Chapter 1: The Voice in My Head

When I awoke from the fever, my right hand was tucked inside my clothes, stroking my back with a soft, numb sensation.

At the same time, a man's voice suddenly rang out: "Feeling better?"

I looked around. I was clearly the only person in the room!

1

I must have read too many transmigration novels.

When I woke up today, I, had transmigrated. No, no, to be precise, I was transmigrated into.

Another soul had entered my body. For a moment, I thought it was just a side effect of the severe flu I had. This recent strain was nasty; I had shot up to a 39°C (102.2°F) fever right away, leaving me completely dazed.

But this was no hallucination. He was real, another soul.

That day, I woke from a daze to find myself holding a thermometer in one hand and a large bowl in the other.

The bowl was filled with fragrant tomato and egg noodles.

At first, I thought my mom had come. I live alone, and there was no way I could have cooked for myself after fainting from a fever.

Just then, a voice echoed in my mind: "Ah, you're awake?"

I was so startled I nearly dropped the noodles I hadn't even had a chance to eat.

The voice in my head remained calm. "I only made this one bowl. Don't waste it, even if you don't eat it."

I was stunned, completely bewildered.

This wasn't about the noodles! The issue was… this voice, it was that of a strange man!

Before I passed out again, the last thing I remember doing—while battling a 39-degree fever and a head full of questions—was polishing off that entire bowl of noodles.

And I have to say, his cooking was excellent.

2

When I woke up again, I was holding a glass, about to take a drink.

Experts say you have to drink plenty of water to get better faster, I recited silently in my head. But this was absurd! I had just woken from a faint, how could I already be holding a glass?

Hey, this tastes pretty good. What is it?

"I put in an effervescent tablet," the voice said again.

I was prepared this time. I gripped the glass tightly and managed not to drop it in shock.

I had finally accepted the fact that someone had transmigrated into my body. He was taking good care of it, except for the fact that he was a man.

This soul had a very pleasant voice. Judging by the sound of it, I wondered if he was a 188 cm (6'2") handsome guy.

"Not 188, only 181 (5'11"). Are you a little disappointed?"

"Not at all, not at all," I replied hastily, my mental smile stretching from ear to ear.

Are you kidding? I’ve been single for all 25 years of my life and had never heard such a nice voice. His height was my type, too. If he was a hallucination, he was certainly a beautiful dream. I just wondered if he was handsome.

"Sigh," he sighed gently in my mind. "Zhang Xixi, your train of thought is truly bizarre. There's an extra person in your body, and instead of thinking about finding an exorcist or seeing a doctor, you're worried about whether I'm handsome."

"So, you're not handsome?" After asking this in my head, I grumbled internally. I can't believe a 181 cm tall man with such a great voice isn't handsome. What a waste.

"I know everything you're thinking!" I felt he was getting a little defensive. "Can you please not ask a question in your head and then immediately start complaining internally? To me, your inner monologue is as clear as you speaking."

Uh… I fell silent for a moment. Well, I had been silent the whole time; our conversations only happened in my mind.

I tried to clear my throat, hoping to use a different communication system. Unfortunately, my voice was completely gone.

Forget it. With this shot voice, I'd rather just chat in my head.

"Get some sleep. The first three days of a high fever are the toughest," 181 comforted me.

"What's your name, Mr. 181?" I asked him before drifting off, using my mind, not my mouth.

"I—forget it. I'll tell you when you're more clear-headed."

Before I fell asleep, I thought, It's so unfair. He can hear my thoughts, but I can't hear his. I'm completely transparent to him, while he's a total mystery to me. So unfair.

But no matter what, he made me noodles, prepared water with effervescent tablets for me, and told me to rest. He was a good man. He'd make a great boyfriend.

I turned over in bed.

Just before I fell completely asleep, my sense of shame made a brief comeback. He said he could hear my internal monologue… so did he also hear me thinking about making him my boyfriend?

3

I was holding a huge bowl of tomato and egg noodles in one hand and chopsticks in the other, shoveling them into my mouth.

Although the noodles were indeed delicious, anyone would get tired of them after eating them for nine consecutive meals.

I couldn't help but ask in my mind, "Aren't you going to consider changing up the menu for me?"

I sensed a huff in my head.

Then, my fingers, not under my control, opened WeChat and clicked on an article with the headline:

Oh, thank you very much. Showing me this headline to make a point is no better than just admitting you only know how to make noodles.

"Ahem," 181 cleared his throat theatrically in my mind. "This is the only thing that's quick and tasty to make."

After eating my fill, I leaned back on the bed. "Alright, spill it. Why did you transmigrate here? What do I have to do to send you away?"

181 paused for a moment before replying, "I don't know either."

I almost threw my cup. So what if you're tall, handsome, and have a nice voice? Are you paying rent to be in my body? You have the ability to come here but not to go back?

"I'm sorry," 181's voice was sincere. "I really don't know."

"Then what's your name, phone number, where do you live, what's your job, how many people in your family, how many acres of land per person, how many cows on the land… tell me everything…"

Wait, I was getting carried away quoting lines from TV dramas. A more important question suddenly occurred to me: "What about your own body?"

"I forgot," he said after a moment of silence. "I can't remember."

Great. So I've taken in a stray dog.

"Although I can't remember many things, I do remember that I'm single," 181 quickly added.

And a very tall, handsome, and smart stray dog at that, one who knew how to get straight to my primary concern.

I glanced at my phone. The messages in my work group chat had piled up to 99+. Although I had informed my supervisor the moment my fever started, she was still hounding me for a report as if she knew nothing.

But it was strange. Her usual style was to blow up my phone with calls. She was the infamous she-devil of our company, who would squeeze every last drop of work out of her subordinates as long as they were still breathing, only to take credit for their achievements.

I checked my phone. 26 missed calls. The reason I had slept so well was that my phone had been silenced.

"You silenced it? You're going to get me killed!" I scrambled to open my laptop. "This Wang Xiaohui is my supervisor, she's the worst! If you do this, she's definitely going to make my life difficult."

"She won't," 181 said calmly. "I sent a message to your Director Hao early this morning, telling him you have a 39-degree fever. He's Wang Xiaohui's boss, right?"

181 snooped through my WeChat!

Just as I was about to accuse him, I saw the medicine on my nightstand, neatly arranged into three categories: fever reducer, cold medicine, and cough suppressant. It seemed he had been helping me take my medicine while I was delirious.

Fine. Seeing as he was my secret helper, I'd let it slide.

"If you trust me," 181 said to me, "I can help you improve your work environment a bit. Managing upwards is also a work skill."

Since I had nothing better to do, I explained my company's situation to 181 in detail.

He really wasn't a freeloader. With a round of analysis and guidance, he taught me how to navigate between Wang Xiaohui and Director Hao, how to complete my work efficiently and make sure my superiors noticed. It was a revelation. Is this what it feels like to have a cheat code? It felt amazing!

If he were standing in front of me, I would have been looking at him with stars in my eyes.

"You aren't Director Hao, are you?"

181 was quiet for a moment. "I don't think so."

I snorted with laughter. "Just kidding. Director Hao is 170 cm (5'7") and speaks with an accent."

He let out a light huff. "Such a little girl, your concerns are always so off-point. Just listen to me, I manage a team myself. I've seen more than enough of these office politics."

"Didn't you say you have amnesia?" I asked doubtfully.

"To be precise, I only have amnesia about who I am and what I specifically do. I can occasionally remember other things."

After he said that, he started helping me with my current problem.

"Right now, everyone in your department is sick. You're the only one dragging your sick body to reply to her, and she still has such a bad attitude. Tsk tsk tsk, with this level of skill, she'll never get promoted. She doesn't have people on her side."

Using my computer and my hands, 181 skillfully typed a reply while speaking in my mind. I could almost picture him shaking his head with a smug look.

And I had to admit, his typing speed was incredible. My brain could barely keep up with his polite yet subtly confrontational messages.

"If these were my own hands, I'd be even faster. Three thousand characters per hour, no problem," he said as he typed.

An image flashed through my mind: a pair of well-defined, long, and strong hands typing on a cool, red-and-black, unmarked keyboard.

"You can touch-type?" I was shocked. I loved the look of those hands.

"You can see my memories?" Now it was his turn to be shocked.

I shook my head. The scene had vanished as quickly as it appeared, and now I couldn't see anything again.

In that short time, he had already finished his WeChat negotiation with Wang Xiaohui, pushing the report deadline to the day after tomorrow.

I was starting to believe he really did manage a team. Looking at the logical and well-reasoned conversation, Wang Xiaohui didn't stand a chance against him.

He even added my commonly used emojis and tone-setting particles. No one would ever know that on the other end was not the sick Zhang Xixi, but a formidable stray dog.

"Is that any way to talk about the benefactor who just helped you? A stray dog?" he didn't forget to ask in my head, even while typing.

Sigh, I really need to stop thinking out loud in my head. I can't have every thought be transparent to him.

4

Finally, I was well enough to get up and cook. I made a sandwich, a vegetable salad, and pan-fried a steak.

"You know how to cook like this?!" 181 exclaimed in amazement as we ate.

We were sharing a body now, but he was very considerate, always asking for my permission before taking control. I had to say, under his command, my body could even slice a steak faster than I could on my own.

"I'm going to take a shower later. Could you please avert your eyes and maybe take a nap?" I patiently laid out my terms. After all, when I first woke up, he had been touching my back.

"Of course, of course," he agreed readily, thoroughly enjoying his meal.

It seemed he really did go to sleep while I was showering; I couldn't feel his presence.

The hot shower felt wonderful all over my body.

But my joy was short-lived. I underestimated my own weakness after being sick. As I reached for a towel to dry my hair, I lost my balance. I slipped, and just as I was about to fall, my right hand shot out, grabbing the wall and steadying me.

This was definitely not my usual reaction speed or strength.

"Whew, that was close. You didn't fall," a sentence suddenly popped into my head.

An awkwardness bloomed in the steamy bathroom. He was flustered, and so was I.

"Sorry, I sensed danger, so I subconsciously…"

I wasn't wearing a thing. I instinctively looked down at my chest. Then it hit me—he and I shared the same body, including… the eyes.

My left hand flew up with a towel to cover myself, but it wasn't my own action.

…In times like these, it’s probably best to play dumb, right? I thought, frustrated with myself.

He clearly heard my thought and immediately clammed up, playing dead.

I got dressed with a speed I never knew I possessed. As I passed the mirror, I saw my face was completely flushed. He must have been so embarrassed. I'm talking about him, not me.

"Looks like you've really never had a girlfriend," I mumbled.

"I had one, back in school. The main thing we did together was discuss how to solve the last big problem on our exams. Later, her college entrance exam scores were better than mine, and she broke up with me," he admitted honestly.

"You're already so outstanding, and you still got dumped?" I was a little surprised, and a little heartbroken for him. I could feel his sadness when he talked about his ex-girlfriend.

"That was a long, long time ago," 181 quickly changed the subject. "What about you? Are you single right now?"

I gave a bitter smile in my mind. I had always hoped to find someone I mutually admired for a passionate romance. Until I found the right person, I'd rather have nothing than settle.

So, is it possible… that he is my true love?

I could feel my heart beating fast. This felt like… an online romance.

I had to stop thinking. If I kept going, he would know.

But this is unfair! Why can he see when I'm flustered, but I know nothing about him—his name, what he looks like, his job…

I was jolted from my thoughts by a burst of noise. I checked my watch. Sure enough, the daily disturbance from next door had begun.

My neighbors are a family of three, also renters. Every day, it's either arguing or hitting their child. Work has weekends, but they are on duty 365 days a year.

5

"Waaah, waaaah, waaaah," the child's cries next door grew louder and louder, mixed with the father's roars and the mother's attempts to placate him.

I glanced at my watch. It was already eleven o'clock. Their voices were audibly hoarse; they were probably sick too, yet they were still making such a racket.

Their daily routine was to discipline the child at eleven at night, and the battle wouldn't end until midnight.

The past few days, I had been in a feverish daze and had forgotten about this nuisance next door.

Once, I was so disturbed I couldn't sleep. I went over to talk to them politely and even called property management.

But the man next door was aggressive and had no intention of solving the problem from the start.

"I'm disciplining my own child in my own home. Is that any of your business?"

"Want to solve this once and for all?" 181 heard my mental sigh. His voice seemed to carry a smile.

An image flashed before my eyes: the lower half of a person's face.

Thin lips, corners slightly turned up, revealing a hint of white teeth. Though I couldn't see the whole face, just that expression was enough to leave me stunned.

He has such a nice smile… I thought, spacing out at an inappropriate moment.

Thump. Something was thrown against the wall. It sounded like a book. I could physically see my room shake, and dust fell from the cracks in the wall.

I checked my watch again. Eleven-thirty.

I lay in bed, put on earplugs, and tried to endure it.

By nearly midnight, the neighbors were still not quiet. I sat up abruptly. They had ruined my entire day's good mood.

"Need some help?" It was that same, slightly amused voice.

"What are you going to do?" I was curious to see what method he would use to handle this terrible neighbor.

He cleared his throat and said, "It's time to unleash my true power."

I was too shocked to speak. That's right—that sentence, he had spoken it out loud.

My throat had just produced a low, raspy male voice, very close to the one in my head. Because I was sick, the magnetic voice was hoarse, but it was still very pleasant.

So that's what his voice sounds like, I thought, stunned. I could still feel the vibration in my chest. When he spoke, it wasn't just from the throat; he used his throat and a bit of his chest cavity.

Fortunately, my voice hadn't recovered yet. It was a blessing in disguise, as the hoarseness made it sound more like a man's voice.

"Hey, neighbor," before I could react, he knocked on the wall twice with my fist. "Keep it down. My girlfriend is trying to sleep."

Aah, my hand hurts a little. That's my fist!

Sorry, sorry, he cooed in my mind, I wasn't paying attention and used too much force.

But I was actually very happy. He called me his girlfriend.

The noise next door stopped, leaving only the sound of the child's sobbing. The man next door probably hadn't expected a man to be in my apartment.

"From now on, discipline your kid earlier. We usually go to bed at eleven. Don't be so loud after eleven," he added, his tone calm but unyielding.

The man next door, momentarily intimidated by his presence, tried to save some face. "The soundproofing in this building is bad. If you want to blame someone, blame the landlord."

I knew it! I rolled my eyes mentally. People with no sense of public decency never admit they're wrong.

"If the soundproofing is bad, you should be even more considerate."

He was still so calm. "I'm being very considerate. You have a child, you don't want to hear us going 'uh-huh, ah-hah' every night, do you? We're sick right now, so do me a favor. When we're better, I'll come over for a proper chat."

The neighbors fell silent. A guy who could grow to be 181 cm tall was not the type to be bullied.

But… what did he mean by "uh-huh, ah-hah"? It couldn't be what I was thinking, could it?