Chapter 2: Giving Up Midway—Did You Think There's a Progress Bar Above Your Head?

As the incoming call notification appeared on his phone, a cold glint of murderous intent flickered in Chen Luo’s eyes.

“Tang. Xi. Wei.” He pronounced each syllable with icy clarity, his words dripping with bone-deep hatred.

In his previous life, he had died at the hands of this woman—this manipulative schemer, who feigned innocence while hiding her true colors.

It had all begun when, as a college freshman, Chen Luo fell hopelessly in love with Tang Xiwei at first sight, embarking on a decade-long saga of unrequited devotion. Looking back, he could scarcely believe how obsessed he had been, clinging to thoughts of her for so many years. He worked tirelessly just to earn money for her, spending every cent he could spare on gifts. Yet her appetite only grew—every disagreement, every refusal to indulge her whims, resulted in threats of a breakup, driving Chen Luo to start his own business in desperation.

Luckily, he caught the wave of the burgeoning e-commerce industry. Through relentless toil, he built his company from scratch, amassing assets worth tens of millions within four or five years. Only then did Tang Xiwei finally agree to marry him after his hard-won success, but the happiness was short-lived.

After their wedding, Chen Luo’s health rapidly declined; before long, he showed signs of kidney failure. One day, returning home unexpectedly, he discovered Tang Xiwei in the midst of an affair with another man. Enraged, he tried to confront the adulterer, but his illness flared up, and he collapsed to the floor, paralyzed.

Tang Xiwei approached, looking down at him from above with a cold, mocking gaze.

“Darling, you love me so much—why can’t you just give me your entire company?” she sneered. “Oh, don’t get upset. Didn’t you say you’d forgive anything I did? I just wanted another, younger husband, that’s all. I only slipped a little poison into your food for a few years—surely you can forgive that too, right?”

“Don’t worry. After you’re gone, I’ll make sure the hospital records your death as acute kidney failure. Then your company, your fortune—they’ll all belong to me.”

“Thank you for keeping your promise. You really did give me everything—even your life.”

With that, she pulled the young man—whose face was now ashen with fear—into a passionate kiss.

Chen Luo could no longer speak; he could only glare up at Tang Xiwei with eyes full of venom and resentment. Even in death, he wished he could become a vengeful spirit and tear her to pieces—yet there was nothing he could do, and within moments, his life slipped away.

As darkness utterly consumed his consciousness, a sudden ray of light pierced through the void.

Chen Luo opened his eyes once more, finding himself at the very scene where he had first confessed his feelings to Tang Xiwei. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of his previous life, he handed the bouquet of flowers to Wen Wan, a complete stranger to him then.

Suppressing the raging storm within, he answered the call. On the other end, Tang Xiwei’s furious voice exploded.

“Chen Luo! What’s the meaning of this? Why did you give the flowers to someone else in front of everyone?”

“Why do you guys always give up halfway through the chase? Can’t you show a little patience and persistence?”

“You’d better buy me the latest Dior lipstick to make it up to me—the most expensive shade! Or I won’t talk to you for a whole month!”

Her words rattled off like machine-gun fire, but all she got in response was silence.

“Chen Luo! Say something! Are you mute?”

“Tang Xiwei, just shut up.”

“What? What did you say?” Her hand trembled as she gripped the phone, stunned into silence.

“Giving up halfway—you think there’s a progress bar above your head or something?”

“Remember this, Tang Xiwei: having too high an opinion of yourself is an early symptom of idiocy. Be sure to take your medication and don’t stop the treatment.”

Tang Xiwei was nearly driven mad with rage, just about to unleash a furious tirade—

But the line went dead, the busy signal echoing in her ear, making her anger boil over and turn inward.

As he hung up, a faint smile curled at the corner of Chen Luo’s mouth. This was only the beginning. He would make her suffer, torment her slowly, make her wish for death before he was done—only then could he repay the hatred of his past life.

But for now, what mattered most was to clear his mind after his rebirth and carefully plan his next steps. If he could build a multi-million-dollar fortune from nothing in his previous life, surely, with his knowledge and the advantage of foresight—even if the e-commerce boom had not yet arrived—he could earn even more this time.

Still, he needed to confirm whether the present circumstances matched his memories exactly.

Lost in thought about his future plans, Chen Luo slowly made his way toward the school, unaware that not far away, a capable and agile young woman was secretly watching his every move.

As soon as he hung up, she quickly took out her phone and sent a text message:

[Miss, Chen Luo just received a call from Tang Xiwei. The phone tap hasn’t been installed yet, so I couldn’t catch the content of their conversation.]

...

Hangzhou, Imperial View Gardens.

This was the city’s most exclusive villa district, frequented only by Hangzhou’s most powerful and influential figures. Everyone who passed through—even the wealthiest and most privileged—looked with awe and respect at the mansion on the easternmost side.

“They say the sixth young lady of the Wen family has really come to Hangzhou. I suspect the city is about to see some waves.”

“Why do you say that? Isn’t she just a girl barely in her twenties?”

“Hush—do you have a death wish? This sixth lady is no ordinary person. At sixteen, she was already running a company worth billions in the capital. Her methods are swift and ruthless—she’s flattened several rival firms and is considered the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Wen family.”

“She’s also famously beautiful. If only my son could marry her, our family would soar to new heights!”

“Your son? Dream on. What puzzles me is why someone like her would come to Hangzhou University to be a finance lecturer. Is the Wen family planning to move into the education sector?”

...

At that moment, Wen Wan sat before her dressing table, eyes closed, wearing a blazing red gown as her assistant carefully applied her makeup.

“Miss, Fifth Young Master has arrived—he’s waiting in the downstairs parlor,” the assistant murmured, glancing at Wen Wan’s reflection.

She had only seen Wen Wan wear this fiery red dress three times. Every time she did, it meant someone would be utterly ruined—reputation destroyed, family in shambles.

It seemed today’s negotiation with the Fifth Young Master would be anything but amicable. Who knew what kind of thrilling business duel awaited?

As the assistant pondered, Wen Wan’s phone vibrated softly. She checked the message and slowly rose to her feet.

“Chen Luo, you actually took that woman’s call? Restless as ever. Have you forgotten—you already belong to me?”

“It seems I’ll have to keep you even closer by my side.”

She reached for a red collar on the dressing table, a gleaming gold chain attached.

The assistant stammered, “Miss, your makeup isn’t finished.”

“No time—I’m in a hurry!” Wen Wan declared, striding purposefully downstairs.