1 My childhood sweetheart had strung me along for eight years, constantly demanding I earn points by proving myself worthy before I could even be her boyfriend. So, I gave up a chance at a prestigious university, abandoned my secret crush on the girl of my dreams, and sacrificed a bright future. Yet, she turned around and married a rich heir, even mocking me after my parents died, saying I was too pathetic to even end it all. My heart turned to ashes, and I leaped. I never expected to wake up again, back on the very day I’d confessed my feelings to her. Given a second chance, I swore I’d never be her doormat again. I would embark on a life of limitless possibilities. As for her? Well, she was about to get a taste of real hardship. “Chris, I honestly don’t want a relationship right now. I’m sorry.” I looked at the beautiful girl clutching ninety-nine roses before me. She was Sarah, my childhood sweetheart. Seeing her again, though, all I felt was a wave of annoyance. Of all the people to encounter first after rebirth, it had to be her. What a jinx. A woman like her? Not even a dog would date her. “Chris, why are you silent? Can you not always be like this? I really don’t want to date right now.” Sarah’s eyes held a flicker of impatience. “Alright, as you wish.” I nodded, a thrill surging through me. Reborn, I wouldn’t degrade myself like that ever again. I would mend every single regret from my past life. Make money. Lots and lots of money! I wouldn’t let my parents get sick and hospitalized from overwork. I wouldn’t let the girl who secretly loved me wait endlessly. I wouldn't… “Didn’t you hear me clearly? I just rejected you. Why do you look so happy?” Sarah challenged, her voice edged with irritation. She couldn't fathom why my reaction to her rejection was such obvious excitement and joy. It clearly irked her. In her mind, I should have been devastated, heartbroken. I should have immediately vowed to prove my devotion, waiting for her to accept my proposal. Then she, satisfied, would have told me that if I passed her tests, she’d eventually become my girlfriend. To hell with that. A woman like you? You’re not even worthy. All I wanted now was money! The thought of it cleared my head, and my excitement intensified. Today, in this very commercial district, a lottery shop had sold a scratch-off ticket worth a million dollars. That winning ticket was the last fifty-dollar scratch-off left in the shop. I knew this with such certainty because, in my previous life, I had gone to buy drinks for Sarah and her friends, witnessing the entire event unfold. I immediately fumbled in my pockets. Only thirty-two bucks. Not enough! I almost slapped myself. If it weren't for buying those roses for Sarah's proposal, using up the three hundred-plus bucks I'd scrimped and saved, I wouldn't be short on cash now. My gaze shot to the roses in Sarah’s hands. An idea sparked. “Give me back the roses.” 2 I didn’t wait for Sarah’s response, simply taking the roses back into my arms. “Those are the roses you gave me. How can you take them back?” Sarah watched, wide-eyed, as I reclaimed the bouquet, standing frozen in disbelief. “You rejected my proposal, so why would you keep my flowers? I can always give them to someone else.” I stated matter-of-factly, inspecting the roses as I spoke. Some parts were already wilting slightly. Annoying. Sarah sputtered, caught off guard. “Chris, I only rejected you this time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. Freshman year is so demanding, I just don’t have time for a relationship. When sophomore year settles down and it’s easier, I might want to date, and you’ll be the first person I consider.” Sarah quickly changed her tactic. I looked at Sarah with a flicker of disdain, almost gagging. The first person she’d consider? Was that even a human thing to say? My judgment these past years had truly been flawed, to have fallen for someone like this. “I’m being completely honest with you, but there’s one rule: you can’t like other girls, and you definitely can’t pursue them. Otherwise, we’ll truly have no chance.” “I think you should pass that ‘chance’ on to some other poor fool… cough… someone else. I’m just not interested in you.” I casually tossed the words out, then grabbed my bottled water to keep the roses fresh. My words, however, seemed to sting Sarah’s pride. “Chris, love requires perseverance. If you can’t even handle a small setback like this, how can I even consider being with you?” “Then find someone else to test. I have important things to do right now.” “You…” Sarah’s face flushed with anger. “Chris, stop acting up. Sarah genuinely doesn’t have much time right now. She actually cares about you, don’t hold a grudge against her.” “Sarah, you know Chris, he’s just talking out of anger.” At this moment, Sarah’s roommate and best friend, Clara, interjected, trying to mediate between us. Sarah paused, then the corners of her lips subtly curved upward, regaining her confident demeanor. “Chris, I know you’re upset, but didn’t I tell you not to give up? As long as you perform better in the future, you’ll definitely earn more points in my heart.” “I’ve been talking to you for so long, I’m thirsty. Go get Clara and me two bottles of electrolyte drinks, or I’ll never speak to you again.” I sprinkled the last bit of water on the roses. Now, they looked as fresh as if they’d just been wrapped at the shop. Satisfied, I tossed the empty bottle and strode quickly towards the lottery shop. Buy drinks? She just rejected my proposal and already wants to spend my money. How shameless! Sarah, go to hell! 3 Arriving at the lottery shop, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the sole fifty-dollar scratch-off ticket still there. “Excuse me, sir, can we make a deal? I’ll trade you this bouquet of roses and thirty dollars for that scratch-off ticket. These roses cost me over three hundred dollars, you can take them home and surprise your wife.” I approached the owner, proposing my trade. The owner paused, seemingly encountering such a request for a scratch-off for the first time. He glanced at the roses in my hand, then smiled. “Alright.” “Your word, right, sir?” “Of course.” I immediately handed him the money and the flowers, took the scratch-off ticket from his hand, and began to scratch. Seeing the winning pattern, I felt a surge of excitement, but kept my face as calm as still water. “Did you win, young man?” the owner asked with a smile. “Ah, no luck.” I didn’t excitedly blurt it out like the man in my previous life. What if the owner went back on his word? Holding the card, I walked out of the lottery shop and hurried to the State Lottery Office. Scratch-off tickets worth over ten thousand dollars needed to be redeemed at the main office. Thankfully, I had brought my ID. This lottery shop was conveniently located not far from the Lottery Headquarters. Soon, after taxes were deducted, eight hundred thousand dollars were deposited into my bank account. I walked out of the Lottery Headquarters, feeling utterly delighted. “Chris, what are you doing here?” An arm slung over my shoulder. I turned to see Ben, my high school friend and college roommate. In my previous life, Ben had been my best brother. When both my parents were hospitalized, he risked divorce by lending me the last ten thousand dollars his family had. It was a drop in the bucket, but I never forgot his loyalty. “Didn’t you say you were going to propose?” Ben asked, confused. “Alright, don’t even mention her. She’s bad news.” I smiled, shaking my head. “Holy cow! Chris, you finally came to your senses! Let’s go, let’s celebrate your escape from misery. I’m treating you to a big feast!” Ben was even more excited than I was. He knew more about my situation with Sarah than anyone else. He had constantly advised me not to be a doormat, but I had never listened, even arguing with him about it a few times. Yet, he never held a grudge and always looked out for me. “Nah, today, I won some money on the lottery. I’m treating you to a big feast. Seafood, let’s go!” I said, grinning. Now with eight hundred thousand in hand, I already had entrepreneurial ideas, but first, I was going to splurge and have some fun. “Are you serious, Chris?! A meal there could cost a grand! How much did you win?” “Eight hundred thousand.” “Oh, glorious benefactor! Allow your humble servant to bow before you!” Ben and I went straight to Ocean's Bounty Seafood Restaurant, ordered a ton of seafood, and began to feast. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, after I had left, the smile on Sarah’s face had grown even brighter. “Hmph! He still listened to me and went to buy drinks. Chris was definitely just throwing a tantrum in front of me, wanting me to agree to be his girlfriend. How infuriating!” “Later, when he brings back those electrolyte drinks, we’ll just take them and leave without saying a word to him.” Sarah scoffed, her tone haughty. “Sarah, is that really appropriate?” Clara sounded a little hesitant. “Why not? What he said to me today was absolutely outrageous. I have to ignore him for a week to make him reflect on his mistakes. He needs to understand what it means to pursue me. And he actually said he’d give flowers to other girls, implying he was moving on right in front of me. How disgusting!” Sarah said, clearly annoyed. “Aren’t you worried that if you ignore him, he really will go after someone else?” Clara asked, a trace of doubt in her voice. “How could he? I’ve always disciplined him this way, and every single time, he comes crawling back, begging for reconciliation. It never fails. If I don’t let him know how important I am, how will he be completely devoted to me?” “You’ll see. He’ll come back to beg me.” Sarah’s face was full of confidence. “You’re amazing, Sarah!” Clara said, a hint of admiration in her voice. The two continued to chat, sitting on a nearby bench, beginning their wait. 4 Half an hour later, Clara’s throat felt parched from waiting. “What’s up with Chris? Half an hour just to buy a drink?” Sarah’s face was flushed with embarrassment. Clara had already asked several times why Chris hadn’t arrived, and Sarah had fended her off with various excuses. But now, after thirty minutes, she felt she had completely lost face. “I’m so mad! I’m calling him right now!” Sarah furiously pulled out her phone and dialed my number. Lobster, king crab… To celebrate the chance at rebirth I’d been given, I’d ordered a ton of things I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of in my previous life. Ben and I feasted, savoring every bite. Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at it—Sarah’s call—and immediately hung up, stuffing a piece of lobster meat into my mouth. The phone rang again; I hung up again. As calls kept coming, one after another, I simply blocked Sarah’s number. Not long after, Clara’s call came through. I sighed; I didn’t want to be harassed like this, so I answered. “What do you want?” “Chris, why aren’t you answering my calls?!” Sarah’s enraged voice blared from the other end. I held the phone a bit farther away. “Listen, I told you, I’m not interested in you anymore. Please stop harassing me, okay?” “Chris, what exactly do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like. Alright, I’m still eating. That’s enough. Let’s not contact each other again, I don’t want people to misunderstand our relationship.” Without waiting for Sarah’s reply, I hung up. “Father! You’re a man among men! This is the true hero I admire!” Ben watched my actions, giving me a big thumbs-up. On the other side, Sarah completely lost her composure. She bit her lip, her eyes misted over, and large tears began to drip. Clara, who had been annoyed by Chris’s no-show, froze. Logically, Sarah had rejected Chris’s proposal, so why was she crying? “Sarah, why are you crying?” “Clara, tell me honestly, haven’t I been good to Chris? Even when I rejected him, I left him a chance, so he wouldn’t feel so disheartened.” “But then he threatened me, saying he wouldn’t pursue me anymore, and that contacting me would lead to misunderstandings, as if he despised me. Isn’t he just going too far? He completely misunderstands my good intentions.” Sarah said, sounding aggrieved. “Chris did go too far, but are you crying because you’ve fallen for him?” Clara pondered for a moment, then decided Sarah had a point. A woman looking for a boyfriend should certainly test him properly. “How could that be? I admit I have a slight crush on him, but he’s been pursuing me for too short a time, only seven or eight years. It would have to be much longer before I might even consider liking him.” “That’s true. But if it’s much longer, what if you meet someone else you like?” Clara suddenly asked. “Then, of course, I’d choose the person I like. Clara, are you being silly?” “What about Chris, then?” “Then I’d just say we weren’t meant to be. If he truly loved me sincerely, he wouldn’t stop me from pursuing a better person, right? A woman fears marrying the wrong man; we women have to be very careful in choosing a boyfriend.” “But the thing is, Chris seems really determined this time.” Sarah paused, then began to calmly think it over. A moment later, she seemed to have reached a realization. She suddenly wiped away her tears, shook her head with a smile. “I almost fell for Chris’s trick. How could he possibly be truly determined? He’s just trying to annoy me.” “He’s probably just really hurt this time. When he proposed to me before, I always responded this way, and he’d be fine within a day.” “Never mind. I’ll go find him myself, encourage him a little, give him a bit of a sweet treat. He’ll probably stop being angry.” Sarah stood up and walked towards the commercial district. 5 Ben and I were enjoying our meal when two figures suddenly appeared by our table. “Chris, you’re too much! Not only did you not buy us drinks, but you hung up and blocked my calls! And then you sneak off to eat seafood here behind our backs!” “You’ve truly disappointed me!” It wasn't long before two figures appeared beside our table, Sarah angrily accusing me. She had initially intended to encourage me, but seeing me eat such lavish food, she couldn’t hold back her fury and began to scold me. As she spoke, she glanced at the seafood on the table, unconsciously swallowing. Clara reacted in the exact same way. This meal cost over three thousand dollars, and as poor students, they rarely had money for this kind of luxury. I frowned. They were truly like persistent ghosts, managing to find me here. It seemed everything I had said to her today had fallen on deaf ears. “Chris’s money doesn’t grow on trees, why should he buy you drinks? Sarah, have you gotten used to spending Chris’s money? Not even his girlfriend, yet you spend his money. You’re truly ridiculous.” I hadn't even spoken, but Ben, beside me, said with a mocking sneer, showing Sarah no respect at all. “Ben, what do you know? I’m testing Chris.” Sarah was momentarily speechless, glaring at Ben. “Testing? You mean letting Chris cater to your every whim, letting you order him around, so you can enjoy all the perks of a girlfriend without any of the responsibility?” Ben scoffed. “You’re talking nonsense! I never meant that.” Sarah’s chest heaved with anger, but her eyes held a hint of guilt. “Ben, Sarah and Chris are having a lovers’ spat. Why are you interfering?” Clara snapped, then looked at me. “Chris, I know Sarah rejecting your proposal made you very angry, but there’s no need to upset her like this. All she wants is a sign of your attitude.” “Exactly, Chris, I actually still have feelings for you. If you had just invited us to eat with you, I would have definitely given you bonus points in my heart. It would show that you still consider me the most important person. But you didn’t even bother to invite me.” Sarah, seeing she couldn’t argue with Ben, also looked at me, her face full of disappointment. I almost laughed aloud. This woman truly had a screw loose. I’m supposed to spend three thousand dollars just for her to give me points? Is her dignity plated with gold? Sure enough, the moment the rose-tinted glasses shattered, all that remained was brokenness and ugliness. The “dream girl” had become a woman with countless flaws, even annoying. “Sarah, I already made it clear on the phone. I don’t like you. Can we just part ways amicably?” I pushed aside my internal grumbling and said calmly. “What ‘clear’? What ‘part ways amicably’?! I came to find you myself! What more do you want? Do you, a grown man, need to be so petty?!” Sarah’s voice rose in anger. I was speechless. Talking to someone like her was a complete waste of energy. I scoffed, ignoring her, and continued to eat. I couldn’t let this woman affect my mood or my appetite. “Alright, alright, everyone calm down. Chris, this table must cost a lot, right?” Clara quickly tried to mediate, shifting the topic. “This table cost over three thousand, and my foster father won eight on a scratch-off…” Ben started, a triumphant look on his face. 6 “Ben…” I cut Ben off. There was no need to tell Sarah about this. She was nothing to me anyway. Ben quickly nodded, then shook his head in mock pity. “Too bad someone here doesn’t have that kind of luck.” “Eight what? Eight thousand?” Clara frantically squeezed Sarah’s hand. But Ben and I ignored her. Sarah was startled at first, then she shook her head, her breathing quickening. “It can’t be eight thousand. I know Chris’s personality; if he won eight thousand, he wouldn’t spend over three thousand on one meal.” She actually wasn’t completely clueless about me. “Eighty thousand?” Clara gasped. Eighty thousand dollars in this era was definitely a huge sum. Sarah’s eyes lit up. She was only a freshman in college, but she had matured quickly and already had a grasp of money. Otherwise, she wouldn't have found a rich heir as a boyfriend in her sophomore year. She was only stringing me along now because she didn’t have a better option. “Chris, I know you’re angry because I rejected you today, and that’s why you’re saying hurtful things.” “I honestly just felt your proposal was too abrupt, and I wasn’t ready, so I turned you down.” “Given how much effort you’ve put into me in the past, give me a little time to consider. In a few days, I might just say yes.” I almost spat out the lobster meat. From a direct rejection to a possible “yes” in a few days, all it took was eighty thousand dollars. Did she think her uncertain answer was worth eighty thousand? Was her mouth plated with gold too? I coldly ignored her words, continuing to eat voraciously. Sarah, seeing me lower my head, thought I was considering her words and immediately brightened. She believed her guess was right, that I was just being stubborn. “Clara, are you hungry? Why am I so hungry?” Sarah suddenly turned to Clara. Clara paused, then immediately understood Sarah’s meaning. “I’m so hungry too!” “Perfect, then let’s just eat with Chris here.” Sarah took the opportunity to sit down. Clara also sat beside Sarah, looking delighted. “Hey, what’s wrong with you two? Chris never said he was inviting you.” Ben couldn’t stand it anymore and immediately spoke up. “Ben, this is between Chris and me. What does it have to do with you?” Sarah said impatiently. “Exactly! Even Chris didn’t say anything, so that means he’s fine with it. Why are you poking your nose into other people’s business?” Clara was annoyed that Ben wouldn’t let her eat the seafood. “Chris, say something!” Ben looked at me anxiously. “Say what? Can’t you keep your mouth shut even while eating?” I didn’t even look at Sarah or Clara, pulling the seafood away from their reach, glaring at Ben and scolding him. Ben froze, disappointment flashing in his eyes. He thought I was falling back into my old habits, and even the seafood seemed to lose its flavor. Sarah, seeing this, became even more convinced I was playing hard to get, that I still couldn’t let her go. The corners of her lips subtly curved upward, confidence returning. “Clara, eat up.” Sarah reached for the seafood, but it was a bit far, and the plates we had eaten from didn't look appealing. She frowned slightly in disgust, then directly called a waiter. “Clara, let’s order some fresh stuff. I heard online that caviar is good, and Australian lobster…” Sarah spoke with a triumphant air, ordering without a single concern. 7 Soon, their seafood arrived. It was worth at least six thousand dollars, even more lavish than what Ben and I had eaten. Ben watched all this, angrily setting down his lobster and refusing to eat anymore. Seeing me still eating with relish, he fumed at my apparent lack of assertiveness. “Burp…” Soon, I was full, letting out a satisfied burp. “Ugh, Chris, that’s disgusting! Go burp somewhere else, don’t pollute the air here.” Sarah said, her face contorted in disgust. I ignored her, waving at a distant waiter. “Waiter, check, please.” “Chris, we haven’t finished eating. Why are you paying?” Clara said, her mouth full of Australian lobster meat. “Let him pay, it doesn’t stop us from eating.” Sarah smiled, looking at me. “Chris, I’m very satisfied with your proposal today. You’ve definitely earned points in my heart. You’ll have to keep up the good work in the future.” I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. I looked at the huge pile of seafood on their side, then at the approaching waiter, and sneered. Sarah, I hoped this lesson would make you never approach me or disgust me again. “Sir, the total for this meal is eleven thousand one hundred fifty. We’ll round it down for you, so just ten thousand.” The waiter said, holding the menu. “Eleven thousand one hundred fifty?!” I asked, feigning exaggerated surprise. “We only ordered this much. Why is it so expensive?” “Uh… Sir, the items you ordered totaled three thousand one hundred. However, the seafood ordered by these two young ladies totaled seven thousand fifty.” The waiter quickly explained. “Chris, how can you be so cheap? You won eighty thousand, and you care about a little over ten thousand dollars?!” Sarah snapped, her voice low with fury, as she saw people looking our way. She clearly felt humiliated. Sarah’s parents were both salaried employees; their combined monthly income didn’t even reach ten thousand dollars. Yet, she treated my money as if it came from nowhere. I wondered how pathetic I had been in my previous life, trying to please this woman. Ben’s scolding words back then were absolutely spot on. Thank goodness I got to live again. “Them? They didn’t come with us. They just sat at our table, right?” “My order only consisted of these items, and I’m only paying for my own. You can’t put their bill on us just because they ate at our table, can you?” I asked, feigning confusion. As my words fell, everyone present froze. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir, I thought you were all together. My apologies. Your table’s total is three thousand one hundred.” The waiter quickly said, sounding guilty. “Chris, what do you mean?! You invited me to this meal, that’s why I ate it!” Sarah shouted, enraged. “I never said I was inviting you. You ordered these yourselves. What does that have to do with me? Waiter, card, please.” I handed my bank card to the waiter. Clara was so scared she couldn’t eat, stuttering incoherently. “Why didn’t you say this when we sat down and ordered? You’re angry with me, but you don’t have to screw us over like this, do you?!” Sarah slammed the Australian lobster onto the table, her chest heaving with anger. “You’re not related to me. If you come to a restaurant to eat, am I supposed to stop you? Neither law nor morality grants me that right.” I pressed my bank card PIN into the POS machine, shrugging. “Waiter, pack all these up, quickly, quickly!” Ben’s spirits lifted. A look of extreme delight on his face, he pointed to the pile of seafood in front of him with a hint of regret, shouting. After paying the bill, I smoothly stood up and walked out. Ben bounced along behind me, gleefully saying, “Father, well done! I completely misjudged you earlier.” “Chris, you stop right there! Pay for our meal! Otherwise, I’ll never speak to you again! I’m serious!” Sarah, disregarding all dignity, screamed in anxiety and anger, drawing stares from those around us. “Then you’d better be a person of your word.” I almost laughed, quickening my pace as I left the restaurant.
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