My husband and I shared a lifetime of love, only to be reborn together in the 80s.
Driven by the hope of rekindling our past, I waited for him at the dance hall where we first met, for two agonizing years.
As I watched him confidently stride toward me, my heart swelled with joy. I reached out, ready to embrace a new life, a new beginning, with him.
But his steps carried him right past me, stopping instead before the manager’s daughter.
“May I have this dance with you?”
Turns out, he’d decided he wanted a different partner entirely.
“Scarlett, you’ve checked the door at least ten times. Who are you waiting for? All these gorgeous men here, and not a single one catches your eye?”
I barely registered Chloe’s words, my gaze fixed intently on the entrance.
I was reborn. And today, this very day, was when I first met my husband, Dylan.
In our past life, Dylan and I were the epitome of a power couple.
We started from nothing, building our lives together for over sixty years.
We were poor, we argued, we fought, we cried, we fussed, we complained, but we never once talked about breaking up.
At our lowest, we split the last piece of bread, huddling together for warmth.
After we got wealthy, we moved into a mansion, never forgetting to help our family and friends.
We walked through life hand in hand, a model couple everyone envied.
On my deathbed, I asked him,
“If we could be reborn, would you still ask me to dance that day?”
He kissed me without hesitation. I closed my eyes with a smile, ending that life.
So in this life,
When other men showed interest – no matter how capable or handsome they were – I rejected them all.
I was waiting for Dylan. I was going to be his wife again.
I never attended the company singles mixers.
I told my frantic parents that I had someone special in my heart, and he’d be joining our company this time next year.
My parents thought I was out of my mind.
So I waited, year after year. Dylan, who should have joined the company in 1986, only appeared in 1988.
That’s when I learned he’d spent two years in the military.
In our previous life, Dylan had often lamented not having served in the army. Now, he’d actually taken two years to do it.
I guessed he must have been reborn too.
When I heard Dylan was attending the singles dance, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was the first to sign up.
Even though it was two years later, I wore the same red polka-dot dress as in my past life and got a fresh perm.
I politely turned down every man who asked for a dance, sitting in the waiting area, my eyes glued to the door.
Today, I was finally going to properly greet him.
“That’s our company’s new engineer.”
“Looks like he just came back from the military too~ You can tell; he’s got that military bearing.”
Chloe nudged my arm, pointing towards the main entrance.
That familiar figure entered my view. The restless music in the dance hall seemed to slow to half speed.
Slightly disheveled short hair, a sharp jawline, he glanced left and right as if searching. The moment our eyes met, he gave a shy smile, revealing his signature grin.
He walked through the crowd, heading towards me, just like in our past life.
Twenty-four-year-old Dylan still made my heart flutter.
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as he drew closer. I raised my arm, ready to embrace the happiness of this new life.
My hand, suspended in mid-air, froze.
He walked past me, towards Chloe, who was standing behind me.
“Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?”
Chloe looked flustered, her face instantly flushing crimson. Colleagues around us, loving the drama, started to hoot.
“Dylan’s new to the company, Chloe, don’t crush his confidence!”
“Yeah, just dance with him!”
Chloe found it hard to refuse and reached out, letting her hand rest on Dylan’s.
Dylan took Chloe’s hand, and they walked onto the dance floor. The crowd cheered.
I sat there, stunned. No matter how loud the music was, I couldn’t hear a thing.
Dylan hadn’t even spared me a glance; his steps had marched directly to Chloe.
In that first life, was it Chloe he wanted to ask to dance?
I scrambled out of there. The sky opened up, pouring rain, and memories from my previous life flooded my mind.
In my past life, Chloe had invited me to that singles dance. She’d picked out my entire outfit, from head to toe.
Her favorite red polka-dot dress, her signature 80s perm.
We were similar in height and build. Dressed up, we looked almost like twins.
I didn’t know how to dance, so I just sat in a corner.
Dylan came straight up to me, head bowed, and asked me in front of everyone,
“Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?”
The stage lights were dim. He didn’t dare to look up. When I didn’t move, he bravely spoke again,
“I’ve liked you for a long time. Please, dance with me!”
That was the first time I truly heard my own heartbeat. I’d secretly liked Dylan for ages, and being suddenly confessed to by the man I adored left me flustered.
I mechanically reached out my hand, my mind a blank, and replied,
“I like you too.”
My colleagues around us started to cheer.
Only then did Dylan finally look up and meet my eyes.
Back then, I couldn’t read the shock in Dylan’s eyes; I thought it was surprise.
After that dance, I became more proactive in pursuing Dylan, and he never refused me.
It seemed everyone at the company assumed we were a couple.
Marriage and children followed naturally, a course of least resistance.
Even though he was always distant, I just figured that was his personality.
But then I thought of the fervent look in his eyes just now on the dance floor.
Turns out, Dylan had wanted to ask Chloe to dance from the very beginning.
I remembered Chloe once saying she had a weakness for guys in uniform.
So, the first thing Dylan did after being reborn was to join the military. What he called his “regret” actually pointed to Chloe.
Dylan, like me, had a clear purpose in being reborn.
Only, the objects of our affections had changed.
I went home in the rain, caught a fever, and my parents worried outside my door for days.
Once I recovered, I calmly announced,
“Mom and Dad, I’m ready for blind dates.”
Dylan in this life seemed like a completely different person. In our previous life, he was always cautious.
He’d think everything through before acting. But in this life, he practically moved his desk next to Chloe’s.
As if he wanted to tell everyone at the company that he liked Chloe.
His forwardness and intensity were something I’d never witnessed. In our previous life, if I even walked a little too close to him at the company, he’d try to keep his distance.
“We work at the same place. People will talk.”
I didn’t know what kind of “talk” he meant, but now, he’d already been warned several times by the supervisor.
Yet, he didn’t reduce his closeness to Chloe.
Chloe was my best friend, and she couldn’t help but complain to me about Dylan.
“He’s so annoying! Dylan, he’s stuck to me like glue, he’s everywhere!”
“You don’t like him? I saw you accept his gifts and go to the movies with him.”
“Accepting gifts means we’re together? Plenty of guys send me stuff.”
Chloe had many suitors. Even though Dylan had returned from two years in the military, his other prospects weren’t exactly stellar.
Chloe shared the imported chocolate Dylan had bought her with everyone. As I held a piece in my hand, a pang of envy struck me.
Back then, when I was pregnant and craved a sweet chocolate, he’d say that when starting a business, every penny counted. And with a baby on the way, money would be tight everywhere. No matter what I wanted, he always had a thousand reasons not to give it to me.
But now, if Chloe simply said she wanted some, he’d buy her so many boxes, more than she could ever eat.
Turns out, whether there was love or not had always been crystal clear. It was just my love-struck self, blinded and deluded, who chose to ignore it all.
One day at work, feeling a bit lightheaded, I opened a bar of chocolate Chloe had given me and ate a piece.
“How dare you eat that?”
This was the first time Dylan had spoken to me since being reborn. But his next action was to slap the chocolate out of my hand.
“That’s for Chloe! Where did you steal it from?!”
His words chilled me to the bone. He actually accused me of “stealing.”
“What are you doing?! I gave this to Scarlett myself!”
Chloe immediately stepped in to protect me. Dylan gave an awkward laugh.
“Oh, right. My bad then…”
“Chloe, this chocolate is really expensive. It cost me half my salary. Could you maybe eat it yourself?”
“I can give it to whoever I want! What’s it to you?! Scarlett, let’s go, I’ll take you out to eat!”
When Dylan said “steal,” the look in his eyes was like he was looking at a complete stranger. He didn’t even consider that I might have been reborn too.
After all, we’d spent sixty years together, started a business, built a home, raised children. Even if there was no love, surely there was some family bond.
His cold tone towards me, laced with hatred, as if he feared I’d contaminate him. He even begrudged me something he’d given to someone else.
“So, Chloe, when are you and Dylan going to make it official?”
Chloe sighed, adding some food to my bowl.
“His family background is pretty bad. Besides his military service, he doesn’t have much else going for him. I’m still thinking about it.”
Despite her words, less than two months later, the news that Dylan and Chloe were an item spread throughout the company.
Many said Dylan was chasing Chloe because she was the company Manager’s daughter, hoping to be a gold digger and climb the ladder fast.
But Dylan, to show his “true love,” got a tattoo of Chloe’s face on his arm.
I remembered how in our past life, when our son got a tattoo of my photo and his, Dylan had ripped into him, humiliating him. And now he was using that exact same move to chase Chloe.
Chloe’s parents were even more disgusted by Dylan’s behavior, especially with the rumors of him being a gold digger spreading through the company.
Chloe’s parents ordered them to break up immediately. But young people are like that; the more you try to stop them, the more they cling to each other.
To prove he wasn’t a gold digger, Dylan swore he’d buy Chloe a proper house in the city, outright, by next month.
Listening to the gossip, a question suddenly struck me.
Dylan, from a poor background, where would he get the money to buy a house?
And he set himself a deadline for next month?
Wait, what?!
I suddenly remembered that next month, the city was hosting the first National Bridal Gown Design Competition. In my past life, I entered it on a whim.
My design won the gold prize and was bought by an industry expert for a staggering fifty thousand dollars.
That was fifty thousand dollars in the 80s.
That money later became the seed fund for Dylan’s and my business.
My mind raced. In my previous life, I only submitted the design sketches. If I could actually produce the gown, wouldn’t I earn even more?
I worked overtime for over a month, burning the midnight oil.
The moment I arrived at the competition venue, I heard exclamations of admiration.
“Who designed this? It’s a work of art!”
“This level of skill could compete on the world stage!”
“I totally underestimated Dylan! This intricate craftsmanship is absolutely masterful.”
…
The praises kept coming.
I looked towards the huddle of people.
A gown identical to my design from the previous life was on a model.
The intricate details, the choice of jewels, the lace patterns—everything was identical.
The only difference was, this piece was credited to “Dylan.”
I’d forgotten that in my previous life, he had seen this award-winning design countless times, often using it as a company endorsement for various projects.
I looked at Dylan, and our eyes met.
I had no intention of questioning him, but his eyes were full of provocation. He then turned to all the contestants present and declared,
“Competitions should be about sincerity. I think those who only bring sketches shouldn’t even bother!”
“My work started over a month ago; every stitch is a piece of my heart!”
He was clearly implying that I, just like in the previous life, had only brought design sketches.
The onlookers praised his dedication, and those who had only brought sketches lowered their heads in shame.
My mom, who came to help me, saw Dylan’s work and instantly panicked.
“Honey, how is his work identical to yours?”
Mom’s words were overheard by Dylan and the people around him.
There was a moment of silence.
Dylan then seized his chance.
“Scarlett! We’re from the same company. You weren’t peeking while I was designing, were you?”
“This is a major competition! Is someone already cheating in the very first year?!”
Dylan was clearly prepared, firing off a barrage of accusations. Mom, furious, immediately opened my bag and started arguing with him.
“This is my daughter’s hard work! Who is the real copycat?!”
My gown had just been finished this morning. The basting stitches were still in, and the threads weren’t even trimmed.
This immediately solidified the accusations of me being a “copycat.”
The whispers grew louder, people pointing at me, trying to prevent me from competing.
Even Chloe, standing beside Dylan, looked at me as if I were a thief.
If I hadn’t lived through a previous life and seen every kind of situation, I would have fled right then!
But I remained unfazed, my expression calm. I registered, filled out the forms.
Seeing my composure, Dylan feigned concern.
“Forget it, I guess Scarlett was just blinded by ambition. We’re all colleagues; let’s give her some slack.”
“Designs can sometimes be similar. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose this time.”
He played both the good guy and the bad guy, pretending to be magnanimous despite being wronged. The crowd’s approval of Dylan soared.
“For fairness, Scarlett, your piece isn’t even finished, and it’s identical to mine. You should just withdraw from the competition to save yourself further embarrassment!”
I suddenly smiled.
“Dylan, I never said this was my competition entry.”
“She’s been exposed, hasn’t she? Is she just making things up now?”
“It’s barely been a month of prep time! One person making an entire finished bridal gown is already incredibly difficult!”
I ignored the whispers around me.
I calmly asked the judging panel for five mannequins.
Returning to my competition spot, Mom and I calmly pulled out clothing bags. I was prepared. I was here to make money, and every piece at this competition would be sold. The more, the better.
Having lived a lifetime, I’d spent sixty years in fashion. I’d made ten gowns in a single month before.
Even though the tools weren’t as advanced in this life, my sixty years of skill were still sharp.
Some onlookers scoffed,
“Can she really win by sheer volume?”
People were still whispering, but as my gowns were placed one by one on the mannequins, everyone fell silent.
My past life’s design was an intricate, heavily embroidered gown, extremely complex to recreate. That’s why I left it for last, to make it if I could, and skip it if I couldn’t.
All my focus in this life had been on these five designs.
Each one was an award-winning design that hadn’t yet appeared in this era.
Elegant, grand, and minimalist – a standard that wouldn’t be outdated even in that time.
When the five dresses were perfectly displayed, everyone was speechless.
The judging began.
All the judges lingered for a long time in front of my designs.
They asked me about my design philosophy, my inspiration, and I answered them honestly.
Actually, long before those contestants stopped gossiping about me, I already knew the answer in my heart.
But to my dismay, first place still went to Dylan’s intricately crafted gown.
The contestants who had mocked me earlier now offered consolation.
“Chloe’s dad is one of the organizers. We all think your designs were better.”
Dylan, holding his medal, shot me a triumphant glance.
“Copying is copying. Trying to win by quantity is just pathetic. How utterly ridiculous.”
But then, Dylan’s smile faltered.
The next awards, second place, third place, all the way to sixth place,
They all went to me.
The judges commented,
“The works are mature, with a unique style. While they show echoes of the first-place design, they are more refined. The only drawback is that as bridal gowns, they are perhaps too minimalist; the mainstream still prefers more decoration.”
The room fell completely quiet. Anyone who knew anything about design understood.
Decorations can be added later, but the fundamental design and cut of the garment are what truly matter.
Dylan’s cool demeanor finally crumbled.
I calmly gave my acceptance speech, focusing on one key point: “They are available for purchase.”
Several judges’ eyes lit up with interest.
My creations were right here. Whether they were copied or not, everyone could judge for themselves.
Even Chloe understood, giving Dylan a disgusted look before directly leaving the venue.
Dylan stubbornly stayed. He needed to make money.
The auction began with the first-place design.
Dylan’s piece started at 0-00,000, and Chloe’s father bid it up to 0-05,000.
But the price wouldn’t go any higher; no one else raised their paddle.
In my past life, this gown sold for fifty thousand! Had that person not shown up?
I felt a little worried. Would my gowns not sell for much now?
When it was my turn, Chloe’s father privately approached me.
“Scarlett, if your designs could stay with the company, I’d promote you and give you a raise.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
Just then, my gowns went up for auction. All five pieces at once.
“$50,000!” “0-050,000!” “$200,000!”
Everyone frantically raised their paddles. The price per piece had long surpassed Dylan’s 0-05,000.
I grew more excited; I hadn’t expected such an incredible response to these five pieces.
Dylan stood in front of his own gown, his face growing darker and darker.
“$500,000!”
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