Eight strands of time, layered together.
In this state, Tristan Mariana rested for a full hour.
Though only an hour had passed in the outside world, Tristan Mariana had slept for a full eight hours.
The morning sunlight after the rain pierced through the window, spilling onto the bed. Tristan Mariana opened his eyes.
He felt better than he ever had before—not a trace of fatigue from pulling an all-nighter with insufficient sleep.
People often say they don't have enough time, but for Tristan Mariana, that would never be a problem again.
After changing into fresh clothes, he heard sounds coming from outside the door.
Tristan Mariana opened his bedroom door and stepped out.
He saw his roommate, Perez Ross, who was twenty-eight years old—a year older than him. She worked as a real estate agent at a local firm.
As Tristan Mariana emerged, Perez Ross was changing her shoes by the door. She wore a professional business suit, bending slightly at the waist, her pencil skirt accentuating a graceful curve.
Perez Ross had long, slender legs wrapped in sheer black stockings. One foot lifted as she changed shoes—small and delicate, looking like it could fit entirely in the palm of a hand.
This was a woman who had fully ripened, ready to be plucked.
Tristan Mariana glanced at her and felt his mouth go dry, as if something had ignited a fire inside him. Certain parts of his body showed subtle signs of stirring.
The old Tristan Mariana wouldn't have dared to entertain such thoughts. He knew that beautiful women were a scarce commodity, beyond the reach of ordinary people.
But now...
Tristan Mariana's desires and ambitions had been unleashed!
"Tristan Mariana, you're up! I didn't disturb you, did I?"
Perez Ross looked up at Tristan Mariana, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she called out.
Tristan Mariana's heart skipped another beat.
Perez Ross's long, flowing black hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes seemed to speak volumes. A light layer of makeup graced her oval face—just the right amount of eyeshadow, and those glossy red lips parting gently.
"No, no you didn't."
Tristan Mariana quickly responded.
"That's good..."
"Oh my, I'm running late! Tristan Mariana, I've got to go. See you later!"
Perez Ross glanced at her watch, hurriedly finishing with her other high heel. She waved at Tristan Mariana as she headed out the door.
Tristan Mariana watched the door close again. He licked his lips, his gaze almost predatory, as if he wanted to devour Perez Ross whole.
He'd been sharing this apartment with Perez Ross since he started working.
He knew her personality very well.
Perez Ross was materialistic. Her ultimate goal was to marry into wealth—at the very least, someone with a car and property in the city's core districts, plus maybe a million or so in savings.
But at the same time, Perez Ross was a woman with principles. Or rather, she was smart.
She knew full well that her body and her looks were her greatest assets.
So even though she worked in real estate, even though countless people made advances toward her, even though she had plenty of suitors, Perez Ross remained virtuous, holding out for the highest bidder.
Tristan Mariana's expression returned to calm, though a slight smile curved at the corners of his mouth.
He pulled out his phone and sat down on the living room couch.
First, he dialed his team leader at the company.
"Li, I've got some things I need to handle. I'll need to take a few days off."
Tristan Mariana said into the phone.
"Sure, three days is plenty!"
Tristan Mariana replied with a smile.
At work, he had a good relationship with his team leader. Plus, he'd never been the type to take time off frivolously. Since he'd asked, approval came quickly.
As for why he didn't just quit the job outright—Tristan Mariana figured there was no rush.
Before he had this ability, he'd constantly wanted to escape that environment, yet had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it.
But now that he had his ability, now that he could control his own destiny, Tristan Mariana found himself in no hurry. His mindset before and after was completely reversed.
Tristan Mariana propped his legs up on the coffee table, leaning back against the couch, quietly enjoying this rare leisurely morning.
Previously, at this time, Tristan Mariana would have already rushed out the door, then bought a breakfast wrap from a vendor near the apartment complex.
Three bites, two swallows—wolfing down the wrap.
Then jogging toward the subway station.
The subway during New York's morning rush hour was terrifying.
You had to be fast, precise, and aggressive, or you'd never get on. Even if you managed to squeeze in, you'd basically be plastered against the door, unable to move.
This was the daily reality for New York's working-class strivers. This was the life Tristan Mariana had lived for so long!
"Feels good!"
After a while, Tristan Mariana stretched and let out a long breath.
He stood up and returned to his room, then packed several copies each of the time purchase contracts and time sale contracts into a folder.
Tristan Mariana tucked the folder under his arm and leisurely headed out.
After leaving the apartment, Tristan Mariana first went to the nearest bank branch.
The bank had just opened, so there wasn't much of a line.
"I'd like to withdraw three hundred thousand."
Tristan Mariana sat at the teller counter, handed over his bank card, and spoke calmly.
This was basically most of the money he'd saved over the past four years.
He entered his PIN.
Before long, the teller brought out the cash, ran it through the bill counter twice, and handed the money to Tristan Mariana.
Tristan Mariana stuffed the money into a black bag and walked out of the bank.
His goal today was to purchase a year of time—of lifespan. After all, he couldn't keep spending his own original time forever, could he?