Alex Chen was fifty-five years old—an age when most men were preparing to retire and enjoy the calm of their later years.
But fate, at least in his eyes, had always been merciless.
"Huff… this weather is awful. It's spring, yet it feels like summer. Tsk, tsk."
Giving up on resting, he stepped out of the cramped guard booth where he had spent most of his later years working as a security guard in a run-down residential complex.
He lifted his head and looked at the full moon hanging in the night sky. Petals from nearby cherry trees drifted gently to the ground. It was a beautiful spring night.
Yet to Alex, there was nothing beautiful about it.
"Hah… what have I been doing with my life?"
His dark eyes were empty and lifeless. Neither the moonlight nor the falling blossoms could soothe the ache in his chest.
In his prime, Alex had once been a manager at a large corporation. He had status, income, and a future.
But everything collapsed after he was framed for corruption.
He was fired overnight.
From that day forward, he was blacklisted by nearly every company in the city. The pressure crushed him. Alcohol became his escape. Gambling became his downfall.
So it was no surprise when his wife left him.
Nor was it surprising when his daughter cut off all contact.
By the time Alex finally realized how badly he had ruined his life…
…it was already too late.
"No point crying over spilled milk," he muttered bitterly.
"The past is dead—just like this old man's luck."
He turned on the old radio inside the booth. Static filled the air before an outdated song, probably from the '80s, began to play. He softly hummed along, barely aware of the lyrics.
Over the years as a security guard, he had seen all kinds of people—rude tenants, arrogant elites, classist scumbags… and also the kind ones. The patient ones. The cheerful ones.
Thinking about it now…
Maybe his life hadn't been completely worthless.
That was when—
A sharp honk pierced the night.
"Hey! Are you deaf?! Can't you hear me?!"
Alex flinched and turned toward the sound.
A sleek sports car had stopped nearby. A man in his mid-forties leaned out the window, his expression impatient and irritated.
The man was Jason Jin, the owner and landlord of this dilapidated apartment complex. He wore a black tuxedo with dark blue stripes, looking far more expensive than the building he owned.
Alex never understood it.
This place looked like it might collapse from a mild earthquake, yet Jason acted like some high-profile tycoon.
If there was one thing Alex knew for certain, it was this—
I hate this brat. Can't he show some respect for his elders?
"Y-Yes, boss! Sorry!" Alex replied quickly.
He hurried out of the guard booth and jogged toward Jason, who had already stepped out of the car and opened the trunk.
"Take this up to my room," Jason ordered casually as he lit a cigarette.
"But, boss… the elevator is broken," Alex said hesitantly, glancing at the massive golf bag inside the trunk.
"And?" Jason sneered. "Isn't that part of your job? Move it, old man. Or do you want me to cut your salary again for being lazy?"
The words hit Alex hard.
He had no choice.
"…Fine. This old body still has some strength left."
He gave a small bow and lifted the bag.
It was absurdly heavy.
His back bent under the weight, forcing him into a hunched posture as he shuffled forward at a painfully slow pace.
"Hey! Hurry up!" Jason mocked from ahead.
"You're lucky I even let you work here! No one else would hire a slow, miserable old man like you!"
Alex kept his head lowered, his wrinkled face expressionless, his eyes hollow.
He knew there was nothing he could do.
Then—
Everything happened in an instant.
His body was suddenly hurled sideways.
The impact was violent. The golf bag burst open, clubs and equipment scattering across the road.
Alex crashed to the ground.
Pain exploded through his body—blinding, overwhelming pain. Something warm flowed down from his forehead.
Did… did I just get hit?
Struggling, he turned his head.
A car stood not far away.
Alex let out a weak, bitter chuckle.
"So this is how it ends… dying like a stray dog on the roadside…"
His vision blurred. Darkness crept in.
"God… if you're real… please… just give me one more chance…"
There was no answer.
His body grew colder.
And with one final breath—
Alex Chen's tragic life came to an end on that beautiful spring night, beneath a blanket of fallen petals, struck down by a drunk driver.
…Or so he thought.
[Ding!]
[Your prayer has been heard!]
[The God of Wealth and Love pities your unfortunate life and grants you a second chance!]
[Message from the God of Wealth and Love: Use your second life wisely! Gather as many sexy wo— no, as much love as possible, and become rich!!! Let's gooooo!!!]
[Establishing new body for host…]
[10%]
[50%]
[100%]
[New body established successfully!]
[Establishing system…]
[System established successfully!]
[Host: Alex Zhao has been successfully linked to the "Affinity Money Maker System."]
[All system functions are now accessible.]