This Life’s Hit Song Is Revenge

Chapter 3

“I’m here to withdraw my savings.”

As soon as it was her turn, Jaei sat down at the bank counter and handed over her ID.

“Yes, ma’am. Let me check the account you opened. Please wait a moment.”

There was no reason to hesitate, but strangely enough, canceling the savings account stirred complicated emotions.

The account that held her parents’ death insurance payout.

‘My baby… We should at least leave money for your marriage… but we keep spending it…’

Suddenly, her grandmother’s face came to mind.

Her parents had been her grandmother’s children too, yet her grandmother had always felt sorry toward Jaei.

That was why Jaei had made a promise.

When she got married, she would never burden her grandmother.

Since childhood, she had squeezed every bit out of her allowance and living expenses and poured whatever remained into this savings account.

When she actually got married, her grandmother was no longer there.

Still, Jaei used all those savings to prepare gifts for her mother-in-law.

Because she worried her grandmother might feel guilty for not being able to provide for her.

‘Other daughters-in-law buy luxury bags and sedans for their in-laws, you know.’

She spent everything she had preparing gifts, but her mother-in-law was never satisfied.

Somehow, she managed to buy the luxury handbag.

A sedan, though? Impossible.

‘Do you know how embarrassed I was when I married you to Youngjae? Even now I’m too ashamed to hold my head up!’

She had heard those venomous words over and over throughout her marriage.

Memories of lowering her head like a sinner made black smoke rise inside her chest.

‘Isn’t having children just what women are supposed to do? I can’t sleep worrying our family line will end!’

That sharp voice echoed endlessly in her mind.

She shook her head hard, forcing the memories away.

“Hoo…”

After taking a short breath, she tightly shut her eyes before opening them again.

Grandma. This time, I’m going to spend it on myself.

The employee studying the computer screen looked troubled before meeting her eyes.

“Ma’am, if you cancel this savings product now, you’ll lose a lot. If you wait longer, you can receive the maximum interest…”

She answered firmly but politely.

“No. It’s okay. Please cancel it now.”

The employee tried persuading her two more times, but Jaei never changed her mind.

Holding the cancellation confirmation slip, she quietly checked the balance.

Just under 40 million won.

About half of it was what remained from her parents’ insurance payout.

The other half was money she had earned through blood, sweat, and tears.

Why had she used such precious money to buy luxury gifts for that woman?

I was insane.

Instead of sighing, a hollow laugh escaped.

Jaei quickly headed toward a nearby PC café.

Her goal now was simple:

Book a plane ticket to America.

The earliest flight is tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Her second life pushed every decision toward boldness.

Choosing a direct flight had already been daring.

This was the first overseas trip of both her lives.

A layover?

That would only make things more confusing.

Time was short, and failure wasn’t an option.

She clicked through options without hesitation before freezing at one tab.

First class…

Honestly, she nearly gasped when she first saw the price.

Economy class was already expensive enough.

First class cost five times more.

With this money… I could live comfortably for months.

The fact that she thought that first showed how terrifying habits were.

She had never spent this much money on herself before.

Ironically, Yoo Youngjae had always been overflowing with money.

YU Entertainment constantly competed for the title of Korea’s best entertainment company.

Naturally, he lived extravagantly.

Jaei was different.

She had to keep household budgets and buy only approved items.

Even then, she had to watch people’s reactions.

Thinking of her past self tapping away at calculators made her bite her lower lip.

Jaei shook her head irritably.

“No, Lee Jaei. Don’t hesitate!”

Click.

The mouse click sounded like thunder.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

But this click would change her life.

This time, she wanted to live properly.

Without worrying about what others thought.

Doing everything she wanted.

Grandma, Mom, Dad—watching from heaven—they probably wanted her finger to click too.

The printer slowly pushed out the paper.

How much is this single sheet worth?

Jaei hugged the ticket carefully, as if it were a check worth millions.

The paper carrying her future felt warm.

* * *

The tiny one-room home where she had lived with her grandmother.

She thought she had become stronger.

Yet every step up the stairs made her chest feel heavier.

Standing before the door, Jaei steadied her breathing.

It had been so long that she thought nothing would remain.

Creak—

The smell of mold rising through damp wallpaper hit her nose.

Slowly, carefully, she looked around.

Messy blankets.

An old desk.

Half-torn wallpaper.

It’s exactly the same.

After her grandmother passed away, the place had remained frozen in time.

She had started singing at weddings for income, but unstable earnings made survival difficult.

Last time, faced with the same circumstances and overdue rent, she had rushed into part-time work.

That was where she met Yoo Youngjae.

The image of his sly smiling face naturally stiffened her expression.

She pulled out a piece of paper folded neatly inside her grandmother’s wallet.

[185 Rus Oke, Lake soul, IL
Oliva / Lee Kyungsook / 178548779445]

Very occasionally, they had international phone calls with her aunt living in America.

Her aunt lived in Chicago.

Maybe fate really was helping her.

She’s not answering.

Probably because of the time difference.

Jaei sent her aunt a message explaining her plans to visit and began packing.

A few clothes.

There wasn’t much to take from a tiny room.

Then she found an instrument tucked deep inside a dresser drawer.

Something filled with the love of her younger self and grandmother.

‘Grandma! I want to sing while playing guitar! Can you buy me one?’

‘How much does it cost? Is it very expensive?’

Her grandmother had asked around about guitar prices.

Then one day she brought this home.

It was a ukulele someone recommended because “it makes sound too.”

Back then, Jaei hated it.

Why was it smaller?

Why did it only look similar?

What annoyed her most were the scratches on the back where someone had tried to erase a name.

‘This isn’t a guitar!! And it looks used!’

‘They said it makes the same sound. They told me this one was good. Our girl, try playing it. They said it sounds nice.’

Strum—

Jaei plucked the strings.

A clear sound echoed through the room.

Back then, ukuleles weren’t common.

She hadn’t understood her grandmother’s effort.

Her fingertips brushed the scratched marks.

The rough texture felt exactly like her immature heart back then.

“…I’m sorry.”

Whispering softly, Jaei packed the ukulele last.

Then zipped the bag shut.

* * *

At the same time.

A man tilted his head slightly while taking a phone call and packing his laptop.

“The festival is right around the corner. Do you seriously think it makes sense that the singer can’t leave the country?”

A long explanation came from the other side.

The man didn’t bother listening to the end.

“This festival carries Star Entertainment’s name. Replace the singer if necessary. Continue as planned. I’ll head to the site, so report additional matters by email.”

After giving his neat instructions, he pressed his temple irritably.

Then, immediately, another call came in.

—President Kang! The flight reservation is complete. It’s tomorrow at 10 a.m. I’ll send the ticket and seat information to your phone.

“Good work.”

Tomorrow morning’s flight.

He didn’t know.

That the woman boarding the same plane tomorrow would completely change both her life—

and his.