Chu Jinhan stepped out of the kitchen, changed into his delivery uniform, and went off to work.
Song Yunfei, meanwhile, put the bed sheets back in order, took a shower, and lay down on the bed, letting the fan cool her as she scrolled through her phone.
She wanted to check secondhand websites for a computer—if she had one, she could take on some freelance work from home.
But even a decent secondhand laptop wasn’t cheap. The minimum specs she needed would cost over three thousand.
With a sigh, Song Yunfei closed the website and opened a notepad to do the math.
Looking at their remaining balance, there was just over a thousand left.
The end of the month was approaching, which meant rent and utilities—around fifteen hundred in total.
The apartment was in an older complex, but the location was good. The studio was fifty square meters, and the rent was fourteen hundred.
Chu Jinhan’s salary plus his delivery earnings came to about five thousand a month, sometimes six or seven thousand.
After rent and utilities, he kept five hundred for himself, leaving about three thousand for her.
But with daily takeout, occasional meals out, and other expenses, three thousand was far from enough.
The original Song Yunfei often shopped online for trivial things, living on a tight budget. She couldn’t even afford an air conditioner or a washing machine, let alone a laptop.
After calculating everything, all Song Yunfei could do was sigh.
No more takeout—cooking at home would be cheaper. A meal’s worth of groceries cost the same as one delivery but could last all day.
After a long day, the calculations made her sleepy. She drifted off, half-aware of the sounds around her.
In her dreamlike haze, she vaguely heard running water from the bathroom and felt the bed shift as someone lay down beside her.
She was too sleepy to care, instinctively hugging her stuffed bear.
As soon as Chu Jinhan lay down, she snuggled closer, her body pressing against his. He stiffened.
The warm orange lamp cast light across the bedside, revealing the fluffy top of her head buried in the crook of his shoulder.
Her warm breath brushed against his skin, one arm draped across his chest, one leg thrown over his waist, wrapping around him like an octopus.
His arm felt the softness of her body.
Even as a normal man, with blood running hot, he could hardly handle this.
He lifted a hand, carefully grasping her wrist to move it away.
But Song Yunfei let out a small, disgruntled murmur, wiggled free, and hugged him tighter, her cheek brushing his neck.
His Adam’s apple rolled, breath quickened, and a surge of heat rose from his lower abdomen, spreading through every limb.
Then her leg shifted, and the knee brushed him unintentionally. His entire body tensed, and his breathing grew heavier.
Chu Jinhan’s eyes darkened. No hesitation remained. He forcefully disentangled her and quickly got up, heading for the bathroom.
Song Yunfei merely turned in her sleep, still half-asleep, unaware.
The next morning, she woke up in an unfamiliar room, staring blankly for a moment before remembering she had transmigrated.
Grabbing the phone on the bedside table, she turned off the alarm and sleepily got out of bed.
Passing the kitchen, the smell of frying eggs reached her nose. Chu Jinhan was making breakfast.
She yawned and dragged herself to the bathroom to wash up.
When she returned, Chu Jinhan emerged from the kitchen with breakfast.
He glanced at her, surprised. “You’re up so early?”
Song Yunfei rolled her eyes. “I told you yesterday—I’m going to work today.”
Chu Jinhan wisely held his tongue. Any more talk, and she’d start fussing.
The two of them ate breakfast in silence. When they were nearly done, Chu Jinhan finally asked, “What kind of job did you find?”
“Selling real estate,” she said, her voice a little tired.
“Where?”
“Baishi Road Plaza,” she answered. Then her eyes brightened. “You pass by there too, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Perfect—we can go to work together.”
Chu Jinhan’s office was farther away, in an industrial area, but their routes overlapped, and they took the same bus.
“Mm,” he said casually. He didn’t really care about her going to work. Probably a passing phase—she’d quit in a day or two.
After finishing, Song Yunfei cleaned the dishes herself.
Then she changed into her work clothes—a set she had bought while working at Yan Jin.
The manager had told her yesterday that selling real estate required formal attire, preferably a suit.
Chu Jinhan’s eyes widened slightly as she emerged from the bathroom in a crisp shirt.
The white shirt hugged her figure just right, making her look clean, neat, and confident. Her usual messy appearance was gone, replaced by a striking new elegance.
But style alone couldn’t completely change one’s aura.
Even so, Song Yunfei looked completely different to Chu Jinhan.
Noticing his gaze, she asked, “What are you looking at? Is something on my face?”
He averted his eyes and headed out. “Let’s go.”
The morning bus was crowded, and this stop was in the middle, leaving barely any space.
They squeezed in, stuck near the doors.
Song Yunfei hadn’t experienced a crowded bus in a long time and felt slightly uncomfortable.
Chu Jinhan stood in front of her, and every time the bus swayed, they pressed against each other. Both felt awkward.
Suddenly, the bus jolted hard twice. Chu Jinhan was bumped from behind, and he toppled onto Song Yunfei.
“Ugh—”
She winced, catching her breath as he steadied himself against the door to create some distance.
She held her chest, and Chu Jinhan’s face turned increasingly awkward. “Sorry,” he whispered.
Song Yunfei shook her head, still pale. “It’s fine.”
He braced himself against the door, keeping steady so he wouldn’t hit her again.
Looking down at her pale face, he hesitated, then said, “Maybe you shouldn’t go to work.”
She looked at him, surprised. “Why?”
“You won’t last two days anyway. Why put yourself through it?”
Song Yunfei bristled. “Don’t underestimate me! Who said I won’t last? Watch me go!”
Chu Jinhan said nothing, clearly unconvinced she could keep it up.
“Besides,” she added, “at work there’s air conditioning. Beats dying of heat at home.”
This time, he believed her.