The Lin Residence.
Lin Huiying and Lin Huaiyu had cleared out the study to let Song Zhiyi move in.
The study was on the second floor, right next to Lin Huaiyu’s room, with his parents’—Lin and his wife’s—room just beside it.
Song Zhiyi didn’t have much luggage, as most of it was stored in her space. Her half-worn canvas bag was stuffed with daily necessities her aunt had given her, along with two new sets of clothes her aunt had secretly made for her.
She also brought quite a few pots, pans, bowls, and utensils.
“We’ve already prepared all these things for you here, so you didn’t need to bring them.”
As he spoke, Lin Huaiyu brought over a pile of items.
Song Zhiyi took one look and was stunned.
Lin Huaiyu had prepared three towels, three basins, and some toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other daily necessities for her.
In this era, most people used tooth powder or salt to brush their teeth—toothpaste was a luxury.
The key issue was the basins and towels. Her aunt had also prepared two sets for her, which meant she now had five basins and five towels in her room.
“Why did you give me so many basins and towels?”
Song Zhiyi asked timidly.
“My aunt told me that girls need to separate their towels and basins for different uses. As a man, I wasn’t sure, so I bought extra. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
Lin Huaiyu said while helping her arrange the items neatly.
Then, seeing her—a young girl—carrying a bulging canvas bag in one hand and holding the bucket and basin she had brought in the other, seemingly struggling a bit, he naturally reached out.
“Let me.”
But Song Zhiyi instinctively shrank back, keeping her distance from him.
“No need, Regiment Commander Lin, I can manage. Don’t let my thin frame fool you—I’m quite strong.”
Then, without waiting for a response, she hurried ahead and walked briskly up to the second floor.
Truth be told, she was already deeply touched by how considerate Lin Huaiyu and his family had been toward her. How could she trouble him even more?
Her job, to put it nicely, was that of a health care doctor, but in reality, it wasn’t much different from being a live-in nanny. As her employer, he didn’t need to prepare things for her in such detail.
Recalling her past life, when she worked tirelessly for the Xie family, they never showed her the slightest bit of consideration.
Lin Huaiyu’s hand hung in mid-air, feeling somewhat awkward, and he could only silently follow behind her.
He had observed her for a few days and felt she was quite sincere and straightforward, without any hidden agendas.
He had met many girls, especially in the cultural troupe, where each one was like a delicate flower.
If it were any of them, they would have seized the opportunity, thanking him in a sickly sweet voice while letting him help.
But this Song Zhiyi kept her distance from him, insisting on doing everything herself.
Just as she had finished moving things up from the first floor, fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Her face was flushed, and she pursed her lips slightly, breathing carefully. The more she tried to hide her panting, the more delicate her breaths sounded.
She looked like a stubborn little deer.
Without asking for her permission this time, Lin Huaiyu reached out with his long arm and “snatched” the canvas bag from her arms.
It felt heavy.
He carried it effortlessly with one hand and used his other hand to push open the study door.
“Go on in.”
Song Zhiyi stared blankly at her now-empty arms, then looked at his nearly six-foot-three figure from behind, her face flushing even redder.
Song Zhiyi’s mother was from the south, so she was shorter and slimmer than most northeastern girls.
Standing before a six-foot-three northeastern man, she appeared even more petite.
The heavy bag that felt somewhat cumbersome in Song Zhiyi’s hands seemed to transform into a small waist pouch when Lin Huaiyu took it.
She followed him into the study, watching as he steadily placed her canvas bag on a small, empty desk. As he moved, his military uniform shirt outlined his broad shoulders and firm, narrow waist.
Song Zhiyi immediately averted her eyes.
“Leave your things here for now. You’ll be staying temporarily,” Lin Huaiyu pointed to the storage cabinet in the study.
“Thank you, Regiment Commander Lin,” she said softly, her head lowered.
Lin Huaiyu gave a quiet “Mm” in response before turning and leaving the study.
After he left, Song Zhiyi tidied up a bit more and then took out the lunch she had prepared.
She had specifically brought two cornmeal buns. The Lin family paid her a high wage, and she felt she could no longer freeload off their meals, so she decided to bring her own lunch from then on.
Unexpectedly, after a while, Lin Huaiyu came knocking.
Song Zhiyi opened the door while nibbling on her bun, only to see Lin Huaiyu holding two aluminum lunchboxes.
“I brought you lunch.”
Seeing that Song Zhiyi was already eating, Lin Huaiyu glanced at the lunchboxes in his hands, his tone tinged with apology:
“Sorry, I eat lunch late. This is yours.”
Song Zhiyi waved her hands repeatedly.
“Regiment Commander Lin, you’re too kind! There’s no need to specially bring me food!”
How could she possibly accept having the regiment commander fetch her meals?
“Aunt Zhang happens to be off today. From now on, you don’t need to bring your own lunch—Aunt Zhang will prepare meals for you.”
Lin Huaiyu’s tone wasn’t one of discussion but of notification.
Song Zhiyi was subdued by his authoritative presence and didn’t refuse further.
After setting down the lunchboxes, he glanced at the half-eaten bun in her hand and the untouched one beside it.
“Is that all you’re eating?”
Song Zhiyi nodded awkwardly.
Lin Huaiyu’s tone seemed to soften slightly, no longer as icy as before. “No wonder you’re so thin. Eat more. Both lunchboxes are for you.”
“Regiment Commander Lin! This…”
Before Song Zhiyi could finish, Lin Huaiyu interrupted her:
“Grandfather will be at the hospital until this afternoon. Once you’re done tidying up, you can take the rest of the day off.”
“Alright…”
With that, Lin Huaiyu went downstairs.
Song Zhiyi opened the lunchboxes, and the fragrant aroma of the food immediately whetted her appetite—stir-fried potatoes, cabbage, a fried egg, and surprisingly, two pieces of braised pork.
Was it New Year already?
The next day, Song Zhiyi had the day off and went to visit her aunt.
Thinking that the day after tomorrow was the Winter Solstice, her aunt mentioned wanting to buy some meat and flour to make dumplings for the occasion.
The three of them walked together along the bustling street, the winter sun warming their bodies.
The supply and marketing cooperative was crowded. Her cousin Du Yuèshuāng pulled Zhong Shuxian straight to the fabric counter.
She had her eye on a piece of pink corduroy fabric, touching it over and over, her eyes filled with delight.
Zhong Shuxian and Song Zhiyi looked on, also finding it lovely.
“Comrade, how much is this fabric?”
“One yuan and twenty cents per foot, plus fabric coupons,” the salesperson replied without looking up.
Upon hearing the price, the smile on Zhong Shuxian’s face faded slightly, and her grip on Shuangshuang’s hand tightened.
“It’s too expensive,” she murmured softly, reluctantly putting it down in the end. “Shuangshuang, let’s look at something else.”
Song Zhiyi took in the scene, her heart aching slightly.
In her past life, her aunt’s family had been the only ones who truly cared for her.
When she was pregnant in the Xie family, her health was never properly cared for. It was her aunt who secretly slipped her food and even gave her a gold bracelet from her own dowry.
When she and Shuangshuang were still young, Shuangshuang would hide a piece of candy—awarded at school—in her pocket for days just to bring it back for her to eat.
In this life, she had money now, and she was determined to spoil them.
“Auntie, you two go ahead and line up at the meat stall. I’ll check if there are any useful medicinal herbs here,” Song Zhiyi made an excuse.
“Alright, go take a look then,” Zhong Shuxian didn’t think much of it and pulled Shuangshuang along.
As soon as they were out of sight, Song Zhiyi immediately turned back to the counter.
“Comrade, the pink corduroy I looked at earlier—cut five feet for me. And this maroon one, five feet as well.”
Her aunt had fair skin and would look good in maroon. With the New Year approaching, the color was just right—stylish and festive.
She then noticed a piece of navy-blue fabric hanging nearby. The material was crisp and well-suited for a men’s coat, reminding her of her uncle.
“This navy one, give me five feet too.”
When paying, she didn’t even blink.
Afterward, she went to the grocery store and bought malted milk powder—something her aunt couldn’t bear to buy for herself—a pair of high heels Shuangshuang had been eyeing for a long time, and a bag of White Rabbit Creamy Candy.
Back at her aunt’s house, when Song Zhiyi took out everything she had bought for them, both of them were stunned.
“Zhiyi! Child, why did you buy so much for us? You’re here all by yourself—you should save your money carefully!” Her aunt was both shocked and anxious. Picking up the pink fabric, her hands trembled. “Maybe return these first. This must have cost a fortune.”
Seeing her aunt’s worried and pained expression, Song Zhiyi felt a warmth in her heart and took her hand.
“Auntie, there’s no need to return them.”
“How can that be? It’s too extravagant!” Zhong Shuxian tried to stuff the fabric back into her arms. “You’re out here on your own, with so many places to spend money. You can’t be so reckless.”
“Exactly, sis,” Du Yuèshuāng chimed in. “We don’t need these. You should save your money.”
Looking at her family, who genuinely cared for her, Song Zhiyi’s eyes grew hot. The grievances and gratitude accumulated over two lifetimes intertwined, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
In her previous life, she had never worn a decent new piece of clothing until the day she died.
“Auntie, Shuangshuang, listen to me.”
Song Zhiyi took a deep breath and decided not to hide the truth any longer. She briefly explained how Wen Shufen had schemed against her, trying to steal her job opportunity through marriage, and how she had turned the tables, forcing Wen Shufen to hand over ten thousand yuan and sell the job.
Of course, she omitted the part about being drugged and losing her virginity to a stranger.
Even so, after hearing the story, Zhong Shuxian trembled with rage.
“How dare she! How could she scheme against you like this!”