“Oh,” she said, laughing. “So it’s not just about lowering the number. You have to put the air conditioner in cold mode.”

“The AC won’t blow cold. I set it to 18, but it’s just… warm.”

In the sweltering heart of July, Clara moved into her first solo apartment—a cozy but sun-drenched studio on the top floor. The landlord had left a note on the kitchen counter: “Remote for the AC is in the drawer. Enjoy!”