Morning came, and Yunhe Town was peaceful.
Light slipped through the curtains in thin bands, landing across the clutter-free room. Chen Li woke and switched off the alarm. His eyes are barely opening. He sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and exhaled.
Finding work. That was today's priority. Chen murmured.
After washing up and changing into simple clothes, Chen stepped outside and headed toward the east side of town.
The warehouse district is near the old river bend; it is a cluster of low concrete buildings with faded logos and rusted railings. Hengda Logistics occupied the largest part of that place.
Chen hesitated at the gate, then walked in.
Inside, the air is filled with the smell of oil and cardboard. A man in a reflective vest saw Chen entering the office.
"Seems you are here for work," the man asked.
"Yes," Chen replied. "For Night shift. I was told to ask for the supervisor role."
The man glanced him over once, then jerked his chin toward the office on the side. "Go in. She's inside."
Chen knocked once and pushed the door open.
Qiao Ruoan looked up from her desk.
"So, you're Chen Li," she said calmly.
Chen paused. "Yes."
She gestured to the chair, and Chen sat in it. Her presence was sharper, her hair neatly tied, her expressions were composed, her eyes were steady and direct.
"I'm Qiao Ruoan," she said. "Here, I manage operations."
She flipped a page in the folder in front of her.
"Have you done delivery work before?" she asked.
"Yes," Chen replied.
"What about night shifts? Any experience?" she asked.
"Yes," Chen replied.
She nodded, satisfied enough.
The work is simple. You have to manage incoming stock, coordinate with the drivers and keep the records clean. Sometimes the hours may be long, and don't worry about the pay; we pay fairly. And mainly, I don't tolerate excuses. She explained the rules.
"I'm not looking to make any excuses," Chen said.
That earned him a glance.
"Good," Qiao Ruoan said. "Then start from tonight."
She slid a temporary badge across the desk. When Chen reached for it, their fingers brushed lightly. She didn't pull back immediately.
"You live nearby," she said, not as a question.
"Yes," Chen replied.
"Then I hope you won't be late," she said.
Chen stood. "I won't."
As he turned to leave, her voice followed him.
"Chen Li," she called Chen.
He looked back.
"Yunhe is small," Qiao Ruoan said. "Word travels fast here. If you plan to stay, be mindful of how you move."
"I will," Chen replied.
By late morning, Chen found himself back on the main street, hands in his pockets, mentally preparing plans for the jobs.
Now, I covered the night shift, I should also cover the day shifts. Eight hours sleeps is enough. He thought.
The bell at the convenience shop rang again as he stepped inside.
The woman behind the counter looked up and smiled this time.
"Back already?" she asked.
"Yes," Chen said. "You mentioned deliveries yesterday. I wanted to ask more."
She straightened and set her phone aside. "I'm Lin Xiaoyu," she said. "And you are?"
"I'm Chen Li," Chen replied.
"Alright, Chen Li," Lin Xiaoyu said. "We use part-timers for short routes. Mostly evenings. You'll need a bike or a scooter."
"I can arrange that, don't worry about it," Chen replied.
She nodded approvingly. "Then leave your number. I'll call when something opens."
As Chen wrote it down, she leaned closer over the counter, voice dropping slightly. "You settling in okay?"
"I think so," Chen replied.
"That's good," she said. "Yunhe can be… clingy."
He smiled faintly.
Outside the shop, Chen checked the time and started walking back toward his house. Halfway down the street, he noticed someone leaning against a black sedan parked near the curb.
It was the woman from the notice board.
She looked different in daylight—still immaculate, still composed, but less distant. Sunglasses hid her eyes, though her attention was unmistakably on Chen.
"Chen Li," she said.
He stopped. "Do I know you?"
She removed her sunglasses slowly. Her gaze was sharp, amused.
"Zhou Yating," she replied. "We met yesterday."
"You remembered my name," he asked.
"I remember useful things," Zhou Yating said. "And useful people."
She pushed herself off the car and took a step closer. The faint scent of perfume reached him—subtle and controlled.
"I heard you found work quickly," she continued. "That's efficient."
Chen frowned slightly. "Yunhe was small."
"Yes," Zhou Yating said. "That's why you should be careful what you let it say about you."
She studied him openly now, eyes travelling from his face down and back up again without apology.
"If you're interested," she added, "I may have something better for you. Not tonight. But soon."
"And what do you get out of it?" Chen asked.
Her lips curved.
"Options," she said. "People are options."
She stepped back, slid her sunglasses on, and opened the car door.
"Think about it," Zhou Yating said. "I'll be in touch."
The car pulled away smoothly, leaving Chen standing alone on the pavement.
When Chen reached home, the neighbouring gate was open again.
Mei Lanying was hanging laundry in the small yard. She glanced over when she heard footsteps.
"Found any job?" she asked.
"Yes, but night shift," he replied.
She nodded, expression unreadable. "Then you should eat properly. Night shifts will make the life imbalance."
There was a pause.
"Mei Lanying," she added suddenly. "That's my name. Yesterday, I forgot to introduce."
Chen met her eyes. "I'm Chen Li."
"I know," she said quietly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Mei Lanying turned back to her work. Chen walked inside.
The sky darkened faster than Chen Li expected.
Chen reached Hendgda Logistics before sunset to arrive on time. The yard lights were on, trucks idled in uneven lines.
Chen clipped the temporary badge to his shift and stepped inside.
The warehouse felt louder with the truck engine sounds. The air carries dust and oil with a dull, persistent warmth.
A man waved Chen and handed him a tablet.
"Here, you can check inventory updates. And drivers report to you before loading," he said.
Chen nodded and started working.
Chen didn't take a long time to learn things in the warehouse. Chen stood at the center of it, directing drivers, confirming routes, and keeping things moving.
Everything is good, and suddenly a pair of heels clicked behind Chen.
"You're adapting quickly," Qiao Ruoan said.
She stood a step behind him, sleeves rolled up to her forearms. Under the warehouse lights, her expression looked sharper, edges clearer.
"I've done similar work," Chen replied.
"Yes," she said.
She watched him sign off on a shipment, then reached past him to point at the screen. Her arm brushed his side lightly. The contact was brief—but deliberate.
"This route was changed," she said. "You caught it before it became a problem."
"I check everything twice before acting," Chen said.
Her gaze shifted to his face. "That habit will keep you alive in this town."
The word settled between them with more weight than necessary.
Qiao Ruoan straightened. "Finish this batch. Then come to the office."
She walked away without waiting for a response.
Chen entered the office after completing the batch. The office door closed behind Chen with a muted click.
The noise of the warehouse faded instantly, reduced to a distant hum. Qiao Ruoan stood near the window, back to him, city lights reflecting faintly against the glass.
"Sit," she said.
Chen did.
She didn't turn around right away.
"You moved back here after your mother passed," Qiao Ruoan said. "You lived in the city before that. Did odd jobs."
Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are gathering information on me."
"I manage people," she replied. "Information is part of my job."
She finally turned to face him.
"Yunhe doesn't reward drifting," she continued. "If you want to stay, you need leverage."
"And you're offering it?" Chen asked.
"I'm offering a test," Qiao Ruoan said. "You work well."
She stepped closer, stopping just short of his knees. From this distance, Chen could see the faint tension around her eyes—the kind that came from long days and constant control.
"I need someone reliable," she said. "Someone who doesn't get distracted."
Her gaze dropped for a split second. Then returned to his eyes.
"Can you do that?" Qiao asked.
"Yes," Chen said.
Qiao Ruoan held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded once. "Good. We'll see how long that lasts."
She stepped back. "You're done for tonight. Be back tomorrow on time."
As Chen stood, she added quietly, "And Chen Li?"
"Yes?" he asked.
"Nothing, you can go," she said.
The distance to home felt longer. Chen is walking home.
As Chen passed the convenience store, the lights inside were still on. Lin Xiaoyu was restocking shelves, hair tied up, movements relaxed.
She looked up when she saw him and smiled through the glass.
Chen also smiled and moved on. He turned onto his street just as a car slowed near the curb.
Zhou Yating's black sedan. The window rolled down smoothly.
"Night shift?" she asked, eyes gleaming faintly in the streetlight.
"Yes," Chen replied, stopping a few steps away.
She looked him over with open interest this time. "You look better working than waiting."
"And you look like you already know how my night went," Chen said.
Zhou Yating laughed softly. "Yunhe talks fast."
She leaned one elbow against the window frame. "Get in. I'll give you a ride."
"No thanks, I'm almost home," he said.
"That's not the point," she said.
There was a pause.
Chen opened the door and sat.
Zhou Yating drove slowly, deliberately, even though the road was empty.
"You met Qiao Ruoan," she said casually.
"Yes," he said.
"She doesn't share," Zhou Yating continued. "No matter whether it is opportunities and people."
"And you do?" Chen asked.
"I trade," she corrected. "Information, access and favours."
She glanced at him sideways. "You're collecting interest quickly."
The car stopped in front of his gate. Zhou Yating didn't turn the engine off.
"Think about what I said," she said. "I don't like waiting too long."
Chen opened the door. "Neither do I."
That earned him a genuine smile.
The house was dark when Chen entered.
He kicked off his shoes quietly and moved through the living room. As he poured himself another glass of water, he became aware of it again—the thinness of the wall.
A soft sound drifted through. Chen froze.
Next door, Mei Lanying stood in her bedroom, hands resting on the edge of the bed. The room was dim, lit only by a bedside lamp. She stared at the closed door, listening.
She had seen the car. She had heard it stop. Her phone buzzed again on the nightstand. Another message. Another expectation.
She turned the screen face down without reading it.
For a moment, she simply stood there, breathing slowly, the house quiet around her.
Then she moved, walking to the window and pulling the curtain back just enough to look out.
Chen stood in his kitchen, visible through his own window, shirt loosened, head tilted back slightly as he drank water.
Their eyes met through glass and distance. Then Chen lowered his glass.
Mei Lanying let the curtain fall.
Back in his room, Chen lay on his bed, hands behind his head, staring into the darkness.