Chapter 1: The Wheel of Fate
In the dimly lit office, the air was thick with the scent of coffee and tobacco. Outside the window, neon lights cast fragmented reflections on the glass. A share transfer agreement lay coldly on the desk, the scarlet signature glaring like blood.
Song Ran collapsed to the floor, his throat burning and his blood already cold. He stared up at Zhang Hao, whose familiar and cunning face looked especially cruel under the light.
"Don't blame me, Song Ran. That's just business."
Zhang Hao swirled his wine glass, lips curled into a mocking smile.
"You thought you were a genius? You were just a pawn to be discarded."
Song Ran's lips trembled. He wanted to speak, but his consciousness was fading. The company was bankrupt. The shares were gone. Everything he worked for had crumbled.
...He lost.
Completely.
But in the next moment, the world flipped upside down. He suddenly opened his eyes—
There was a computer on the desk. The sound of keyboard clacking filled the air. The neon lights of the city still glowed outside the window.
He froze.
Why… did this scene feel so familiar?
He looked down at his phone. The date read: June 16, 2025.
His heart skipped a beat like a thunderclap.
He was back!
Back to the moment before everything began.
The share agreement hadn't been signed yet. Zhang Hao hadn't shown his true face.
There was still time to change it all.
This time, he would not lose again!
---
Preemptive Planning
Step One: Take Control of the Funds
Song Ran quickly composed himself. He had to stay calm and avoid alerting anyone.
He opened his laptop and logged into the company's financial system to review the accounts.
—Just as he remembered. In his past life, he had trusted Zhang Hao and let him manage most of the company's funds. Now, there was still time to change everything.
With a cold smile, he swiftly reallocated key assets and discreetly transferred out core holdings, making sure Zhang Hao couldn't make any sudden moves.
Step Two: Secure Key Talent
In his previous life, several important partners had been bribed by Zhang Hao and turned against him. This time, he wouldn't make the same mistake.
He picked up the phone and called Zhao Ming — the company's chief tech officer and a crucial figure who had abandoned him before.
"President Zhao, are you free tonight? Let's discuss the company's future plans."
His voice was calm, firm, and steady.
Zhao Ming replied quickly:
"Sure, President Song. What brought this on all of a sudden?"
Song Ran smiled faintly, his eyes glinting coldly.
This time, he would control everything.
Step Three: Disrupt the Enemy
He accessed the company's internal management system and found that Zhang Hao was already tweaking the department structures, trying to embed his people into the core team.
Not this time.
His fingers flew across the keyboard as he restructured key departments, blocking Zhang Hao's attempts to place his allies in strategic positions.
He was already dismantling Zhang Hao's plans.
---
Rising Tension
With all adjustments completed, Song Ran leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath.
Phase one was done — the funds were protected, key personnel secured, Zhang Hao's infiltration blocked.
He would no longer be anyone's pawn.
But Zhang Hao would soon sense something was wrong.
The storm was coming.