z? No, I have no background or the capital to get into it. Singing.  Le Yuan was pretty handsome, but not at idol level, and he did not have the vocals for it. That, and making a one of those famous comics was just too hard. All he could do was stick figures at best.

Seems I can only rely on becoming a web novelist. On the other hand, when I worked as a web novelist before there was just disappointment, only ending up as a third-rate writer. I wrote some books that were signed, but they did not do well.