After a while, Zhang Yi heard a knocking on the door from outside. Following that was Uncle You's voice, "Zhang Yi, this is You Jiguang. Are you home?"
He habitually checked outside through the monitoring system. However, soon, Zhang Yi frowned. It wasn't just Uncle You at the door; there was also a woman holding a child. Despite her thick down jacket, Zhang Yi knew she must be that mother, Xie Limei.
"What is she doing here?"
While Zhang Yi had a favorable impression of Uncle You, he had no particular acquaintance with Xie Limei. Moreover, based on his judgment from the previous life's experience, he always felt this woman was not simple.
Standing up from the chair, Zhang Yi approached the door. Although Zhou Ke'er glanced at him, she did nothing; in this house, Zhang Yi was the master.
Arriving at the door, Zhang Yi didn't open it. "Is it Uncle You?" He asked knowingly.
Uncle You replied, "Yes, it's me."
At that moment, Xie Limei, behind him, spoke first, "Zhang Yi, our Sugar Baby has a high fever. Could you please help her?"
Her voice carried a hint of a sob.
Zhang Yi took out a pre-prepared box of acetaminophen suspension and a box of Little Sunflower Cold Remedy, then tossed them through the shooting hole.
"Quickly take the medicine and give it to the child! Getting sick at a time like this is no trivial matter."
Uncle You hastily picked up the medications from the floor, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Zhang Yi, thank you so much! Really, thank you!"
Xie Limei accepted the medicine. Uncle You had planned to bring her along, but there was a strange gleam in her eyes.
She spoke, "Zhang Yi, I have a favor to ask. Could you let the baby stay in your home for a while? I know your house has a fireplace, which is warmer than ours! The baby is sick now, and I'm worried she might catch a cold. Can you help us with this favor?"
Next to him, Uncle You was taken aback. Xie Limei hadn't discussed this with him before coming. He felt awkward, having not communicated this with Zhang Yi before his arrival. Now, with Xie Limei suddenly bringing it up, he found himself caught in the middle, and it was difficult to save face.
Inside the room, upon hearing Xie Limei's request, Zhang Yi's lips curled slightly. Taking advantage?
"Is it Sister Xie? I'm sorry, given the current circumstances, I can't allow anyone inside. Also, our coal is running out. Honestly, the temperature inside isn't much better than outside."
Zhang Yi wasn't moved by her words. Although Xie Limei spoke well, using the child's well-being as an excuse, Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke'er lacked experience in taking care of children, and even if they did, he wasn't interested in dealing with such matters. Allowing the child inside would provide Xie Limei with an opportunity to enter as well, using the child's care as an excuse. If she had any ill intentions, Zhang Yi would have to be on guard 24/7.
He wasn't willing to put in that effort.
Hearing Zhang Yi's words, Uncle You whispered to Xie Limei, "Zhang Yi has already been kind enough to us, even providing medicine. Let's go back and put on more clothes; we won't freeze."
Wiping away her tears, Xie Limei cried, "You, as a man, don't understand. The baby is so small, very fragile."
She then said to Zhang Yi behind the door, "Zhang Yi, I know this request is a bit inappropriate. But I really have no other choice!"
"Sister, knowing you're kind-hearted, I dared to make such a request, relying on your good nature."
"I beg you, for the sake of the baby and for Brother You's face, could you let the baby stay at your place for a while?"
With the involvement of Uncle You, who was brought into this unexpectedly, most people, unless they were extremely hard-hearted, would relent at this point.
But Zhang Yi's heart was resolute.
Leaning against the door, he said, "Sister Xie, if it were before the apocalypse, I would have agreed. But now, you know, everyone in this building is trying to seize my house and even my life."
"I'm genuinely scared and can't allow strangers inside. I believe you can understand, right? Uncle You, you should understand, too."
Uncle You nodded repeatedly.
At this point, he felt quite embarrassed. He hadn't communicated this with Zhang Yi before coming. Now, with Xie Limei suddenly bringing up this request, he found himself caught in the middle and unable to save face.
"Right, Zhang Yi has been kind enough to us! Who else would give us medicine now? Do you know how difficult it is to obtain medicine these days?"
Xie Limei bit her lip and seemed to contemplate her response. However, Uncle You didn't want to embarrass Zhang Yi any further.
"Hurry, let's not trouble others. Zhang Yi has been kind enough to us. I apologize, Zhang Yi. Thank you for everything this time!"
"It's alright, everyone can understand these feelings. Let's support each other!"
Monitoring the situation, Zhang Yi saw Uncle You taking Xie Limei and the child downstairs. Returning to the dining table, he said to Zhou Ke'er, "This woman is quite troublesome."
Zhou Ke'er shrugged. "Aren't there plenty of people like her?"
Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "True, but I have a good relationship with Uncle You. I'm afraid she might interfere with our relationship."
Uncle You was the ideal assistant chosen by Zhang Yi. He didn't want a woman by Uncle You's side, whispering inappropriate things in his ear. Zhang Yi became a bit more wary of Xie Limei.
At least, she harbored some covetousness towards Zhang Yi's house and resources.