Chapter 2 - Power

Chapter 2 - Power

Capital Beijing

Eastern District, North Heping Street.

Dong Xuebing was still in shock over his near-death experience from the day before. If time hadn't miraculously rewound, he wouldn't have had the chance to see his mother or Aunt Xuan again. This was the first time he truly felt grateful for being alive. After a night filled with thoughts racing through his mind, he didn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning. That's why it was well past ten in the morning when he finally woke up. He got up from his old, squeaky spring couch and headed to the washroom. As he washed his face, he yawned and called out toward the bedroom, "Mum, are you awake?" he said.

Dong Xuebing's mother, Luan Xiaoping, replied from the bedroom, "I'm awake, and I'm cleaning up the room. Do you still want breakfast?"

"I'll wait for lunch," Dong Xuebing said. But he noticed something off in his mother's voice. Concerned, he immediately pushed the door open and saw his mother sitting on the bed. She quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand when she noticed him enter. She turned to him with a forced smile, tucking an old black-and-white photograph back into her wallet. It was her wedding photo, taken more than 20 years ago.

"Thinking of Dad?" Dong Xuebing asked, his heart aching as he sat down beside her.

"No... I'm not," Luan Xiaoping said, carefully placing the wallet away. "I just saw it while cleaning and took it out for a look."

This had happened countless times over the years. Dong Xuebing knew his mother was a sensitive woman. Every time she recalled unpleasant memories, she would hide in her room and cry. Feeling guilty, Dong Xuebing said, "Mum, it's all my fault for being so useless. I couldn't study well, and I don't have any skills. I don't think I'll pass the Civil Servant test. All I've done is work part-time at Panjiayuan Antique Market during my holidays. If I were just a bit more capable, maybe I could have raised enough money for Dad's medical bills, and he might still be around."

Luan Xiaoping patted her son's leg. "Stop talking nonsense. I know my son is the most capable, and he'll be a top government official in the future," she said, trying to comfort him.

Dong Xuebing wanted to say more but held his words back. Instead, he just nodded silently.

His mother smiled and gently touched his hand. "Don't think too much about it. I'll make you a good lunch later," she said.

Lunch was a plate of stir-fried garlic pork, steamed cabbage, and half a pot of congee. This was considered a luxurious meal in Dong Xuebing's household. Usually, when he was alone at home, he wouldn't indulge in such dishes. He would just cook some rice, stir-fry some vegetables, and eat that for both lunch and dinner. It wasn't that Dong Xuebing was frugal; his family was really poor.

At 23 years old, Dong Xuebing had just graduated. He was of average looks and height—everything about him was ordinary. His family's savings didn't even reach five figures. During the year when his father was hospitalized, they used up all their savings. In the end, they even had to sell their house. The one-bedroom apartment they were living in now was rented. After his father passed away, his mother lost her job because she took too much time off to care for him. The cost of living in Beijing was too high, so she returned to her hometown in the countryside to work as a teacher. She tried her best to earn enough money for Dong Xuebing's university fees and only returned to Beijing for one or two months during school holidays to be with her son.

All the living expenses—rent, bills, everything—depended on Luan Xiaoping's meager salary, which wasn't enough. This was why Dong Xuebing took on part-time jobs as a cashier in supermarkets or odd jobs at the Antique Market during holidays and weekends. Other than his school fees, he was paying for everything else. He could make a living without asking for money from his mother. 

Life was tough, but four years passed quickly.

After lunch, Dong Xuebing's mother cleaned up the dishes and watched some old black-and-white programs on TV. Dong Xuebing returned to the bedroom and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Now that all the universities in Beijing no longer guaranteed jobs for their graduates, he worried about his future. He had just graduated from Beijing Union University, and if he failed the Civil Servant test, what would he do?

*How amazing would it be if I really had supernatural powers?* Dong Xuebing thought. He had tried so many times last night, but nothing had happened.

*Maybe I should try again?* he wondered.

The door creaked open, and his mother entered, speaking gently. "I'm going upstairs to talk to Mrs. Xu. I heard her son is also taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask him to help you with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies," she explained.

Dong Xuebing felt a tightness in his chest. He mumbled a reply and watched as his mother left the room, closing the door behind her. 

Gritting his teeth, Dong Xuebing calmed himself before starting his experiment again.

*Turn back! Move back! Retreat! Back!* he thought, trying to will time to rewind.

Dong Xuebing felt something strange, but when he looked around, nothing seemed different. *Maybe those aren't the right words,* he thought, feeling disappointed.

Just as he was about to try another set of random words, the bedroom door opened again.

His mother walked in and spoke the same words she had just said a minute ago. "I'm going upstairs to talk to Mrs. Xu. I heard her son is also taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask him to help you with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies."

Dong Xuebing was stunned. "Ah?" he said, startled.

*This is exactly what happened 50 to 60 seconds ago,* he thought.

Seeing her son's reaction, Luan Xiaoping continued softly, "Mum knows you have your pride, but Xiao Dong nearly scored full marks on his exams last year. If he helps you with your revisions, you might stand a better chance of passing."

"That's not what I meant," Dong Xuebing replied, still in a daze.

His mother looked at him with concern. "Then I'll be going now," she said before leaving the room.

After she left, Dong Xuebing gave himself a slap. "That's it! I succeeded!" he thought excitedly.

Suppressing his joy, he grabbed a small orange-colored alarm clock from the shelf. He stared at the clock's hands and repeated the "magic words" again.

Turn back! Move back! Retreat! Back! Dong Xuebing continued to chant these words from afternoon until night. After dinner, he kept going. Finally, at 12:02 AM and 28 seconds, he successfully rewound time, returning to 12:01 AM and 28 seconds—exactly one minute!

No words could explain the excitement Dong Xuebing felt. 

If this is real, and I can do this every day...* Dong Xuebing thought as he turned on the old 29-inch TV to check the time. A military program was on, and the time was shown at the top right corner: 23:59:19. *It seems the "Back" ability resets at midnight, and I can only use it once a day, he concluded, trying to make sense of his newfound power.

Oh my god! If this is indeed real, lady luck has finally smiled on me! he thought, grinning ear to ear.