Xia Wan'an did not find anything amiss and responded with a light laugh, "Right."
"Erm, I remember that the gentleman living on the 27th floor is quite handsome..." The middle-aged woman rambled on, ensuring Xia Wan'an understood, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not a peeping tom. I'm merely the neighborhood committee member..."
Then, with a look of curiosity, the middle-aged woman asked, "I haven't seen that gentleman for a while now. Are you his girlfriend visiting him?"
The middle-aged woman paused, taking in the sight of Xia Wan'an holding vegetables and various daily necessities. "Are you living in his place? Are you his wife? It must be wonderful. Both of you must make a perfect match..."
The middle-aged woman wasn't wrong. Legally, she was his wife... However, he disliked her parading around with the title of his wife. Given that this woman lived in the same building, chances were they would cross paths some day. And this woman seemed friendly and unreserved, which might lead to a chat with him. Xia Wan'an feared this might lead him to believe she was spreading rumors about their relationship...
With these thoughts in mind, Xia Wan'an hastily cut in before the middle-aged woman could say more. "Um, no... I'm not his wife..."
"What? You're not his wife?" The middle-aged woman looked surprised but seemed to quickly understand. She commented, "Oh, I see, you guys are still dating. How long have you been living with him? If it's been a while, you should get a marriage certificate. Start a family early, return to normal life..."
"No, no..." Xia Wan'an quickly interjected again, afraid that the woman would jump to conclusions. She hurriedly stopped the woman before she could speak further. "I am not his girlfriend either, we have no connection. I... I am just staying in his house. It's that... It's that..."
Explaining in this way felt even more embarrassing to Xia Wan'an. She stumbled over her words before finally finding a fitting phrase, "... I am a tenant of his place."
The middle-aged woman seemed to have a sudden realization. "Oh, so the gentleman has rented out his house... That explains why I haven't seen him in a couple of years. I used to run into him almost daily when I was dropping my child off at school..."
"But still, the gentleman does not seem to be lacking in finances. Why would he rent out this wonderful house? By the way, the rent here isn't cheap, right? You young lady, your job must be quite good... Do you not have a boyfriend yet? If so, I can keep an eye out for you..."
The elevator stopped at the floor the middle-aged woman was getting off. As the elevator door opened, she walked out while still chatting with Xia Wan'an.
"Young lady, rest assured, if I come across someone suitable, I'll keep you in mind..."
Xia Wan'an neither refused nor agreed, merely maintaining the smile on her face as she bid the woman "Goodbye".
Only when the elevator door closed and Xia Wan'an was left alone, causing the space to become utterly silent, did the smile on her face gradually fade away.
The middle-aged woman had mentioned how she hadn't bumped into him in a couple of years... It had indeed been two years since she had married him and moved in here and he consequently started to rarely visit this home, hadn't it?