She had worked at a publishing company and had just been promoted from assistant to editor.
But shortly after, she encountered terrorists and died from a gunshot.
Her soul reincarnated into a parallel world, born in 1861.
Jenny became the third daughter of a North American farmer, Jenny Jones.
The fact that she was a transmigrator gave Jenny quite a shock and thoroughly woke her up.
No wonder she had yearned for New York since childhood and loved reading and commenting on stories.
All these desires were because her past life's experiences guided her back to the right path in her mind.
Even though this world was different from the one she had lived in before.
Jenny sat silently at the table.
Before she realized she was a transmigrator, she had no other choice and couldn't outright reject John.
But in the past two days, as she reviewed the brief twenty-odd years of her past life, she gradually formed a plan.
She would leave the printing plant and go to a more promising editorial department, even if just to do odd jobs.
After avoiding John for two days, she knew it was time to make her stance clear.
"Your bread."
The waiter brought the bread and set it before Jenny, interrupting her thoughts.
She stuffed a slice of bread into her mouth and washed it down with half a cup of coffee.
Back at the printing plant, Jenny changed into the indigo smock to protect her clothes, buried her head in the machine, and worked for half a shift.
It was getting dark outside; the snow had stopped. Gas lamps were lit in various workshops.
The listless collating women perked up, knowing quitting time was near.
Until all the day's goods were spot-checked, they turned off their machines in unison and stood up.
Jenny punched out for the day, changed in the locker room, and as she came out, someone suddenly called her name.
Turning around, she saw John. He smiled at her, grabbed her wrist, and slowly pulled her toward the nearby stairwell, clearly wanting to talk.
"John, let me go."
John was burly, wearing a cotton-linen shirt and a coarse tweed lapel jacket. He smelled of machine oil.
"Why didn't you accept my gift? I thought you had accepted me," John asked.
Jenny looked at him coolly.
"John, be careful. If someone sees us scuffling here, will that look right?"
She shook off his hand.
Alerted by her words, John straightened up and lowered his voice.
This stairwell had several exits connecting Dawling Building and the printing plant, making it easy for office supervisors to come to the printing department to sign off on print jobs, so they might run into people. But he was anxious for an answer now.
He simply pulled her into the cleaning closet at the corner of the stairwell and pressed her for an answer.
"Jenny, why are you avoiding me? I've been pursuing you for so long. Don't you feel anything at all? Everyone outside thinks we're a good match."
"I don't like you."
"Jenny, I know you're just shy. I've been generous with you and I'm willing to take responsibility. You should think it over carefully. Marry me, and you'll never have to go back to that small town. You can settle in New York. I know you're not the kind of girl who's vain and materialistic. This is the best choice for you."
Jenny inexplicably trembled with anger, seeing that he wouldn't give up until he saw the coffin. Gritting her teeth, she said,
"How do you know I'm not? I didn't come to New York to do hard labor for the rest of my life, and I'm not content to marry you. If you insist on pestering me and forcing me to marry you, I'll definitely have an affair with your boss. Are you sure you want to take that risk?"
Her words enraged John. Looking at her face, he tried to reason with her again.
"What? Have you set your sights on those office types? Don't be fooled by their show; they're all playboys. They won't take responsibility for you."
Jenny looked at him darkly.
"I haven't tried yet. Can you guarantee it?"
John met her eyes and suddenly felt as if Jenny had become a different person. He choked as if he had swallowed a peach pit.
"I'll tell my uncle about your fantasies. You won't have a chance!"
Jenny clenched her fingers. He was threatening her with her current job.
Suddenly, there was movement from the stairwell behind them.
"What are you doing?"
Jenny turned around and saw a tall, straight figure standing in the dim corner. It was a man holding a stack of documents, his voice cold.
She didn't know when he had appeared or how much he had heard.
She and John quickly put more distance between them. Unmarried men and women bickering at work was bad for both their reputations.
But the man wasn't interested in their entanglement.
He took two steps into the stairwell, and the gaslight from the corridor fell on him, allowing a rough view of his face.
Jenny distanced herself from John, but she inexplicably felt the man glance at her with contempt.
Then he looked at John, still speaking with indifference.
"Machinist? Didn't the foreman teach you the rules?"
John's face turned pale. According to shift schedule, he was actually absent from work at this time.
Even though he didn't know who the man was, judging by his dress and demeanor, John didn't dare to gamble. He stammered out an explanation.
"I'm going back right now."
As John tried to run,
"Stop."
The man wasn't going to let him off.
"What's your name?"
John had no choice but to honestly give his name. Now he was bound to be fined. Only then did the man order him back to his post.
John left her alone and walked away. Jenny stood with her head down, staring at the floor.
She hadn't been absent, so at worst she'd get a scolding. That wouldn't get her fired.
But nothing happened. The man brushed past her as if she were air and walked upstairs.
Jenny breathed a sigh of relief.
Once he was completely gone, she turned to leave, but then saw a silver glint on the corridor floor.
She walked over and saw a metal pencil lying on the ground.
Jenny picked it up, realizing it must have fallen from that man's documents.
The pencil was extendable with replaceable leads, a mother-of-pearl inlay on the top, and a name engraved on one side.
Benjamin. Rog.
……