Living a Second Chance as the Richest Daughter

Mr. Jing gave her two weeks to prepare. Two weeks to prove she could handle Shane's life—at least academically.

To make things easier, Anna decided she needed to stay in the apartment full-time. The mansion was suffocating, and with Patricia lurking around, she wouldn't be able to focus. But there was one problem—Shane's father.

"Mr. Jing," Anna said hesitantly. "Can you call him? Ask for permission to let me stay here?"

Mr. Jing raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to speak to him yourself?"

Anna shook her head. "No. He's a stranger to me." The words felt heavy, but they were true. She had never met Shane's father, never spoken to him. Even when she had been in the hospital, he hadn't visited. There was no point pretending there was a bond between them.

Mr. Jing studied her for a moment before giving a short nod. "Alright. I'll handle it."

Anna watched as he made the call, speaking in a calm, measured tone. She couldn't hear what Shane's father said on the other end, but it didn't take long. When Mr. Jing hung up, his expression remained unreadable.

"You're free to stay here," he informed her.

Just like that. No questions, no conditions.

Anna frowned. "That's it? He didn't ask why?"

"He didn't need to," Mr. Jing replied simply. "You've lived here before. He expects you to make your own decisions."

Anna's chest tightened. There was something almost dismissive about it—as if her own father didn't care where she was. But she pushed the thought aside. This worked in her favor, and she wasn't going to dwell on it.

"Alright," she said. "Then let's start preparing."

Mr. Jing wasted no time. Within the hour, he had gathered all of Shane's schoolbooks, notebooks, and study materials. Anna sat at the massive dining table, staring at the pile in front of her.

"Is this everything?" she asked, flipping open a textbook.

"Yes. These are the books you used before your… hospitalization."

Anna nodded, running her fingers over the smooth pages. Shane had been a student, living this life, studying these subjects.

And now, she had to become her.

"Okay. I'll do this." Anna finally said before she started to flip the pages open. 

-

Anna started studying, determined to make the most of the two weeks she had.

At first, she was taken aback by how neat and elegant Shane's handwriting was—every letter perfectly formed, every note meticulously organized. It was nothing like her own hurried scribbles.

Curious, she picked up a pen and tried writing in one of the notebooks. The moment the pen touched the paper, her hand moved effortlessly, forming the same graceful script.

She stared at it.

Nothing changed.

Even though it was Anna's mind inside Shane's body, the handwriting remained the same—as if her muscles carried the memory of every stroke, every curve of each letter.

Frowning, she flipped through the notes. The subjects were complex, filled with theories and equations she knew she had never studied before. Yet as she read, something strange happened.

The knowledge clicked into place.

Formulas made sense. Concepts she had never seen before felt familiar. It wasn't just understanding—it was as if her brain already knew the information, like it had been locked away and was now being unlocked.

Anna leaned back, gripping the edge of the table.

This wasn't just studying.

So Anna spent her days immersed in Shane's studies, absorbing the knowledge as if she were recalling lessons from a past life. Concepts from different subjects came naturally—mathematics, literature, even business-related topics.

But then there was Computer Science.

Shane's major.

No matter how much she tried, the logic of programming wouldn't click. She understood the theories, could follow the explanations in Shane's notes, but the moment she attempted to write or analyze code, her brain felt sluggish—like hitting an invisible wall.

For two days, she forced herself to focus, hoping repetition would help.

It didn't.

Frustrated, Anna shut the textbook with a sigh and leaned back against the couch. If she wanted to pass as Shane, she couldn't afford to struggle with her own major.

There was only one solution.

"I need to visit the university," she murmured to herself.

Decision made, Anna grabbed her phone and called Mr. Jing.

"Mr. Jing," she said the moment he answered, "I need you to take me to my university."

As she spoke, she flipped through Shane's notebook and scattered belongings, searching for the name of the school. Then, her fingers landed on Shane's student ID.

Her breath hitched.

Royal University.

The most prestigious university in the world. A place where only the elite, the prodigies, or the unfathomably wealthy could step foot.

It wasn't just expensive—it was untouchable for someone like Anna.

Yet here she was, holding proof that Shane had been a student there. That she was supposed to be a student there.

Her grip tightened around the ID as unease twisted in her chest.

"Shane?" Mr. Jing's voice pulled her back. "Are you still there?"

Anna swallowed hard, forcing herself to push past the disbelief. "Yes. Sorry. Can you take me there?"

A brief pause. Then, Mr. Jing responded, "Of course. I'll be there in ten minutes."

As the call ended, Anna exhaled slowly, staring down at the ID once more.

Royal University.

Once, it had been an impossible dream. Now, it was her reality.

A reality she wasn't sure she was ready for.

—

The moment Anna stepped out of the car, she was overwhelmed.

Royal University was enormous.

The towering buildings stretched far beyond what her eyes could take in, their grand architecture speaking of prestige and wealth. The pathways were lined with carefully maintained trees and sculptures, and the students walking around were dressed in expensive, well-put-together outfits, exuding confidence.

Even the parking lot had its own dedicated building—something she had never seen before. It was a university, yes, but it felt more like an elite kingdom, and she was an outsider trespassing into a world that wasn't meant for her.

Mr. Jing stepped beside her, his sharp gaze scanning the area. "What do you need, Shane?" he asked, his voice calm but attentive.

Anna clenched Shane's student ID in her hand, forcing herself to focus. "I need someone who can help me with my Computer Science subjects," she admitted.

Mr. Jing studied her for a moment before giving a small nod. "You struggled with programming before, too. But you were too stubborn to ask for help."

Anna blinked. "I was?"

"You were. But I suppose this time, you're learning to rely on others."

His words made her pause. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Anna took a slow breath. It didn't matter. Right now, she needed to figure things out. "Do you know anyone who can tutor me?"

Mr. Jing's lips pressed into a thin line, as if considering something carefully. Then, after a moment, he said, "There is someone. But whether they'll help you or not… that's another question."

Anna frowned. "Who?"

Mr. Jing turned slightly, glancing toward one of the buildings. "Your senior. Adrian Lee."

The name meant nothing to Anna. But if he was someone who could help… then she had to find him.

"Where can I find him?" she asked.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Mr. Jing's lips. "In the Computer Science building. But be warned—he's not exactly the friendly type."

Anna squared her shoulders. "I'll take my chances."

With that, she took a step forward, ready to face whatever—or whoever—awaited her.

Anna and Mr. Jing stood outside the Computer Science Department office, the quiet hallway filled with the faint hum of students conversing in nearby classrooms. Though it was still summer vacation, Anna noticed a few students walking around, likely attending summer classes—explaining the unexpected presence of activity on campus.

Her gaze shifted to the door in front of her, where a sleek silver plaque read Department of Computer Science. The dark wooden frame surrounding it exuded an air of authority, making the space feel even more imposing.

Anna swallowed. She had no idea what to expect inside.

Mr. Jing shifted beside her, then glanced at his watch. "I'll wait for you in the parking lot," he said smoothly, stepping back.

Anna's eyes flickered toward him. "You're not coming in with me?"

Mr. Jing gave her a knowing look. "You don't need me for this."

She frowned. "But I don't even know who I'm supposed to talk to."

"You'll figure it out." His expression was unreadable, but there was an odd finality in his tone, as if this was something she had to do alone. Before she could argue, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there.

Anna sighed. Great. Just great.

Whatever—or whoever—was inside, she was about to find out.

Anna knocked on the door. After a few moments, it swung open, revealing a tall man standing in the doorway.

His brows furrowed at first, as if trying to place her—then, suddenly, his expression shifted to recognition.

"Shane, you're here!" he exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice.

The man grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her inside the office. Anna barely had time to react—his sudden enthusiasm caught her off guard.

Maybe this was Adrian Lee, the tutor Mr. Jing had recommended. But something felt off. Mr. Jing had mentioned that Adrian wasn't exactly the friendly type. And yet, this man was acting way too familiar with her.

"Adrian Lee?" Anna asked cautiously.

The man's expression immediately soured, his frown deepening. "Really? You're looking for our senior when I'm standing right in front of you?"

Anna blinked, now even more confused. If this wasn't Adrian, then who was he?

The man studied her face for a moment, his excitement dimming as confusion took over.

"Wait… don't you remember me?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Anna hesitated. She didn't even know who she was supposed to be remembering.

The man let out a short chuckle, though there was an edge of nervousness to it. "Oh well, I guess it makes sense. You were in the hospital for a while…" Then, as if something just clicked in his mind, his eyes widened.

"Wait. Don't tell me… did you get amnesia?"

His directness made Anna tense. She wasn't sure how to respond. Should she lie? Should she tell the truth?

Seeing her hesitate, the man's brows furrowed deeper. "Shane… do you really not remember me at all?"

Anna nodded. "I'm sorry. I don't remember you at all."

"Oh my god!"

Anna immediately caught the shift in his tone—shock, followed by something almost dramatic.

"I'm so sorry, girl!" he exclaimed before pulling her into a tight hug. The sudden embrace caught her off guard, but before she could react, he continued, "I should have visited you in the hospital, but your evil stepmother threatened me not to."

Anna stiffened. Patricia had threatened him?

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with cautious curiosity. "Are you… my friend?" she asked, hesitating. Did Shane even have friends? Was he one of them?

The man pulled back, looking at her with exaggerated disbelief.

"Are you my friend?" he repeated, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "Shane, that hurts. That really, really hurts."

Anna blinked, unsure how to react. He was expressive—too expressive for someone Mr. Jing described as not particularly friendly.

"And your name?" she pressed, ignoring his theatrics.

The man gasped, as if she had just delivered the ultimate betrayal. "You really don't remember me?"

Anna shook her head.

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Wow. This is depressing. But fine, I'll let it slide this time since you apparently have amnesia." Then, as if finally deciding to answer her, he placed a hand on his chest.

"Lucas. Lucas Park." He gave her a grin. "Your one and only best friend."

Anna stared at him. Best friend? Shane had a best friend?

She wasn't sure why, but hearing that sent a strange feeling through her.