Chapter 1

In my previous life, when the lab caught fire, I was pinned under a bookshelf, unable to move.

But Veronica grabbed her beloved Ethan's hand and fled with the data drive, never looking back.

After my rebirth, I quit the research group and cut all ties with her.

Seven years later at a university alumni gathering, she clung to Ethan's arm and mocked me for being a washed-up book restoration worker.

When their academic fraud was exposed on the spot, the Quinn family pulled their funding and loan sharks came knocking. They turned on each other in the mud.

I stood on the awards podium while Sabrina held our son's hand and applauded warmly.

Veronica clutched an old magazine on the street corner, murmuring, "Adrian..."

And I leaned down to kiss Sabrina's lips, whispering softly, "Darling, let's go home."

Adrian's POV

In my previous life, when the fire broke out, my wife's first instinct was to grab her true love Ethan and run out of the lab.

She completely ignored me, trapped under a fallen bookshelf and unable to move.

After my rebirth, rescued just in time, I pulled out my IV and walked out the door.

From that moment on, we went our separate ways.

Seven years later, I encountered my ex-wife at a top-tier academic conference. She and Ethan mistook me for a maintenance worker and tried to throw me out.

Little did they know, the conference they'd worked so hard to sneak into was only held to please me.

I never expected to see Veronica again in this lifetime.

At the university's alumni reunion, Veronica stood arm-in-arm with Ethan in the center of the crowd, no longer showing the exhaustion from staying up late revising papers years ago.

People around her constantly praised and flattered her.

"Professor Reed is exceptional in academia, and Professor Hayes has an overseas background. You two are truly our university's dream couple."

Brilliant lights shone on stage, with a banner reading "Annual Alumni Reunion."

Ethan stood in his tailored suit, confidently gripping the microphone.

"Our joint key laboratory will officially open at the end of this year. We welcome all colleagues in the field to visit and exchange ideas."

Veronica took the microphone, her voice carrying through the speakers across the venue.

"Research requires patience. We want to deliver the most rigorous results to the academic community."

She looked at Ethan, her eyes full of admiration.

The audience erupted in applause.

As the two returned to the lounge, people began whispering.

"They've been working together for seven years, and they've been researching that project for seven years too. How come they only just became professors?"

"I heard there used to be a really talented data analyst. After they left, progress slowed down considerably."

I stood in the shadows watching this scene unfold.

Without my core algorithms, it took them a full seven years to barely scrape together enough achievements to qualify for professorships.

If my son hadn't snuck out while I was working, I would never have set foot in this place again in this lifetime.

I moved through the crowd, trying to find that familiar small figure.

The venue was carpeted in red, with champagne displayed on the refreshment tables.

Everyone around wore elegant attire. My outfit looked completely out of place.

A university administrator holding a wine glass frowned and avoided me, brushing off his sleeve in disgust.

I ignored him, scanning the area beneath the refreshment tables.

Suddenly, commotion erupted ahead.

The figure I was looking for flashed past and darted into the main exhibition hall.

I instinctively quickened my pace and accidentally bumped into a volunteer distributing brochures.

"Crash!"

Glossy brochures scattered across the floor.

The volunteer spun around, saw my appearance, and immediately raised their voice.

"Which maintenance department are you from? Can't you see guests without credentials aren't allowed in the core area?!"

The previously noisy conversations instantly quieted, and countless eyes turned toward me.

I bent down to pick up a brochure and brushed off the dust.

"Sorry, I'm looking for someone."

"Looking for someone? There are only experts and professors here. Who are you looking for? The cleaning supervisor?"