Chapter 5: Chi Yu Transforms into a Human

Shen Yanzhi was like a workaholic, not finishing his duties until eight o'clock in the evening.

Inside the phone, Chi Yu was bored, metaphorically "planting mushrooms" to pass the time. Ever since she had been taken out of his pocket in the meeting room because the device was overheating, Shen Yanzhi had not put her back. It was only when he clocked out for the day that he finally slid the phone into his pocket.

The [Charging] prompt appeared on the screen once more, and Chi Yu immediately perked up.

Shen Yanzhi took the executive elevator directly down to the basement parking garage. As soon as he sat in his car, someone called him. The caller seemed to be at an internet cafe, the background noise chaotic, urging Shen Yanzhi to come out and hang out. Shen Yanzhi refused and hung up immediately.

He had eaten dinner at the office, so he drove home in silence.

Shen Yanzhi had begun familiarizing himself with the family business right after graduating from high school, and by the time he was in university, he had already entered the core of its management. After he graduated, the elder Mr. Shen bypassed Shen Yanzhi's uncles and aunts, personally naming him the next successor of the Shen Group. In the four years Shen Yanzhi had been in power, the family’s assets had multiplied several times over, and those relatives who had originally been dissatisfied with his leadership were forced to hold their tongues.

A few years ago, for the convenience of his commute, Shen Yanzhi had purchased an apartment in a high-end residential complex near the company, a drive of only about twenty minutes.

Inside the phone, Chi Yu was staring intently at the screen. During the time it took for Shen Yanzhi to drive home, her battery level had climbed from 2% to 4%, meaning the time she could maintain a human form had increased from 0.2 to 0.4 minutes. Though the progress bar moved slowly, it did not dampen her good mood.

Shen Yanzhi lived alone. As soon as he turned on the lights, the once-dark apartment was instantly illuminated. The interior was decorated primarily in light tones: snow-white marble covered the floors, mirror-like tiles adorned the walls, and a gorgeous crystal chandelier hung overhead. The open-concept kitchen was fully equipped with appliances. At a glance, the living room was spotless, everything neatly arranged. It seemed orderly, yet carried an indescribable sense of coldness and emptiness.

Chi Yu hadn't realized it at first, but after being brought into his bedroom—only to see it decorated with the same icy aesthetic—she belatedly discovered that she was no longer restricted by the front and rear cameras; she could see a panoramic view of her surroundings.

Hearing a slight movement, Chi Yu shifted her focus.

The man had taken off his suit jacket, which he had worn all day. His physique was impressive; his back was broad and straight beneath his black shirt, the hem tucked neatly into his trousers. The fabric of his suit pants was of superior quality, tracing the lines of his long legs. Even without seeing his face, one could sense an untouchable, aloof aura from his broad-shouldered silhouette.

Seeing Shen Yanzhi’s hands move to his belt, clearly intending to change, Chi Yu—having never witnessed such a scene—hastily closed her eyes in a panic.

Chi Yu, with her vision function disabled, did not notice that the man with his hands on his belt was frowning deeply, standing motionless for a long while. Shen Yanzhi lowered his gaze, his eyes sharp. He turned and scanned the room, but found nothing out of the ordinary.

It was only when Shen Yanzhi picked her up again that Chi Yu reactivated her vision. By then, he had already changed into sportswear and was heading toward the gym next door.

An hour later, the man was drenched in sweat. He spent a little more time in the gym before emerging and tossing his phone onto the living room sofa, seemingly heading off to shower.

Watching the closed glass door of the bathroom, Chi Yu felt a surge of restless anticipation. She could now redeem 0.4 minutes—that is, 24 seconds—of human form. No matter how fast a man’s shower was, he couldn't possibly be done that quickly, right?

Chi Yu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to proceed. She had waited all day; she desperately wanted the answer to her question.

The moment Chi Yu clicked [Yes], a flash of white light appeared before her eyes, forcing her to close them. The sensation of being formless and airy vanished, replaced by the solid feeling of her feet touching the ground.

Chi Yu opened her eyes nervously. Before her lay the luxuriously minimalist living room, exactly as she had seen it on the phone. She was actually still in Shen Yanzhi’s home!

Chi Yu immediately lowered her head and reached up to touch her face. Cool fingertips brushed against soft, warm skin—this was her own face! Even the dress she was wearing was the same one she had worn when she went out to sea with Chen Jiazhi. She bent down to touch the sofa nearby, and her fingers left a slight indentation in the cushions.

Chi Yu wept with joy; she could touch things, she was alive!

The 24 seconds passed quickly, like a blooming epiphyllum. After giving Chi Yu a brief moment of happiness, she was soon pulled back into Shen Yanzhi’s phone.

About twenty minutes later, Shen Yanzhi emerged from the bathroom. He must have dried his hair in there, as he looked refreshed. He wore high-quality black silk pajamas that set off the snow-white skin of his neck. His black hair, dried by the warm air, was thick and slightly tousled in front, looking a bit messy. It made him appear less sharp and imposing than he did in his meticulous executive persona during the day, lending him an air of purity and harmlessness.

Looking at Shen Yanzhi’s fair, cold face, Chi Yu suddenly realized that he might not be as old as she had thought. Back at the office, she had assumed he was at least thirty, but now he seemed more like twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Shen Yanzhi was completely unaware of the changes that had occurred in the living room, just as he was unaware that a string of inexplicable data had appeared on his phone.

Shen Yanzhi walked over and slumped onto the sofa, his posture casual and relaxed. His body was extremely close to the phone, and Chi Yu kept herself in a state of quiet observation. He found the remote and turned on the television, but didn't watch it; instead, he bowed his head to play with his phone.

Just as Chi Yu became curious about how he would spend his time, the man expertly swiped through his screen and opened a financial app.

Chi Yu: "..."

She remembered now. This man had over a dozen financial apps on his phone. Beyond being a CEO, he was also a trader!

Chi Yu took a peek and discovered that almost all the stocks the man had purchased were in the red—or rather, in the green, showing gains—with very few losses. He truly was an executive; even his ability to manage finances was so formidable. Chi Yu began to secretly learn from him.

During this time, Shen Yanzhi’s phone rang twice, both calls from acquaintances inviting him out, but he declined them all.

At nine-thirty, Shen Yanzhi turned off the TV and went to his bedroom to sleep. He placed the phone on the dark hardwood nightstand by the bed. Recalling Shen Yanzhi’s life throughout the day, Chi Yu felt a strange sense of admiration. It was hard to believe that a man with wealth, looks, and status who lived such a self-disciplined, ascetic life actually existed.

However, she felt a twinge of regret that he hadn't brought the phone into bed with him. If only he would sleep with her tucked away, she thought. If she could stay close to Shen Yanzhi all night, she might not reach 100% battery, but she could at least get to 50%.

Chi Yu had never imagined that there would come a day when she would find herself coveting the body of a stranger.