Two months had passed in the blink of an eye.

In that short time, Vivian's strength had grown at an incredible pace.

He had not only broken through to the 5th star but had already reached the middle stage of it.

His progress was nothing short of shocking.

For most people, moving from the 4th star to the 5th would take years of hard work, countless sleepless nights, and endless training.

Yet Vivian had done it in just two months.

If anyone else were to hear about it, they would be left speechless, perhaps even doubting their own efforts.

Some might even bite their tongues in disbelief and shame, wondering how someone could grow so fast when they themselves struggled to take even a single step forward.

But Vivian's rapid rise wasn't just talent, it was determination, discipline, and something deeper burning within him, something that refused to let him stay ordinary.

In these two months, he hadn't taken a single day to rest.

Every moment was carefully spent.

Six hours each day were used to train his body until it reached its limits, and twelve hours were devoted to cultivation, pushing his energy and focus further than ever before.

The few hours left were only enough for a bit of sleep before he began again.

This strict schedule was what allowed him to reach the mid stage of the 5th star in such a short span of two months, a result that would sound impossible to most.

And today, just as it had happened in his past life, he was summoned by his grandfather.

Vivian already knew what this meeting meant.

Still, as he stood at the door of his room, a long sigh escaped his lips.

"Haa…"

He didn't know how to face the old man.

This would be the first time seeing his grandfather since his regression, and even though he had lived through this before, he couldn't stop the small wave of nervousness rising in his chest.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally opened the door.

Standing there was Charlotte, dressed in a flowing red gown that shimmered softly under the light.

Her long hair fell gracefully down her waist, swaying gently as she moved.

She gave him a small, embarrassed smile, the kind that looked both shy and gentle. "Are you ready?" she asked quietly.

Vivian nodded. "Mm."

Stepping out, he locked the door behind him and turned to look at her.

For a brief moment, a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

In their past life, she had worn a blue dress that matched his own outfit.

But this time, she had chosen red, deep and bright, embroidered with delicate golden threads that made her seem almost radiant.

He, on the other hand, wore nothing extravagant.

Just a plain white shirt and formal black pants.

Simple, neat, and unassuming, yet somehow, it suited him perfectly.

They walked side by side through the quiet corridor, and Charlotte gently slipped her hand into his.

Her fingers tightened around his arm, holding on a little too closely.

Vivian noticed it right away, she was far more clingy than she used to be.

But it wasn't just that. Her whole attitude seemed to have changed.

She acted softer, more delicate, almost like she was trying to appear fragile.

Last night was the perfect example.

She had come running to his room, shouting that she'd seen a rat in hers.

Vivian still didn't understand how that was even possible.

Her room was cleaned every single day, spotless from corner to corner.

And even if a rat had somehow appeared, Charlotte was strong enough to kill it without blinking.

Yet instead of doing that, she had chosen to rush into his room and cling to him tightly for the entire night, refusing to let go until morning.

It was strange, and a little unlike her.

But seeing her act that way, Vivian couldn't bring himself to push her away.

As they continued walking, it didn't take long before they reached the carriage waiting for them at the end of the path.

Just as Vivian was about to open the door, Charlotte stopped and crossed her arms, pouting slightly.

"What kind of gentleman doesn't help his lady into the carriage?" she said, her voice carrying a playful but demanding tone.

"You're supposed to offer your hand like a knight to his princess!"

Vivian let out a quiet sigh.

There was no winning against her when she acted like this.

"Very well," he said softly, dropping to one knee with mock formality.

Extending his hand, he looked up at her and asked, "May I, my lady?"

Charlotte's pout vanished, replaced by a satisfied smile.

She placed her hand in his, and he held it gently, guiding her inside the carriage.

She lifted her chin proudly, as if she were a true noblewoman being escorted to a royal ball, her red dress swaying with every graceful step.

Once she was seated, Vivian couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips before he followed her in.

The carriage rolled smoothly through the streets, never stopping until it arrived at the Akron Restaurant, a grand building that shimmered under the morning light.

Vivian stepped out first and offered his hand to help Charlotte down.

Once she was out, they walked side by side through the familiar entrance.

He didn't need anyone to guide him; he already knew exactly where his grandfather would be waiting.

Without hesitation, he led Charlotte upstairs.

As they climbed, his thoughts began to drift.

The scene felt like a replay of his past life, each step, each turn, unfolding just as before.

Yet, subtle differences tugged at the edges of his memory.

"Could this be the butterfly effect?" he murmured under his breath, thinking about how even the smallest changes since his regression had rippled outward, shifting the lives of those around him.

Take Marinette, for example.

In his previous life, she had come here too, though he never understood how or why.

But this time, she wouldn't appear. Their paths had diverged long before today.

A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face.

He hadn't seen her since the day he rejected her.

From that moment on, she had completely vanished from his life, never showing herself before him again.

He had once asked Charlotte about Marinette, hoping she might have seen her or at least heard something.

But every time Charlotte tried to approach her, Marinette just ignored her with cold, distant eyes and never spoke a word.

Normally, Charlotte would have been furious at being treated that way.

In the past, she never tolerated such rudeness.

Yet this time, she hadn't said anything.

She must have understood that Marinette was hurting, and instead of arguing, she

quietly stepped back, choosing not to make things worse.

"Haa…" Vivian let out a long sigh as the memory surfaced.

He could still picture Marinette's tear-streaked face from that day, the pain in her eyes as she turned away from him.

He gave a small shake of his head, forcing the image away.

It couldn't be helped.

What was done was done.

All he could hope for now was that she would eventually forget about him and find her own happiness, even if it was far away from his world.

Lost in thought, Vivian soon found himself standing before the door where his grandfather was supposed to be waiting.

He let out a long breath, steadying himself, then raised his hand and knocked three times, each knock echoing softly down the hallway.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then came an old, muffled voice from within, followed by the light patter of footsteps approaching the door.

But something was off.

Those steps were too quick, too light. They didn't sound like they belonged to an old man.

Vivian frowned slightly and glanced at Charlotte, who looked just as confused.

Whoever was coming to open the door wasn't an adult, by the sound of it, maybe a child around ten or twelve years old.

The door creaked open, and their confusion only deepened.

Standing there was a young boy, no older than twelve, with bright eyes and a surprised expression.

"Huh? Edward?" Vivian blinked in disbelief.

The boy's eyes widened as well. "Brother? Is that you?!"

"What are you doing here?" Vivian asked at the same time Edward blurted out, "How did you change so much?"

Their voices overlapped, cutting through each other awkwardly before both fell silent.

They stared for a few seconds, blinking rapidly, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Anyone watching them would instantly see the resemblance, their features, the faint glimmer of familiarity in their eyes.

There was no doubt they were brothers.

Vivian's surprise faded quickly, but Edward's confusion only deepened.

He looked his brother up and down, as if searching for traces of the frail boy he once knew.

But the figure standing before him now was someone else entirely, taller, stronger, and with a quiet confidence that radiated from his every movement.

The timid, sickly brother Edward remembered had vanished, replaced by someone who seemed to carry both power and calm in equal measure.

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