When You Finally Turn Around After Playing Enough, I’ll No Longer Be There - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: I Don’t Owe You:

Early morning. On the long plastic track, Chen Luo was drenched in sweat, running tirelessly. Memories flashed through his mind, pushing him not to stop.

“Chen Luo, I’m thirsty. Go buy me some water!”
“Chen Luo, I want a new phone. Buy it for me!”
“Chen Luo, I can’t finish my homework. You do the rest for me.”

For the past nine years, from elementary to middle school, Jiang Kewei had always bossed him around like this without the slightest burden. And he had always done everything without a word of complaint—picking her up every day, carrying her bags while shopping, even going out of his way to please her close friends. He once even rode his bike across an entire city just to take care of her when she was sick…

But on the day of their middle school graduation, when he finally mustered the courage to confess to Jiang Kewei, all he got was her disgusted glare.

“Chen Luo, I don’t like you. No one would like a fat pig weighing nearly 100 kilograms. Stay away from me. Your sweat stinks.”

That moment shattered him. He stood there like he’d lost his soul, frozen for a long time.

That summer, he survived on just half a bowl of porridge a day and finally lost weight before the new school term began.

He thought Jiang Kewei would finally look at him differently… but instead…

She met Xu Yi.

In terms of family background, his was the richest in Jiangcheng, while Xu Yi’s mother was only a janitor.
In terms of grades, he had ranked first in the Jiangcheng joint exams, Xu Yi was below him.
Yet Jiang Kewei still chose Xu Yi.

Every attempt he made to win her back was met with humiliation, until his self-esteem was crushed. He lived worse than a dog. He threw money at her, worked himself to exhaustion, and still gained nothing in return. Even his grades plummeted, and during the college entrance exam, Xu Yi completely outshined him.

Later, when Jiang Kewei decided to enter the entertainment industry, he fell out with his family just to throw tens of millions at her.

In the end, his parents died from anger, his family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Jiang Kewei, backed by the money he gave, secured her place in the entertainment circle and married Xu Yi, becoming the perfect golden couple everyone envied.

Though years later he rebuilt the family business and found his own happy life, his parents never came back…

In the dead of night, he would often dream of those foolish years, tears soaking his pillow, his heart torn to shreds.

Now, given another chance at life, he would never love Jiang Kewei again.

He still wanted to lose weight—but not for Jiang Kewei. It was for a better version of himself.

Just then, the phone in his shorts pocket rang. Chen Luo stopped running, took a few deep breaths to calm down, and pulled out his phone.

It was 2010. Smartphones had just started becoming popular. Most people hadn’t even seen one, but Chen Luo already had two.

One of them… he had given to Jiang Kewei.

With a cold gaze, Chen Luo answered the call.

“Chen Luo, what are you doing! Kewei sent you messages and you didn’t reply! She’s crying now, hurry up and go comfort her!” It was Song Qingyu, Jiang Kewei’s close friend.

“Running,” Chen Luo replied coldly.

“Ew, you must stink then. Wash up before you come. Don’t make our Kewei suffer the smell.”

Overweight people had a stronger body odor—something Jiang Kewei hated most about Chen Luo.

“I’m busy. I don’t have time.” Chen Luo no longer jumped to fulfill Jiang Kewei’s every request. His tone was cold and distant.

In his past life, even after losing weight, Jiang Kewei had never looked at him. Clearly, it wasn’t because he was fat. She just never liked him.

But if she didn’t like him, why did she keep ordering him around so freely?

He didn’t owe her anything.

“Chen Luo, what the hell is wrong with you? You made Kewei cry!”

Song Qingyu clearly hadn’t expected Chen Luo to act this way.

Chen Luo sneered, “What does her crying have to do with me?” Then he hung up the call decisively.

In the past, whenever Jiang Kewei cried, he would grovel and beg for forgiveness. He was even willing to kneel if that would make her happy.

Breathing in the fresh air, Chen Luo suddenly felt that without Jiang Kewei, the world had become much brighter.

Youth was vibrant, like wind dancing over fields. He wanted to explore the vast universe and the depth of the soul. As for Jiang Kewei, she would only become a shadow left behind—never again able to block his sky.

“Brother Luo!”

Chen Luo snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the voice.

The girl was still in her growing years, not fully matured yet, but already showing hints of astonishing beauty.

Sunlight bathed her in a golden glow, outlining her flawless figure. Her exposed skin was dazzlingly fair, and her long legs were particularly eye-catching.

“Panyue?”

Su Panyue ran over, her delicate face lit up with a bright smile. “Brother Luo, look at you, you’re sweating so much. Let me wipe it off for you.”

She reached out with her small, fair hand and picked up the dry towel Chen Luo had prepared on the steps, gently dabbing away his sweat.

Although he hadn’t slimmed down much yet, Chen Luo still looked round and chubby. But Su Panyue didn’t mind at all. She even stood on tiptoe to help him wipe his neck.

Her scent was like an August breeze, light and refreshing.

“Thank you, Panyue.” Chen Luo took the towel from her and smiled. “When school starts next month, if you have a lot of luggage, you can call me.”

“Ah… really?” Su Panyue widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.

“What’s there to lie about?” Chen Luo chuckled and gently ruffled her hair. They’d grown up together, so he didn’t mind being that familiar.

Su Panyue blushed and muttered, “I thought Brother Luo would help Jiang Kewei carry her luggage.”

“She’s not my sister.” Chen Luo leaned close to her ear and gently breathed out on purpose to tease the little girl, not expecting her cheeks to turn even redder.

Why hadn’t he noticed before how easily this little sister blushed?

Chen Luo chuckled silently and glanced at the sky. He waved at Su Panyue, “I’m heading home first. You should go home early too.”

…

The day before school started, Chen Luo looked at his reflection in the mirror, his smile growing wider.

The young man in the mirror had a tall, strong build. His long legs looked powerful. He wore a crisp white shirt, neat and clean.

His eyes, partially hidden by messy bangs, were clear and bright like stars. Overall, he looked elegant and handsome.

Looking at this version of himself, all the bitterness and frustration from his past life finally melted away.

Su Panyue had gone abroad for vacation a month ago, and today was the day she returned.

After saying goodbye to his mother, Chen Luo headed to the airport.

With his new appearance, Su Panyue would surely be pleasantly surprised.

As the scenery sped past outside the car window, Chen Luo couldn’t help but think of his past life—of the moment Su Panyue found out about his engagement to Jiang Kewei. The girl who always smiled so brightly instantly dimmed. She had hidden herself away and cried for a long time.

Later, she called him and said, “Brother Luo, I’m standing by the Aegean coast you love so much. The view is beautiful here. I won’t be attending your engagement party. I wish you happiness.”

He would never forget the disappointment and sorrow in her voice.