Chapter 2
That night, I was alone in the bedroom, packing my suitcase. Charles was in the study, the door closed, and the light stayed on late into the night.
I had no idea what was going through his mind. Maybe he was thinking about that girl, maybe debating whether to text her, or maybe he was worried about how I was holding up.
Or maybe he wasn't thinking about anything at all, just scrolling through his phone.
It was past two in the morning when I finally zipped up my suitcase. As I stood up, everything suddenly went dark, and my head was spinning.
I leaned against the wardrobe for a moment, waiting until the dizziness faded.
Suddenly, I heard a voice.
It wasn't something I heard with my ears; it echoed straight inside my mind.
It sounded mechanical and emotionless, like a phone's voice assistant reading out a text message. "Suitable host detected.
"Initiating emotional trauma scan... Scan complete.
"Scan result: severe emotional trauma detected. You are on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"Initiating match with the Life Choice System... Match successful.
"Greetings, host. Congratulations! You have been selected to experience the Life Choice System.
"Here's your question: You have two options. Option A: receive 30 million dollars instantly; or Option B: earn 20 cents every second. Which do you choose?"
I stood there, leaning against the wardrobe, stunned.
A few seconds later, that mechanical voice chimed in again. "No immediate selection detected. Would you like a detailed breakdown of the options?"
I tried to speak, but my throat felt parched.
"Option A: 30 million dollars, a one-time, post-tax deposit. The funds are sourced from minor fluctuations in global financial markets, so they won't attract any attention. The money is completely legal and yours to spend however you wish."
"Option B: 20 cents every second. That's 12 dollars a minute, 720 dollars an hour, and 17,280 dollars a day. Payments are settled monthly and will continue until the end of your life."
"Please make your choice within three minutes."
I eased myself onto the edge of the bed, my thoughts a complete mess.
Was this a dream? Or was I losing my mind?
"Countdown begins: two minutes and fifty-three seconds."
I pinched the back of my hand; ouch, that hurt.
This wasn't a dream.
"Two minutes and forty-seven seconds."
I took a deep breath and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm the system. No name, no ID. All you need to know is, I'm here to deliver money to you."
"Why me?" I pressed.
"You meet the criteria for the emotional trauma compensation," the system replied.
"What do you mean by emotional trauma compensation?" I added.
"Simply put, you've suffered emotional trauma. As compensation, you get a chance to make a choice."
I went quiet for a few seconds.
"Two minutes and six seconds," the system intoned.
"What if I don't choose?"
"If you don't make a choice in three minutes, your eligibility will expire. You'll go back to your old life, as if it was all a dream," the system replied.
"My old life..." I murmured, echoing the words to myself.
"Yes. A life where you're about to get divorced, emotionally betrayed by your husband, and possibly having to face everything on your own. Are you sure you want to give up this chance to change your life?"
I didn't answer.
After what felt like forever, or maybe a few seconds, I asked, "What are Charles and that girl doing right now?"
The system went silent for three seconds.
Then, a scene suddenly appeared before my eyes.
It was like a transparent screen floating in the air, showing Charles's study. He sat at his computer, the glow from the monitor lighting up his face and highlighting the small smile on his lips.
He typed slowly, pausing every few words to grin at the screen.
The image shifted closer, and I could see his chat window.
The profile picture was of a girl who looked really young, her smile bright and sweet.
Charles's message read: [I told my wife. She didn't freak out or cry; she was super calm. I can't tell what she's thinking. Maybe she doesn't care about me anymore.]
The girl replied: [Don't overthink it. Maybe she loves you so much that she doesn't know how to express it.]
Charles: [Maybe. But chatting with you is different. Even when you don't say much, I feel at ease.]
She replied with a shy emoji.
I watched the scene, feeling as if I were watching a movie that had nothing to do with me.
Charles kept typing: [Am I a scumbag?]
The girl replied: [No, you're being honest. Most people settle and keep going even when the feelings are gone; that's what really makes someone a scumbag.]
Charles looked at her reply and smiled again.
I hadn't seen that smile in so long.
"Countdown complete," the mechanical voice echoed, and the scene in front of me disappeared. "No selection made within the allotted time. Your eligibility..."
"Wait," I said.
The system paused.
"I haven't chosen A or B," I added. "But I have a question."
"Please ask," the system replied.
"That scene you showed me, was it happening live?" I asked.
"Yes."
"So, everything I saw is actually going on right now?" I pressed.
"Yes."
I slowly got to my feet and walked over to the window.
Outside, it was two in the morning. The city at this hour was dotted with scattered lights in distant buildings. Some people were wide awake, some were up late working, and some were waiting for someone who wouldn't be coming home tonight.
I turned around, staring at the spot where that floating screen had been.
"If I choose B," I said, "what can I actually do with that money?"
"Anything you want, as long as it's not illegal."
"Can I make him regret it?" I asked.
The system paused for a moment. "Yes."
"Can I make him realize he didn't lose some boring housewife who cooks and cleans, but a woman whose time is worth 12 dollars a minute?"
"Yes," the system replied.
"Can I make that girl who supposedly understands him better see what a real difference looks like?" I added.
"Yes."
I smiled.
It was the first genuine smile I had managed all night.
"Then I choose B," I said.
The system announced, "You've chosen Option B: 20 cents every second.
"Your account is now open. Payment stream activated.
"Current balance: 0.2 dollars.
"In one minute: 12 dollars.
"In one hour: 720 dollars.
"In one day: 17,280 dollars.
"In one year: about 6. 3 million dollars.
"As long as you're alive, this money will keep pouring into your account.
"Notice: no one else can discover this system, and no technology can track it. Your money is completely safe.
"Enjoy the rest of your life."
The voice disappeared.
The room was quiet once more, with only the sound of the wind outside and the occasional car passing by in the distance.
I stood by the window, gazing at my reflection in the glass.
At the age of thirty-one years old, my skin was starting to loosen, faint lines had appeared around my eyes, and I looked as exhausted as someone twice my age.
But there was a hint of a smile on my lips.
I was smiling.