Chapter 8: Living Up to Our Youth

The Bund, a one-bedroom apartment.

Zhang Long didn’t look for housing in the direction of the Lujiazui Financial Center, but chose the Bund on the opposite bank instead.

Fully furnished, riverside!

From this side, the available apartments offered an unobstructed view across the river of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the trio of skyscrapers that defined the city’s skyline. At night, the vista became even more dazzling—resplendent and modern.

...

“Money isn’t an issue.”

On Saturday morning, Zhang Long set out early to meet the agent at the Bund for apartment viewings. However, the first two places weren’t riverside. Although the high floors allowed for a glimpse of the Oriental Pearl Tower across the buildings, the view wasn’t as wide or open, and there was no sight of the Huangpu River itself.

The ferries and ships passing on the river, and the occasional sound of their horns, were part of the scenery—something he didn’t want to miss.

“There aren’t many one-bedrooms…”

The agent, Xiao Wu, gave a wry smile. “Riverside one-bedrooms with a direct view of the Oriental Pearl Tower are very rare; most are already occupied.”

“If you’re open to sharing, there are still a few riverside secondary or master bedrooms available. Is that okay with you?”

Zhang Long frowned, hesitating. Sharing wasn’t out of the question. After all, once he’d saved enough, he planned to buy a place on the Bund. Whether sharing or renting a whole apartment, it was just temporary.

“Will any be available next week?”

Xiao Wu shook his head. “It’s a matter of luck. Most people renting entire one-bedroom riverside apartments are industry elites; unless they get transferred, they don’t move. The last riverside one-bedroom became available two months ago.”

“Actually, the two we just saw are pretty good. Even with buildings in the way, you can still see the Oriental Pearl Tower. And once the novelty wears off, you’ll probably find the constant ship horns annoying.”

Zhang Long pondered in silence.

“To be honest…”

“If you don’t cook often, sharing is better. A fully furnished riverside one-bedroom is close to ten thousand a month, but sharing—whether it’s the second or master bedroom—costs around four or five thousand, saving you half. It’s much more cost-effective.”

“Every bit saved is worth it.”

...

Zhang Long wanted to live by the river because the ferry was just a short walk away, making his commute across the river to work much easier. If he had to walk through the residential complex, he’d need to leave at least ten minutes earlier each morning—a few minutes less sleep, and the day was off to a rough start. He’d rather be closer.

So, waiting for a one-bedroom to become available seemed pointless. Sharing it would have to be. The sooner he moved, the sooner he could settle into his routine. He didn’t want to spend another week commuting three hours a day.

Late nights, early mornings—pure torture.

“Sir, 1201…”

Xiao Wu worked quickly. Over lunch, he found several available options—some exclusive, some shared with other agencies—each with pros and cons.

“Let’s look at higher floors.”

Zhang Long shook his head. The twelfth floor wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t high enough for a wide view. The higher, the better for the scenery. Since he’d be using the elevator anyway, he didn’t care about climbing stairs if the power went out—such chances were slim.

Probability: a rare occurrence.

“Sir, this one…”

They went to another building. After looking around, Zhang Long still wasn’t satisfied. His minimum requirement for a shared apartment was cleanliness. If the kitchen or living room was a mess, it was a no. He didn’t care whether his roommates were men or women; he wasn’t looking to make friends.

“Master bedroom, private bathroom.”

He narrowed his search further. With a master bedroom and its own bathroom, he wouldn’t have to share with others and could avoid the morning rush. Peace and quiet.

A bit more expensive, but worth the comfort.

After viewing a few more master bedrooms, Zhang Long started to feel overwhelmed. If it wasn’t the kitchen, it was the living room, or sometimes the bathroom—always something. The more he scrutinized, the fewer options remained.

If he wasn’t picky, it would be fine; but being selective, nothing was good enough.

“Stop—let’s look at two-bedrooms!”

Finally, tired of his own indecision, Zhang Long decided to raise his budget and rent a two-bedroom. The size didn’t need to be large; it wouldn’t cost much more. Originally, he’d thought it unnecessary for one person, but now he realized it was time to stop dithering—the more he hesitated, the less he gained.

He would move tomorrow and replace the old with the new.

...

“Hey, over here.”

A tap on his shoulder made Zhang Long turn around.

He was greeted by the bright, pretty smile of his former class monitor, Luo Man. Her long, jet-black hair fluttered in the breeze. Beneath her elegant neck, a patterned short blouse was tucked into a pair of tight blue jeans, complemented by white casual flats—a look both youthful and full of energy.

She stood less than a meter away, and a faint, pleasant scent lingered—hair or perfume, he couldn’t tell.

“Uh, class monitor…”

Zhang Long was startled for a moment before regaining his composure.

Luo Man had reached out via chat the night before, but hadn’t said much—just asked to meet. So after he finished apartment hunting, Zhang Long made his way to the commercial street near the bank where he’d previously deposited money.

Luo Man worked in the area and stayed at the staff dormitory provided by the bank—quite convenient.

“What do you want to eat? It’s my treat.”

With a flourish, Luo Man rattled off the nearby restaurants and their specialties—spicy, sweet, savory, all kinds. Zhang Long wasn’t picky.

“Let’s have hotpot, then.”

After a brief pause, Luo Man’s eyes lit up. But instead of the traditional ying-yang hotpot, she chose a two-person mini hotpot.

So, Zhang Long followed Luo Man into a chain hotpot restaurant in the mall—similar to the ones he remembered from his previous life. The food and prices were decent.

They ordered a set meal for two with a vegetable and mushroom platter, added a few extra dishes, and placed their order.

“So, class monitor, what’s this about?” Zhang Long got straight to the point. He had no ulterior motives regarding Luo Man. If she hadn’t insisted on meeting in person, he probably wouldn’t have come—hard to refuse when someone offers you a meal.

And for some reason, he recalled that dream where he’d kissed Luo Man passionately after dinner and ended up in bed—embarrassing.

The sooner this ended, the better.

“Don’t worry, I’m not here to borrow money…”

Luo Man rolled her eyes, half annoyed by his lack of tact. “If possible, could you apply for a credit card with our bank? Based on your savings, a platinum card with a hundred-thousand limit should be no problem.”

“Using a credit card helps build your credit history, making it easier to get approved for a mortgage in the future. What do you think—do you need one? If not, that’s fine. It won’t affect our friendship.”

...

Ten thousand, one month’s rent plus a three-month deposit.

After dinner, Zhang Long returned to his rented room, packing up his belongings while mentally tallying his expenses.

The two-bedroom on the Bund cost ten thousand a month. With the deposit and agent’s fee, forty-five thousand was gone, leaving him with 3.48 million in his account. But with the move, he’d still need to buy bedding, pillows, and other necessities.

A new phone, clothes, shoes—if he wanted to replace those, that would cost extra, too. He felt a bit extravagant.

His predecessor had managed to save just over twenty thousand after two and a half years of interning and working. If it weren’t for winning five million in the lottery, he would have remained at the bottom rung.

Of the five million, he’d first donated two hundred and fifty thousand, otherwise he would’ve needed the director’s approval, with no telling how long that would take.

After taxes, four hundred seventy-five thousand remained, yielding 3.8 million in hand. Adding the previous savings from two and a half years, the total was just over 3.82 million.

Regrettably, he’d drunk himself into oblivion.

After crossing into this world, Zhang Long followed through with his predecessor’s intentions: withdrew half a million in cash to vent at the Fan family, then deposited the rest and donated three hundred thousand to a welfare fund in Hangzhou. In the end, he was left with just over 3.52 million.

The resentment faded, body and mind felt lighter.

A week had passed since he arrived in this world, and Zhang Long still felt as if he were in a dream—perhaps one day he’d wake up and find himself back in his previous life, struggling and insignificant.

Who hasn’t dreamed of being reborn or crossing worlds, of living again to make up for regrets and rise to a brilliant life?

If we could start over, who wouldn’t want to?

“Ah, what a pointless worry.”

Suddenly, Zhang Long laughed at himself.

Since fate had given him this chance to start again, there was no point in being anxious. Whether dream or reality, only striving for a splendid life mattered.

Spending money on rent, dining with Luo Man, packing his belongings—these things all stirred him in unexpected ways. He took a deep breath and let it go—whatever will be, will be.

Never waste your youth, never waste this life.

A soul cleansed and renewed: time to sleep!