Chapter 1: The Fall That Changed Everything
“Sometimes, it only takes one moment to rewrite an entire lifetime.”
The soft chime of the shop’s doorbell rang out. Hoàng Thu Ly glanced up from her laptop, placing her cup of chrysanthemum tea to the side. A young couple walked in, hands entwined, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Welcome,” she greeted them gently, her voice calm and warm. “I’m Ly, the designer. Feel free to take a seat—we’ll look at some invitation styles together.”
The bride-to-be smiled politely, clearly excited. The groom simply gave a small nod, quiet and unreadable. Nothing unusual—most grooms stayed quiet. It was usually the bride’s show, and Ly knew that dance by heart.
She pulled out a folder with samples: elegant calligraphy, minimalist themes, trendy boho vibes. The consultation was moving along smoothly… until the bride’s phone buzzed.
She picked it up casually.
Then froze.
Color drained from her face.
Without a word, she turned to her fiancé, holding the phone out like a dagger.
“Anything you want to explain?” she asked, voice trembling.
The groom looked confused—until he saw what was on the screen. A photo of him, cozy with another woman, arm casually slung over her shoulder.
“Mây, listen—”
“Explain what? That you’re still seeing your ex? A week before our wedding?”
“It’s not like that! She’s just a friend—I ran into her by accident—”
“You think I’m stupid?”
Suddenly, she shoved him hard. The chair toppled over with a loud clatter. Ly stood up quickly, alarmed.
“Hey—wait! Let’s calm down for a sec—”
Too late.
In the chaos, someone’s arm flailed—pushed against her.
She stumbled back—
Her head struck the edge of the display table with a sickening thud.
Black.
The scent of medicated oil.
Distant echo of a school bell.
Faint squeaks of sneakers on tile.
A voice—soft, panicked—drifted into her ears.
“Ly… Ly! Please wake up… don’t scare me like this…”
Ly stirred, eyelids heavy.
The ceiling above her came into view, white and faintly flickering from a cheap fluorescent light.
She turned slightly, wincing at the pounding in her skull.
A girl sat beside her bed, holding her hand. Teary-eyed. Round face. Short hair. Very, very familiar.
“Hương… Trà?”
The girl sniffled. “Yes! It’s me! Thank God you’re awake!”
Ly blinked, trying to sit up.
“…Where… are we?” she whispered.
“Uh… the nurse’s office?” Trà said slowly. “Duh?”
Ly frowned. “The nurse’s office… at Kim Liên High?”
“…Are you serious right now?”
Trà leaned back, studying her with concern.
“You hit your head on the planter during PE, remember? You’ve been out cold. Are you okay? Should I call the nurse again?”
Ly didn’t answer.
Her gaze dropped to her own body—and froze.
She was wearing a school uniform.
White and blue tracksuit pants. The cheap kind she hadn’t worn in nearly 20 years.
She looked up at Trà again. Same face. But younger. Softer.
She couldn’t speak.
Then she noticed her hands—thinner, smoother. No faint lines from years of digital sketching. No silver ring she always wore on her thumb. No smartwatch.
No sign of the thirty-five-year-old woman she’d become.
And then it hit her.
This wasn’t a dream.
She’d gone back.
“Where’s the couple?” she asked, voice shaky. “The bride? Did she break anything in the store?”
Trà stared blankly.
“What bride…? What store? Are you sure you didn’t knock your brain loose?”
She laughed nervously but her eyes were wary.
Outside, the door creaked open. A young school nurse walked in, clipboard in hand.
Ly shut her eyes, her mind racing.
A designer in her mid-thirties. Single. Her mom… already gone. A sister married. A best friend turned business partner. A quiet life surrounded by wedding invitations she created for others.
One minute she was breaking up a fight.
The next—she was seventeen again.
She swallowed hard.
This was real.
A small, breathy laugh escaped her lips. She wasn’t sure if it was panic or awe.
“A second shot at youth…?”
Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched her face again.
“Okay,” she thought. “So what now?”
