The day I turned 55 and officially retired, my husband was hauled away by the cops for embezzling company funds. All that stolen money? Spent on some cheap tramp. The bank card my husband left me had a balance of ten dollars. Staring at the spending records for Frank the cops showed me – one night at the Hilton, $8,800; outlet mall receipts for $65,000. Looking down at my own darned socks, I nearly coughed up blood. I’d scrimped and saved my whole life, while my husband was out there showering his mistress with cash. I was dumber than a box of rocks. The biggest fool in the world. 1 Ring, ring, ring! The phone blared urgently. “Jenna, sis, Frank borrowed two hundred grand from me. If you don’t pay it back, I’m just gonna have to come camp out at your place.” “Jenna, Frank took eighty thousand from me. I borrowed that money from my mother-in-law! If you don’t give it back, she’ll skin me alive!” “Jenna… if I can’t make it, your whole family can forget about living!” Frank’s mountain of debts was crushing me. Seeing Tiffany’s social media posts flaunting her European vacation, surrounded by shopping bags, my heart felt like it was being flayed, piece by piece. The pain was unbearable. Hounded by creditors, I finally snapped. I picked the biggest one, went to his house, and jumped from the roof. I had to. I needed to leave my daughter some kind of way out. Maybe even fate thought I’d had too raw a deal in this life. Because after I jumped, I was somehow reborn. Reborn on the day in 1993 when Frank and I were supposed to get our marriage license. From this, I learned one thing: only those who’ve suffered too much, too miserably, get a do-over. And I’d definitely earned mine. “Jenna, today’s the day you get your license! Get up, quick!” My roommate, Tiffany, was practically vibrating with excitement, urging me on. I wanted to slap her across the face. That’s right. Tiffany. The cheap tramp, the long-time mistress. Of course, back then, she wasn’t old. “Tiff, I’m the one getting married. What are you so worked up about?” Tiffany looked like she hadn’t expected me to say that. She quickly plastered a smile on her face. “Jenna, I’m just happy for you! Frank’s such a great guy, you can’t let him slip away.” Frank’s family was dirt poor. He was the oldest, with a gaggle of younger siblings. My family was infinitely better off than his. My dad was the manager at the town's main supply store, and my mom was a director at a large manufacturing plant. Let Frank slip away? Ugh, I spat inwardly. How stupid was I back then to fall for Tiffany’s brainwashing? “Jenna, what’s most important is that a man is hardworking and ambitious.” Frank had nothing, so all he had left was ambition. Come to think of it, why did I even notice Frank back then? Tiffany’s brainwashing deserved a lot of the credit. Right. A man as hardworking and great as Frank should definitely end up with Tiffany, the future old mistress. No need to wait thirty years. I’ll create the opportunity for you two right now. Tiffany, you can be the one to struggle alongside Frank in this lifetime. “Tiff, my stomach’s a little upset. Could you do me a favor and tell Frank we’ll go to City Hall another day?” Tiffany looked like she wanted to say something else, but I just lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. A few days later, the gossip mill at the textile plant was buzzing: Frank’s devoted puppy, Jenna, had found someone new. Jenna hadn’t brought Frank his breakfast during his early shift. For several days straight, Jenna hadn’t been seen fawning over Frank. Watching everyone whisper, I strolled nonchalantly through the workshop in my new high heels, confidently heading to my office. That’s right, my job was just answering phones in the office, passing on the plant manager's instructions. And, of course, relaying any juicy workshop gossip to the manager. When I first got the job, I felt super awkward. I did nothing all day but drink tea, read the paper, and scheme about how to chase Frank, completely wasting all that prime goof-off time. Thank you, my dear mother. Mom, you were so wise, knowing how to just chill even back then. But, you only get one shot from fate. This time, I was going to live differently. I had just sat down at my desk when Frank walked in. “Jenna, why weren’t you there to get the license yesterday?” 2 Thinking back to my past life, how I’d scrimped and saved my entire life for Frank’s business ventures. Not only did I deprive myself, but I was also strict with our daughter, never giving her allowance, making her the poorest kid in her class, all to lighten Frank’s burden. But while I was mistreating myself and our daughter, what was my wonderful husband doing? Out there, lavishing money on his mistress, $8,000 a night for a hotel. Frank, were you even human? The thought made it impossible for me to forgive him. Looking at Frank, thirty years younger, I wanted to rip his heart out and see if it was black or red. Some people really are like that: living in luxury themselves while making their wives forage for wild greens at home. “Frank, if I didn’t show up for the license, it’s because I didn’t want to.” The current me wasn’t about to consider Frank’s feelings. “Jenna, you were the one who wanted to get married, and now you’re the one calling it off! What the hell do you want?” “Nothing much. I just got bored of playing, didn’t want to continue.” Seeing Frank’s face turn ashen, I knew I’d successfully pissed him off. Frank always had a massive ego, and I’d always been the one chasing him. Now, telling him I was just playing around? Of course, he couldn’t take it. “Jenna, don’t you regret this!” With that, Frank stormed off, furious. Regret? Of course, I regretted it. I regretted not seeing your true colors sooner. You could only share hardship, not wealth. Just because I saw you at your lowest, you couldn’t wait to get away from me. Marrying such an ungrateful man, I must have been truly blind. After ditching Frank, I couldn’t wait to go home. In my past life, I’d cut ties with my parents to be with Frank. For over twenty years, I could count the number of times I’d been home on one hand. Later, when things got bad, I was even more ashamed to go back. It’s so good. Oh, fate, you’re so good. If there’s a next life, I’ll burn incense for you three times a day, morning and night, no take-backs. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Mom poked her head out of the kitchen. “How come you’re back? It’s not even the weekend.” Looking at my mom bustling in the kitchen, a wave of emotion hit me. In my past life, after Frank’s embezzlement came to light, creditors came in waves. Tiffany kicked me out of my own house. When Mom found out how I’d ended up, she was so angry she passed away not long after. Before she died, she said if only she could have stopped me one more time. Frank wasn’t just ‘honest’; he was the type to get arrogant once he got a taste of success, and everyone around him suffered for it. “Mom, Frank and I are over.” My mom didn’t even look up. “What kind of drama are you stirring up now?” It seemed my reputation as Frank’s devoted puppy was so ingrained, even my own mother didn’t believe I could break up with him. But a small smile still played on her lips. “Mom, I don’t want to work at the textile mill anymore. I want to change jobs.” My mom didn’t know it yet, but in another two or three years, factories all over the country would be failing, and nearly all the workers would be laid off. The seemingly undesirable government jobs, banks, and similar positions, on the other hand, would thrive. “Such a good job, and you just want to quit? Don’t tell me you and Frank really broke up?” Mom advised while stir-frying. “Even if you broke up, there’s no need to change jobs. You don’t know how many people envy your position.” It seemed Mom didn’t believe that the big state-owned factory was about to collapse. Right now, I had to quickly figure out a new path for myself. A person suddenly popped into my mind: Chris. Chris, the most inconspicuous worker in the workshop. 3 Chris. After the factory went bankrupt, he went into business for himself. First, he did clothing, then later, when he got bigger, he started supermarkets. By the time I died, he was already a well-known entrepreneur. I always felt Chris wasn’t like other businessmen, solely focused on profit. In my previous life, after Frank was arrested, the police notified me to come to the station to understand the situation. While I was waiting outside Officer Miller’s door, I heard someone inside his office. “Can you please not tell her these things?” “Mr. Chen, I’m sorry, she has the right to know, and it’s my duty.” I was pacing outside when Chris walked out of Officer Miller’s office. I recognized him instantly. “Chris?” “Jenna.” Looking at Chris in his well-tailored suit, I could hardly believe it. The once quiet, serious young worker had become the chairman of a publicly listed group. And there I was, disheveled and stressed, dealing with Frank transferring my house to that old mistress. Chris waited until I finished talking with Officer Miller. Sitting in Chris’s car, although I didn’t want to tell him about my miserable situation, he probably already knew about Frank’s affairs. “Jenna, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask me.” Although Chris and I had worked in the same factory, we hadn’t had much interaction. How could I possibly trouble him? “Chris, it’s nothing major, I can handle it. Even though Frank’s in jail, I can still get by.” Chris seemed to want to say more, but I hurriedly got out of the car. Thinking back now, Chris was the only person willing to help me after my family’s crisis. A person like that must be a warm person. With that thought, I bought a box of pastries from a roadside stall and walked into the workshop, holding the warm box. Chris had just started his shift. “Chris, I brought you some pastries.” Chris had one glove on, the other halfway on; both hands just froze in mid-air. “Jenna, you brought me pastries?” “Yeah, for… for… never mind why. I just bought too many and can’t finish them. Thought you could help me out.” Chris’s eyes instantly dimmed. At that moment, I heard the whispers of the workers arriving for their shifts. “What’s up with Miss Jenna? She’s not chasing Frank anymore, switched to Chris?” “Nah, look at how hard she was chasing Frank. She’s probably just playing hard to get.” Just then, Frank also walked in from outside. He saw the pastries in Chris’s hand and walked past as if nothing was wrong. The work bell rang. I smiled at Chris. “I owe you this. Eat them while they’re hot.” I had just gotten to the office when Tiffany came in. “Jenna, Jenna, did you know? The factory is selecting an announcer. You should put my name in!” “The workshop is too tiring. I can’t stay in the workshop long-term. Take this chance and talk to the plant manager for me.” Heaven-sent! Being an announcer, just moving your mouth all day. I hadn’t even thought of it until she mentioned it. Her saying it was practically a reminder. You want to be an announcer? In your next life. Though I thought this inwardly, I said sweetly, “No problem, leave it to me.” Watching Tiffany sashay away, I laughed so hard I snorted like a pig. The announcer list, hehe. I put her name on the list for Textile Workshop Two. Textile Workshop Two, the most exhausting workshop in the entire factory. That old mistress, I’ll work you to the bone. 4 As soon as work ended, I went to the workshop to wait for Chris. Chris didn’t show up, but Frank came out. “Jenna, you have movie tickets. Are we going to the movies? Let’s skip it today. I’ll take you home to meet my mom.” Seeing the two movie tickets in my hand, Frank said, rather begrudgingly. Meet your freaking mom. “Frank, sorry, the movie tickets aren’t for you. Also, I have absolutely no relationship with your mom, so there’s no need to meet.” “Alright, Jenna, I’ve already humbled myself this much. What more do you want?” Frank probably still thought I was just pouting. Heh, look at my ex-husband from my past life. How easy was I to please, how utterly infatuated, to willingly suck up to him for a lifetime. This is what he calls humbling himself? He clearly misunderstands the meaning of humility. “Frank, was I not clear yesterday? I’ll say it again today: I was just playing with you. We’re over.” At that moment, many workers were passing by, and, as luck would have it, they all heard. Frank’s face flushed red. “Jenna, this is your last chance. Are you coming home with me or not?” More and more workers gathered around. Even the plant manager, holding his thermos, strolled out. Everyone looked like they were ready for some drama. Well, a gentleman helps others achieve their aims. Everyone was ready, so I had to cooperate. What could be more crushing to Frank than public humiliation? “Frank, we’re over. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” After saying that, I walked straight up to Chris. “Chris, are you busy tonight? I’d like to take you to a movie.” “No!” Chris blurted out without thinking. “Then let’s go. Shall we grab some chili at that diner downtown first?” “Okay.” Chris looked a little pleased. I glanced back at Frank. His face was ashen, staring intently at Chris and me, as if he couldn’t believe I would leave with Chris. But whatever happened with Frank was none of my business. “Chris, have you ever thought about going into business for yourself?” Chris was currently munching on a sandwich, but I saw a fleeting glint in his eyes. “Jenna, how did you know I wanted to go into business?” “Maybe it’s… like we’re on the same wavelength.” Chris’s face instantly turned red. If I had known earlier that Chris was this reliable and easy to flirt with, I would have fought tooth and nail to be with him in my past life. Looking at Chris across the table, his eyes slightly bright, my heart felt like something had tugged at it too. The key thing was, Chris looked incredibly hot just munching on that sandwich. Is this the legendary “younger, cute guy” appeal? I think this old soul is starting to get it.
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