Chapter 1

Nathan Frank felt like he had died at the age of 18 but had dithered on until he was buried at 36. After his remains left the hall, he floated in mid-air, looking down at his corpse. Several hundred people had come to his funeral. They formed a dark mass in their black mourning clothes as they stood in front. The host's voice was somber as he read out the eulogy. "Mr. Nathan Frank, 36 years old, has been a model citizen since he was a child. He respected his elders and took care of the young, united his classmates, worked hard, and helped at least one old lady across the street every day… "He established NutriGen Technologies at the age of 25 and was part of the Bloomberg Top 100 by the time he was 30 years old… He was a true genius, an outstanding talent among young entrepreneurs, and a pillar of society… "Nate's departure is like the wilting of a flower in spring or an eclipse at noon. It's a heavy blow to the hearts of his dearly beloved family and friends here today. It's tormenting. It's a great pain…" After the long and meandering eulogy was read, it was finally time to bid farewell to Nathan's body. "Nathan, you only lived half of your life. How could you leave us first? Perhaps you shone so brightly that even the heavens could not bear it. Maybe this is for the best. In history, the brightest flames are often those that burn for the shortest time. You're gone, but you'll be young forever." "Nate, you were a true genius. When it came to developing connections and managing business, no one could ever defeat you. You've taught me so much…" "As an opponent, I hated you… but when I think of the fact that you're no longer in this world, why do I feel kind of lonely?" "Mr. Frank, do you still remember that night? You talked to me about the night skies and utopia. You said life was so vast, and I said maybe we should take some drugs. You said you had, and that the effects hadn't kicked in yet…" Nathan silently watched the people who were coming forward one by one to say farewell to his remains. They were his close friends, the executives of the company, his business rivals, and even several socialites that he'd had brief dalliances with who came despite not being invited. There was no one from his family. His parents died two years before that. According to his last wishes, the rest of his extended family was not notified of his funeral. His so-called relatives were always trying to fleece him. As for lovers… There was one woman he genuinely liked when he was a student, but she kept him on the hook for seven years. He wasted the best years of his youth in high school and university on her. He had naively thought that sincerity and persistence would pay off. What he got in the end was just a dismissive, "Nathan, we don't suit each other." Damn. When she said that to him, she had been holding hands with her tall and handsome boyfriend while her eyes shone like stars. The gentle, coy look in her eyes was something Nathan had never even dared to dream about. Everyone was innocent in those days. After the internet became widespread, Nathan finally realized that she had been a manipulative bitch all along. Luckily, Nathan did not become dispirited despite being hurt in love. He focused all his energy on making money. After about a decade, he amassed a significant amount of wealth. He'd had a few girlfriends in the process, but none of those relationships ever developed into anything more. He was the main reason for that. The seven humiliating, torpid years he had spent on that woman had rendered him incapable of love. A door of light appeared, and he felt a very strong force pulling him toward it. As the force tugged inexorably at him, Nathan's consciousness began to blur. He heard people crying while others sighed, and the sound of it mingled with the somber tones of a dirge. It seemed very close yet very far, and it seemed both vague and illusory… Nathan knew that his life was about to end with this grand but cold and cheerless funeral. Love? Relationships? They did not truly reflect the world. The reality of the world was colorless, like a pale face with no makeup on. "If I could do it again, what kind of life would I live?" Nathan wondered to himself. With that thought in his heart, he pushed open the door of light without looking back. … A door was pushed open. Nathan was dumbfounded when he found himself in a karaoke joint, looking at a dozen or so young men and women. His vision gradually cleared. The decor of the room they were in was clearly dated. It was the kind of style that was popular at least 15 years ago. However, the young men and women seated there seemed strangely familiar. Nathan was very confused. "Ha! I told you that Nathan would come for sure!" "Wow, look at that huge bunch of roses he's carrying! It must have cost him half a month's pocket money. How devoted." "Look at how much he's sweating. He probably ran all the way here, just like an obedient dog!" "He's not just a dog! He's Cheryl, the goddess', dog!" The young men and women inside were all mocking him. Their scornful voices and insults rang out from all corners of the room. The most striking girl among them walked over to Nathan and said slowly, "Nathan, I didn't mean to make fun of you. I was playing Truth or Dare with them, but I was unlucky and lost. They dared me to call you over here and confess to me. "If you hadn't come, I would've had to drink an entire bottle of beer. You care so much for me, don't you? You wouldn't want me to have to drink that, right?" Her voice was soft and gentle, melodious to listen to. There was guilt on her tiny face, and she looked so sincere that one couldn't help wanting to take care of her. Nathan's thoughts were in turmoil. The girl talking to him was about 17 or 18. She was tall, slender, and beautiful. She wore a floral dress that revealed her bare arms, and her skin was so fair it almost seemed to glow. She had a straight nose and red, plump lips. Her eyes were big and bright. Finally, the scene stirred up a memory buried in the depths of his mind. Her name was Cheryl Ginger, and she was the most beautiful girl in his class. He courted her for seven years, all throughout high school and university, and she kept him on the hook for all seven of those years. Sometimes, Cheryl would even engineer pranks that seemed harmless to her just so that she could prove the hold she had over him—just like she was doing right now. "Does that mean that I've been reborn and I've gone back to the day I first confessed to Cheryl at the age of 18? This was also the day I ended up being completely humiliated!" Nathan thought to himself. Nathan was a very adaptable kind of person, and he could accept almost anything. Although being reborn sounded ridiculous, he was very sure that this wasn't a dream. Dreams didn't have such striking colors or such clear sensations. He could even smell Cheryl's faint fragrance. "Nathan, why aren't you saying anything? I've apologized to you. You aren't actually angry at me, are you?" Cheryl spoke up again. There was a hint of displeasure in her voice, but she continued to look piteous. She knew that Nathan would begin to comfort her now. The 18-year-old Nathan would have done exactly what she wanted. Those who were secure in their love were always bold in their behavior. Unfortunately, Nathan now had the soul of his 36-year-old self. "Are you saying that you called me all the way over here and even instructed me to buy flowers just so you could play this dumb game of Truth and Dare?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. His voice was very calm, as if it were the voice of an AI. A flash of panic appeared in Cheryl's bright, beautiful eyes. She wondered if she had crossed the line today. However, shouldn't Nathan feel honored that she had chosen to tease him instead of any of the other young men who were trying to court her? Even if she was in the wrong, he shouldn't get angry at her! Cheryl felt guilt for a very brief moment, but very soon, she began to feel aggrieved instead. "Nathan, how dare you speak to me in that tone of voice?" She lifted up her perfect chin, looking righteously indignant. She was clearly waiting for Nathan to apologize to her. Nathan laughed. It was three parts self-deprecatory as he had finally realized that when seen without the filter of his youth, Cheryl was just an unpleasant girl who happened to be pretty. It was also seven parts bitter as he realized how much he had once abased himself, content to be made a clown of by her. "Thank you, Cheryl. You've made me realize what a dumbass I once was," Nathan said, smiling. He turned on his heel and strode off. The contemptuous looks on the young men and women in the room froze at once. Was that really the Nathan they knew? Cheryl stamped her foot hard. "Stop right there! If… If you dare to walk out that door, I… I'm going to delete you from MySpace!" Nathan had already reached the door, and he couldn't help laughing. He remembered how he had almost jumped off his bed after he finally managed to get Cheryl's MySpace. The bed had collapsed under him, which earned him a thrashing from his mother. That was what youthful love was like. It was sincere and humble, foolish and pure. He would think of today as a fitting end to the seven ridiculous years he had spent in his previous life. Nathan turned around and looked at Cheryl. In his past life, he had always thought of her as "the one who got away". "Cheryl, let's just pretend we never met." He did not linger and disappeared from their sight while everyone looked on in shock. Cheryl's eyes misted over as she stood there in a daze and watched Nathan disappear into the distance. He seemed both familiar yet unfamiliar all at the same time. "Cherry, are you crying?" "Nathan… Nathan has never treated me that way before." "I don't believe that Nathan's going to stop courting you. Wait and see! I bet he'll only last three days at most. In fact, I bet he's going to brazenly apologize to you early tomorrow morning. Dogs will always come back when they're hungry." Cheryl thought about it and decided that it sounded right. She lifted her chin up once more, showing off the perfect curve of her neck. "Hmph! Nathan embarrassed me in front of so many people. I'm not going to forgive him that easily!"