Variables

People are like phoenix trees - they can still stand when their hearts are hollow, and others might think they'll sprout again next spring, but in truth, they died that winter.

This was Fu Nanzhi's mindset before. Losing her life partner made it impossible for her to adapt to living alone, causing her body to rapidly deteriorate as her heart slowly withered.

Now, though the dream has ended, the days she experienced within it weren't false. Fu Nanzhi commemorates them by calling them her 'previous life.'

A brand new day has dawned, and Fu Nanzhi wakes up full of energy.

Unlike her previous life's hazy existence, her mood now is uplifted and expectant.

Humming a cheerful tune, she busies herself in the kitchen.

She didn't know how to cook before - usually Shen Yi would do it, but later when he became too busy, she gradually learned.

Though somewhat clumsy at first, she's now becoming quite proficient.

Two days ago, she didn't have the habit of eating breakfast - partly because it was troublesome, and partly due to her unique physique. Eating too much would make her chest swell up like it was being inflated.

It was as if all fat accumulated in one place. As a young girl, she was deeply ashamed and afraid to eat much, and eventually abandoned the habit of eating breakfast altogether.

A plate of stir-fried vegetables with bean threads, a bowl of sweet potato porridge, and an egg.

Simple and light - she bought the vegetables while returning from work last night.

The food emanated a sweet fragrance, and Fu Nanzhi sat down to eat as she savored the aroma.

"I wonder what he would say if I skipped breakfast..."

Drinking her porridge, Fu Nanzhi couldn't help but smile, almost hearing Shen Yi's endless nagging in her ears.

After finishing her meal, Fu Nanzhi efficiently got up to clean.

Placing the dishes in the sink, she initially meant to leave directly but thought better of it and turned back to wash them.

As she felt the water running over her hands, her thoughts began to wander.

Shen Yi loved cooking for her but never enjoyed cleaning up, always sweet-talking her into doing the dishes.

Eventually, they developed a division of labor - one would cook while the other would clean.

When you live with someone for so long, their traces are everywhere.

After tidying everything up, Fu Nanzhi went to get ready before heading to the parking garage.

She usually didn't need to put on makeup, but today was different.

"Today is the day he transfers here..."

Soft music played in the car as Fu Nanzhi looked at herself in the rearview mirror, her smile never fading.

Over the past two days, she had carefully sorted through her memories and confirmed that Shen Yi should be transferring to the Legal Department today.

Back then, she hadn't paid much attention to this small detail - their real interactions increased much later.

Having woken up unusually early today, she hurried to the company.

When she pushed open the door with anticipation, some colleagues were already there.

Fu Nanzhi had been transferred here for almost two weeks, and due to her striking beauty and elegant demeanor, many had been quietly observing her.

Seeing her enter, they all greeted her.

Fu Nanzhi responded with appropriate smiles, silently recalling everyone's names and characteristics.

After putting down her bag in her office, she took her small watering can to tend to the indoor plants, casually pulling up the venetian blinds partway.

Sitting back in her chair, she could see the outside situation with just a slight turn of her head.

Fu Nanzhi tested the view, focusing on an empty spot to the right.

Satisfied with the clear view, she nodded.

She dove into her work with enthusiasm, while the well-watered pothos leaves swayed slightly, as if matching her mood.

As noon approached, Fu Nanzhi broke free from her concentration.

It was lunchtime, and the noise outside gradually increased.

Fu Nanzhi casually looked up, her eyes suddenly sparkling.

At some point, someone had appeared in the empty spot she'd been watching.

Joy filled her heart as she put down her work and closed the drawer.

Fu Nanzhi stood up, ready to go over immediately, but after a step, she anxiously pulled out a small mirror from her bag.

Checking her flawless face in the mirror, she nodded with satisfaction.

After smoothing her clothes and adjusting her hair, Fu Nanzhi, having composed herself, finally walked out.

A woman adorns herself for the one she loves.

For this first meeting in her new life, Fu Nanzhi didn't want any imperfections - she wanted to show him her most beautiful self.

The corridor was bustling with people walking in pairs or groups, chatting quietly, or rushing to complete work.

Fu Nanzhi had only one target in mind as she slowly approached that workstation.

He was bent over, taking things out of his bag, arranging personal items on his desk.

Fu Nanzhi, with an excited heart, took a deep breath and gently tapped his shoulder.

He paused and slowly turned around.

A completely unfamiliar face appeared before Fu Nanzhi, making her hesitate.

She had lived with Shen Yi day and night, familiar with his presence, his scent, even his breathing - she was confident she could recognize him even without him speaking.

But the completely unfamiliar face and presence before her made her doubt - could this be him?

While Fu Nanzhi hesitated, the man saw her face clearly and showed signs of being stunned by her beauty.

He quickly recovered, putting on a friendly smile and introducing himself:

"Hello, I'm Zang Mingjie, a new intern. Is there anything I can help you with?"

He politely extended his hand.

If Fu Nanzhi had doubts about his appearance, his voice was the definitive proof - this was something she could never mistake.

"He's not Shen Yi..."

A tremendous roar echoed in her head, making her dizzy.

At this moment, Fu Nanzhi couldn't hear anything he was saying, as immense panic nearly consumed her.

Her hand lost its strength, and the box she had been tightly holding fell to the ground.

A variable had appeared.

Fu Nanzhi's heart felt empty, barely maintaining her composure to keep from falling apart.

She gave Zang Mingjie a forced smile, bent down to pick up the box, and left without acknowledging his outstretched hand.

Faced with Fu Nanzhi's cold shoulder, Zang Mingjie could only laugh awkwardly and sit back down.

Fu Nanzhi's actions seemed like both mistaking him for someone else and trying to greet him, but since he had just arrived, he could only keep his confusion to himself.

As for what fell on the ground, he caught a glimpse - it looked like an eyeglass case.

...

Fu Nanzhi didn't know how she made it back, collapsing in her chair with her thoughts in chaos.

She had imagined countless scenarios of their meeting, but never this one.

"In my previous life, he definitely sat there, so why has he been replaced by someone else?"

"Could Shen Yi not exist at all? Was he just my imagination?"

She couldn't help but wonder.

But she immediately rejected this thought - over the past two days, everything and everyone from her previous life had been confirmed real.

If she were imagining or dreaming, she couldn't have constructed information she didn't know about.

Like the unknown necklace and unfamiliar colleagues.

Moreover, he had been so real that Fu Nanzhi couldn't possibly believe Shen Yi was false.

But now everything was following the course of her previous life, with the only variable being Shen Yi himself.

The person who had accompanied her was gone.