Chapter 3: Seven Years Ago

‘It couldn’t be wrong…’

Bai YuYang scanned his surroundings. This was undeniably his own room.

Yet, something felt different from when he had left yesterday. Had Xiao Xi tidied it up?

But that didn’t make sense. How had he ended up here? Had he passed out yesterday from drinking, work exhaustion, and immense mental stress?

If that were the case, shouldn’t he be in a hospital?

Before he could find any reasonable explanation, Bai YuXi’s trembling voice cut through his thoughts, a clear accusation.

“Waaah… Brother, you’re finally awake! You must have been having a nightmare just now. Your head was covered in a cold sweat, and I couldn’t wake you no matter how hard I tried. You looked so pained! Do you have any idea how scared I was?”

“Ah, this… Xiao Xi, be good, don’t cry. See? I’m perfectly fine.”

Bai YuXi didn’t immediately answer YuYang’s string of questions.

Her priority was to ensure her brother was truly alright, no matter what.

Her beautiful silver hair framed a face as adorable as a doll’s, making her utterly lovable. She was well-behaved, sensible, and always putting YuYang first.

She was YuYang’s treasure, the younger sister he had been proud of since childhood.

YuYang felt the dizziness he’d experienced upon waking dissipate considerably. Only after he had finally comforted Bai YuXi did he bring up the perplexing questions again.

“Xiao Xi, did you bring me home from the company yesterday? What happened after I passed out?”

“Company… What company, Brother? Are you still half-asleep?”

Bai YuXi recomposed herself, but only tilted her head in confusion at YuYang’s questions, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall against the bed’s edge.

‘Hehe… my sister is so cute.’

‘No! This isn’t the time to be thinking about that.’

“I’m talking about Kongfeng Group, of course. Ah, I know! Xiao Xi, you’re worried I’ll run off to hide at the company again, aren’t you? Don’t worry… I won’t run around recklessly anymore.”

“So what exactly are you talking about, Brother? But Kongfeng Group… I have heard of it. Isn’t that the big corporation often in the news? But what does that have to do with you?”

As she spoke, YuXi gently placed her right hand over YuYang’s.

“Hehehe… Still, Brother is so excellent. It would be a simple matter for you to join that company after you graduate from university.”

“?”

‘Am I still dreaming?’

YuYang stared at YuXi’s face in astonishment.

Now that he looked closely, did Xiao Xi seem a little younger than she had yesterday?

It was as if she had reverted to how she looked a few years ago. Though the difference wasn’t vast, as siblings who lived together day in and day out, YuYang could definitely tell.

As if to confirm something, a bewildered YuYang placed his hand on the foot of the bed, propping himself up to look beside the bed’s edge.

Sure enough, he saw a brand-new basketball.

Hadn’t that basketball been broken by him and thrown away ages ago?

“…”

Unsure what to say, YuYang asked a more practical question.

“Xiao Xi… tell me, what year and month is it today?”

“Hmm… It’s September 1st, 2021, Brother. You really are confused from sleep.”

Bai YuYang was stunned into silence.

But the shock lasted only a moment.

Bai YuYang was an exceptional, even near-genius, individual.

He marshaled all his emotions, forcing himself to calm down.

Then he picked up the phone from his bedside table. It was indeed the model he had used years ago.

‘Wow… My old phone, you’ve actually come back to life. How moving.’

After all, YuYang was a miser… ahem, someone who cherished his possessions.

He checked the time on the phone, and it was exactly as Xiao Xi had said.

Yet, in YuYang’s memory, the year was 2028.

‘So this means I’ve returned seven years into the past, right?’

“Brother, hurry and wake up! How can you be so muddled on the first day of school? From today onward, you’re a second-year high school student.”

‘Wow… this feeling is truly surreal.’

YuYang wasn’t just struggling to accept his current situation; sitting against the wall on his bed, he could only manage a wry smile.

Regardless, his sister was truly adorable.

Xiao Xi was currently wearing her school uniform, predominantly black, with a large pink bow over her gently rising chest. The uniform was adorned with numerous white satin ribbons, and the voluminous skirt fell above her knees.

Paired with pure white over-the-knee socks on her slender calves, the entire ensemble complemented her perfectly.

‘Ah… I never thought I’d get to see Xiao Xi in her school uniform again. What nostalgia.’

YuYang looked at her with pure indulgence, a look of admiration and unreserved affection.

‘In these bewildering days… only my sister can truly heal me.’

However, his gaze made Bai YuXi a little self-conscious.

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she averted her sapphire-like eyes.

“Brother… don’t you have anything to say?” she suddenly asked.

“Say what? Hmm, Xiao Xi is very cute.”

“Not that! Though that’s important too…” YuXi puffed out her cheeks indignantly, seemingly expressing her displeasure.

“Brother! Today is your precious sister’s first day of high school! Don’t you want to say something about that?”

“…”

‘So, this feeling is truly strange.’

‘In my memory… you’re almost graduating from university.’

‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’

This was YuYang’s life motto.

He suppressed his urge to complain and, in his calmest state, expressed his heartfelt wishes.

“Hmm, Xiao Xi, that school uniform suits you very well. Brother wishes you three happy and meaningful years in high school. And most importantly, don’t let your grades slip.”

“Why do you sound so mature all of a sudden, Brother? You’re only in your second year of high school yourself, but you’re talking as if you’ve already graduated.”

‘My silly sister, not only have I graduated from high school, but I’ve even finished university.’

‘If I told her all this… she certainly wouldn’t believe it.’

Bai YuXi smiled almost imperceptibly when YuYang wasn’t looking.

Then she turned and deliberately spun around, seemingly inviting YuYang to admire her figure.

“Alright, then I’ll listen to Brother’s words. I hope high school life goes smoothly! Brother, hurry up and get ready. We’re leaving soon. If we miss the opening ceremony on the very first day, I’ll cry!”

“You’d better not cry. If you cry, I won’t be able to comfort you.”

“Hmph, then I’ll just cling to you! Alright, Brother, I’ll wait for you outside. Hurry and change your clothes.”

“Okay.”

After YuXi left the room and closed the door.

YuYang still found it hard to believe the current situation.

But when he opened his phone’s contact list and found that all his familiar old numbers were gone, the reality struck him again: this truly was seven years ago.

He had really returned.

If he had returned, could he change many things?

YuYang analyzed calmly.

He might need to confirm if anyone else had returned with memories of the past. Besides that, many other things needed confirmation.

No more waiting.

He rolled out of bed, preparing to change out of his pajamas and into the school uniform neatly folded on his bedside table. Xiao Xi must have folded and brought it over… how thoughtful.

But before he could change, he heard a rapid knocking sound from the living room.

And that familiar, exceptionally loud yet not harsh, and somewhat pleasant voice.

“Bai YuYang! Bai YuXi! You two silly siblings, check the time! What time is it, and you’re still not out?! Open the door for me!”