Returning to the Boss’s Youth

Zhang Yunyi, a twenty-seven-year-old corporate employee, wakes up in the body of her seventeen-year-old self on the first day of her senior year of high school. Initially believing she is experiencing a nightmare, she gradually accepts her rebirth after confirming the date and interacting with her old dormitory roommate, Dai Jia. Her previous life was marked by a failed brief stint in the entertainment industry and a stable but unfulfilling job as a corporate drone. She had recently returned to her hometown of Jiangzhou after her contract expired, only to be harassed by an ex-boyfriend before her sudden reincarnation. Now trapped in the grueling schedule of a Chinese high school senior, her primary concern is not romantic destiny or world domination, but the immediate terror of the upcoming college entrance exam.

The core conflict arises from the stark contrast between her adult mind and the academic demands of her teenage body. Having spent a decade away from formal education, Zhang Yunyi finds herself unable to recall basic mathematical formulas and scientific concepts. Her first few days are marked by exhaustion, confusion, and a desperate struggle to maintain her composure in class. She realizes that her ten years of future knowledge offer little practical advantage in solving high school chemistry problems or understanding complex physics equations. The pressure mounts as she faces monthly exams and the relentless pace of senior year, forcing her to confront the reality that she must work hard to preserve the life she previously took for granted.

A significant turning point occurs when Zhang Yunyi encounters Chen Kuo, her former high school class monitor and, in her future timeline, the CEO of a successful tech company. In her past life, she worked for his firm but had minimal interaction with him, viewing him merely as a boss who once helped her deal with a harasser. Upon rebirth, she recognizes him as a key figure in her future success and decides to proactively rebuild their relationship. She initiates small gestures of kindness, such as paying for his drinks and returning favors, aiming to establish a rapport that will benefit her career prospects later. Chen Kuo, initially reserved and focused solely on his studies, begins to notice her persistent but polite attempts at connection.

As Zhang Yunyi navigates her new reality, she also deals with the reappearance of Li Jiayue, a boy she dated in her previous life. Their past relationship ended due to his possessive and controlling behavior, which she now recognizes as toxic. Determined not to repeat her mistakes, she coldly distances herself from him, prioritizing her academic survival over romantic entanglements. Meanwhile, she reconnects with old friends like Xu Shishi and Fei Shijie, observing their youthful dynamics with a mature perspective. She uses her knowledge of their future paths to subtly guide her own actions, such as seeking out Fei Shijie for coffee runs to stay connected with Chen Kuo’s inner circle.

The story follows Zhang Yunyi’s gradual adaptation to the rigorous high school routine. She adopts disciplined habits, such as waking up early to study on the track and consuming caffeine to stay alert during long classes. Her interactions with Chen Kuo become more frequent, moving from awkward encounters to casual conversations about study methods and daily life. Although Chen Kuo remains largely enigmatic and focused, he begins to reciprocate her small gestures, such as offering her milk during a morning run. The narrative highlights her internal journey from despair to acceptance, as she realizes that while she cannot change the past, she can strategically navigate the present to secure a better future. The chapter ends with her finding a fragile balance between her adult consciousness and her teenage environment, setting the stage for her continued efforts to excel academically and build meaningful connections.