Chapter 1: Countdown to Death
"Grandpa? Grandpa? Wake up!"
James opened his eyes.
All he saw was a blinding white light, surrounded by seven or eight doctors anxiously watching him.
"What happened?" James asked, confused.
One of the doctors sighed in relief, "It's okay, he's alive! Everyone disperse."
The other doctors gave James a sympathetic glance before returning to their respective departments.
James was utterly bewildered—just a second ago, he was live-streaming a game at home, and now he's suddenly in a hospital?!
Buzz.
A torrent of memories flooded his mind.
James was even more perplexed!
He had crossed over into a 62-year-old man with the same name, ten years ago.
This grandpa was incredibly stingy throughout his life, never marrying and having no children.
In his old age, he unexpectedly hit the jackpot with a property demolition, receiving four apartments and three million in savings.
But just a few months into his fortune, he was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer, with only half a month left to live.
The diagnosis scared the old man to death, and that's when James crossed over??
The attending doctor returned to his seat, hands crossed and feigning a relaxed demeanor as he tried to comfort him, "Grandpa, even if it's late-stage, you still have half a month, right?"
James replied, "Doctor, you really know how to comfort people."
He glanced at the diagnosis in his hands.
[Diabetes, Severe]
[Hypertension, Stage 3]
[Cerebral Thrombosis, Severe]
[Liver Cancer, Late Stage]
James felt completely dumbfounded; he had every possible ailment stacked against him.
He wasn't even sure if he could leave the hospital alive.
Why had he crossed over?
The attending doctor continued to reassure him, "If you undergo treatment here, we estimate we can extend your life by another three days."
Three days, my ass.
His body was full of tubes? Just to prolong his life by three days?
He would rather spend the three million in savings living it up for a few days.
Although, given his current state, there wasn't much he could do for enjoyment anyway.
Leaving the hospital was better than lying there waiting for death!
He crumpled the diagnosis in his hand. "Doctor, I'm fine, I'll be leaving now."
After saying that, he slowly got up, only then realizing how different his body felt; there wasn't a single comfortable spot on him.
The attending doctor had seen many patients in desperate conditions and understood how James felt at this moment: "How about I prescribe you some medication?"
James waved his hand.
At this stage, no miracle drug could fix his ailments.
As he walked out of the hospital, sunlight hit his aging face.
Having directly jumped from his twenties to his sixties was truly an unusual way to skip forty years.
His memory recalled the way back home.
The four apartments from the demolition were all together. The original owner, in a bid to make money, had rented out three and kept the smallest one for himself.
Taking a taxi back to the bottom of the complex, James was already feeling exhausted.
Two old men playing chess downstairs greeted James.
"James, how did the check-up go?"
In the memories, the original owner often played chess with these two men, one named Wang and the other Jerry.
James waved the crumpled diagnosis in his hand.
"Late stage, just waiting to die."
Donald scoffed, saying to Jerry, "James is definitely exaggerating; who with cancer can talk so loudly?"
Jerry nodded in agreement, "James, come over to my place for a drink tonight; my son-in-law is bringing me a goose."
James sighed; the original owner had been stingy all his life, his only hobby was drinking.
It's no surprise that his liver cancer likely stemmed from that, along with that unfortunate cerebral thrombosis.
Ignoring the two old men, he clumsily entered the elevator.
Ding.
When the elevator reached the ninth floor and the doors opened, a brightly dressed woman with heavy makeup stood outside.
This woman was one of the original owner's tenants, Shirley.
Seeing James, Shirley immediately tried to dodge him, as she had been two months behind on her rent.
Every time the original owner saw her, he would demand the rent.
Realizing there was no time to escape, Shirley straightened her hair at her ear, "Uncle James, um, I'll definitely pay you the rent next month."
James stepped out of the elevator, brushing past Shirley.
He could smell the strong perfume on her.
However, he now felt no interest in anything and waved his hand, "Forget the rent."
Shirley was shocked and frozen!
She didn't even notice the elevator doors closing again.
Slowly turning around with an incredulous tone, "Uncle James, you're not joking, right? You really forgive me the rent?"
James turned to examine Shirley—she wore a red spaghetti strap top and a short black skirt paired with black stockings.
Upon closer inspection, one could see she had a great figure, but the heavy makeup made her look deceptive at first glance.
Coupled with the memories of her nocturnal habits, it was easy to deduce what profession she was in.
As Shirley noticed James eyeing her, she crossed her arms in front of her chest, "The old man doesn't want rent; is it that you want something else?"
James cleared his throat. He had the intention, but he was helpless.
"If you're afraid I want something else, then hurry up and pay the rent."
Trying to convince her he was genuinely forgiving the rent would be pointless; he wouldn't let his good intentions be misinterpreted.
Shirley snorted twice.
She thought the landlord was being kind; it turned out it was just a different way of pressuring her for rent.
Pressing the elevator button again, she called out to James's back, "I'll give you the rent tomorrow! Or the day after!"
James pretended not to hear and took out his keys to unlock his apartment door, 914.
Looking at the door number, he felt a wave of frustration.
Building 911 to 914 were all his properties; how could he end up with the smallest one, 914?
Was he just asking to die?
As he opened the door, a musty smell hit him.
The over seventy-square-meter apartment was cluttered with picked-up cardboard, empty cans, water bottles, and various empty liquor bottles.
In a house meant for seventy square meters, only about ten square meters were usable due to the piles of junk.
On a bed made of wood he didn't even know where it came from, only a thin blanket was laid out.
This was the original owner's sleeping and resting place.
As for air conditioning, a washing machine, or any household appliances—those were obviously non-existent.
"Truly stingy," James couldn't help but exclaim.
In such a scene, who would have thought he had three million in savings and four properties?
He found the ID card and bank card; with only half a month to live, he didn't want to waste time here.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to check into a presidential suite at a hotel?
Just as he was about to leave, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
【Ding】
【System activation successful】
【Host: James】
【Age: 62】
【Health Status: On the verge of death】
【Countdown to death: 14 days】
【For every time you astonish a female tenant, reward: age reversal by two months, countdown to death extended by two months】
【Note: Once rewards accumulate to two years, a super reward will be issued】
【Host, strive to live on!】
James was stunned.
Then, great joy filled him!
So this crossover wasn't just about sending him into a small box.
Returning to the room, he sat on the rickety wooden bed.
If he could become two months younger with just one reward and continuously earn rewards, could he not return to his twenties, becoming a young man once again?
And what could that super reward be?