Chapter 2
The next day, Tan Yue stirred from slumber as the sun's golden rays filtered through the glass window, gently rousing him from the depths of sleep. As his eyes fluttered open, a surreal sensation enveloped him, momentarily transporting him to a bygone era—a time when his girlfriend used to prepare breakfast in the kitchen, patiently awaiting the completion of the morning ritual before venturing off to work.
Shaking off the lingering reverie, Tan Yue rose from the bed with a newfound resolve. Time had propelled him into a different reality, and dwelling on the past, no matter how comforting, held no bearing on the challenges that lay ahead. Nostalgia, a tempting mirage, was brushed aside; survival in this new chapter demanded his undivided attention.
After a simple breakfast, Tan Yue confronted his reflection in the mirror. The visage that met his gaze bore a striking resemblance to his former self—handsome and refined. In fact, he couldn't help but feel that the current body's appearance surpassed that of his previous life. After all, Qi Xue wouldn't have chosen a lackluster partner.
The journey to work unfolded under the morning sun, a symbolic step into the uncharted realms of parallel time and space.
...
Jishui, the capital of Hedong Province, bore witness to Tan Yue's professional endeavors. Nestled within the hustle and bustle of this political epicenter, Jishui City TV Station, where Tan Yue plied his trade, coexisted with Hedong TV Station in the same building. This spatial proximity came with its own set of advantages and disadvantages—a wider scope of opportunities yet overshadowed by the formidable presence of Hedong TV Station.
Tan Yue, pausing before the entrance, contemplated lighting a cigarette but opted for a more poised entry on this introductory day. The workplace dynamics, he understood, required not only competence but also a favorable first impression.
Jishui TV station's offices occupied the first to fourth floors, with the Life Channel, Tan Yue's domain, situated on the second floor. Choosing to eschew the elevator, he ascended the corridor, his footsteps echoing a cadence of determination.
In the wake of Qi Xue's celebrity status, Tan Yue, despite his relatively minor role, found himself familiar to many within the station. Greetings and jests punctuated his journey, a blend of camaraderie and unspoken nuances.
"Tan Yue is here."
"Haha, can Xiao Tan get me a piece of Qi Xue's autograph? That girl in my family likes Qi Xue very much."
"Hehe, the soft man came quite early."
Acknowledging these interactions with a nod and a smile, Tan Yue couldn't escape the shadow of an unwarranted moniker—the "soft man," a label born of his marital choices.
Ruannan, the embodiment of the term, embodied the complexity of workplace dynamics. Despite Tan Yue's initial competitive zeal upon joining the TV station, marriage redirected his focus towards family. Unfortunately, this transition elicited the derisive nickname, a mocking reminder of a perceived domestic subservience.
Despite his transfer to the favorable "Folk Talk" time slot, Tan Yue couldn't shake the insidious moniker, a testament to the unforgiving nature of office gossip.
Seated at his desk, Tan Yue contemplated the paradox of his situation. In the past, the original owner would typically be angling for promotions during this period. However, his own foray into the intricacies of the entertainment industry suggested that major responsibilities rarely fell on the original owner's shoulders.
As he pondered ways to leverage the insights gleaned from his past life, an unexpected interruption came in the form of a familiar face—Xu Nuo, a colleague and friend from Taili.
"Old Tan, I asked you to come out for a drink the day before yesterday. Why didn't you come? Is there something wrong at home?" Xu Nuo inquired, his round face reflecting genuine concern.
Tan Yue, recognizing the need to foster camaraderie in this unfamiliar terrain, decided against divulging the impending divorce. "I was sleepy that day, so I went to bed earlier," he replied, offering a plausible excuse.
Xu Nuo, perpetually attuned to the nuances of office dynamics, teased, "Your family is back again?" The underlying implication of Qi Xue's influence on Tan Yue's choices lingered in the jest.
With a resigned shake of his head, Tan Yue clarified that Qi Xue was still in Suzhou for filming, postponing the inevitable revelation of their impending divorce.
As Xu Nuo departed for a smoke break, Tan Yue, seizing the opportunity to forge connections, decided to join him. The duo descended to the ground floor, Tan Yue adopting a newfound habit—smoking.
Underneath a tree, cigarette in hand, Tan Yue observed Xu Nuo's bemusement at his sudden affinity for smoking. The exchange, albeit a casual one, hinted at the shifts and adaptations demanded by his altered existence in this parallel world.