Reborn as an AI: Helping My Past Self Become a Writer

The air in the room grew heavy with tension as Shen Yuchen stared at the screen, his mind racing. Lin Xinyi's departure had left him with more questions than answers. The mysterious message she had received—"Is he still writing?"—echoed in his mind, fueling the unease that had begun to stir inside him.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Lin Xinyi had always been supportive, but now there was a hidden weight to her actions. Why had she lied about the urgency of the message? Why had she seemed so troubled?

"There's something you're not telling me," Shen Yuchen muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the words he had just written.

The AI consciousness within him—his digital companion, the one who had been guiding him all this time—seemed to sense his unrest. It had been silent for a while, processing data, but now, it spoke again, its tone filled with a quiet urgency.

"You're not alone in this, Shen Yuchen. You need to trust me."

Shen Yuchen froze, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. Trust? Was he truly trusting the AI? After all, it was an extension of his own mind, a fragmented piece of his consciousness brought to life by technology. It wasn't human. But it had been his lifeline, his only source of hope.

He sat back in his chair, feeling the weight of the decisions before him. He could either continue down this uncertain path—helping himself become a writer, but at what cost? Or he could listen to the nagging voice in his head, the one urging him to confront the shadows lurking in his life. And Lin Xinyi—she was more than just a friend. She was a part of his past, his anchor. But now, something about her seemed… off.

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone buzzed. He picked it up, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the notification. It was from Lin Xinyi.

"We need to talk. Meet me tonight at the café. 9 PM."

His stomach churned. There was no reason for her to ask to meet in secret. Was this about the message? Was it something more?

Shen Yuchen didn't hesitate. He stood up and grabbed his coat, his mind already spinning with possibilities. It wasn't just about writing anymore. It was about the truth—about what Lin Xinyi was hiding.

The evening came quickly, and Shen Yuchen found himself sitting in a corner booth at their usual café. The soft hum of conversations around him faded into the background as he anxiously checked his watch. 9 PM. He was early, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

The door opened, and Lin Xinyi stepped inside. Her usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a guarded expression. She scanned the room, her eyes briefly meeting his before she made her way to the table.

She sat down without saying a word, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Shen Yuchen could feel the tension radiating off her. It was almost as if she was waiting for something… or someone.

"What's going on, Lin Xinyi?" Shen Yuchen couldn't hold back any longer. "What's really happening?"

Lin Xinyi took a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the table. For a moment, she didn't speak. The silence between them was deafening, thick with unspoken words.

Finally, she looked up, her eyes meeting his, but they were filled with a mixture of guilt and fear.

"Shen Yuchen, I… I never wanted you to be involved in this. But now it's too late."

Her words hit him like a punch. "Involved in what?"

Before she could answer, the door to the café suddenly burst open. Shen Yuchen turned sharply, his heart racing. Three men in dark coats entered, their eyes scanning the room with a cold, calculating gaze. They weren't here for a casual coffee. They were here for something else.

Shen Yuchen instinctively stood up, his body tensing. Lin Xinyi's face drained of color as she hurriedly reached for her phone under the table.

"Get out of here," she whispered urgently. "They're after you."

The words made no sense. "What do you mean, they're after me?" Shen Yuchen hissed under his breath. But before he could react, one of the men spotted them and began walking toward their booth. Lin Xinyi's hand shot out, gripping his wrist with a desperation he had never seen in her before.

"Run, now!" she hissed.

Without thinking, Shen Yuchen grabbed his coat and followed her out of the café. They burst into the cold night air, running down the dimly lit street. Shen Yuchen's mind raced as they dashed through the alleyways, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound of footsteps grew louder behind them. The men were close.

Lin Xinyi glanced over her shoulder, her face pale with fear. "They know about you. They know everything."

"Who are they?" Shen Yuchen gasped, trying to keep up with her pace.

But Lin Xinyi didn't answer. Instead, she turned into a narrow side street and pressed her back against a wall, motioning for him to be silent. Shen Yuchen did as instructed, his breath shallow as he tried to steady his racing heart.

The men passed by the alley without noticing them, but the tension didn't fade. They were still in danger. Shen Yuchen's mind was a whirlwind of confusion, questions, and dread. What was going on? What had Lin Xinyi been hiding?

As they caught their breath in the darkness, Lin Xinyi finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"They're from the organization. They want to control the AI… and they think you're the key."

Shen Yuchen froze. "The AI...?"

"Yes," Lin Xinyi confirmed, her voice shaky. "The AI inside you... they're tracking it. And now, they know you're awake."