Oh crap! I pulled the wrong person…"
A newborn baby with a wrinkled face appeared as a voice echoed in the void. Before he could react, a white light wrapped around him—unseen by anyone else. The voice was panicked, and as the light fell, the newborn's mind was filled with a sound like shattering glass.
Just born, with a wrinkled face and no cries, the baby's only expression was pure confusion.
"What's happening?"
He could barely move his body or open his eyes, but his thoughts were already racing.
His vision was blurry, and he strained to see the figures around him. Though he couldn't make out their faces, their excited voices told him plenty.
"Is this transmigration? Rebirth? Or something else?"
He tried to recall what happened.
"I wasn't hit by a car. I didn't choke, drown, or get electrocuted. I wasn't sleeping or driving. I was just sitting on my sofa, and then—bam—this!"
His mind spun, trying to make sense of it all. Suddenly, he felt himself lifted up, followed by a sharp smack on his bottom.
"Ow… What the—?"
To everyone else, the child finally cried out. The middle-aged woman who had spanked him smiled in relief.
After gently laying the baby down, her face turned pale again. She quickly hurried to the door, knelt, and bowed deeply.
"My Lord, I only acted because the Young Master wasn't making a sound. Please forgive me!"
Though her voice trembled, she didn't look terrified. If anything had happened to the child, she knew her fate would be sealed, but now that all was well, she hoped for understanding.
From the moment the child was born, the door had been slightly open. The people outside hadn't entered but could see some of what was happening.
A middle-aged man stood in the doorway, his gaze sharp as he looked at the kneeling midwife.
"Anyone who helps with my son's birth will be rewarded. Go claim your reward. But if you ever try something like this again, you know what will happen."
"Yes, yes, of course…"
The woman hadn't expected her actions to be noticed. She'd confessed in hopes of earning a little extra, but the family head saw through her easily.
"Hiro, congratulations!"
"Yes, Hiro, the Great Lord heard about the birth of your eldest son and sent us to offer his congratulations. Although he couldn't come himself, he sent a special gift for the new Young Master."
That day, the Hoshino estate was bustling with celebration.
In the grand hall, everyone wore bright smiles, whether genuine or not—it was clear the family held a high status.
At the head of the table, Hiro, the Hoshino family head, greeted each guest with laughter and nods. Behind him, a woman in her twenties held the baby in her arms.
Not crying, not fussing.
A month had passed, and the protagonist—now named Shiro—had come to accept his new reality. At first, he'd been annoyed, but this family seemed genuinely good.
Wealthy. Powerful.
After half a life as an overworked office worker, this new life felt like a dream.
He had no attachments left in his old world. His parents had divorced, he had no girlfriend, and if his old body was still in his apartment, it might be months before anyone noticed.
Shiro. That was his name now.
The past was gone. It was time to enjoy this new life.
Though his mind was sharp from birth, his body still needed sleep. As he tried to ignore the noise and drift off, he remembered the voice from when he first arrived.
"System…? Is there one?"
He called out in his mind, but there was no answer. After checking and finding nothing, he shrugged it off. For now, his only job was to enjoy himself.
Three Years Later
The once-wrinkled newborn was now a lively toddler. He could walk and run, and the vast Hoshino estate—with its parks, lakes, and endless entertainment—could barely contain his curiosity.
He never had to cook or fetch anything himself. Whatever he wanted, he just had to ask. If the family had it, it arrived that day; if not, it would show up within days.
He couldn't deny the luxury.
"Young Master Shiro, are you heading out?"
He had just stepped over the threshold when a young woman in her twenties, elegantly dressed, called out to him. If he were still his old self, he might have been interested, but as a child, he felt nothing.
"Is there something you need?" Shiro turned to her.
She was one of his mother's trusted maids.
"My apologies, Young Master Shiro. The Mistress would like to see you."
Shiro's mouth twitched. The timing was uncanny—he'd just made it outside, and now he was being called back.
"Is it urgent?" he asked, a bit helpless.
"The Mistress said she hasn't seen you in several days and wants you to visit."
"Just for that?" Shiro sighed. "Tell her I'll come by this afternoon."
With that, he dashed away, afraid she might drag him back if he lingered.
Shiro's new life was off to a lively, if sometimes bewildering, start.