Chapter 99: Quite Eye-Catching

"What did you say? Hiss—"

Xie Wantang raised her head in surprise, and in a moment of carelessness, the fruit knife sliced her left index finger.

"Oh, it's bleeding."

Xu Yanqiu saw the bright red blood beads gushing out, turned and fetched the medicine box, which contained antiseptic spray and Band-Aids.

Xie Wantang sprayed some antiseptic, and under Xu Yanqiu's strong insistence, she applied a Band-Aid.

This little accident also summoned Su Yang; upon learning that Xie Wantang had done it herself by accident, he relaxed a bit.

"You said the person next door looks a lot like Lu Yanze?" Xie Wantang repeated, word by word.

"Yes." Xu Yanqiu nodded.

"I'll go see just how alike they are." Xie Wantang decided immediately.

"Ah—"

Xu Yanqiu called out, but in the moment she was stunned, Xie Wantang had already dashed across the living room.

Her treasure sometimes acts fiercer than she does.

Xu Yanqiu hurriedly chased after her.

Xie Wantang had already opened the door and was going to knock on the neighbor's door.

Thud thud thud—

"No, my treasure, that's not okay," Xu Yanqiu said softly as she caught up.

They had already knocked; now forcibly pulling Xie Wantang away would be even less appropriate.

They just got back; surely someone is inside. If we make them leave, they'll open the door, find it's a prank, and if they can't tolerate such a prank and complain to the property management, we'll be even more embarrassed.

"Neighbors should greet each other, shouldn't they?" Xie Wantang chuckled, having prepared for this.

"……"

Xie Wantang held a package box containing an especially large durian.

When did her treasure put that on?

Impressive.

Since Xie Wantang decided to come scout things out, she naturally wouldn't be unprepared.

Thud thud thud—

Xie Wantang knocked again.

"Coming, wait a moment." The man's rough voice came through the door.

It was completely unlike Lu Yanze's gentle, silent voice.

The person was definitely not Lu Yanze.

With a click, the door opened.

Still the same buzzcut, height as remembered, but the face that had resembled Lu Yanze's was gone; now before them was a pitted, uneven, particularly frightening face.

Xu Yanqiu instinctively wanted to scream, but Xie Wantang, quick-eyed and quick-handed, pinched her to stop it.

"What's up?" the man said in a hoarse, unpleasant voice.

"I heard there's a new neighbor next door, so I wanted to offer some fruit and get on good terms," Xie Wantang said.

"Stinky durian? I won't eat it, and I don't even live here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man slammed the door shut with a thud.

Not even a thank you—quite rude.

Xu Yanqiu, doubting her own eyes, felt wronged: "This……"

Xie Wantang told her not to speak.

After pulling Xu Yanqiu inside, Xie Wantang looked at Su Yang without ceremony: "Su Yang, hurry up and eat; once you're full, help me with something."

"Okay." Su Yang nodded.

"Treasure, what are you going to do?" Xu Yanqiu asked, bewildered.

"Later we'll check the surveillance; also, have Su Yang go ask the property management what's really going on next door."

Xu Yanqiu nodded, then looked at Xie Wantang with self-doubt: "Treasure, do you believe me? What I just saw was Lu Yanze's face, but how could it change so quickly……"

"It's fine, don't be discouraged; it's just a matter of spending some time to get to the truth—don't worry, eat," Xie Wantang comforted her.

"You still have the appetite to eat?" Xu Yanqiu wondered.

She had finally prepared a table of delicious dishes, planning to share them with her best friend over the weekend—who knew that just a few minutes ago such a disheartening thing could happen.

It killed her appetite.

"Why no appetite? Even if the sky fell, there'd still be someone tall to hold it up—just this little thing, and you've lost your appetite? If you're not in the mood, I and Su Yang are, so go ahead and eat the durian."

"……"

Xu Yanqiu was instantly amused by Xie Wantang.

Thinking back, the rude buzzcut actually claimed that the exquisite durian was stinky.

Hmph, what a clueless fellow who can't appreciate good food.

Too rude.

Xu Yanqiu placed all the dishes on the table, and Su Yang polished off the rice in a few bites.

Then, following Xie Wantang's instructions, he went out to run the errand.

Xie Wantang hadn't waited long before Su Yang returned.

Su Yang said, "Miss Xie, according to the property management, the unit next door isn't rented out; the owner is a woman around forty, and she uses this apartment to house relatives who come to visit her."

This account matches what the buzzcut said.

In that case, there's probably nothing to suspect.

However, Xie Wantang's doubts in her heart were still not completely dispelled.

"How long has the house been bought? Did you ask?"

"Well, I asked. The property management said it's two or three years. He remembers it so clearly because before Miss Xu moved in, the landlord of this apartment had complained many times, saying the neighbors were all unsavory people, which made it impossible for her to rent out the apartment."

"……"

Xu Yanqiu was speechless; no wonder the agent and landlord were so easy to talk to.

She had a good impression of the Haishi people, thinking they wouldn't cheat outsiders.

In the end, they still cheated.

She sought a refund from the landlord and caused trouble for the agent.

Xu Yanqiu subconsciously thought of these two matters.

But these vexing issues are time‑ and energy‑consuming, and the outcome might still not be good.

Xu Yanqiu silently berated herself to death in her mind, because she was cheap and paid half a year's rent in one lump sum.

The landlord has already taken the money; how could the meat that's already in your mouth be spat out?

What should I do?

"You've worked hard, have some water," Xie Wantang said to Su Yang, "Do you want to eat more?"

"No, I'm full," Su Yang replied.

"Alright." Xie Wantang nodded without pressuring, watching Xu Yanqiu across the table bite her chopsticks, her small face wrinkled and her mind empty, she urged, "Eat quickly, clean up after finishing, and come home with me."

"Huh?" Xu Yanqiu was stunned.

"What are you talking about? Anyway, you're doing creative work now, the office location doesn't matter. I already told you that before; you insisted on quibbling, so I went along with you."

"But now, your safety is the top priority."

"Safety?" Xu Yanqiu thought the matter wasn't that serious.

At most, the neighbors occasionally bring over some unpleasant people.

"Do you remember when you accompanied me to look for a male model? We've been targeted," Xie Wantang said. She wasn't trying to scare her; it was the truth.

"……"

Is it because of this matter?

But…

Xu Yanqiu still had many things she couldn't understand, but Xie Wantang's expression was solemn and very serious; she knew that this time, no matter what, she had to listen to her.

"I understand, I'll go tidy up my clothes in a moment."

"Okay, the apartment doesn't need to be returned."

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

Seeing Xu Yanqiu so obedient, Xie Wantang gave her the most beautiful smile.

Xie Wantang called the household steward again, asking him to prepare the guest room next door.

When the three of them just arrived at the community entrance, Xie Wantang saw Lu Chen; he had just parked his car, carrying a tool bag, and stepped down from the vehicle.

He was very eye‑catching.