What's Wrong with Changing to a New Wife? [Rebirth] - Chapter 1

Nine o’clock in the evening, and outside the window, the rain poured down in torrents.

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder. The relentless downpour beat against the glass panes, the sound unsettling and unnerving.

Inside, the lights were on. Gu Ji sat on the sofa, a doctor in a white coat standing beside him. On the coffee table lay an open medical kit and scattered bandages.

Hearing the sudden crack of thunder, Gu Ji glanced indifferently at the window.

The doctor, too, noticed the intensifying storm and sighed. “Mr. Gu, autumn rains chill to the bone. It’s only just the beginning of autumn, and it’s already rained several times. Your leg…”

The doctor caught himself, realizing he had spoken carelessly, and quickly fell silent.

He didn’t know how Mr. Gu had injured his leg, only that it was an old bone injury that hadn’t healed properly. On rainy or overcast days, it would ache with a persistent, needle-like pain that most people would find unbearable. Yet Mr. Gu never uttered a word of complaint.

The doctor closed the medical kit and offered his usual reminder. “The dressing has been changed. Be careful not to catch a chill these next few days, or you’ll suffer even more in the winter.”

Suddenly, a sharp ringtone cut through the air from the phone on the coffee table.

The doctor’s words were interrupted, and he instinctively glanced at the man seated on the sofa.

A few seconds later, Gu Ji picked up the phone and answered the call.

The room was quiet, and the doctor could clearly hear the voice on the other end—a cool, pleasant male voice.

“It’s raining. Come pick me up. I left in a hurry and forgot my umbrella.”

The doctor’s thoughts drifted momentarily. He had long heard that Mr. Gu had a male partner but had never met him. He assumed this must be Mr. Gu’s lover, but…

With such heavy rain outside, Mr. Gu’s leg couldn’t withstand the harsh wind and cold. He wouldn’t be able to go out, and Mr. Gu’s lover would have to take a taxi back on his own.

Gu Ji responded calmly, “Qingran, where are you?”

The doctor was taken aback. Realizing Gu Ji’s intention, he couldn’t help but interject, “Mr. Gu—”

“At the entrance of the newly opened bar on Jinfeng Street. Bring me a coat while you’re at it—it’s a bit cold. Hurry up.” Lin Qingran’s words were brief and to the point. Besides the pattering rain, the faint sound of cheerful jazz music could be heard in the background.

Gu Ji said, “Alright.”

The doctor’s tone turned serious. “Mr. Gu, your current physical condition isn’t suitable for going out. Don’t take this lightly. If you catch a chill, you could end up in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.”

The damp cold of rainy days could easily lead to chronic ailments, and no doctor could stand by and watch their patient neglect their health.

“Thank you.”

Gu Ji’s tone was polite but devoid of emotion, and he paid no heed to the doctor’s warning. He rose from the sofa and picked up a black overcoat from nearby.

As he stood, there was a subtle stiffness and unnaturalness in the movement of his right knee.

The doctor knew it was futile to persuade him further and shook his head.

He couldn’t help but wonder who exactly had made that call. If the person was Mr. Gu’s lover, how could they not know about his leg injury? Why would they ask him to venture out alone in such a heavy storm?

Moreover, from the sound of it, the caller was at a bar entrance. His voice didn’t sound intoxicated—if he was capable of going out on his own, why couldn’t he find his way back?

But if he wasn’t Mr. Gu’s lover, then why would Mr. Gu risk his health and brave the storm to pick him up?

Click—

The sound of the door opening echoed through the room.

Gu Ji picked up a black umbrella from the entryway. A wave of damp, chilly air rushed in from outside, and a sharp pain shot through his right leg.

The corridor lights were dim and yellowish. Hearing the noise, the doctor glanced over but only caught a glimpse of Mr. Gu’s retreating figure and the horrifying burn scars on the exposed skin at the nape of his neck.

…

Outside, the wind howled fiercely. The moment Gu Ji stepped out of the building, it felt as though ten thousand icy blades were piercing his leg bone. An intense wave of pain washed over him.

Frowning slightly, Gu Ji leaned against the wall for a moment, waiting for his body to gradually adjust before continuing toward the parked black car.

The interior of the car was considerably warmer than outside. By the time Gu Ji settled into the driver’s seat, a thin layer of cold sweat had already formed on his back.

The pain in his right leg had plagued him for years. At first, he had relied on a wheelchair, but the most unbearable phase had passed, and his condition was much better now.

The storm raged on, the sky dark and oppressive. The car windows were covered in an unwipeable haze of condensation, and the rain poured down as if a dam had burst, pounding against the car like hail.

A mechanical, subdued female voice came from the car radio—

“The meteorological observatory has issued a red rainstorm warning: heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the next three hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusts. The meteorological risk is high. Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautions.”

Under the oppressive darkness, the streets were nearly empty of pedestrians. A black car, almost blending into the night, sped past, splashing water from the ground.

A soft beep sounded. A new message had arrived on his phone.

Gu Ji glanced at his phone. The message was from “Qingran.”

“When will you arrive? How much longer?”

The rain intensified, making it difficult to see the road clearly.

Squinting slightly, Gu Ji turned the steering wheel, deciding to take a shortcut.

But out of nowhere, a large truck emerged from around the corner. Under the bleak sky, its headlights glowed a sinister crimson, like smeared blood.

Bang—

A loud crash echoed.

…

As his body absorbed the impact, Gu Ji’s mind suddenly cleared, as if the fog of the past had lifted.

He realized that the world he lived in was actually a novel titled The Aloof Beauty is a Tease, centered around a captivating protagonist who effortlessly charmed countless admirers.

The protagonist of the novel was Lin Qingran, and Gu Ji was one of the main love interests. However, since this was a story about a charismatic and promiscuous protagonist, numerous rival love interests and cannon fodder characters were introduced to highlight the protagonist’s appeal.

There was the childhood friend, the white archetype.

The college athlete and campus bully.

The seemingly gentle and refined teacher who was actually corrupt beneath the surface.

The obsessive, domineering CEO who took what he wanted by force.

…

Because of this, the novel was also nicknamed The Teasing Beauty and His N Number of Simps.

From Lin Qingran’s perspective, it was undoubtedly a satisfying romance. He received adoration from everyone without lifting a finger, and any man he fancied would compete for his affection.

But for Gu Ji, he was just one of the dogs in the story.

Gu Ji had met Lin Qingran in high school, falling for him at first sight. He pursued him for two years, and it was only after graduation that Lin Qingran finally agreed to be with him.

Later, they attended the same university. Lin Qingran had a cold and distant personality, so Gu Ji was always the one taking initiative, accommodating him in every matter, big or small. Even when Lin Qingran threw inexplicable tantrums, Gu Ji had to patiently coax him back, sacrificing his own dignity in the process.

Until one night, Gu Ji discovered Lin Qingran embracing and kissing someone else. It was the first time Gu Ji had ever lost his temper, but after Lin Qing choked back tears and apologized, Gu Ji still forgave him.

But this was only the beginning—the start of Gu Ji’s bitter fate.

Lin Qingran was the protagonist shou in the novel, the chosen one of destiny, the world’s favorite. And the protagonist gong in the story was nothing more than a tool, stripped of his dignity, kneeling at Lin Qingran’s side. Petted when in a good mood, kicked aside when displeased.

This kind of protagonist gong even had a pleasant-sounding name: the loyal dog.

In his youth, Gu Ji had been free-spirited and unrestrained. But after meeting Lin Qingran, he seemed to turn into a resentful, jealous husband, his life revolving entirely around Lin Qingran. Later, due to a sudden fire, Gu Ji was forced to use a wheelchair for two years. His personality gradually grew gloomy and irritable, to the point where he hardly recognized himself anymore.

Thus, in the years that followed, his daily routine consisted of bickering and competing with love rivals—a constant battlefield of jealousy. And Lin Qingran reveled in it, enjoying the feeling of being adored.

During those years, the ugly burn scars on his body and the disability in his legs became Gu Ji’s nightly nightmares. The physical pain was bearable, but what was harder to overcome was his self-loathing.

It was only on the brink of death that Gu Ji suddenly woke up.

The heavy rain continued, washing away all traces on the ground, and the world returned to silence.

…

…

Rongcheng University, Dormitory 3042, 7:30 a.m.

The urgent, overlapping sounds of alarm clocks rang out, were silenced, then rang out again, only to be silenced once more.

From the bed by the door, a messy red-haired head popped up, voice groggy: “Get up, guys. We’ve got morning class.”

A moment later, a hand drooped listlessly from the upper bunk. “Is it morning already?”

The red-haired guy had already climbed down, rubbing his eyes and yawning. “Your alarm was practically jumping in my face. Couldn’t you hear it?”

The upper bunk sighed, followed by the rustling sound of blankets being thrown aside. “Big Orange, toss me my pants.”

The red-haired guy, Cheng Zhuo, looked up irritably. “How many times have I told you? Why can’t you just put your pants on the bed before you sleep? Aren’t you embarrassed asking me to grab them every day?”

The guy in the upper bunk, Xu Jingyin, pulled open his curtain and said with flexible pride, “Brother Orange?”

Cheng Zhuo didn’t reply, but after a moment, he flung a pair of jeans up to the bunk.

Xu Jingyin pulled on his pants and climbed down, heading to wash up. Glancing at the bed by the balcony, its curtain drawn, he asked casually, “Is Brother Gu up?”

“Probably left already. He’s been getting up early these past couple of days to buy breakfast for his partner.” Cheng Zhuo was tugging on his own pants but glanced over and found it odd. “Brother Gu’s treating us like outsiders—even left his curtain pulled so tight.”

Sensing something off, Cheng Zhuo walked over and pulled back the curtain. Seeing the young man still lying in bed with his eyes closed, he chuckled. “He didn’t go today. Still asleep.”

Xu Jingyin came over as well. “What time did he get back to the dorm last night? How could he sleep through all that noise just now?”

Cheng Zhuo shook his head and reached out to nudge the young man on the bed. “Bro, time to get up. You’re gonna be late.”

The young man lay on his side, his skin pale, his sleeping face serene. Even after being nudged twice, he showed no sign of waking.

Xu Jingyin frowned slightly, bent down, and patted the boy’s hand twice. “Xiao Gu.”

“Could he be sick? He’s never slept this deeply before.” Cheng Zhuo panicked and reached for his phone. “Keep trying to wake him. I’ll call an ambulance.”

…

Gu Ji felt trapped in an inescapable dream, surrounded by darkness, unable to break free.

Until a familiar voice reached his ears, distant yet close.

“Xiao Gu, Gu Ji—”

Gu Ji’s eyes snapped open. Daylight flooded the room, revealing a familiar yet strange environment. When his gaze met the person standing beside him, his mind seemed to freeze for a moment.

“Jingyin…” Gu Ji murmured in confusion, thinking he was still dreaming.

The last time he had seen Xu Jingyin was two years ago. Jingyin had always been a rational person, but during their final meeting, he had thrown aside all dignity, pleading tearfully for Gu Ji to break up with Lin Qingran. After Gu Ji refused, Xu Jingyin left in silence, and they never saw each other again.

At that time, everyone around him had seen Lin Qingran’s true nature, but Gu Ji alone had been blinded, foolishly committing one mistake after another.

Seeing Gu Ji open his eyes, Xu Jingyin breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally awake! Chengzi, no need to make the call.”

Hearing the familiar nickname, Gu Ji sat up in bed and saw a boy with striking red hair.

Cheng Zhuo put down his phone. “Brother Gu, you were sleeping so soundly we couldn’t wake you. We almost thought something had happened to you.”

Seeing Cheng Zhuo alive and well, Gu Ji suddenly fell silent.

Two years ago, Cheng Zhuo had said he had something important to tell him, so they arranged to meet at a restaurant. In the middle of their meal, a fire suddenly broke out. The flames were fierce, as if they could devour everything.

Gu Ji was injured in that fire, but Cheng Zhuo never made it out.

Cheng Zhuo had often joked that his name contained the character for “fire,” meaning he would have great fortune and bring luck to his friends. Urging them to treat him well while they still could. Yet, in the end, he died in a fire.

Though Cheng Zhuo hadn’t had the chance to finish what he wanted to say that day, Gu Ji later pieced together from his lengthy preamble that he had likely intended to reveal Lin Qingran’s infidelity.

Deep down, Gu Ji had known that Lin Qingran was seeing multiple people at the time, but he had been so swayed by sweet words that he forgave every transgression.

Gu Ji had dreamed of Cheng Zhuo countless times, but never with such vividness. His memories blurred for a moment, and he whispered hoarsely, “Chengzi…”

Cheng Zhuo had never seen Gu Ji like this and curiously reached out to touch his forehead. “Have you lost your mind? Did you dream about me?”

“I never knew Brother Gu cared so deeply for me.”

Gu Ji murmured softly, “You didn’t die. You’re alive.”

Xu Jingyin burst into laughter, while Cheng Zhuo’s expression stiffened, and he withdrew his hand.

“You dreamed I died?!” Cheng Zhuo spat in disbelief. “What nonsense! Take it back right now.”

The two vibrant figures before him were nothing like the ones in his dreams. After a moment’s pause, Gu Ji glanced behind them, and his pupils contracted slightly.

The familiar furnishings and layout, scenes that had grown hazy in his memory, now stood vividly before his eyes.

Time seemed to stand still. Gu Ji instinctively touched his right leg. Through the fabric of his clothes, he could still feel the warmth and smoothness of his skin.

There was no piercing pain, no hideous scars.

Familiar friends were still before his eyes, and the worst of everything had yet to happen.

He had returned to ten years ago.