Back in his rented dump of a room...
Well...
Calling it a dump wasn't entirely accurate anymore.
After he had cleaning every corner, sweeping away years of dust, scrubbing the stained floor, and throwing out piles of useless junk left behind by the predecessor, the tiny apartment had become at least somewhat livable.
It still looked old.The faded wallpaper was peeling at the corners, the ceiling had several suspicious water stains, and the furniture looked as though it had survived three different owners.
But compared to before...
It was practically a luxury suite.
The moment Henry stepped inside, he kicked the door shut behind him before collapsing onto the creaky bed.His entire body spread out like a deflated balloon.
"...I'm exhausted."
Today's performance had drained him both mentally and physically. He stared blankly at the cracked ceiling, savoring the rare moment of peace.
As for the internet.He had no intention of checking it just yet.
Right now, the comment sections were probably a battlefield, with opinions flying around like bullets from every direction.
Whether people were praising him, criticizing him, or arguing with each other, he could already imagine the chaos.
He decided to let the bullets fly for a while.
By the time he checked later, the dust would have settled, and he'd be able to see everyone's reactions without getting caught in the initial storm of emotions. For now, a little peace and quiet sounded far more appealing than diving headfirst into the internet's madness.
Just as his eyelids began growing heavy—
Knock!Knock! Knock!
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
Henry frowned.
"Who could that be?"
His imagination immediately began running wild.Could it be some crazy fan who somehow followed me all the way home after today's performance?
He pictured an overly enthusiastic fan clutching a notebook outside his door, begging for an autograph.
"..."
A second later, he shook his head.
"Yeah... no."
"I'm definitely not famous enough for that yet."
Then another possibility crossed his mind.
Mr. Thompson?Did the old man somehow see me on television and assume I'd struck it rich overnight?
Don't tell me he came personally to collect the rent...
Henry rubbed his temples.
"...Ah, whatever."
"I'll find out once I open the door."
He climbed off the bed and walked toward the entrance.Then came the real challenge.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
One lock after another came undone.Henry's lips twitched.
"...Six locks?"
The predecessor might have been a hopeless simp.But at least the guy valued his own safety.Living in a neighborhood like this, perhaps he hadn't been paranoid after all.
After unlocking what felt like half the hardware store, Henry finally grabbed the doorknob.
Creak...
The worn wooden door slowly swung open with a long, complaining groan.
Standing outside was a graceful young woman.
She wore a fitted black tank top that accentuated her elegant figure, while a simple face mask covered the lower half of her face. Even so, her fair skin, sharp eyes, and long dark hair tied into a neat ponytail made it obvious she was exceptionally beautiful.
Despite her youthful appearance.There was an unmistakable aura of authority surrounding her.Just standing there made the narrow hallway feel several degrees colder.
Henry instinctively blurted out,"Wendy."
Henry finally understood why the predecessor had been so terrified whenever she came to collect the rent. The woman had a naturally imposing aura, and with her sharp tongue and fearless personality, it was enough to make anyone with a guilty conscience break into a cold sweat.
Fortunately, after spending more time together, the two had gradually become friends. Beneath her fierce exterior, Wendy wasn't nearly as terrifying as she first appeared.
As soon as she entered, she casually dropped onto the worn-out sofa, crossing her long, slender legs.
Resting one arm on the armrest, she narrowed her eyes at Henry's annoyingly smug grin.
"What's with that smug look on your face?"
Henry spread his hands dramatically and sighed.
"Sister Wendy, I'm afraid today's eviction ceremony has been canceled.
Your honored father and I have already reached a peaceful agreement. I'm terribly sorry to ruin your plans—you won't be throwing my furniture into the street today. Better luck next time."
Wendy blinked.
Then her eyes widened as if she had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"...Wait... what did you just say?"
She stared at him for a few seconds before snorting.
"Even if someone beat me to death, I'd never believe you actually had the guts to talk to my old man! The moment you see him, you usually look like a mouse that spotted a hungry cat."
Henry's victorious expression instantly collapsed.
His shoulders drooped as he put on a pitiful face.
"Well... my company terminated my contract.
To make things worse, my girlfriend dumped me too. I figured I had already hit rock bottom, so I didn't have anything left to lose. That's the only reason I found the courage to talk to your dad."
The teasing smile on Wendy's face slowly faded.
She frowned slightly, her sharp eyes softening with sympathy.
"...You lost your job... and your girlfriend left you too?"
She clicked her tongue.
"You're barely in your twenties, yet your life's already such a mess. That's... pretty rough."
Watching her expression change, Henry couldn't help sighing inwardly.
This really is a hardcore-level transmigration...
Not only had he inherited an empty bank account, he had also inherited unemployment, heartbreak, overdue rent, and a landlord terrifying enough to make the predecessor develop PTSD.
Wendy remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing something in her mind.
Finally, she crossed her arms and spoke in her usual blunt tone.
"Fine. Since you've already settled things with my dad, I won't make things difficult for you."
She pointed a finger at him.
"But don't get complacent. If the deadline you agreed on passes and you still haven't paid up, I'll personally drag you and your junk out onto the street. No crying, no begging, and definitely no acting pitiful."
After a brief pause, she added in a quieter voice.
"...Just make sure you get your life back on track before then."
It sounded like a threat.
But somehow.Henry could hear the concern hidden beneath her harsh words.
What a textbook yandere,she simply wasn't the type to express kindness honestly.After saying that, Wendy stood up.
Her graceful figure swayed slightly as she walked toward the door, leaving behind a faint floral fragrance that lingered inside the small room.
Henry let out a long breath.
"I still need to make money..."
Thankfully, the conversation with Wendy had gone far more smoothly than he had expected. She hadn't noticed anything unusual about him, nor had she suspected that the person standing before her was no longer the same Henry she had known.
That was one less headache to worry about.
Money was still his biggest problem, but at least his identity remained intact. As long as no one realized he was a transmigrator, he could slowly adapt to this new world without drawing unnecessary attention.
Money meant security.Even if Wendy probably wouldn't throw him out the moment he missed the deadline, Henry refused to gamble his future on someone else's kindness. Only when he had enough money in his pocket would he truly be able to relax.
Just then—
The door, which had already closed halfway, suddenly creaked open again.A small head poked back inside.
"Hey, you little brat."
Henry turned around with a lazy look.
"What now?"
Without entering, Wendy casually tossed a plastic bag onto the table near the entrance."I bought too much. These are things I don't like eating."
She deliberately looked away."Throw them away for me before they go bad... Mr. Superstar."
With that, she immediately turned around and hurried off, an oddly conflicted expression flashing across her face.
...Did Henry change somehow?
For a brief moment, that thought crossed Wendy's mind. He seemed more confident, more relaxed, and somehow... different from the timid young man she was used to seeing.
She shook her head almost immediately.
I'm probably overthinking it.
People changed after going through setbacks. Losing his job and getting dumped would naturally mature anyone.
With that thought, she quietly dismissed her suspicion and walked away.
Henry walked over curiously and opened the bag.
Inside were several packets of instant noodles, a few sausages, two fresh steaks, and a variety of fruit.
He chuckled helplessly.
"Sharp-tongued... but soft-hearted."
A warm feeling quietly spread through his chest.
Ever since transmigrating into this unfamiliar world, this was the first time someone had shown him genuine concern without expecting anything in return.
As for the nickname "Mr. Superstar"...
Henry had been too busy noticing the food to even register it. The words slipped right past him, and he didn't think much of them.
Stretching lazily, he decided he'd cook something later, get some proper rest first, and check the internet afterward to see how today's performance had exploded.
Dragging his exhausted body back onto the bed, Henry hugged his pillow tightly."Finally... sleep..."
He had barely closed his eyes before—
Ring! Ring! Ring!
His phone suddenly rang.Henry buried his face into the pillow.
"...Seriously?"
He grabbed the pillow and punched it several times in protest before flopping backward dramatically.
"Can the universe stop plotting against my sleep for five minutes?"
The ringtone continued mercilessly.Defeated, Henry stretched out one arm toward the bedside table.
He glanced at the caller ID.