Chapter One: Who Would Want a Son Like You?!

In the noisy hospital room, Li Shixin gazed hazily at the incandescent lamp on the ceiling. He still could hardly believe what had happened to him. Once a proud idol trainee, he had somehow crossed over into the body of a man in his sixties. Judging by the looks of it, this old man’s time was nearly up—his oil was spent, his lamp flickering, with only a handful of days left.

He felt a wave of grievance crash over him. Other people who woke up in new worlds became rich heirs or hidden geniuses posing as fools. He, who had never hurt or cheated anyone, who had always worked hard at singing, dancing, and playing basketball—how could he be so unlucky as to get hit by a car and end up in such a dismal situation?

A sharp pain throbbed in his mind. Memories belonging to the elderly man’s body were flooding into his brain. From early childhood, all the precious fragments of a life replayed like a film fast-forwarded several times over: the friendships of youth, the love of adulthood, that rustic yet lively wedding, the applause beneath the stage when he joined the drama troupe, friends supporting each other through hard times... The birth of two little lives, the reluctant tears when his wife passed away, the bitter effort of raising two children into adults with families and careers of their own—decades slipping by in a flash.

After his daughter moved abroad for work in recent years, his relationship with his son grew increasingly distant. Gradually, all that remained in his life was endless, suffocating loneliness. Calligraphy, painting, opera, chess... those pastimes of the elderly could not fill the ache left by his son’s growing indifference.

“Who here is Mr. Li Shixin’s family?”

The voice broke through his memories.

“Doctor, that’s us.”

Ah, that was his son and daughter-in-law.

“Your father’s condition is not optimistic. Though he’s out of immediate danger, the CT shows severe thrombosis in his carotid artery. It needs to be addressed right away.”

“Doctor, what’s the treatment?”

“In his case, only arterial stents will work. Domestic ones cost fifty-six thousand each, imported ones eighty-four thousand. He’ll need at least four. Considering your father is sixty-five and his arteries have poor elasticity, we don’t recommend the domestic kind. But imported ones are expensive and not covered by basic insurance. Did you buy him any private insurance?”

“No...”

“That expensive? Is it really necessary? I mean, it’s not about the money, but he’s so old—what if something goes wrong in such a big surgery?”

“Is this how you children act? Without the stents, your father could die at any moment. It’s up to you. Really...”

The heavy bang of a door closing was followed by hushed whispers in the ward.

“Four stents, over three hundred thousand—not counting surgery and hospitalization fees. The whole thing could run to four or five hundred thousand.”

“At his age, what’s the point of all that fuss? Conservative treatment—let things take their course. Dad doesn’t have much in savings, and if we follow the hospital’s plan, it’ll all be gone. Hey, why don’t you call your sister and ask her to send money from abroad for Dad’s treatment?”

“Are you stupid? Dad’s old house is about to be demolished for compensation—it’s worth at least one and a half to nearly two million! We absolutely can’t tell her about his illness now!”

“You’re right. Better to wait until the house is transferred to us, then tell her.”

Animals, the both of them.

Their father had raised them single-handedly, giving everything, acting as both mother and father. Now, before the old man was dead, all they could think about was the house.

Heh.

Greedy for wealth, murderous at heart!

Lying on the bed, Li Shixin—now fused entirely with the old man’s memories—was boiling with anger. He thought that even if the original owner of this body were still alive, this scene would have been enough to send him to an early grave. His wife had died young, and he’d spoiled this son far too much. Little did he realize that spoiling a child could be as fatal as harming one.

“Help... help me sit up.”

Li Shixin slowly opened his eyes.

“Oh, Dad, you’re awake?”

“Dad, how are you feeling? Last night when you suddenly got sick, we were scared out of our minds after the neighbor called us!”

Faced with their feigned concern, Li Shixin waved a hand. “Call that doctor back in.”

Before long, the doctor returned. The young female doctor crouched by his bedside and took his hand. “Sir, you wanted me?”

“I want to make a will,” Li Shixin wheezed, his breath short.

“Dad, why get an outsider involved in your will? We’ve brought paper and pens!” his daughter-in-law piped up.

“That won’t be necessary.” Li Shixin didn’t look at the scheming woman, but fixed the doctor with a long, meaningful stare.

Reading the look in his eyes, the doctor pulled out paper and pen from her white coat pocket.

“Go ahead, sir. I’ll write it down for you.”

“I hereby declare, upon my death...” At this, Li Shixin glanced at his son and daughter-in-law, their faces full of anticipation at his bedside.

“All my property is to be donated to the Animal Rescue and Protection Foundation,” he finished.

“The Animal Rescue Foundation?”

“Dad! What are you doing?”

His son and daughter-in-law panicked at once.

“What am I doing? Ha! I’d rather leave my house to cats and dogs than to you two heartless beasts!”

With all the strength he had left, Li Shixin shouted.

His son and daughter-in-law’s faces turned a sickly shade of green.

“Dad, that’s the last time I’ll call you that. Since you’re leaving me nothing, then from now on we’re done. Whether you live or die, it’s none of my business!”

Watching his son cut all ties with a face like thunder, Li Shixin simply waved him off and closed his eyes.

“I’m not interested either. Get out.”

...

Expelling a long, pent-up breath, Li Shixin settled back onto the hospital bed. He reckoned there was no one left to care for him now. Perhaps waiting for death was his only path forward. Then again, maybe that was all right—this crossing had been a failure anyway. Still, at least he’d managed to vent the old man’s anger before dying. Maybe... this journey hadn’t been in vain after all.

As if responding to his unwillingness to go, a deep sense of regret suddenly flooded his mind.

“This life... I’m not reconciled!”

He seemed to hear an old, hoarse voice shouting.

Beep!

Just then, a clear electronic chime sounded in his mind, reminiscent of a senior citizen’s transit card.

Staring at what looked like the interface of an old man’s mobile phone, Li Shixin’s eyes widened in surprise.