Volume One, Chapter One: Am I Really the Only One in the World Who Hasn’t Been Reborn?

“Dorm leader, you woke me up in the middle of the night just to tell me you’ve been reborn?” Chu Xinghe stared at the man before him as if he were an idiot. Zhou Borin, a burly Northeasterner, was his college roommate and the leader of dorm room 303.

It was three in the morning. Just ten minutes ago, Zhou Borin had roused everyone in the dorm with urgent insistence that he had something of utmost importance to share. Suppressing his irritation at being woken, Chu Xinghe had sat down, expecting to hear what could possibly justify such a commotion. Zhou Borin, with grave sincerity, informed them that the end of the world was imminent, and that he had returned from two years in the future.

“Second, third, fourth, you have to believe me. I’m not lying. The strangeness is about to invade this world, and many people will die.” Zhou Borin clutched at his hair in anguish. He knew that what he was saying was outrageous, and it would be impossible to convince them in such a short time.

“I believe you, dorm leader.”

“I believe you too, dorm leader.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but—huh?” Zhou Borin’s head snapped up to look at Second, Du Zijue, and Third, Chen Jiahao. This wasn’t at all how he imagined it would go. Shouldn’t they all doubt him, forcing him to perform a series of miraculous predictions until, finally, everyone was shocked and exclaimed, “Could you really have been reborn?” Then they’d unite to prevent the apocalypse—just like the rebirth novels he’d read.

“Wait, you’re just going to believe him? Are you two still half asleep?” Now it was Chu Xinghe’s turn to be incredulous. Such an outdated rebirth plot wouldn’t even attract readers in a novel, yet here, in reality, someone actually believed it.

“Xinghe, I can prove the dorm leader is telling the truth, because I’ve been reborn as well.” Du Zijue’s words stunned the room.

“Two years from now, Blue Star will face the apocalypse. Countless humans will die in a worldwide invasion of strangeness.”

“As for what the strangeness is, I can’t explain it clearly. No one knows their origin. You can simply regard them as a kind of supernatural disaster.”

“Most of these events are extremely lethal. If an ordinary person gets caught up in them, death is almost inevitable. And that’s not even considering the apocalypse two years from now—before that, a third of the global population will die from strangeness-related incidents.”

Having finished, Du Zijue looked empathetically at Zhou Borin. He didn’t know why fate had chosen the two of them for rebirth, but he knew the task of saving the world now rested on their shoulders.

“Great, now another one’s lost his mind.” Chu Xinghe shook his head in despair, pinning all his hopes on Chen Jiahao, the usually reliable third roommate. Surely he wouldn’t join in this madness.

“Actually, I’ll be honest—I’ve been reborn as well,” Chen Jiahao interrupted the emotional exchange between Zhou Borin and Du Zijue, revealing information only a reborn person would know:

“When noon comes tomorrow, the first nationwide invasion of strangeness will erupt in the city center of Dayan. Thousands will die. I think we need to do something!”

What! Another expert!

Du Zijue and Zhou Borin simultaneously turned to Chen Jiahao. Now the task of saving the world rested on the three of them.

The three linked arms and laughed heartily, but soon their gaze fell on Chu Xinghe, who stood bewildered, the scene growing more unsettling by the second.

“Fourth, don’t pretend. You must have been reborn too.”

“Yeah, we’re all brothers—don’t leave us out.”

“Xinghe, time is short. We need your help.”

The intense scrutiny from the three men made Chu Xinghe’s scalp tingle. He instinctively stepped back and clapped stiffly. “I admit, you three put on a great performance. These applause are for you. But I have an interview downtown tomorrow morning, so I’ll go back to sleep.”

“Who’s performing? You still don’t believe us?”

“The city center is about to be thrown into chaos, and you’re worried about your interview?”

“Xinghe, you really don’t remember anything?”

Their overlapping voices made Chu Xinghe’s head buzz. How could he remember anything? Anyone would be stunned if roused in the middle of the night only to be told the world was ending.

Ring, ring, ring—

Just as Chu Xinghe debated whether to lose his temper, his phone rang. The others fell silent, waiting for him to answer.

He glanced at the caller ID—it was his mother. Why would his family call him in the dead of night? Had something happened at home?

Alarmed, he answered, but before he could speak, his parents’ anxious voices came through the receiver:

“Son, hurry and take a cab home. The city center is about to be engulfed in a massive invasion of strangeness.”

“Oh, stop treating him like a child! Son, do what you need to with confidence. Your father is here to look after things at home.”

Chu Xinghe was utterly bewildered. Why were his parents talking about such nonsense? “Strangeness invasion”—weren’t these just stories made up by Du Zijue and the others?

Suddenly, his message box began to vibrate wildly, bombarding him with notifications like a blizzard:

[Dayan City Emergency Management Bureau]: A nationwide “hallucination” event is suspected. Cause unknown. Experts are launching a full investigation. Citizens are advised not to panic and to minimize unnecessary outings.

[Dayan Observer Web]: Is it “hallucination” or “rebirth”? Click to learn more. Here’s everything you want to know.

[Yancheng Institute of Technology]: By order, all students must remain in their dorms. No wandering allowed. Faculty will soon conduct roll call. Severe penalties for violators.

[Unknown text]: Xinghe, I’ve been reborn too. This time, let’s never be apart.

[Unknown text]: Xinghe, are you okay? It’s chaos outside. Please stay safe.

[Unknown text]: Where are you? Reply when you can.

[Unknown text]: Xinghe, it’s me, Tang Qin—the cutest, most obedient. I really want to see you right now.

[Unknown text]: Captain, help! I’m your most loyal subordinate, Wang Defa. I’m trapped at the Jackdown International Hotel in the city center.

……

“?”

Chu Xinghe stared at the flood of messages from strangers, all speaking as if they knew him intimately. Who were these people?

Why had the world changed so dramatically after just one night’s sleep? Could it be—

“So, the apocalypse is real? You all have truly been reborn?”

“Wait—what about me?”

“Am I the only person in the world who hasn’t been reborn?”