Chapter 127 (Extra 3): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

The Fang family, while not among the top-tier billionaires, was still a prestigious household with total assets exceeding 10 billion yuan.

As the youngest master of the Fang family, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Fang Ziyang was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Especially since he also held the right to inherit half of his grandfather’s multi-billion yuan estate.

In this lifetime, even if he chose to do absolutely nothing, his wealth and status alone would ensure a life of luxury and comfort.

Until the age of 17, Fang Ziyang believed he was one of the happiest people in the world.

He had endless wealth to spend; a father who doted on him; a fiancé who truly loved him and was exceptionally outstanding; and the freedom to avoid studying things he didn’t like.

His father indulged him in everything he wanted, supporting all his hobbies and desires, even if others considered them frivolous or useless.

The only downsides might have been: at home, having an annoying older brother who constantly argued with him and competed for things; and at school, dealing with a pretentious classmate who always acted fake in front of him.

But overall, his life was nothing short of perfect.

Before turning 17, Fang Ziyang thought he must have saved the world in his previous life for the heavens to grant him such a blissful existence in this one.

Even though he wasn’t superstitious, he was genuinely grateful to the universe for bestowing him with so many rare and precious blessings.

But after he turned 17, he came to realize that his so-called happiness was nothing but an illusion, a carefully orchestrated lie…

Even though many years have passed, Fang Ziyang still remembers how he first began uncovering the truth.

The first person whose mask he saw through was Xie Wenxu, his fiancé.

This was the man who had once pursued him with grand romantic gestures, who had once promised to love him for a lifetime. But in the end, this man betrayed him.

Fang Ziyang didn’t know who had sent him the photo of Xie Wenxu and Yan Tong kissing intimately. Nor did he care to investigate the sender’s intentions. All he knew was that the photo revealed a brutal truth:

Xie Wenxu had betrayed him. And the person he cheated with was none other than Yan Tong, the classmate Fang Ziyang despised the most.

“How could Xie Wenxu do this? That bastard! He was the one who shamelessly chased after you, acting like he was the most devoted man alive. And now, after getting you, he cheats? This is outrageous!”

Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu voiced their anger, indignantly standing up for him.

Fang Ziyang was furious and heartbroken too.

From a young age, he had rarely faced any grievances. His father’s love had shaped him into someone with a fiery temper, quick to anger, and unwilling to suffer even the slightest injustice.

Especially when it came to something like infidelity—no one could tolerate such betrayal.

At 17, Fang Ziyang was impulsive and naïve, entirely unversed in manipulation or hidden schemes, especially when it came to people he trusted, like family and loved ones.

Without a second thought, he ran directly to confront Xie Wenxu.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t let go of Xie Wenxu. Fang Ziyang did like him, but not to the extent of being unable to live without him. All of his affection stemmed from the deep love and passion Xie Wenxu had shown him.

For a young person, who could resist the scorching, pure love that felt as intense as molten lava?

The reason Fang Ziyang liked him and agreed to the engagement was entirely due to Xie Wenxu’s earnest and unwavering devotion.

Xie Wenxu had been willing to give up everything for him, even relinquishing his position as heir to the Xie family. Such a passionate lover moved Fang Ziyang to try and accept this relationship and to give his own heart in return.

But if Xie Wenxu no longer loved him, Fang Ziyang wouldn’t cling to the relationship.

Fang Ziyang had his pride and his boundaries. While he might be an arrogant and spoiled young master, he was always forthright and clear about right and wrong.

Love isn’t something every couple can sustain indefinitely. Breakups and reconciliations along the way are normal—there’s no need for drama. If things didn’t work out, they could part on good terms.

What Fang Ziyang couldn’t understand was why Xie Wenxu had to trample on his dignity and humiliate him so cruelly. He desperately wanted to know.

---

Predictably, the confrontation didn’t go as smoothly or as positively as Fang Ziyang had hoped.

He didn’t know if Xie Wenxu had always been like this or if he had been influenced by something sinister, but the way he changed during that confrontation left Fang Ziyang feeling both alienated and heartbroken.

All Fang Ziyang wanted was to have a straightforward conversation, to clarify their feelings and their engagement. Sure, there was some anger and questioning over the betrayal, but he truly didn’t intend to cause trouble.

Yet somehow, things spiraled out of control. He, the victim, was suddenly painted as the malicious, unreasonable young master making a scene.

“Enough, Fang Ziyang! How long are you going to keep this up? I’ve already told you, this has nothing to do with Xiao Tong! We’re innocent—it’s just that we’ve been spending more time together recently. That photo was obviously staged by someone to create misunderstandings. Can’t you be more mature and think things through?”

“You’re always like this—impulsive and foolish, causing chaos wherever you go. Ziyang, I can’t take this anymore. If you keep acting like this, maybe we really shouldn’t continue.”

Xie Wenxu’s angry and weary demeanor made him look like a victim of an unreasonable, tantrum-throwing boyfriend.

The people around them couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Xie Wenxu.

After all, their social standings had never been…

Their social standings were never equal. Fang Ziyang and Xie Wenxu’s engagement had always been the subject of gossip within their circle. People said it was Fang Ziyang’s great luck and fortune to have “climbed” into the Xie family. So, when Xie Wenxu treated his supposedly talentless and face-only fiancé so well, how could Fang Ziyang dare to throw tantrums or cause trouble?

Everyone seemed to forget one crucial fact: Fang Ziyang never cared about the Xie family.

He agreed to the engagement solely because of Xie Wenxu’s fiery and pure devotion.

---

“Foolish? Xie Wenxu, even if this photo was staged, just look at the emotions overflowing from your eyes in it. Do you think I’m blind or a fool? If I were to believe your words right now, I’d truly be the foolish one!”

“If you don’t love me anymore, just tell me directly. I won’t cling to you. Why humiliate me like this? Fine. Since you can’t stand me anymore, let’s break off the engagement. I’ll be ready whenever you are!”

Fang Ziyang was so angry he didn’t want to waste another word. Continuing the conversation felt like a complete drain of energy.

He had never known Xie Wenxu to have such a talent for twisting the truth.

Him causing trouble? What trouble had he caused? As the victim of infidelity, was he not even allowed to question his fiancé?

What an utterly ridiculous situation.

At the time, Fang Ziyang didn’t overthink things. Having grown up pampered, he was every bit a young master who couldn’t tolerate such grievances.

“Once unfaithful, forever unreliable.” He would never forgive someone who betrayed him—especially when that someone had the gall to fall for Yan Tong, the pretentious, fake classmate he despised most.

The engagement? The man? He wanted neither.

Even though there was pain and sadness deep in his heart, Fang Ziyang had his pride and self-respect. He wouldn’t lose himself or his dignity for love.

He thought this was the end of it.

He expected to break off the engagement with Xie Wenxu, and from then on, they’d go their separate ways. Life moves on. Everyone encounters a scumbag or two—it’s best to cut your losses and move forward.

But what happened next was far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Ending the engagement with Xie Wenxu turned out to be anything but simple.

It turned out that, in order to be with Fang Ziyang in the first place, Xie Wenxu had signed an agreement with Xie Zheng. The terms stated that if Xie Wenxu himself initiated the breakup, he would lose his status as the Xie family’s heir.

Perhaps it was Xie Zheng’s way of punishing Xie Wenxu for his impulsive recklessness, or maybe it was a test of his resolve. Either way, it was a reminder that everyone must take responsibility for their actions and choices.

Back then, Xie Wenxu had signed the agreement confidently, full of assurance in himself.

But the reality was clear: he didn’t live up to his promises.

Xie Wenxu, unwilling to lose everything, naturally refused to take the initiative to end the engagement. On the other hand, Fang Ziyang couldn’t propose it either, as his father wouldn’t allow it. For once, his doting father didn’t indulge him; this time, in his father’s eyes, interests outweighed his happiness.

Suddenly, Fang Ziyang realized that everything he had believed in felt so unreal. His life might not have been as beautiful as he had imagined. The cruel reality was beginning to reveal itself.

The matter of breaking off the engagement came to a stalemate.

Fang Ziyang felt frustrated and lost.

Thankfully, his friends Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu were there to comfort him, helping him stay grounded. He thought to himself: Fine, I’ll just drag it out. After all, I’m not the one in a hurry. As long as the engagement remains, Xie Wenxu and Yan Tong can never openly be together. I can wait.

His optimism gave him a brief reprieve.

But what happened next completely shattered his resolve and pushed him into despair.

One day, Yan Tong suddenly approached him, saying provocative and taunting things. Fang Ziyang, unable to hold back, ended up in a heated argument with him and stormed off.

The very next day, Fang Ziyang’s name appeared on Weibo’s trending topics, painted as the villain in a school bullying scandal.

Everything happened so fast and so inexplicably that he had no chance to react.

Under the weight of overwhelming public criticism, he became the target of nationwide hatred—a spoiled, arrogant, and malicious rich kid.

During that time, Fang Ziyang was inundated with countless harassing phone calls, texts, WeChat messages, and hateful comments in his Weibo inbox—all brimming with malice.

Even his father and older brother constantly berated him, while the household staff looked at him with unspoken judgment in their eyes.

At just 17 years old, having grown up pampered and shielded, Fang Ziyang had never faced such adversity. The pressure was unbearable.

He couldn’t handle it. The emotional toll was so severe that he nearly developed a mental illness. He was too afraid to leave the house, face anyone, or even touch any form of communication or social media. Locking himself in his room was the only way he could shut out the torrent of hostility.

In this state, it was no surprise that his performance on his college entrance exams was abysmal. But that was only the beginning.

After the exams and as the bullying scandal gradually died down, Fang Ziyang managed to endure that dark period and planned to study abroad for a fresh start.

But one drunken night destroyed his hopes once again.

He couldn’t remember exactly what happened that evening.

All he knew was that Xie Wenxu had contacted him, claiming he wanted to discuss the engagement properly and inviting him to meet at a private club.

At that time, he didn’t think too much about it. After all, his engagement with Xie Wenxu had to be resolved, and since Xie Wenxu took the initiative to speak up, there was no reason for him to refuse.

Most importantly, he didn’t want any more involvement with these people.

He wasn’t stupid; he just hadn’t thought things through before. But after the bullying incident, when neither Xie Wenxu, his father, nor his older brother offered any support, he started to realize some things.

He began to feel as though he was living in a trap controlled by others.

He sensed a looming threat, panic, and suffocation. His instincts told him to leave immediately.

So, he went to the meeting.

Even when he saw Yan Tong, the person he despised and hated, at the meeting, he said nothing. He just wanted to end everything quickly and start over.

At first, everything seemed to go smoothly.

But Yan Tong seemed to be his nemesis, always opposing him and causing trouble. With just a few words, Yan Tong managed to derail his conversation with Xie Wenxu, and the negotiation fell apart. In the end, they got into an argument, and the engagement was once again left unresolved.

He stormed out of the club in frustration.

What he didn’t expect, however, was that he would encounter a cliché, drama-style scenario of being drugged!

He didn’t dare go home.

One, there wasn’t enough time; two, he no longer felt safe there.

In the end, he had no choice but to quickly find a nearby hotel, planning to lock himself away and ride it out.

He sensed someone with ill intentions was following him, so he had to find a safe place immediately.

After that, his memories became blurry.

The effects of the drug were so strong that his mind quickly became foggy.

While trying to find his room with the key card, he bumped into someone. The other person seemed to be in a similar state, and the two of them, both drugged and disoriented, collided. The consequences were predictable…

A night of madness.

When he finally regained consciousness, his body ached from the aftermath, and the room was in a disarray of intimate mess. His memories were hazy, filled with blurred images of entangled moments.

His mind was completely blank.

The bed beside him was cold, showing that the other person had already left.

But he didn’t feel like the person was bad.

He noticed a note left on the nightstand with a contact number and a message saying they would take responsibility.

There was also a ring, clearly expensive.

But he didn’t feel happy at all.

He couldn’t accept the fact that he had been with a stranger. He didn’t know what to do. His mind was a complete mess.

He didn’t touch the note the man had left behind. In a daze, he quickly got dressed and left the hotel.

Afterward, he tried to mentally prepare himself, forcing himself to forget that absurd night and convinced himself it had all been a dream.

But two months later, he found out he was pregnant.

He had underestimated the person who drugged him—this was never just about a one-night mistake. That person had intended to ruin him completely. The child became an indelible mark, a source of his shame and humiliation.

Xie Wenxu used this as an excuse to end their engagement. His father and older brother revealed their ugly sides, heartlessly kicking him out of the house. His uncle, having believed Yan Tong’s words, ignored what had happened to him and stood by idly. Even his friends turned away, leaving him with nothing but disdain and mockery in their eyes.

Once again, he felt the world’s malice—almost everyone had abandoned him. The only ones still willing to help were Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu.

That day, he finally cried.

Exhausted, physically and emotionally drained, he collapsed on the side of the road, sobbing uncontrollably.

He wasn’t as strong as he had imagined.

At that time, he was just 18—a young man who had only just come of age and had yet to experience much of the world.

The continuous blows to his life had caused serious psychological damage.

He began to fear interacting with people, going out, and learning about the outside world. He felt as though everyone around him could harm him, that everyone harbored endless malice toward him.

Even Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, who had always helped him, he couldn’t bring himself to fully trust.

Every night, he couldn’t sleep. As soon as he did, he dreamt of the scorn, insults, and mockery from everyone—the malicious eyes and expressions.

On top of that, the baby inside him caused constant discomfort, bringing painful pregnancy symptoms.

A double torment—mental and physical—wore him down, leading to severe insomnia and a complete mess of his life.

He had thought about terminating the pregnancy.

Because he hated it. Despite the baby having done nothing wrong, it was just an excuse for the people who had ruined his life. Even without the baby, they wouldn’t have spared him.

But he still couldn’t help but lash out.

The baby shouldn’t even exist. It was all an accident. This baby wasn’t wanted at all…

But in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

One reason was that he was too young, and it would cause immense harm to his body. The second reason…

He couldn’t bring himself to be that ruthless.

In the end, he suddenly remembered the note and ring the stranger had left after that night.

The note showed that the stranger was responsible.

The ring, both in material and design, was clearly a masterpiece, a luxurious item crafted by a master. It suggested that the stranger was likely wealthy and influential.

By some strange twist of fate, the intense hatred and emotional blow made him consider seeking out this man as his backer.

Given the man’s apparent character, regardless of his reputation, maybe, out of sympathy for the baby, he would be willing to help?

Fang Ziyang knew his thoughts at the time were weak and pitiful.

But he couldn’t accept it. He hated the people who had hurt him. He wasn’t willing to let the people who wronged him go on living happily, knowing that he had been crushed.

The immense pressure and blow hadn’t broken him. Instead, it sparked a rebellious streak inside him.

He picked himself up.

He saw a psychologist and started a medical file for the baby’s check-ups at the hospital.

He was going to live, to bring this baby into the world, and then find that stranger.

This was his only chance to turn things around.

With this belief, he managed to push through the dark times.

Gradually, he began to develop a fatherly bond with the baby, beyond any sense of mere survival.

No matter what, the baby had his blood running through its veins. That night had been an accident. The ones he should hate were the ones who had schemed against him. His downfall had nothing to do with the baby or the stranger.

He started looking forward to the baby’s birth.

In his gray world, he no longer felt so oppressed. Life seemed to have a new sense of hope and expectation.

But perhaps his life was just one big joke. Every time he saw hope, reality would strike him down hard.

The baby was lost.

One month before the baby was due, his older brother, Fang Qianhao, suddenly came to him, seeking the inheritance rights to their grandfather’s estate.

They had an intense argument, during which Fang Qianhao pushed him to the ground.

The baby was prematurely born and passed away less than two hours after birth.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Fang. The baby’s development was hindered due to the emotional fluctuations you went through during the pregnancy, along with malnutrition. When you fell, the impact likely hit your stomach, and… I’m sorry, Mr. Fang. Please accept my condolences.”

Fang Ziyang couldn’t describe what he felt when he heard those words.

At that moment, he felt as though the entire world had lost its color. His eyes…

Only the desolate black and white remained.

In that moment, he suddenly lost the courage to keep living.

The entire world seemed filled with malice toward him. He was so tired, so hurt, his heart was cold.

If he died, would he no longer have to face this pain?

He lay in the hospital for a month, like a walking corpse.

Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu came to see him every day, worriedly telling him stories, talking about the happy times they’d had, telling him anything that might help him pull through.

He knew they genuinely cared for him, but he was starting to lose the strength to go on.

A month later, when the two weren’t paying attention, he cut his own wrist.

Even though such an action felt incredibly weak, he just wanted to be free of it all.

As he felt the blood flow from his body, slowly losing his life, his heart was indifferent.

But when he saw on the TV screen across from his bed, an advertisement showing Yan Tong’s face—his eyes gleaming with triumphant satisfaction…

Suddenly, a strong will to survive ignited within him.

He couldn’t die.

These people had pushed him to hell, and yet they were living so freely. If he was going to die, he would drag them all down with him.

His fists clenched tightly.

Finally, he pressed the call button on the bed…

That day was his 19th birthday.

From that day on, he was no longer the carefree young master Fang Ziyang he once was.

He became like a villain in a novel—the wicked, expendable character, the cunning male antagonist. He used every means possible to exact revenge on those who harmed him, opposing Yan Tong at all costs.

He worked day and night, researching, scheming.

Like a madman, he relentlessly targeted Yan Tong and others. Although each of his schemes failed, they made Yan Tong and the others despise him even more.

But just doing that wasn’t enough to satisfy him. Yan Tong and the others still lived their lives in glory.

Meanwhile, in the endless battles, his situation worsened. He lived like a rat crossing the street, hated by everyone. He didn’t even dare to leave his room, trapped in the darkness.

To change this situation, he decided to participate in the Hongmeng Computer Competition.

If he won, he could gain official protection and support. No matter how powerful Yan Tong and the others were, they couldn’t reach him with the official backing.

But he couldn’t compete alone. He had to find partners.

During this process, he encountered the person who completely pushed him into hell, Shi Liang Chen, a person who constantly oscillates between the devil and the angel.

He thought his dark life was finally starting to turn toward the light.
Shi Liangchen was a good friend, a harmonious partner. Like sunlight, he slowly drove away the haze in his dark world.
They discussed research together, talked about the dreams he had nearly forgotten.
Those days were the most comfortable and carefree part of his life during those ten dark years.
But heaven always liked to play tricks on him.
Shi Liangchen was not his friend. He was the sword that Yan Tong sent to deliver the final blow.
All the research materials they discussed together were sold out by Shi Liangchen to Yan Tong. In the end, during the Hongmeng Computer Competition, he was accused of stealing other people’s research achievements.
This time, he was completely finished.

“You said we were friends, didn’t you?”

He looked at Shi Liangchen calmly. He should have been extremely angry and desperate, but strangely, at that moment, there wasn’t even the slightest ripple in his heart.
Perhaps because he had faced it so many times, he had gotten used to it.
How could a numbed heart still beat?

“I’m… sorry.”

Shi Liangchen didn’t explain. He just reluctantly uttered those three words, his gaze filled with complexity and pain.
He actually already guessed the reason for Shi Liangchen’s betrayal.
It was all for Shi Meijing. Shi Liangchen had sacrificed so much for his sister, but unfortunately, the truth was that Shi Meijing wasn’t as pure and kind as she appeared on the surface.
Shi Liangchen was guilty and tormented.
But in the end, he chose to hurt him.

He had once heard that Xie Zheng was a “heavenly star” cursed with bad luck.
But at this moment,
He felt that perhaps he was the true cursed one.
All those who got close to him—whether family or friends—either had ulterior motives or were dragged down by him.
Maybe in a past life, or the one before that, he was the great demon who destroyed the world, and that was why the heavens treated him this way in this life.

He closed his eyes wearily.
In the end, he had failed. Failed completely.

He was sent to prison, but didn’t stay for long before being taken away.
Yan Tong had a foreign financial tycoon named Mo Er by his side. The Mo family was involved in both legal and illegal activities, known for their ruthlessness and brutal tactics. Their methods often made death seem more merciful than the suffering they inflicted.

He didn’t understand where Yan Tong’s immense hostility toward him came from. Even when he had reached such a low point, Yan Tong still wouldn’t let him go.

Mo Er, encouraged by Yan Tong, had him taken aboard the Caesar cruise ship.

He didn’t even know how to describe the place.

In short, once good-looking men and women boarded this cruise, they were reduced to nothing but “playthings.” Their future lives could only be described as “dark and hopeless.”

Faced with such a future, his numbed heart felt the crushing weight of despair once more.

And then, at that moment,

Shi Liangchen appeared again. Overcome with guilt, he sacrificed his own life to save him.

The grudges between them could be considered settled.

But his fate was still destined for an end.

Everything Shi Liangchen had done was in vain.

He was too weak, his body fragile. How could he escape from those relentlessly chasing him? It was all futile struggles.

Standing on the rooftop, he looked at the snarling, fierce faces below, the muscular figures.

A cold smile slowly spread across his face. “If there really are ghosts in this world, I would trade my life for endless lifetimes, turning into a vengeful spirit, making you wish you were never born…”

At the final moment of his life,

There was nothing he could do. The only thing he could do was make a pale and powerless wish to the heavens.

It was laughable, sad, and full of regret.

He truly couldn’t die in peace.

His body fell.

Blood splattered across the ground.

He hoped he could become a vengeful ghost…

But…

When he opened his eyes again,

What he saw wasn’t hell, but his high school class advisor.

He had returned to the past, to the day his fate turned, back to the time when everyone was casting him aside.

Looking at the familiar yet strange surroundings,

He couldn’t help but show the most genuine and brilliant smile he had in ten years.

His fingers dug deeply into his palm.

A fresh start, how wonderful.