Chapter 1

1 Because my childhood sweetheart married me, her one true love killed himself.

For thirty years of marriage, our most frequent blessing to each other was, "May you die a horrible death."

Before I died, we'd just had a huge fight.

Before she stormed out, she slipped something into my tea.

The moment the poison took hold, I knew who the culprit was.

I managed to drag her back home, then plunged a knife into her heart, ensuring she'd join me in hell.

But as I lay dying, I heard her stopping her men from killing me, using her last breath to whisper:

"Give him the antidote... I found it..."

"After I'm gone, you... have to keep investigating... who's been poisoning him..."

"And... after he wakes up, don't tell this madman... that I found the antidote..."

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

In that final moment, I understood the magnitude of our mistakes.

After my rebirth, I immediately changed my college plans and headed overseas.

From then on, I sought a new life, leaving her and her true love to their own happily ever after.

......

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a soft lap, a spoonful of ginger tea being offered to my lips.

I looked up and met Claire's bloodshot eyes.

For a moment, we both froze.

This was the second day after I'd spent a night in the pouring rain to pressure her into accepting my proposal.

Claire clearly hadn't slept a wink; her hair was a mess.

"Drink it yourself."

Seeing me awake, the worry in her eyes vanished, replaced by the familiar tension I remembered from my past life. She pushed me away.

"Claire..."

My voice was hoarse.

"Yeah?"

"Can I have a hug...?"

She stood up to leave.

But the next second, I pulled her into a hug from behind.

The tension in her body was palpable beneath my touch.

"Luke..."

She gripped my hands tightly.

"Forced melons aren't sweet."

"I know."

I held her close, one last time feeling her warmth.

"I've figured it out."

"Figured it out...?"

Her scoff was laced with exhaustion.

"Isn't that what you always say?"

She forcefully pried my hands loose and pushed me onto the bed, leaving without looking back.

That retreating figure was eerily similar to our last encounter in my previous life.

I looked down at my palms.

Her warmth lingered there.

But she didn't know.

This time, I truly had figured it out.

I was her childhood friend, the son of her late benefactor, the annoying boy next door who'd always been a thorn in her side.

But I wasn't her husband...

I closed my eyes.

I understood.

I let go.

My phone vibrated. It was one of my guys.

"Sir, we've scouted out Lake Erhai. You always wanted to have your wedding there, right? Should we change the venue?"

"Ask Mr. Gu Yu Nian. He also likes the ocean. If he's willing, then change it."

"Sir?"

My guy sounded confused. "But you're the groom."

"Not anymore, starting today."

I hung up and called my doctoral advisor.

"Made up your mind? Not getting married? Planning to come overseas for the project?"

My advisor triple-checked.

I nodded emphatically. "Yes, I won't change my mind."

My advisor breathed a sigh of relief, quickly signing the papers, afraid I'd change my mind again. "Although you're graduating, they've been wanting me to keep you. There were many applicants for this project, but no one can replace you.

You just need to think things through. You can always consider marriage after you return in three years; it's not like it will disappear."

I felt a pang of guilt.

The project was originally intended for me. But I was fixated on Claire, refusing my advisor's invitation. My advisor had no choice but to look for someone else.

But ultimately, no one else fit the bill, delaying the entire project.