In a world where people weep over old lovers they never met, or faint from the heartbreaks of past lives. Shen Yu's biggest issue was trying not to fall asleep at his desk.
25-year-old Shen Yu a single omega stared at His glowing monitor with a spreadsheet he hadn't touched in hours. Rows of numbers blurred together as his chin sank deeper into his palm, eyes half-lidded, drool dangerously close to making its escape and somewhere behind him, a printer jammed for the third time that day.
This was the thrilling life of a supposedly passionate, emotional omega.
BOOM! A slap landed on his desk with the force of divine intervention.
"Shen Yu!" Han Jie hissed, glaring at him. "Seriously? You're going to get written up again."
Shen Yu jolted awake eyes wide and his mind hazy he looked up and only calmed down after he realized it was his big brute of a friend, who was once again interrupting his beauty sleep. blinking slowly, sitting up straight and wiping the corner of his mouth. Shen Yu yawned "That was just… deep meditation." He said stretching.
Not fully convinced Han Jie gave him a huge side eye and huffed "Yeah? Were you meditating on how lonely your future looks?" he said with a smirk thinking he had finally achieved hitting his friend's last nerve.
Shen Yu still half asleep immediately had his blood pressure raised at his friends' snarky comment. Furrowing his eyebrows and frowning Shen Yu spat out. "Not this again."
"Yes, this again," Han Jie said, grabbing the back of his chair and spinning him halfway around. "You're twenty-three. Still single. Still no echo flashbacks. Still no soulmate drama. Don't you think that's a little weird?"
"No," Shen Yu said flatly. "It just means I'm either a new soul… or God deleted my love story like an unfinished draft."
Han Jie gave him a long, tired look. "Go to the Echo Matching Institution." Han Jie said with a determined tone. His stupid friend Shen Yu had no idea how troublesome it was being the only one he could hang out with. Almost every day it would be "Hey Jie wanna go drink" or "Hey Jie, do you think this alpha is my soulmate" or "Hey Jie want to go with me to get this new video game" I mean honestly!! Han Jie felt like he was a father, and Shen Yu was his son!
Shocked at what his best friend said Shen Yu decided it was best to put this idea formed in his small brain straight down ASAP. With a huff Shen Yu stated, "I'd rather eat glass,".
"They'll run a test to see if you have someone out there. You don't even have to meet them today." said Han Jie with a helpless sigh.
"And if I don't?" Shen Yu raised a brow. "What if I'm the one tragic person who just doesn't have a destined partner? Or worse—what if he's ugly and I can't even pretend to be happy about it?"
Han Jie snorted. "You're such a drama queen."
"Says the man who met his soulmate during a coffee spill and cried about it for a week."
"That was a very emotional memory!" Han Jie said frantically with a blush.
smiling softly and sitting back into his chair with a smug look on his face.Shen Yu finally was satisfied for getting back at his outgoing friend.
There was a long pause between them, filled only with the hum of outdated office computers and the distant sound of someone swearing at the copier.
Finally, Han Jie leaned down and whispered, "You're not curious at all?"
Shen Yu hesitated. He'd never admit it out loud, but… maybe he was. Maybe there was someone out there, someone who used to hold his hand under moonlight centuries ago or who died in his arms during a war long forgotten. Echos were a common thing in his world they helped people find their lovers from every past life they had. It was almost sweet that this was a rule in their world. That way couples from generations were never separated, and their love would truly last forever. It was known that as soon as someone met their lover, they would remember every single day from centuries ago regaining all of their memories.
But what if that wasn't the case for Shen Yu?
What if he was the only one left standing—always the one left behind? The Echo Matching Institution was created to help alphas and omegas reconnect with their past lovers, ensuring they find happiness together—ultimately leading to their happy ending.
But Shen Yu was still worried.
Looking down at his hands and debating on an answer He began to notice that he had never really thought of the day he would meet his soulmate. I mean at age 18 he started to wonder why he still hadn't found a partner like his fellow peers. But these thoughts were distracting, and Shen Yu was forced to focus more on his life finding ways to support himself since he didn't have no parents.
A frown still plastered on his face he finally made a decision. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll go."
Han Jie grinned like he'd just won the lottery. "Tomorrow?"
Shen Yu nodded. "Tomorrow.
But what Shen Yu didn't know was that tomorrow his life would change drastically