Chapter 8

“Have you gotten your fifty thousand back?”

I nodded.

“Yes. Her parents brought it to me.”

“They paid it all at once.”

Zhou Jia sighed.

“Her parents are so unfortunate.”

“They've spent half their lives raising a daughter like that.”

“Now they have to take on her debts and support her while she goes back to school.”

“I wonder when she'll finally come to her senses.”

I didn't say anything.

Whether Song Kehan ever came to her senses didn't matter to me.

All I knew was that the hurt she'd caused me in my previous life had finally come back to her, at least in part.

It was still far from enough.

But it was a start.

In December, the school began preparing for final exams.

My life remained peaceful.

Until one day, I got a message from an unknown number.

“Wanning, it's Song Kehan.”

“I know you hate me, and I'm not asking you to forgive me.”

“But I want you to know that I really do regret what I did.”

“I've spent a lot of time thinking things over.”

“I shouldn't have been greedy or vain, or treated other people's kindness as something I was entitled to.”

“I'm doing manual labor at a construction site now. Every day, I'm exhausted.”

“But I feel at peace.”

“At least I'm earning money with my own hands instead of cheating other people.”

“I'll pay back everything I owe. Every last cent.”

“It may take a long time, but I'll keep at it.”

“Thank you for not calling the police.”

“Otherwise, I'd probably be in jail now.”

“Wanning, I'm sorry.”

“I hope that someday I'll become someone worthy of respect.”

“When that day comes, I'll apologize to you in person.”

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then I deleted it.

I didn't reply.

In my previous life, Song Kehan had sent me messages like this, too.

She'd cried, told me how miserable she was, and begged me to forgive her.

I'd softened.

And what happened?

She turned around and blocked me.

She didn't repay a single cent.

Then she went around telling people I was an idiot who was easy to fool.

People don't change their nature because of a few pretty words.

Real change takes time to prove itself.

And I had no obligation to give her another chance.

Finals ended.

I passed all my courses and even ranked first in two of my major subjects.

Before winter break, our academic adviser called me to her office.

“Wanning, you've done very well this semester.”

“The department has decided to recommend you for direct admission to graduate school next year.”

“Given your grades and overall performance, you have a very good chance.”

“Prepare well and do your best.”

I thanked her.

When I stepped out of the office, the sunlight fell warmly across me.

At this point in my previous life, the scandal around Song Kehan had damaged my reputation.

Someone else took the graduate-school recommendation I should have received.

I was so angry I couldn't sleep for days.

Now, everything was back on track.

It was even better than before.

I went home for winter break.

My parents were delighted to see how well I looked.

“Sweetheart, have you lost weight this year?”

Mom touched my face.

“Remember to eat properly at school. Don't live on takeout.”

“I will, Mom.”

I smiled.

Warmth filled my heart.

In my previous life, the trouble with Song Kehan had left me miserable all through my senior year.

Even when I came home, I was always gloomy.

My parents worried constantly.

It wouldn't be like that this time.

I would live well.

I would study hard.

And I'd be good to the people who deserved my trust.

As for Song Kehan—

She could fend for herself.

On New Year's Eve, our family gathered for the reunion dinner.

The Spring Festival Gala played on the television.

Dad poured me a glass of wine.

“Sweetheart, you've worked hard this year.”

“Next year, work even harder and try to get that graduate-school recommendation.”

“Your mom and I are proud of you.”

I raised my glass and clinked it against theirs.

“Dad, Mom, next year will be even better.”

“I promise.”

Fireworks blossomed beyond the window.

Laughter filled our home.

Sitting there with my family, I suddenly thought:

Being given another life really was wonderful.

It gave me a chance to make up for my regrets.

A chance to protect myself and the people I cared about.

A chance to choose my own path again.

This time, I wouldn't let anyone take advantage of me.

I wouldn't be softhearted.

I wouldn't give another chance to people who didn't deserve one.

I would live with my eyes open.

A little more selfishly.

A little more happily.

**Chapter 8**

My senior year began.

The campus was full of new life in the spring.

I returned to school and picked up where I'd left off.

Classes, projects, and preparations for graduate-school interviews.

My days were busy and full of purpose.

In March, I happened to hear that Song Kehan had returned.

She'd taken steps to resume her studies.

She was starting over as a junior, a year behind me.

The day I ran into her in the cafeteria, she was standing in line for food.

She'd lost a lot of weight, and her skin had grown much darker.