Living a Second Chance as the Richest Daughter

Anna spent the entire day with Adrian, buried in lines of code, formulas, and explanations that made her head spin. The room felt smaller as the hours dragged on, the only sounds being Adrian's precise instructions and the constant clacking of the keyboard.

Food had arrived at some point—snacks delivered by Mr. Jing—but neither of them had eaten much. Adrian was relentless, pushing Anna to understand every concept before allowing her even a moment's rest.

"Again," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Anna groaned, rubbing her temples. "Adrian, we've gone through this three times."

"Then you should have gotten it by now."

She shot him a glare but turned back to the screen, typing out the function once more. Her fingers trembled slightly from exhaustion, but she refused to give up.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he observed her. "You're slower than I expected."

Anna let out a short, dry laugh. "Wow. Encouraging words from my tutor. I feel so motivated."

Despite her sarcastic tone, Anna silently admitted that she really was slow at this. Back in high school, the most she had learned was Microsoft Word and Sheets. She had always wanted to explore more, but with no personal computer and no money to spare for internet cafés, the opportunity had never come.

But she couldn't let Adrian see that vulnerability. To him, she wasn't Anna—she was Shane. And Shane wasn't supposed to struggle with this.

He ignored her sarcasm. "If you want to pass that exam, you need to pick up the pace. Programming isn't just about memorization; it's about understanding logic and thinking ahead."

Anna inhaled deeply, pushing down her frustration. "I'm trying."

Adrian studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, he reached for the snack container and handed it to her. "Eat."

She blinked. "What?"

"You won't learn anything if you pass out." He nudged the container toward her. "Take a break."

It was the first time all day he had acknowledged that she might need rest. Anna hesitated, then took the snack, realizing only now how hungry she was.

As she ate, Adrian remained silent, watching her with an intensity that made her shift uncomfortably.

"What?" she asked, swallowing a bite.

"You're different," he said simply.

Anna stiffened. "Different?"

Adrian didn't elaborate. He held her gaze for a long moment, as if weighing his words, before shaking his head. "Never mind. Finish eating. We're not done yet."

Despite her exhaustion, Anna couldn't help but wonder—did he realize that Shane was acting differently than before? But Lucas had said that Adrian and Shane had never crossed paths, so how could he notice something was off?

Was it just an observation, or did Adrian know more than he was letting on?

She picked at the remaining food absentmindedly, her thoughts racing. If Adrian, who supposedly never interacted with Shane, could sense a difference, then who else might start noticing? Would Patricia? Would her professors?

A chill ran down her spine.

She needed to be more careful.

It was already 5 PM when Anna finally grasped everything Adrian had taught her. As she reviewed the notes she had brought with her, the concepts suddenly made sense—so much so that she stood up, a wide smile spreading across her face.

Adrian glanced at her, arching a brow. "You're happy just because you learned something?"

Anna beamed. "Of course! This means I have a real chance at passing the special exams. If I do, I'll officially be a second-year student next semester."

This meant everything to Anna. While Shane had been given a second chance to continue her studies, for Anna, it was the first real opportunity to pursue an education at all.

Adrian didn't respond. He simply shut down the computer and began gathering his things. Anna followed suit, still feeling the rush of satisfaction from finally understanding the material.

As they prepared to leave, she turned to him. "Thank you for teaching me. Tell me, how can I repay you?"

She knew that in Shane's life, money wasn't an issue. If Adrian wanted payment, it wouldn't be a problem. And if he didn't, Anna would still find another way to show her gratitude.

But Adrian barely spared her a glance as he replied, "No need. I'm good."

Anna frowned. "But—"

Adrian cut her off, his tone firm. "No buts, Shane Tiu. I don't need anything from you. Just make sure you pass." His gaze flickered toward her. "That's enough repayment."

Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "And I expect to see you next semester."

Anna blinked, caught off guard by his words. Did he just say he wanted to see her next semester?

Before she could overthink it, Adrian adjusted his bag and turned toward the door, leaving her standing there with an unfamiliar warmth spreading in her chest.

—

Anna was back at her apartment, completely immersed in her studies. Her focus was unshakable, and time blurred as she flipped through textbooks, solved practice problems, and typed out code with relentless determination. She only paused when absolutely necessary—when her mind begged for a breather, when hunger gnawed at her stomach, or when exhaustion forced her to sleep.

Days turned into nights, and nights into early mornings. The once daunting concepts of Computer Science started making more sense, piece by piece, thanks to Adrian's intense tutoring and the muscle memory that seemed to guide her in unexpected ways. She wasn't sure if it was truly Shane's knowledge lingering in the body she now occupied or if her own determination was forcing her to adapt. Either way, she had no choice but to succeed.

Two weeks passed in a blur of studying, and before she knew it, the day of the exam had arrived.

Anna stood at the gates of Royal University, inhaling deeply to steady her nerves. The air was crisp, filled with the usual chatter of students, but she barely heard any of it. Her focus was solely on what lay ahead.

Inside, she was led to an examination hall where the dean of the Computer Science and Information Technology Department waited. A tall man with a stern face, he exuded an air of authority that made Anna's pulse quicken.

He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "Shane Tiu," he addressed her, his voice even and professional. "As you know, this is an extensive examination designed to assess whether you have retained enough knowledge to advance to your second year. The test will span the entire day, broken into multiple sections."

Anna nodded, forcing herself to appear confident.

"You will have a thirty-minute break in the morning, another in the afternoon, and a full hour for lunch. Your results will determine if you move forward or repeat the year," he continued, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "Do you have any questions before we begin?"

Anna's grip tightened around her pen. There were a million thoughts running through her mind, but only one mattered—she had to pass.

"No questions," she said firmly.

The dean gave a curt nod. "Very well. Let's begin."

The dean handed Anna the test booklet for her first subject, followed by the questionnaire. She took a steadying breath and reached for her pen, retrieving it from her bag on the chair beside her. With a final glance at the clock, she forced herself to focus, her eyes scanning the first question.

The exam had officially begun.

Minutes turned into hours as Anna worked through each subject with unwavering concentration. Her mind raced through formulas, theories, and concepts, applying everything she had studied in the past two weeks.

After completing the first subject, she barely had time to catch her breath before diving straight into the second. By the time the first 30-minute break was announced, she finally exhaled, stretching her stiff fingers before setting her pen down.

The break passed in a blur. Anna absentmindedly sipped her water and nibbled on her sandwich, but her mind never truly rested. The muffled voices of the teachers chatting in the next room barely registered as she mentally replayed everything Adrian had drilled into her. Every lesson, every detail—it all circled in her mind, refusing to settle.

Then, it was back to the examination hall.

With every subject she completed, her confidence wavered between determination and doubt. The weight of expectation pressed against her, but she forced herself to keep going.

By lunchtime, exhaustion began creeping in.

Mr. Jing accompanied her to the Royal Café, offering quiet support. But Anna barely spoke. Instead, her mind was still deep in preparation for the afternoon session, where she would face her major subjects—Computer Science and Programming.

As she absentmindedly stirred her drink, her eyes landed on a familiar figure across the café.

Adrian.

He was sitting alone, scrolling through his laptop, his expression as unreadable as ever. He didn't acknowledge her presence, didn't glance in her direction.

Anna wasn't sure why, but something about it unsettled her.

Taking a deep breath, she shook off the feeling.

There was no time for distractions.

She had an exam to pass.

-

By the time the clock struck 5 PM, Anna had finally completed her exams. A wave of relief washed over her—she had survived the grueling major subjects.

As she stepped out of the examination room, Mr. Jing approached her, a warm smile on his face and a bouquet of fresh flowers in his hands.

"Congratulations, Shane," he said, extending the bouquet toward her.

Anna blinked, caught off guard. She hesitated before taking the flowers, her fingers brushing against the soft petals.

"This is too much, Mr. Jing," she said, shaking her head. "I don't even know if I passed all the subjects."

Mr. Jing chuckled, handing her the bouquet. "It's not about passing or failing. It's about the effort you put in. You worked hard, and that deserves to be acknowledged."

Anna hesitated before accepting the flowers, her fingers brushing against the soft petals. She glanced down at them, a strange warmth blooming in her chest. She had never received flowers from anyone before, and after such a long, exhausting day, the simple gesture felt unexpectedly significant.

"I just did what I had to do," she murmured, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Mr. Jing nodded approvingly. "That's exactly why I believe you'll pass."

Anna exhaled, the weight of the day slowly lifting. She didn't know her results yet, but she had survived. That was enough for now.

As they walked toward the exit, she caught a glimpse of Adrian standing by the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His gaze met hers for a brief second before he looked away, pushing himself off the wall and walking in the opposite direction.

Anna frowned slightly.

Had he been waiting? Or was it just a coincidence?

Shaking off the thought, she turned back to Mr. Jing, gripping the flowers a little tighter. No matter what happened next, today was a victory.