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nCapital Beijing

nEastern district, North Heping Street.

nDong Xuebing was still in shocked over his death experience yesterday. If time had not miraculously rewind, he would not get the chance to see his mother and Aunt Xuan. This was the first time he was grateful for being alive. He fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning, as lots of things were going through his mind. This was why it was 10 plus in the morning when he woke up. He got up from his old squeaking spring couch and headed for the washroom. He washed his face and yawned. He called out at the bedroom: “Mum, are you awake?”

nDong Xuebing’s mother, Luan Xiaoping, replied: “I am awake, and I am cleaning up the room. Do you still want breakfast?”

n“I will wait for lunch.” Dong Xuebing could feel something was off from his mother’s voice. He immediately pushes the door open and saw his mother sitting on the bed. She quickly wipes off her tears with the back of her hands when Dong Xuebing entered the room. His mother turned and looked at him and forced a smile and keeping an old black and white photograph into her wallet. It was her wedding photo, taken more than 20 years ago.

nDong Xuebing could feel his heart aching as he sat down beside his mother: “Thinking of dad?”

n“No… I’m not.” Dong Xuebing’s mother carefully kept the wallet and rubbed her eyes. “I took it out for a look when I saw it while cleaning.”

nThis had happened countless times over the years. Dong Xuebing’s mother character was weak. Every time she remembers some unpleasant memories, she would hide in her room and cry. Dong Xuebing felt guilty and said: “Mum, it is all my fault for being so useless. I cannot study and do not have any skills. I don’t think I will pass the Civil Servant test. All I can do is to work part-time at Panjiayuan Antique Market during my holidays. If I was slightly more capable, I might have raised enough medical bills for dad, and he might still be around.”

nHis mother patted his legs: “Stop talking nonsense. I know my son is the most capable and he will be a top government official in the future.”

nDong Xuebing moved his lips but did not say anything.

nHis mother smiled and touch his hand: “Don’t think so much. I will make you a good lunch later.”

nA plate of stir-fried garlic pork, a plate of steam cabbage and half a pot of congee. This was considered a luxurious meal in Dong Xuebing’s household. Usually, when he was alone at home, he would not bear to eat such dishes. He would just cook some rice and stir-fry some vegetables and eat it for lunch and dinner. It was not because Dong Xuebing was thrifty. It was because his family was really poor.

nDong Xuebing was 23 years’ old and was a graduate.

nHe had average looks and height. Everything about him was ordinary.

nThe savings at home was not more than 5 figures.

nDuring the year when Dong Xuebing’s father was hospitalized, they had used up all their savings. In the end, they even have to sell away their house. The one-bedroom apartment they were living was rented. After his father passed away, his mother lost her job for taking too much time off. The living expenses in Beijing was too high, and his mother returned back to her hometown in the countryside to work as a teacher there. She was trying her best to earn enough money for Dong Xuebing’s university’s fees. She will only return to Beijing to be with her son for one or two months during the school holidays.

nAll the living expenses, rents, bills, etc. depended on Dong Xuebing’s mother miserable salary, which was not enough. This was why Dong Xuebing took out part-time jobs as cashiers in supermarkets or some odd jobs at the Antique Market during his holidays and weekends. Other than his school fees, he was paying everything else. He could make his own living without asking for money from his mother.

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nLife was tough, but 4 years had passed in a flash.

nAfter lunch, Dong Xuebing’s mother kept the dishes and watched some old black and white programs on the TV. Dong Xuebing returned back to the bedroom and lay there staring at the ceiling in a daze. Now, all the universities in Beijing no longer provide a job for their graduates. He had just graduated from Beijing Union University. What will he do if he fails his Civil Servant test?

nSigh…… how good will it be if I really have supernatural powers?

nBut I had tried so many times last night and did not succeed even once.

nShall I try again?

nThe door creak and opened. Dong Xuebing’s mother came in and said gently: “I will be going upstairs to speak to Mrs. Xu. I heard that her son will be taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask her son to help you out with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies.”

nDong Xuebing felt uncomfortable in his chest and mumbled a reply.

n“I will be back later.” She said and closed the door.

nDong Xuebing gritted his teeth and calm himself down before he starts on his experiments.

nTurn back! Move back! Retreat! Back!

nDong Xuebing felt his body moved, but when he looked around, there were no changes. Fine. Those were not the magic words.

nJust when Dong Xuebing was about to start to say some random words, the bedroom door opened.

nHis mother came in and looked at him: “I will be going upstairs to speak to Mrs. Xu. I heard that her son will be taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask her son to help you out with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies.”

nDong Xuebing was stunned and shouted: “Ah?”

nIt was exactly the same tone and words.

nThis was what just happened 50 to 60 seconds ago.

nSeeing her son’s reaction, she said softly: “Mum knows that you have your pride, but her son, Xiao Dong had almost scored full marks for his exams last year. If he can help you with your revisions, you might stand a better chance of passing.”

nDong Xuebing replied in a daze: “That’s not what I meant”

nHis mother looked at him and said: “Then I will be going.”

nAfter his mother left, Dong Xuebing gave himself a slap. That’s it! I succeeded!

nDong Xuebing quickly suppress his excitement and grabbed a small orange-colored alarm clock from the shelves. He stared at the hands of the clock and begin to repeat the “magic words.”

nTurn back! Move back! Retreat! Back!

nDong Xuebing continued to chant these words from afternoon till night. After dinner, he continued chanting the words. Finally, at 12.02 am 28 seconds, he successfully made a move back the time and returned to 12.01 am 28 seconds. It was precisely 1 minute!

nNo words could explain the excitement Dong Xuebing had.

nDong Xuebing knew that the time on this alarm clock was not accurate and he ran over to switch on the old 29in TV.

nA military program was on and the time was shown on the top right corner. 23: 59: 19.

nSwitching on the Tv should take about 19 seconds. That means when Dong Xuebing uses “Back” just now, it was exactly midnight. He blinked and made a bold hypothesis. This “Back” will reset at midnight, and he can only use it once a day. When he uses it, time will return back to 60 seconds before.

nOh my god!!!

nIf this was indeed real, lady luck had smiled on him!

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