The summer heat was oppressive, like an angry, fiery woman, and it was making Ethan dizzy. On top of that, Ms. Grace's spit was flying at him as she yelled—like the dry earth finally getting rain after a long drought.

Ethan stood in the doorway in just a tank top and shorts, his head hanging low as he tried to stay on his feet. His landlady, the beautiful Ms. Grace, was giving him an earful. His mind felt foggy, and his legs wobbled as if they weren't even touching the ground.

Ms. Grace, in her early thirties, was a real beauty. She had a shapely figure, and whenever she got worked up, everything moved in sync with her emotions—a sight that would've been captivating at any other time. But Ethan wasn't paying attention to any of that. He was more focused on avoiding her angry spit. After all, he and his sister-in-law were two months behind on rent, so this lecture was well deserved. He could only stand there and take it.

"Ms. Grace…" Ethan said her name, but every time he did, it felt awkward, like trying to swallow a rough piece of hair. It just didn't feel right. But since she was older than him, calling her "big sister" wouldn't be out of place, especially given how much rent he still owed her.

"Ethan, don't blame me for being strict. Go ask around—no other landlord would let you fall behind on rent for two months. If it weren't for the fact that you've been helping me with little tasks here and there, I'd have kicked you and your sister-in-law out by now." Ms. Grace's tone softened a bit when he addressed her as "big sister." The truth was, she didn't really want to evict him. He was handy, often helping her with small chores.

Chores? Ethan thought bitterly. Every day, he swept three floors, carried heavy gas canisters and rice bags, and even rushed her to the hospital when she had a heart attack. And yet, she hadn't even properly thanked him. Still, he didn't dare complain. "Big sis, my sister-in-law hasn't gotten her paycheck yet. Can we wait until the 15th?"

Even as he asked, Ethan didn't feel confident. His sister-in-law's salary barely covered their living expenses, let alone the rent. And with his exams coming up, he hoped to get into a good university. But even if he did, how would he afford the tuition?

Ms. Grace, after finishing her rant, noticed the discouraged look on Ethan's face and felt a strange sense of guilt. This young man had saved her life when she had that heart attack. If not for him, she might not be here today. Her anger softened, and she felt a little grateful.

After a moment, Ms. Grace smiled. Her dimples appeared, and the sight made Ethan's heart skip a beat.

"Ethan, I know your sister-in-law is going through a tough time. How about this: besides cleaning, I'll find you more odd jobs to do. If you keep it up, you could pay off the rent in a month or two."

Ethan's eyes lit up. Ms. Grace was offering more work around the property, like changing gas canisters, fixing clogged pipes, helping with moves, and even tutoring kids. Since he also knew a thing or two about fixing electronics, it didn't sound like a bad deal if the pay was decent.

The more Ms. Grace spoke, the more excited she became. Despite her fiery personality, she was sharp when it came to business. Combined with her stunning looks, she was a force to be reckoned with.

They ended up talking for nearly an hour, and Ethan's legs were starting to go numb. Just as he was thinking about grabbing her a stool, she suddenly sat down on the ground with a thud.

Hearing the noise, Ethan turned and froze. "Big sis, you couldn't wait one more minute?"

Now with his landlady sitting on the floor, Ethan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Should he still grab a stool? Just as he hesitated, Ms. Grace called out.

"Ethan, come help me up! Oh, my poor back…"

Ethan rushed over to help her, but in his hurry, his hand slipped under her arm and brushed against something soft. His face turned bright red, and he quickly pulled his hand back as he helped her stand.

"Careful not to break my strap again, Ethan," Ms. Grace teased, noticing his flustered face.

"It was an accident," Ethan stammered, his face as red as a tomato, wishing he could just vanish.

With a sweet smile, Ms. Grace continued, "Alright, we're all set then. I'll give you a phone later so I can call you when there's work."

"There's no need," Ethan muttered. "I can't even afford the phone bill."

"Don't worry, I'll cover it for now. You can pay me back when you start earning money." Ms. Grace's mind was already racing with ideas. She needed an edge to attract more tenants, and Ethan could help her with that.

As she looked at his solid frame, she smiled to herself. This kid was much stronger than the skinny students she usually saw. And thinking back to that accidental touch, a strange look crossed her face.

"This boy... so honest, but that touch... it sparked something in me," she thought, her mind drifting to places it hadn't been since her husband's passing.

With a sigh, she rubbed her temples and tried to push those thoughts away.