Lin Yue had originally planned to look for a new place while working, using her free time after work to check out apartments.
But unexpectedly, when she finished work the next day, all her belongings had been packed up and piled at the doorway.
Since she had just settled in, she didn’t have many things—mostly clothes. Seeing the two large suitcases at the door, she felt a surge of frustration.
Qing Jing looked down at her coldly and said, “I hired people to pack your things. They wore gloves. The penalty for breaking the lease and the three months’ deposit are all here.”
Lin Yue glanced at the envelope of money on the hallway cabinet and said, “Where am I supposed to find a place at this hour?”
“Not my problem.”
Lin Yue pressed her lips together and stood for a long moment before taking the money from the envelope.
She walked past Qing Jing and checked the room—everything that needed to be packed had been packed—then tried to compose herself as she left.
There was no elevator in this building, so Lin Yue struggled to carry the suitcases down to the first floor.
As night fell, there were very few streetlights in the complex.
Exhausted and hungry from a full day, Lin Yue pushed the suitcases along the uneven ground. The wheels kept getting stuck in potholes, and she nearly tripped.
Helpless, she decided to carry one suitcase in each hand. It was exhausting, and she barely managed a few steps before having to stop.
Lin Yue caught her breath, then continued.
The larger suitcase was particularly heavy. If she loosened her grip even slightly, it would instantly drop, the wheels scraping over the stones in the road.
She shouted as the suitcase pulled her off balance. The next second, a sharp pain shot up her nerves.
She quickly got up, leaving the suitcase behind, and sat on the curb. She took out her phone to look at her elbow; the skin above it was scraped, with tiny spots of blood appearing.
Staring at the fallen suitcase, her teary eyes showed determination.
But after holding back for so long, she couldn’t help it—tears streamed down like broken pearls, hitting the back of her hand.
“Nothing’s so great… boohoo… I’m not crying out of anger… boohoo… I’m crying because it hurts… boohoo…”
“Who the hell… damn it… boohoo…”
“Hotels are so expensive… I… I… boohoo… no money… the inns are dirty… boohoo…”
Lin Yue sat there, sobbing continuously until her mood eased slightly, though she still quivered even when her face was dry.
She got up and continued dragging the suitcases. The apartment she shared belonged to Qing Jing’s aunt-in-law. Since compensation had been paid, she had no choice but to leave—after all, she still had to work tomorrow.
If it had been another landlord, today’s situation would not have ended so easily.
Since the location was far from downtown, nearby hotels were mostly old and not well-maintained. Lin Yue’s mild germophobia made staying in such places unacceptable.
She had encountered tough situations before, but nothing this frustrating. She checked her phone: this one isn’t available, that one isn’t available…
At the last, Lin Yue felt like crying again.
At that moment, in such a huge city, a strong sense of loneliness filled her heart.
Fifty thousand yuan—when could she ever afford a place that was truly hers, where no one could kick her out?
Scrolling further, she saw the contact labeled “Assistant Zhou,” and she thought of Wei Jia—but she didn’t have that contact. Since he handled administration, he should know about the company’s staff housing.
Finally, Lin Yue decided to ask about the company dorms.
Meanwhile, in a private room at a club in City C, Zhou Yunce’s phone rang. He looked at it, smirking.
He Yuan put down his wine glass. “Why are you looking at it?”
Zhou Yunce turned the phone toward him. When He Yuan saw “Secretary Lin” on the screen, he paused.
Zhong Mu and Guan Zeqing, He Yuan and Zhou Yunce’s friends who had grown up together, also leaned over curiously.
“Secretary Lin?” Guan Zeqing asked Zhou Yunce. “Who’s that?”
“Ask Old He,” Zhou Yunce replied.
He Yuan kicked Zhou Yunce lightly in the calf. “Answer it.”
In the spirit of “sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone,” Zhou Yunce kindly answered the call and put it on speakerphone.
“Hello, Secretary Lin.”
Lin Yue felt relieved. “Hello, Assistant Zhou. Sorry to bother you after work.”
“No problem. What’s up?”
Lin Yue: “I just wanted to ask about the company dorms. Do you have Vice President Wei’s contact info?”
Zhou Yunce and He Yuan exchanged glances. “Why are you asking this now? What’s going on? Do you need help?”
“Nothing.”
Lin Yue had just spoken when she suddenly hiccupped a few times, her voice betraying her earlier crying—the heightened emotions causing nervous tics.
Zhou Yunce frowned at He Yuan. “Secretary Lin… did you cry?”
“No,” Lin Yue quickly denied. “I just watched a touching movie and got a little emotional.”
Zhou Yunce said knowingly, “Alright, I’ll give you Vice President Wei’s contact info.”
After hanging up, Zhou Yunce looked at He Yuan. “Judging by the situation, she wasn’t kicked out of her place, was she?”
He Yuan was silent for a moment, then picked up a nearby suit jacket and stood. He patted Zhou Yunce on the shoulder. “Don’t give her the contact for now. You all have fun—I’m leaving first.”
“Whoa.” Zhong Mu, who hadn’t spoken, glanced at He Yuan’s back. “What’s going on between Old He and this secretary? Why’s he in such a hurry?”
“Yeah, when he was on the phone, his neck was stretched like a giraffe,” Guan Zeqing gossiped.
Zhou Yunce clicked his tongue. “Well… I guess the person I fell in love with at first sight turns out to be my secretary.”
“Love at first sight?” Guan Zeqing was surprised. “Isn’t he the one who doesn’t believe in that?”
Zhong Mu smiled. “Maybe he just changed his mind after meeting her.”
“Let’s make a bet,” Guan Zeqing said. “Old He is an action-oriented guy—let’s bet how long it’ll take him to win over this secretary.”
“Alright, I’ll start. 100 yuan, six months,” Zhou Yunce said.
“Fine, I’ll bet 100 yuan, one year,” Zhong Mu replied.
“Based on what I know of Old He, it shouldn’t take more than six months. Let’s say… three months,” Guan Zeqing said.
“Don’t forget Secretary Lin is unpredictable,” Zhou Yunce added. “Liking her doesn’t mean he’ll win her over.”
Zhong Mu nodded. “True.”