Relaxation

Shen Yi grabbed his car keys and headed out to purchase some daily necessities.

Not long after returning, the scheduled professionals arrived.

True experts indeed—they worked efficiently without needing much supervision.

The landscapers not only trimmed the lawn but also reinforced the swing set and even took the time to clean out the fish pond, refilling it with fresh water.

The cleaning ladies were no less impressive. With just a few instructions from Shen Yi, they tidied up the place spotlessly.

Admittedly, the freshly cleaned and organized rooms looked immaculate, exuding a sense of order that was undeniably soothing.

This money was well spent...

Shen Yi mused to himself.

He watched as the professional organizer neatly folded his clothes and even took out several wrinkled shirts to iron.

Everything was sorted—folded, stored, or hung up—leaving the space perfectly arranged.

Shen Yi found it oddly satisfying. No wonder those stress-relief videos online had such a following.

There was something genuinely therapeutic about watching chaos transform into order—it just lifted the spirits.

By the time he saw off all three groups of workers, nearly two hours had passed.

Shen Yi hurriedly started preparing dinner, estimating that the three women would be getting off work soon.

Shu Yunyi had more flexibility if she didn’t have classes. Universities didn’t impose strict schedules on lecturers and professors, so she could come and go freely.

Fu Nanzhi and Cheng Jun technically worked for their family’s company, so they had considerable freedom too—no one was micromanaging them.

But Fu Nanzhi held herself to high standards and was disciplined by nature, disliking tardiness or leaving early. This inadvertently kept Cheng Jun from slacking off as well.

Laughing and joking, the four of them had somehow ended up living together, thanks to the intervention of the simulator.

Though the three women were already familiar with each other, the memories from their dreams were more like impressions rather than forced imprints in their minds.

So, suddenly sharing a space still carried a hint of awkwardness—something that would take time to settle.

Fu Nanzhi, Shu Yunyi, and Cheng Jun handled external matters, while Shen Yi took on the role of domestic harmony.

He might have seemed like a househusband, but the women occasionally pitched in after work.

They all knew how to cook; they just didn’t have the dedicated time Shen Yi did.

Besides, whether out of favoritism or playful punishment, they preferred bossing Shen Yi around, enjoying the sight of him bustling about or getting flustered.

As long as the three women got along, Shen Yi was more than happy to play the role of the lively "catfish" keeping the atmosphere upbeat.

Days passed like this, and gradually, the four grew accustomed to their dynamic. Conversations between them became more frequent.

Shen Yi created a small group chat for them, naming it [Dish Discussion Squad].

The purpose was simple: let them decide what to eat the next day.

Or rather, they could discuss their cravings in the chat and compile a list for Shen Yi.

He’d then do his best to fulfill their requests during the day.

Eventually, the group chat became a space for casual chatter—whoever got off work early would drop by to help Shen Yi cook, or they’d discuss whose turn it was to clear the table and wash dishes the next day.

At first, all three would pitch in, but as they grew closer, they realized it was more efficient to take turns, assigning one person per day.

Shen Yi watched the messages flood in with amusement, secretly lurking as the three women rambled about everything under the sun.

He hadn’t expected them to be so reserved at the dinner table yet so talkative over text—words poured out like beans from a bamboo tube.

And it’s only been a few days...

Shen Yi covered his face in mock exasperation.

Their conversations jumped from the heavens to the earth, and some of the women’s topics were so bold that even Shen Yi had to avert his eyes.

Cheng Jun was the most mischievous, often sparking discussions—though she was also the one most likely to derail them.

Shu Yunyi maintained her usual meticulousness, crafting messages with perfect grammar and punctuation. She preferred video calls over texting with Shen Yi.

Fu Nanzhi was the most playful, cracking jokes, using emojis, and being the liveliest of the three.

Shaking his head, Shen Yi closed his phone and murmured,

"Simulator."

Exactly five days had passed.

He hadn’t opened the simulator much during this time, quietly letting the "affection points" accumulate.

Five points had naturally accrued, adding to the ten he’d saved earlier—just enough for another dose of the serum.

Opening the shop, he saw the glowing bubble still floating there. Without hesitation, he claimed it.

As the light dissipated, he stood and left his room.

Upstairs, Shu Yunyi was hunched over her desk, organizing materials.

Her face was illuminated by the desk lamp, the cold glow of her laptop screen reflecting off her glasses as her slender fingers danced across the keyboard.

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound made her pause.

"Hold on, coming," she called, rubbing her temples before rising to answer.

Opening the door, she found Shen Yi standing there with a cup of hot tea.

Shu Yunyi blinked in surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

Shen Yi grinned.

"What, can’t I visit?"

Without waiting for an answer, he stepped past her, tea in hand.

Shu Yunyi couldn’t exactly block him, so she let him in, though her curiosity lingered.

Watching his back, she voiced her question:

"Shouldn’t it be Nanzhi’s turn today?"

They’d agreed on a rotation—one person per day. By that logic, Fu Nanzhi should have been the one with him tonight. Tomorrow was her own turn.

Shen Yi set the tea on her desk before turning back.

"About that... do you want the truth or a lie?"

Shu Yunyi scoffed, crossing her arms. The fitted black sweater she wore accentuated her curves.

She nudged the door shut with her heel, eyes narrowing playfully.

"Let’s hear both."

Shen Yi didn’t drag it out.

"The lie? She has an early medical checkup tomorrow and needs to rest to stay in top condition."

"And the truth?" Shu Yunyi tilted her head.

"The truth?" Shen Yi chuckled, looping an arm around her waist.

"The truth is... she’s on her period."

"Get off!" Shu Yunyi swatted his hand away and plopped into her chair, scowling.

"Oh, so when she’s unavailable, you come running to me?"

"You really can’t stand missing a single day, can you?"

Shen Yi leaned against her chair, feigning offense.

"That’s not fair!"

"Nanzhi was the one who said you’ve been swamped lately. She asked me to keep you company, help you unwind..."

"Sure, sure." Shu Yunyi’s lips twitched, though she tried to maintain her stern expression.

"I can't even be bothered to call you out. Is this really your idea of relaxing?"

"Day in and day out, fussing over this and that—don’t you ever get tired?"

Shen Yi chuckled to himself, recognizing her subtle way of showing concern. He reached out to massage her shoulders and said,

"How is this not relaxing?"

"Let me help you unwind right now, okay..."