"I refuse..."

"Has nothing to do with like or not..."

"I just don’t want to date anyone..."

...

"Hot news! Leonard Marsh got turned down by Catherine Bennet!"

"Damn, Leonard actually had the guts to confess to her!"

"What was he thinking going after the school goddess? To her, he’s just that kid who tags along!"

"Total frog dreaming of a swan, this is hilarious..."

...

In a room plastered with star posters, empty beer bottles littered the floor.

After reading through the chat history on his phone, Leonard finally got it—why this version of himself had been drinking non-stop.

Two lifetimes’ worth of memories slamming together turned his hangover into a splitting headache.

He massaged his temples and muttered, “Can’t believe I came back to this day…”

This day.

Exactly one month before the college entrance exam.

One day after he got rejected by Catherine Bennet.

The day his whole life took a nosedive.

Everything started falling apart from here.

Once top-ranked and aiming for a prestigious university, he flunked the exam so badly he didn’t even reach the minimum tier-two college line.

After that, he gave up on school entirely, ran off to live in Catherine’s college city, picking up crap jobs just to be near her.

Serving her coffee, bringing her meals, being her go-to errand boy... completely losing himself.

“Honestly, I was pathetic back then,” Leonard mumbled, the urge to slap himself rising.

Thankfully, his parents had always been pretty open-minded.

Otherwise, with how useless he’d been those years, he would’ve driven them straight to the ER—wouldn’t need to wait for some ‘future success’ crap.

Every dumb choice from his past life stood clear in his head.

Now that he’d somehow landed a do-over, he wasn’t going to waste it following someone around like a lost puppy.

He had his youth, a second shot—he owed himself a better life.

If anyone should be chasing, it should be them chasing him this time.

In his last life, Leonard had gotten so used to trailing behind Catherine that he’d pretty much shrunk into himself.

He could still act normal around close friends, but most of the time, he just faded into the background like he didn’t exist.

But truth was, Leonard had a lot going for him.

When he got out of bed, the throbbing in his head spiked.

He winced but pushed himself into a hot shower.

The heat helped—his mind cleared up a bit.

After getting dressed, he grabbed all the beer bottles packed in boxes and took them out.

Right before leaving, he opened the windows to let the room air out.

His dad was out on a company trip today and would be home by night.

Last time around, when his parents got back, they found him hungover and completely messed up.

They didn’t say a word, just looked at all the bottles on the floor and their wreck of a son.

No way they weren’t worried.

Now, Leonard wasn’t letting them go through that again.

He lined the empty bottles neatly by the trash can.

Then jogged to the pharmacy on the corner and bought two bottles of anti-hangover pills.

Swallowed them down in one go—head cleared fast.His stomach growled loudly, so he headed straight to his usual street stall and ordered a classic bowl of beef noodles.

Just as he was slurping up the noodles, his phone began buzzing non-stop.

It was Nicholas Grant, blowing up his messages.

"Hey, Leo, you good?"

"Catherine turned you down? Her loss."

"The classmates are idiots, don’t bother with them."

"Let’s game tonight! Yasuo just dropped, I bought him yesterday—super slick!"

Leonard Marsh remembered now—he’d gotten these same messages in his last life.

Back then, he was so down he didn’t even read them. Thought Nicholas was annoying. Ended up blocking him...

Now, fingers flying over the cracked screen of his old OPPO, he replied quickly:

"I’m fine."

"You call that playing? Just wait, I’ll show you what a real Yasuo god looks like."

Nicholas replied with a confused "...Huh?"

That settled it—battle of the bros coming up.

Finishing the last bite of tea egg, Leonard felt amazing.

This is it. Living for himself instead of chasing someone who doesn’t care.

"Mrs. Carter, that was perfect! I’m full, your beef noodles are the best."

He said while paying, flashing a genuine smile.

Mrs. Carter watched him walk away and scratched her head. "Leonard’s acting kinda different today..."

Mr. Carter glanced over. "Different how?"

"Usually he doesn’t say a word. Just nods and leaves."

"True," Mr. Carter nodded, thinking it over. "Maybe the kid’s finally growing up."

...

"My grandparents are visiting, and Mom’s tied up—thanks so much for helping, Fiona! I owe you a big meal!"

Catherine Bennet, in her floral dress and white sneakers, looked like she’d stepped right out of a fairy tale under the sun. Elegant and stunning.

Except for the mountain of shopping bags almost bending her in half.

"No big deal, I’m okay," Fiona Gray panted beside her, also loaded down and drenched in sweat.

“Hey… isn’t that Leonard over there?”

Fiona suddenly pointed.

Catherine followed her gaze.

That lean figure in black-rimmed glasses—hard to miss.

"It is! Perfect! Let’s get him to help—Hey, Leonard!"

Fiona dropped her bags with relief and waved enthusiastically.

Leonard turned his head.

That face—so familiar and once unforgettable—made him pause. Then, he smiled calmly and walked over.

"Hey, have you guys eaten?"

"We have," Fiona replied, nodding toward the bags. "These are for her grandparents. Her mom sent her out shopping."

Leonard glanced at the pile. "That’s a lot. And your place isn’t close either. Well, good luck—I gotta meet Nicholas at the internet cafe. Later!"