《Rescuing Her to Reclaim Myself》

Pearl City, No. 1 High School gate. At 9 PM, the moonlight was exceptionally bright, casting its glow on the students waiting for the bus as a gentle night breeze blew through. A few students gathered at the gate wore faces that were hard to read. Some looked conflicted, some angry, others filled with regret, and the most prevalent emotion was clearly gloating. The only thing they all had in common was that they were all looking intently towards the western suburbs. “Liora was taken away by Theron Vale. I wonder what could happen to her…” “Multiple guys taking one girl… just imagine what might happen.” “That Theron Vale is such an animal!” a male student spat out, his face contorted with hatred. “You’re so angry, aren't you? ' Then why didn’t you stop him earlier?” “Pfft, if my brother had been here…” “Don’t even mention my brother. My own father wouldn’t have been able to stop him.” “Haha, the girl you can’t get over, she might already have been… you know.” A chubby girl covered in freckles remarked. “Damn it, don’t say that!” These words from the chubby girl left several boys feeling utterly defeated. But they were powerless, lacking the courage to intervene. That was Theron Vale! He wasn’t just an ordinary troublemaker anymore; he was a genuine delinquent, infamous throughout school. Skipping daily classes was minor; the real issue was that he was constantly getting into fights. He fought within the school walls and outside them as well! Previously, people didn’t hate him as much, because whenever troublemakers from other schools came around, it was usually Theron Vale who handled it. But today, for some inexplicable reason, Theron Vale had lost his mind and taken Liora away. … In the deserted construction site on the outskirts of the city. A girl in a school uniform was cornered against a pillar by several classmates dressed in outlandish clothing. It was Liora, the one who had been taken away. She bit her lower lip lightly, her right hand supporting her left elbow. Her hair was slightly messy, and a broken hairband dangled from it. Her blue school trousers were covered in dust, and there was a tear at her knee. Her pulled hair, dusty trousers with a hole, readily suggested what had happened to her earlier. Like being roughly dragged here by her hair. Liora lowered her head, turning it aside, her expression remaining cold. She said nothing in a plea for mercy, but the slight trembling of her fingers betrayed her current state of mind. Brought here by these people, to an uninhabited construction site in the suburbs, she had already braced herself for the worst. But Theron Vale, standing before her, was dazed. At this moment, memories surged back like a tidal wave, forcefully flooding his mind, causing an excruciating headache. He had returned… he had been reborn. … From his memories, he knew the current year was 2012, his final year of high school. Logically, having lived through a previous life and experienced transmigration, he should have matured significantly. Even reborn, he should have been able to remain composed amid changes. But the frustrating part was his younger self… his past was truly shameful. A gangster at No. 1 High School, a delinquent, smoking and fighting every day. Frankly, those weren’t the biggest issues. The absurd problem was that during this time, he was still an ardent “lapdog” (one who fawns obsequiously over someone), utterly obsessed with a girl named Celeste Merrick. When he recalled memories involving Celeste, Theron Vale couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He had treated her like a precious jewel, thought of her constantly, held her so delicately as if she would break – she was his “white moonlight” (the idealized, unattainable first love). He bought her breakfast every morning, replied to her messages instantly, always got her milk and tea, carried her shopping bags, and planned birthday surprises. If anyone provoked her, Theron Vale would stir up trouble for them to vent her anger. If she got angry for no reason, Theron Vale would gladly bear the brunt, letting her take out her frustration on him. Well, doing these things wasn’t the end of the world. Being a “lapdog,” so what? Plenty of people have been there, done that; it’s no big deal. But the problem was, they had known each other since elementary school. He had fawned over her for three years in junior high and another three years in senior high. In the end, all he got from Celeste was the line: “It’s fine if we’re just friends. I’m not looking to date right now.” Then, in Celeste’s social circle (like WeChat Moments), he saw her publicly declaring her relationship with an excellent student from their school, Elias. Their status updates changed to: “Happy to meet you” “Thank you for being part of my life” This wasn’t the most ridiculous part. What was even more ridiculous was that after Celeste had officially paired up with Elias, Theron Vale continued to fawn over her for several more years. He kept fawning until they got married. At the wedding banquet, he even uttered something incredibly nonsensical: “Celeste, congratulations, I wish you happiness.” After that, he often got drunk, drifted through each day in a haze, and ultimately from alcohol poisoning, ending up in the hospital. Lying on the hospital bed, Theron Vale thought long and hard, deciding he couldn’t continue wallowing in misery over a woman who didn’t love him back. He finally came to his senses, worked hard, and after twenty years, did achieve something in his career. But after finding success, his personality turned withdrawn and lonely. Because on Earth, he was utterly alone. He had no lover, no family, not even any friends. Suddenly feeling like talking, only to look around and see no one. He seemed to possess everything, yet simultaneously, he felt like he had nothing at all. Aside from spending money on women at nightclubs, he didn’t even have someone he felt like confiding in. When midnight dreams recurred, he had also pondered what he would do if given a chance to start over. Perhaps this was the chance fate had bestowed upon him. But this specific point in time made Theron Vale feel somewhat resigned. If his rebirth had occurred earlier, the current situation wouldn’t be so dire. For instance, now, because Elias had come looking for Liora in their class a few times, rumors had spread that they were already dating. Then, in this month’s exams, Liora’s grades had completely surpassed Celeste’s. Not by a little, but by over ten points, placing her firmly in a league of her own. Seeing this, Celeste broke down in tears. Theron Vale, this dead “lapdog,” had brought Liora here primarily to vent his anger on Celeste’s behalf, and secondly, to get revenge on Elias. That night… Searching his memories for this specific incident, back then, his mind was preoccupied with Celeste. Also, knowing the severity of constantly getting into trouble, he was aware of boundaries, and he didn’t commit any truly heinous acts. However, he had immediately burned Liora’s schoolbag and then just left her there. The actions were indeed despicable, and what followed was even worse. Liora, who stayed out late, caused her mother to go searching for her. Tragically, her mother died in a car accident along the way. Liora, with no father in the picture, lost her only remaining family member. Dealing with her mother’s funeral and the estrangement from relatives, all these burdens fell on the young girl. Liora, who had fallen behind in her studies due to these tragic events, was in a constant daze. Once the top student of the school, Liora was never the same after that. She ultimately failed her college entrance exams and chose to end her life. That fateful night, his actions had cost Liora almost everything. Theron Vale, upon realizing this, was overcome with guilt every time he thought about that night. Standing there again, he pondered if it was for redemption. He lit a cigarette out of habit, but when he heard Liora cough, he was taken aback. He tossed the cigarette to the ground and stomped it out. The girl was nearby, her hair revealing a pale neck, the dust on her face unable to mask her fair skin and stunning beauty. Seeing her torn pants, A sense of tragic beauty stirred Theron Vale’s heart. “An unparalleled beauty in the world.” As if in response to Theron Vale’s words, Liora’s eyebrows twitched. Their eyes met, and he saw a flicker of confusion in her gaze, followed by an impenetrable coldness. A helpless girl was being victimized by the very people he had led. He realized that if Liora had returned home even a little later, her mother would have died in the car accident. Yet, here he was, noticing her figure. Theron Vale massaged his throbbing temples, his face devoid of enthusiasm, as he recalled his previous nonchalant tone: “Seriously, bullying a girl is meaningless. Just leave.”