## My younger brother, Lucas Harris, had always been jealous of me—jealous of my smart mind, my achievements, and especially my beautiful, capable wife, Emily. Spoiled rotten by our parents since birth, his jealousy eventually drove him to madness. One day, in a fit of rage and desperation, he grabbed me and jumped off the rooftop with me. Little did I know, that wasn’t the end. We were somehow reborn… and swapped bodies. Now, he’s me, and I’ve become him. Lucas used my stellar grades to get into college, stole my identity to woo my wife, and even tried to replicate my business successes from my previous life. He strutted around, smugly showing off his “achievements,” thinking I’d lose my mind in anger. What he didn’t realize was that I couldn’t be happier. My life, which seemed perfect on the surface, was actually a complete mess. Now that he’s taken over, all I can say is: Thank you for jumping into the pit on my behalf! “Do you know how much I’ve envied you?” Lucas slurred, his voice dripping with resentment. “Your brains, your success, your perfect life—and Emily, your gorgeous wife. If I were you, I’d do so much better than you ever could.” I stared at him, feeling a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite name. Lucas had called me out for drinks, setting up a small table on the rooftop with some takeout and beer. It had been years since we’d seen each other, and his sudden invitation caught me off guard. But after just a few drinks, he didn’t even try to hide his bitterness. He went on and on, rambling about petty grievances and ancient history. He thought my life was perfect—flawless, even. What he didn’t know was that beneath the shiny exterior, it was all a façade, held together by duct tape and sheer willpower. I wanted to tell him that happiness isn’t something you can steal; it’s not as simple as taking someone else’s life. But what was the point? Lucas’s bloodshot eyes burned with jealousy, and I could feel his hatred bubbling just beneath the surface. I said nothing, simply downed another drink, letting the bitterness of my life drown in the alcohol. “Do you even understand?” Lucas’s voice cracked as he continued. “I’m at the end of my rope.” “What do you mean?” I asked, my mind hazy from the alcohol. “Everyone looks down on me! I just wanted to prove myself!” His voice grew louder. “I borrowed money to start a business, but it failed. Now I’m drowning in debt. I thought I could gamble my way out of it, but now I owe even more. Loan sharks are after me!” His face twisted with rage as he smashed an empty beer bottle against the table. “It’s not fair! Why do you get everything handed to you on a silver platter while I’m stuck in this endless nightmare? If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me!” “What the hell are you talking about? You’re drunk,” I muttered, trying to steady myself. Before I could react, Lucas grabbed me by the arm. That’s when I noticed the needle marks on his arm. This idiot. Was he high?! Before I could pull away, he laughed maniacally and dragged me toward the edge of the rooftop. And then he jumped—taking me with him. The wind roared in my ears as we plummeted. In those final seconds, clarity hit me like a freight train. Regret? Sure. But there was also a strange sense of relief. And then… darkness. I don’t know how much time passed before I heard a familiar voice. “Hey, wake up! The teacher’s coming!” I opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh classroom lights. I was slumped over a desk, surrounded by the all-too-familiar sights and smells of high school. Wait… how did I end up here? I glanced around and realized I was sitting in the back row—right next to the trash can. Before I could process what was happening, I noticed a boy sitting in the front row. He turned around, flashing me a smug grin. It was my face—my high school face. Panicked, I looked down and saw the name written on my textbooks: Lucas Harris. It hit me like a ton of bricks. We hadn’t just been reborn—we’d swapped bodies! Lucas, now wearing my face, looked absolutely thrilled. He grinned like a kid on Christmas morning, clearly basking in the glory of his new identity. But little did he know, the real nightmare was just beginning. “Hey, what’s with the blank stare?” I turned to see the girl sitting beside me. It was Ivy—Lucas’s future wife and my future sister-in-law. Back in high school, Ivy came from a poor family in a small rural town. She couldn’t afford to board at school, so she commuted long distances every day, working part-time jobs to support her family. She barely slept—maybe three or four hours a night—and used her lunch breaks to catch up on homework. Despite her hard work, her grades were always middling at best. Her teachers eventually moved her to the back row, deeming her a lost cause. Ivy was sweet and kind, but Lucas had always looked down on her, calling her plain and boring. He preferred flashy, high-maintenance girls who posted selfies on social media or hung out at nightclubs. But for some reason, Lucas and Ivy eventually ended up together. They even got married. At the time, I was in college, too busy with my own life to pay much attention to theirs. Now, as I sat beside her, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. “Nothing,” I said, forcing a smile. Lucas’s life might have seemed miserable to him, but in many ways, it was far better than mine. If he didn’t want it, I’d gladly take it off his hands. High school graduation was just around the corner. With my previous knowledge, catching up on material was a breeze. Lucas, on the other hand, was doomed. He’d wasted three years partying and slacking off—and now, with only a month until finals, he was hopelessly behind. This was the turning point.
The last month of senior year is all about review, but I was already behind. To make up for it, I decided to start from scratch—digging into the trickiest problems from freshman and sophomore year, mastering them one by one before moving on to the next topic. During a break, Lucas Harris swaggered over to me, whistling with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His face was plastered with a smug, mocking grin. “Well, well, look who’s hitting the books,” he said, laughing. “Why so serious? Come on, let’s ditch this and have some fun!” I glanced up at him without much expression. “Final exams are around the corner. Shouldn’t you be studying?” The memories of my past life and everything Lucas had done were still fresh in my mind. The moment he dragged me off that rooftop, any warmth I felt for him as a brother had completely vanished. All that remained was cold indifference. “What’s the point? I’ve got early admission; no need to study,” Lucas said with a grin, clearly enjoying himself. His words jogged my memory. Back in senior year, I’d been offered early admission to a decent college too, but I turned it down. I wanted to shoot for a top-tier school. Unfortunately, on the day of the entrance exam, I came down with a mysterious stomach bug and completely bombed the test. In the end, I wound up at the same school I’d originally been offered. No matter. This time around, I was determined to do better. Because everything I’d ever achieved was through my own efforts. That’s where my confidence came from. “Oh, congratulations,” I replied flatly, brushing him off. Lucas clearly expected me to react with jealousy or anger, and when I didn’t, he looked disappointed and wandered off, muttering to himself. I went back to my practice problems, focusing on rebuilding the knowledge I’d lost over the years. I couldn’t help but notice something, though—Lucas’s body was incredible. He’d always been physically strong, the type who never got sick no matter how much he pushed himself. Growing up, he was the kid who excelled at sports and could fight anyone without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, I’d been practically raised on medication. A slight draft could leave me bedridden for days. Later in life, years of drinking and stress led to liver cancer, something I kept secret from everyone, even my family. This time, I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes. Health is the foundation for everything else. While I was deep in thought, Ivy nudged me with her elbow. “Are you feeling okay? You’re actually studying today,” she said, giving me a skeptical look. Then she paused, her brow furrowing. “And you’re not picking a fight with your brother? Normally, you two would be at each other’s throats by now. What’s going on? You’re acting… different.” I smiled but didn’t explain. Ivy was kindhearted and hardworking—someone I’d always respected. Despite her difficult circumstances, she remained uncomplaining and resilient. After she married Lucas in our previous lives, she still took care of his family without a single complaint. Back then, I couldn’t help but think: What a waste. A good girl like her deserved so much better than Lucas. The homeroom teacher soon handed out an impromptu quiz. We were instructed to swap papers with our desk partners for grading after we finished. I breezed through the test and finished in no time, while Ivy struggled, occasionally nodding off from exhaustion. When we exchanged papers, I scored close to a perfect score, while Ivy’s answers were… well, let’s just say they weren’t great. “You… cheated, didn’t you?” Ivy said, staring at my paper in disbelief. “No, wait, I was watching you the whole time. Have you been secretly studying behind my back?” “These problems aren’t that hard,” I said casually. She glanced at her own paper, her expression falling. “Not hard? Then why can’t I understand a single one? Maybe I really am just stupid.” Her dejected look made me feel a pang of guilt. In all likelihood, once I went off to college, Ivy and I wouldn’t cross paths again. Unless… “What are your plans after graduation?” I asked. Ivy hesitated, lowering her head. “My dad says if I don’t get into college, I should just find someone to marry.” That explained why she was pushing herself so hard. And it also explained why she and Lucas ended up together after graduation. “How about this—I’ll tutor you,” I offered. She gave me a doubtful look, sizing me up. “You?” “Don’t believe me?” “I believe you, alright,” she said with a sigh. “After that score you just got, no one in class could match it. But even if someone helps me study, I don’t have time to sleep, let alone focus.” “That’s easy to fix. Move into the dorms. I’ll cover your room and board,” I said. She narrowed her eyes. “Where are you getting the money? And since when are you so nice to me? Did you hit your head or something?” “Just say yes or no,” I replied bluntly. This was probably Ivy’s only chance to rewrite her future. How could she refuse? She agreed almost immediately, saying she’d tell her parents she’d saved up enough money to afford the dorm fees. I wasn’t entirely sure how much progress we could make in just a month, but I was determined to try my best. As for the money? That wasn’t an issue. Back in my previous life, a friend and I had once bought lottery tickets on a whim after school. He picked my birthday and a few lucky numbers, while I picked random ones. He ended up winning $50,000, and the store even hung up a banner celebrating the win for weeks. I’d always thought, If only I had been the one to win. And now? Well, let’s just say I had a good memory—and a need for cash.
I bought a lottery ticket and waited for the results. Sure enough, I won. The money isn’t a huge amount, but after taxes, it was enough to land in my account quickly. I sent a few hundred dollars to Ivy so she could cover her room and board fees. With proper sleep and less stress, she was much more energetic, though she was still behind on her studies. While helping her catch up, I also reinforced my own knowledge. Before I knew it, a month had flown by. On the day of the college entrance exams, I gave a solid performance. For my college choice, I selected the same school I attended in my previous life. After much consideration, I realized going back had its advantages: I could make the most of my knowledge from my past life, and I missed my old classmates. Ivy, on the other hand, exceeded expectations and scored above the threshold for a second-tier university. When it came time to select her school, she picked one close to mine. To my parents, having both sons go to college was a cause for celebration. They immediately threw a party, inviting family and friends to a graduation feast. That was when I discovered the perks of being the “younger brother.” At the party, my parents completely ignored me. All their attention was on Lucas—no, now he was Gavin Harris. They fawned over him endlessly, showering him with praise and high hopes. In my previous life, this kind of neglect would’ve fueled jealousy and resentment. But now? I leaned back and smiled coldly as I watched Gavin bask in the spotlight. The higher they lift him now, the harder he’ll fall later. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way. Soon, Gavin and I started college at the same time. Ivy also enrolled at a nearby school, and we stayed in touch. She was busy balancing her studies with a part-time job to cover tuition and living expenses. As for Gavin? He was living it up. He skipped classes, stayed out all night, and was constantly on the dormitory’s violation list. His name appeared on every notice for truancy and disciplinary warnings. One day, I stopped by the café where Ivy worked part-time to bring her some food. That’s when I ran into Gavin. He was holding hands with a beautiful girl—stylishly dressed, with flawless makeup that screamed wealth. I recognized her immediately. It was Nancy, my wife from my previous life. “Well, well, if it isn’t my old classmate,” Gavin said with a smug grin, spotting Ivy first. “Wait, no—my old desk partner! What are you doing working here?” Then his eyes landed on me. His expression shifted into one of triumph, as if to say, Look, the stunning, rich wife you once had is now mine. He looked so pleased with himself, it was almost laughable.
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