"I know this must sound unbelievable," Joey said. "Ever since I was born, I've been groomed to take over the family business. I had to get up before dawn every day, and my life was nothing but study after study—like a bird locked in a cage, with not a shred of freedom. I couldn't do what I loved, couldn't marry the person I loved...
"I can't stand this pre-scripted life anymore!" Joey grew more impassioned, walking over and gripping my shoulders. "I truly, genuinely envy people like you. Maybe money is tight, but at least your lives have flavor...
"Owen, all you have to do is nod, and everything I have becomes yours. The sports car at the door, the villa before your eyes, the money in the bank—even the entire Jansen empire—will all belong to you!"
My head buzzed as if a thousand propellers were spinning inside...
I had to admit, the picture he painted was deeply tempting!
9
"Even if I agreed, how would we actually swap lives?" I asked in confusion.
"It's simple. Just one surgery," Joey said confidently. "The procedure swaps our brains."
"Swap brains?" I blanched. Was medical technology really that advanced now?
"Don't worry. The doctor handling this is the top brain specialist in the world," Joey said, seeing my anxiety. "If I didn't have absolute confidence, I wouldn't risk my own life either."
"Even if the brain swap succeeds, our habits and preferences are completely different. How would we keep people from finding out?" I had more questions.
"I'll engineer an 'accident' to fake 'brain trauma-induced amnesia.' With that excuse, any unusual behavior becomes perfectly reasonable."
"..." It sounded like he'd really thought this through.
"You can go home and think about it, but decide quickly." Joey picked up a cigar and lit it. "Keep in mind—you're not my only option. In this world, there's no shortage of people who'd kill for a chance to skip to the top!"
10
Walking out of that lavish villa, I turned back for one more look. I half-expected it to transform into a desolate graveyard, like something out of a ghost story...
But it didn't. It just stood there, solid and real.
This was not a dream.
11
I didn't take any transportation. I just walked home.
By the time I reached the door of our rental apartment, I'd already made my decision.
Standing outside, I pulled out my phone and called Joey.
I told him I agreed.
"Are you sure about this?" Joey asked. "Once you swap lives, you'll have to sever all ties with your old life—including your family and friends."
"Yes, I'm sure," I replied. "From now on, I cut all ties with everyone."
"Can you really let go of your girlfriend?"
I took a deep breath. "Yes."
Staying with me—would Vivi really be happy? To be honest, I wasn't sure.
Vivi's parents had always looked down on me. They thought I was going nowhere and kept pressuring her to break up and go back to her hometown for arranged matchmaking.
After everything that had happened, I'd lost faith in myself.
Maybe letting go was the better choice for her.
She was so kind and lovable—she'd surely find someone better...
12
Gathering my courage, I pushed the door open.
Vivi was on the phone with her mom. It didn't take a genius to guess—it was the same old lecture.
I stood there for a moment, then slammed the door shut behind me. She jumped, quickly hanging up. "You're back! How did it go?"
"How do you think? We owe money," I said nastily. "Why are you complaining to your mom again? I'm not good enough for you, fine—there are plenty of better men out there. No need to hang yourself on this tree..."
I picked a fight with her, then broke up. She refused, of course, but my mind was made up. I packed her bags and pushed her out the door...
She stood outside crying for a long, long time. Eventually, she picked up her luggage and left.
Worried she might do something desperate, I followed her at a distance. Thankfully, she went to stay with a relative in the city. Once I saw she was safe, I headed back...
Back home, I slapped myself hard.
Saying it was for her own good—that was just an excuse!
Vivi, I'm sorry. I really didn't want to pass up this opportunity...
This was likely the only chance I'd ever have to turn my life around!
13
Before long, Joey and I completed the brain swap, and our lives were turned upside down from that moment on! When I stood before a mirror and looked at my brand-new self, I could barely believe my eyes...
I never in my wildest dreams imagined that one day I'd transform into a pampered young heir, a man of wealth and privilege!
Thanks to our prior preparations, I blended into the Jansen family seamlessly—even the shrewd old Mr. Jansen was fooled.
Don't understand business? A team of advisors made the decisions for me. Don't speak foreign languages? Professional interpreters were on call. If anyone questioned anything, we just trotted out the "brain trauma and amnesia" excuse—a get-out-of-jail-free card that solved everything.
Quickly, I adapted to my new identity, and to the feeling of being surrounded by admirers wherever I went, of having every command obeyed...
I was genuinely grateful for that car accident. It had brought me to Joey, given me the chance to experience a completely different life...
One day, while dining at a restaurant, I ran into "Porky." He'd been desperate to land a partnership with the Jansen Group and had been fawning over Joey for ages.
I had someone bring out a bowl of noodles and dumped it in front of him: "You want to work with us? Eat this."
The man actually crouched down and shoveled it into his mouth...
I stared in disbelief.
Money truly was an amazing thing. It could turn people into dogs, and dogs into people...
14
All along, I'd forced myself to forget the past. But one evening, my legs betrayed my brain—they carried me back to that old rental apartment.
In an instant, memories came flooding back. Thinking of every little moment with Vivi, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Months had passed—I wondered how she was doing now. Had she gone back to her hometown and let her parents arrange a marriage for her?
Just as my mind was wandering, two familiar figures appeared...
Vivi and Joey, walking arm in arm.
My God—they were together!
I was too stunned to hide.
But of course, Vivi couldn't recognize me now. In her eyes, I was just a stranger...
She walked past me with Joey, sweet and close.
Not long after, Joey came out alone.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, clearly annoyed.
"That's what I want to ask you!" I was even angrier.
15
After the life swap, Joey moved into my old apartment, found a job, and started living an ordinary life.
One evening, he came home and found someone waiting for him... Vivi.
Not only had she cleaned the place from top to bottom, she'd cooked a delicious meal.
Joey tried to brush her off, making cold remarks and telling her to leave. She left, but the next night, she was back...
From then on, she showed up every evening. Joey changed the locks, and she waited outside. Rain or shine, she never missed a night.
Eventually, Joey was moved. He accepted her, and they moved in together...
"Joey, you're despicable!" After hearing his story, I was livid. "You knew full well she was in love with me!"
Joey smirked. "Need I remind you—who are you now?"
"..." I was silenced.
"Owen, don't forget our agreement," Joey said coldly. "Unless you want to break the contract!"
Breaking the contract would mean canceling the swap and going back to being the same penniless nobody I'd always been...
I looked at the shabby apartment, then at the luxury sports car...
Once you've tasted meat, who'd want to go back to eating dirt?
"Joey, can I ask you for one thing?" I Said weakly. "Vivi is a good girl—pure and kind. Please treat her well. Give her the happiness she deserves..."
16
For every gain, there's a loss—that's the law of conservation in life. Once I made peace with that, I stopped agonizing over it. I had money now—what kind of woman couldn't I find?
But after my wild years, I sank into an even deeper emptiness...
I knew perfectly well that those women were only after my money. If I went back to being the old me, they'd scatter faster than rabbits...
My profligacy drew the ire of old Mr. Jansen. To make me settle down, he arranged a match for me—the daughter of a private business owner, an equal in status and wealth.