As she was thinking, someone suddenly patted her shoulder, startling her into a shrill scream.
Passersby quickly looked over, and Iris Thompson covered her head, her legs weakening, about to squat down. At this moment, however, a warm hand pressed her shoulder, and a familiar voice came with a hint of helplessness: "Why are you so easily scared?"
That voice...
Iris slowly looked up and saw the man from next door.
But instead of being comforted, she became even more frightened.
She stood up, head down, and continued walking forward.
The man followed behind her. She occasionally looked back and saw him leisurely strolling along, taking his time to follow her. He had plucked a blade of grass from somewhere and had it hanging from his mouth, with his arms folded behind his head, looking more like he was on a walk than in a hurry to go to work.
