Chapter 1: Dalang Died Young

Realizing he could float in the sky, it was obvious he was dreaming. Soon, a kaleidoscope of lights and shadows enveloped him, like a wormhole in a science fiction film, and Tao Zhiming had no idea what awaited him at the end of this dream.

Then, he saw a familiar planet below.

Why was he dreaming of outer space?

But in the next instant, Tao Zhiming began to fall, the endless descent in his dream all too familiar.

He quickly recognized the outline of this island nation as he plummeted downward.

In a daze, he noticed he couldn't see his own body—vaguely, it looked like a ball of light.

In any case, it was utterly absurd.

Why would he dream that he, an old guy, descended from the sky and appeared above Tokyo?

For no reason at all, a strange ripple stirred in Tao Zhiming's heart.

Would a provocative scene unfold next? After all, it was Tokyo.

But then, everything went black, and he felt the suffocating, paralyzed sensation of sleep paralysis.

He could barely breathe, and his whole body refused to move.

This feeling was unbearable.

He was experienced enough to know that, in such situations, he had to try to move his body—only then could he escape the nightmare.

It was as if all his senses were swallowed by darkness. In the haze, he heard a faint voice: "I'm back."

Very soon after, a wave of weightlessness swept over him, and his body suddenly felt much lighter, soft and limp.

He even sensed a pair of hands gently caressing him, over and over.

Tao Zhiming perked up—was the alluring dream finally beginning?

Sure enough, he could feel warm breath near his nose.

Then came a soft, warm touch…

Oh my, how delightful.

Tao Zhiming finally opened his eyes, wanting to see what beauty lay before him, though he knew that in dreams faces were often unclear.

In the next second, the scene froze.

Wide eyes stared into his.

He glanced at his own hand to confirm, and the young man wearing round glasses who was pinching his nose and chin abruptly jumped back, straightened, and blushed furiously: "Tsk! Disgusting! Tsk tsk tsk…"

Then, in a panic, the young man fled, dry heaving as he went, and soon loud gargling noises could be heard from that direction.

Bewildered, Tao Zhiming sat up and looked at his hands.

Just now…?

That sensation on his lips?

"Ugh—"

He hurriedly spat, again and again.

What on earth had just happened?

What kind of dream was this? Was something wrong with him? Wake up, quickly!

“Smack!” He slapped himself hard across the face.

He did not wake up. Instead, a flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind.

He had been reborn… This was Showa 61, in other words, 1986 Tokyo.

The owner of this body was called Tao Daro, a descendant of immigrants from China, who also bore the original name Tao Zhiming.

Hearing the commotion, the young man from earlier emerged from the bathroom, his face twisted with anger.

Strangely, Tao Zhiming’s mind immediately supplied his name: Yosuke Ueno, a university classmate and tenant who lived with him.

"Unbelievable!" Yosuke, water still dribbling from his mouth, jabbed a finger at the ceiling and let fly, "You really need to stop this! If I’d come back even a little later, you’d be dead by now!"

Tao Zhiming dazedly looked up.

A rope hung there.

So Tao Daro had already hanged himself, and after Tao Zhiming crossed over, the sleep paralysis was because he had been hanging?

In that case, his original self probably hadn’t just fallen asleep from exhaustion after staying up too late—he had likely… died suddenly.

“Damn it!” Yosuke raged on, “Is your head filled with nothing but that woman? I just saved your life, and look what you did to me!”

Tao Zhiming looked blankly at his crotch.

“Hey!” Yosuke’s voice rose several notches. “Are you feeling any better? Do I need to call an ambulance?”

Tao Zhiming felt more or less fine, so he shook his head.

“Honestly…” Yosuke sat down on a cushion nearby, watching him, his face caught between wanting to scold him further and holding back. “What happened this time? You were driven to suicide again?”

Tao Zhiming silently sifted through Tao Daro’s memories, saying nothing.

“Pull yourself together! You’re a man, not some weepy girl!” Yosuke couldn’t help himself and started again. “If you want to die, at least die like a man—seppuku! Still want to die? I don’t mind acting as your second!”

“…Shut up first.” Tao Zhiming finally spoke, the words naturally coming out in Japanese.

Yosuke immediately quieted down, then stood up, placed something on the low table beside him, and said, “Drink some water.”

Tao Zhiming, as if by instinct, picked up the cup and drank in big gulps.

Yosuke, apparently a chatterbox, couldn’t stay silent for long. “What would your parents say if they saw you like this? ‘Daro, you must live bravely on your own!’ Wouldn’t you feel ashamed hearing that?”

Tao Zhiming felt a surge of irritation. What did this have to do with him? Wasn’t it that Daro’s fault?

“No matter what, we got into the University of Tokyo—we have limitless prospects! Over a woman? Do you know how often I envy your good looks? How long are you going to wallow like this? You can’t keep being a failure!” Yosuke seemed to be using shock therapy, bombarding his friend with provocation. “You’ve died once already, it’s time to get it together!”

“…You’re right.”

“Those damn land sharks can only harass you a little, they’re nothing to worry about! All you need is to find a good company, one that’ll give you a free apartment, and you’ll get through this rough patch.”

Listening to Yosuke’s pep talk, Tao Zhiming sighed inwardly.

Tao Daro’s suicide was no simple matter.

This useless fool…

His parents, true to Chinese tradition, had worked their whole lives to save up for the down payment on this 3LDK apartment, and managed to raise their son all the way to the top university in Japan, only to die in a car accident before they could enjoy a few years of happiness.

The insurance money had already been mostly squandered by Tao Daro.

Why? Because, in his grief, he was taken advantage of by a manipulative woman.

It was always the Daro types—doomed to be led around by women.

“Did anything I just said get through to you?” Yosuke raised his voice again.

“…I heard you.” Tao Zhiming sighed.

No wonder Tao Daro wanted to kill himself—he discovered the green tea vixen only saw him as an ATM, even openly going off to a love hotel with her supposed true love right in front of him.

Thinking of the next mortgage payment and the senior year tuition due in the months ahead, Tao Daro had found life meaningless, and hung himself—leaving the body to Tao Zhiming.

“Good!” Yosuke nodded in satisfaction, then, with a flush of anger, said, “Now, what about this? I saved your life, and lost my first kiss!”

Tao Zhiming stared at him in disbelief.

Are you out of your mind? Wouldn’t it be best if we never spoke of this again?

“Knock knock knock!” Just then, a knock sounded at the door. “Hello? Tao-kun, are you home?”

“Oh no!” Yosuke suddenly panicked. “It’s Runa-chan!”

His righteous indignation from moments ago evaporated, and he scrambled to take down the rope, muttering, “We can’t let Runa-chan see this!”

Tao Zhiming watched him rush around tidying up the room.

Runa Onodera… His new memories told him she was a negotiator for the land sharks, a married woman likely over thirty.

And Yosuke apparently had a bit of a crush on her?

Or maybe he was simply captivated by her mature charm, caught between anticipation and nervousness.

“Tao-kun?” Runa Onodera was still knocking at the door.

Tao Zhiming stood up.

“Wait, wait!” Yosuke whispered, stopping him, then gathered up all the empty bottles littering the floor and piled them into the bedroom in one go. Only then did he emerge, straightening his clothes and taking a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready!”

Tao Zhiming shot him a mocking look, and Yosuke glared back.

Finally, he went to the door and opened it.

Runa Onodera stood there smiling, a bag in hand, and bowed deeply. “Good evening, Tao-kun, sorry to intrude.”

Seeing Yosuke inside, she bowed again. “Ah! Yosuke-kun, you’re here too. Sorry for the intrusion!”

Yosuke grinned sheepishly and returned the bow.

Tao Zhiming felt overwhelmed.

He had been reborn in Tokyo, just as the city was about to enter its golden age, but before he could even consider how to seize this miraculous opportunity to live an extraordinary life, one thing after another kept happening.

Sure enough, as soon as the door was opened, there on the wall beside it, written in wobbly red paint, were the words: [Think about it carefully!]

The threat was unmistakable.

Runa Onodera bowed repeatedly. “Um… Tao-kun, may I come in? You can name your conditions—anything I can meet, I will do my best!”

Tao Zhiming looked at the earnest woman before him.

Was it really appropriate to say something like that…