Reborn in 2000: I'm the Boss's Driver

Late at night.

Lin Fan lay on the bed in his new home, on a sturdy wooden plank bed, covered by a cotton quilt his mother had just fluffed. The bedding smelled of sunshine, fluffy and soft, mixed with the faint scent of the new furniture's lingering lacquer. A small crack opened the window, letting in wisps of cool autumn night air, dispelling the last traces of daytime heat.

My body was exhausted, feeling like it was falling apart, especially since my trousers had been soaked and clung to my body for so long while running in the rain that afternoon, and my knees were a little sore. But my mind was unusually clear, as if it had been washed by a cold spring.

Zhou Wenyuan's last words echoed in my ears, carrying the lingering warmth of the car's heater and a heavy weight.

"If anything happens in the future, just let me know."

This is no longer a polite formality from a superior to a subordinate, nor is it a casual acquaintance between friends. It's an expression that borders on entrustment and commitment, signifying that he has truly been included in the other person's "circle"—a small but solid, reliable, and mutually supportive circle. Within this circle, they can weather storms together.

Lin Fan turned over, facing the deep blue night sky outside the window. A few scattered lights still shone in the distance, like fallen stars. He remembered his past life, working as a plumber at the water company, eating the same old meals in the greasy cafeteria, his greatest hope for the future being that his salary would be paid on time next month and that he could scrape together enough for his son's tutoring fees. Loneliness, exhaustion, and helplessness enveloped him like a thick cocoon.

Now, he lies in the house he bought, has a job that may seem insignificant but offers hope, has met an older brother like Zhou Wenyuan who is both a mentor and a friend, and the family's major event (the warehouse) is progressing steadily. The loneliness and anxiety he felt because of his rebirth and the "prophet" seem to be gradually filled and solidified by these real people and things.

He slowly exhaled and closed his eyes. This time, exhaustion finally overwhelmed his excitement, and a deep sleepiness washed over him.

The next day was Saturday. Lin Fan slept until almost nine o'clock before waking up, a rare instance of sleeping in since his rebirth. The sunlight was already shining brightly into the living room, casting the shadows of the window panes on the floor.

He got up, stretched his still slightly sore limbs, and began slowly tidying up the house. The new home needed warmth and order. He took out the few books he had hurriedly moved in yesterday and stacked them on the makeshift bookshelf; he found the rag his mother had given him, made from an old bed sheet, soaked it, and carefully wiped the dust off the furniture; he then put the simple pots and pans in the kitchen back in their proper places.

While doing these things, I felt a strange peace. It was as if I was gradually confirming that this space, and the new life it represented, truly belonged to me.

At noon, he cooked a bowl of noodles, sliced ​​a sausage, and poached an egg. Simple, but warm. After finishing his meal at the brand-new dining table, watching the children chasing and playing in the open space outside the window, and listening to the faint sounds of the city in the distance, a simple yet genuine sense of happiness quietly grew within him.

In the afternoon, he planned to go check on the progress of the warehouse under construction. He had just changed his clothes when his Nokia 2100 rang. The screen displayed his sister Lin Ping's landline number.

He answered, "Sister?"

"Fanzi!" Her sister's voice boomed from the other end of the phone, urgent and even a little angry. "You! You bought a house?! Such a big thing, why didn't you tell me and your brother-in-law?! You just went and bought it yourself?! Huh?!"

Lin Fan was taken aback, then understood. The news traveled fast. It was probably yesterday at the hospital, or even earlier, that word of his move had reached his sister's ears. Knowing her personality, she was definitely worried and anxious.

"Sister, listen to me..."

"I'm listening to what you're saying!" Lin Ping interrupted him, her tone urgent and distressed. "Where did you get the money? Huh? Did your parents borrow it for you? You've only been working for a few days! What do you know? You dare to buy a house on your own? What if you get scammed? Who will you turn to if you suffer a loss? You child, why are you so troublesome!"

The questions came in rapid succession, but between the lines, there was an undisguised concern and worry. It was the same in their past life; the older sister always had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, constantly worrying about her younger brother.

Lin Fan felt a warmth in his heart and softened his tone: "Sister, don't worry, I didn't spend the money recklessly, nor was I scammed. I bought the house after I found one I liked, and the price was right. The money... I earned it myself; I didn't borrow any from the family."

"Earned extra? Where did you get so much money? You only earn a few wages!" Lin Ping clearly didn't believe her, and her tone became even more urgent. "Where are you now? At home, right? Give me your address! You just wait! Your brother-in-law and I are coming over right now! You brat, you really... make me so angry!" After saying that, she hung up the phone without waiting for Lin Fan's reply.

Lin Fan held his phone, listening to the busy tone, feeling both amused and touched. He knew that his sister and brother-in-law were worried and wanted to come over in person for both "interrogation" and "inspection."

That's good, it'll be a good opportunity for them to see the new house, and it'll save them from worrying about it.

He put down his phone, not in a hurry to leave, and started boiling water, washing cups, and then rummaging through the cupboard for a small, unopened box of tea that Sister Liu had given him last time. His sister and brother-in-law were coming; they needed hot water to drink.

About half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Lin Fan opened the door, and his sister Lin Ping and brother-in-law Sun Lin were standing outside.

Lin Ping's face still flushed from the journey and lingering anger, her eyes scanning the room like searchlights as soon as she entered. Sun Lin followed behind, his expression calm, but he too scrutinized the unfamiliar space with a critical gaze.

"Sister, brother-in-law, come in and sit down." Lin Fan stepped aside.

Lin Ping didn't move. Standing in the entryway, she first saw the gleaming floor tiles and the brand-new shoe cabinet. Then, her gaze moved past Lin Fan's shoulder to the simple sofa and dining table in the living room, and the spotless balcony. Her anger seemed to be momentarily choked by the clean and new environment, but she quickly straightened her face and walked in.

"How big is your house?" she asked, her tone still curt.

"85 square meters, two bedrooms and two living rooms."

"How much?"

"Eighty-eight thousand."

"Eighty-eight thousand?!" Lin Ping gasped, her eyes widening. "Where did you get so much money? Lin Fan, don't scare me!"

Sun Lin frowned slightly, his gaze towards Lin Fan sharpening. Eighty-eight thousand was indeed a huge sum of money for a temporary worker who had only recently started working in 2003.

Lin Fan knew he couldn't hide it any longer and had to give a reasonable explanation. He invited the two to sit on the sofa, poured them some hot tea, and then sat down himself, his expression becoming serious.

"Sister, brother-in-law, don't worry, let me explain slowly." He paused, organizing his thoughts, "This money, it really wasn't saved from my salary. It was... won in the lottery."

"Lottery?!" Lin Ping and Sun Lin exclaimed in unison, both stunned.

"Yes." Lin Fan nodded and began to tell the story he had already prepared and told his parents—the numbers he bought on a whim almost won the grand prize, but he ended up winning the second prize, receiving 300,000 yuan after tax. He also told his sister and brother-in-law that they left 200,000 yuan for their parents and used the land to build a warehouse, which was said to have been rented out in the last few days.

"I was afraid you'd worry, and I was also afraid of leaks causing trouble, so I didn't dare tell you right away," Lin Fan said sincerely, with a hint of lingering fear and relief. "I looked at houses again and again, compared them repeatedly, and even found a friend to introduce me to a renovation team, so I shouldn't have suffered too much of a loss. Sister, brother-in-law, I know I acted rashly without discussing it with you. But I really want to have my own place, to settle down in the city. I'm sorry for making you worry."

His words were sincere and heartfelt, explaining the source of the money (although he concealed part of it), acknowledging the inappropriateness of making the decision alone, and expressing his original intention and apology.

As Lin Ping listened, the anger on her face gradually subsided, replaced by heartache and lingering fear. She took Lin Fan's hand, looked him up and down, her eyes slightly red: "You silly child... Winning the lottery is a good thing, but you should have told us! What if... what if you ran into bad people, or got scammed when buying a house? What would I do? What would Mom and Dad do?"

"Sister, I was wrong. I'll definitely talk to you first next time," Lin Fan said gently, squeezing his sister's hand in return.

Sun Lin hadn't said much, just listened and observed quietly. Now, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly spoke: "The house...the location is quite good. Have the property ownership documents been completed?"

"All the formalities are done, the contract and invoice are all here, and the property certificate is being processed. The developer said it will be ready in a little over three months, so we should be able to get it soon." Lin Fan got up, took out the file folder containing important documents from the bedroom, and handed the purchase contract and invoice to Sun Lin.

Sun Lin took the document and examined it carefully. As the driver for the deputy director of the Finance Bureau, although he wasn't in charge of real estate, he knew far more about contracts and invoices than the average person. He reviewed each contract clause, verified the invoice amounts and seals, and asked several questions about the developer's qualifications and the nature of the land. Lin Fan answered each question clearly and concisely.

After reading it, Sun Lin returned the document to Lin Fan, his expression softening considerably, and he even nodded slightly: "The contract doesn't have any major problems. I've heard of the developer; they seem fairly reputable. Anjuyuan is indeed in a good location, and it has potential for appreciation. At 88,000 yuan per square meter, it's not expensive these days."

His words were both a professional assessment and a characterization of Lin Fan's home purchase—although the process was flawed, the outcome was not bad, and it might even have been a worthwhile deal.

Hearing her husband say this, Lin Ping finally felt relieved. She got up and started wandering around the house, touching the walls, looking at the kitchen and bathroom, and even opening the bedroom door to take a look.

"This house... is quite bright. It's just a bit empty, and the furniture is too simple," she commented, her tone devoid of blame, only revealing a sister's instinctive concern for her brother's living conditions. "No curtains? It won't block out the light at night. That stove in the kitchen needs a better one, otherwise it won't work properly. And this bathroom..."

She kept talking, already starting to plan what to buy for her younger brother.

Lin Fan listened to her rambling with a smile, his heart warmed. This is what family is like; they scold you because they love you, and they worry about you because they can't let you go.

Sun Lin also stood up, walked around the living room and balcony with his hands behind his back, and looked at the view from the window and the distance between the buildings. "The layout is good, good ventilation from north to south. The decoration is simple, but it looks solid. Did you do it yourself?"

"Yeah, I found a renovation team recommended by sales manager Liu Cheng, and their work is alright," Lin Fan replied.

"Liu Cheng?" Sun Lin thought for a moment. "Oh, him. He's alright." He didn't ask Lin Fan anything more, but clearly, Lin Fan's ability to find a relatively reliable construction company through his connections gave him a better understanding of his brother-in-law's competence.

The three spent the afternoon in their new home. Lin Ping inspected every corner, compiled a long list of items that needed to be added or improved, and forced five hundred yuan on Lin Fan, saying it was for curtains and kitchenware. Sun Lin didn't talk much, but when he did offer a few pointers on electrical safety and waterproofing details, they were always spot on.

In the evening, Lin Ping insisted on cooking, making a simple dinner using the only ingredients Lin Fan had in his refrigerator. The three of them sat around the brand-new dining table, eating home-cooked food and chatting. The lighting was warm, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

"If anything happens in the future, you must tell your sister, understand?" Lin Ping said, serving food to Lin Fan while giving him a worried reminder. "It's the same at work. Consult your brother-in-law and Director Sun more often. Be quick-witted and diligent at work, and don't let anyone find fault with you."

"Okay, sis." Lin Fan nodded in response.

Sun Lin also spoke up: "Now that you're settled, work hard. The office position, though temporary, offers a wide range of opportunities and is a good place to learn. Director Du is a good person; work well under his guidance."

"Yes, I will, brother-in-law."

After dinner, my sister insisted on washing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen spotless. Before leaving, she repeatedly checked that the doors and windows were closed properly and that the gas was turned off tightly.

After seeing them off downstairs and watching his sister and brother-in-law get into their car and leave, Lin Fan stood motionless in the cool early autumn night breeze for a long time. His chest was filled with a swollen, bittersweet emotion.

The approval and care from his family acted as the strongest anchor, firmly securing him in this new time and space. He knew he was no longer a rootless duckweed; he had a place to come from and a place to return to.

Back upstairs, looking at the home that his sister had tidied up and made more homey, Lin Fan felt that this weekend had been exceptionally fulfilling.