She climbed all five floors in one breath, lightly gasping as she reached the top. She took the strap of her canvas bag off her shoulder and held it against her chest, rummaging inside for her keys. Hearing a noise from the opposite door, she hastened her movements, closing her own door just as someone else opened theirs. Leaning against the door, she slowly relaxed.
Soon after, it started to rain outside. Raindrops gently tapped against the window. She turned on the lights, drew the curtains, and listened to the soothing sound of the rain. Feeling somewhat better, she tidied up and lay on her bed, staring at her phone screen. There were messages from the landlady urging her to pay rent, filled with vulgar language. She glanced at it for a few seconds before shutting off her phone, letting the sound of the rain slowly lull her to sleep.
Throughout, her expression remained emotionless, as if she was reading about someone else's life, not her own.
The morning light seeped through the curtains, and she lightly fluttered her eyelashes, rising from bed without hesitation. She went about her routine, washing up. After washing her face, she heard a knock at the door, causing her heart to skip a beat. She paused for two seconds, frowning, hesitant to check.
Soon, a sharp female voice demanded, "Open the door!"
Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the voice, then approached and opened the door. Before her stood the landlady, her hair curled, exuding an intimidating presence as she scrutinized Su Qing from head to toe, arms crossed. "Still haven't paid the rent? How many times have I reminded you? I thought I was being kind by letting you off with a few hundred less each month, but now you expect me to remind you every month?"
Her voice was loud and piercing, amplified by her size, overwhelming Su Qing.
Su Qing calculated the time; she wouldn't receive her salary for another two days. The money she had on her was barely enough for her medicine.
Seeing her silent, the landlady grew even more furious, almost grabbing her arm. "Do you even understand what I'm saying, you stubborn girl?"
Su Qing gripped the doorknob, looking at her with a faint gaze. "Can I have a couple of days? I can't afford it right now."
"You've been delaying for so long!" Her expression shifted again. "If that's the case, sell yourself! You're not bad looking, though a bit thin. Maybe someone will fancy you."
Su Qing's eyelashes trembled, her mind blank. Her face turned pale, her mouth opening but no words came out.
Suddenly, a dark figure flashed by, barging in and pulling her behind him. The warm touch on her fingertips made her numb. Before she could react, she heard Lu Xiu's cold voice, "How much?"
The landlady was stunned for a few seconds, then, seeing the handsome man before her, immediately put on a friendly smile. "Not much, just 1,500." She even took out her phone, opening the payment app. "You look familiar, where have I seen you before?"
Before she could finish, the phone displayed a transfer of 100,000 yuan. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she ingratiated herself, "Why didn't you say so, Qingqing? Your boyfriend is so rich, who would come looking for you?"
Su Qing broke free from his grip, but didn't explain to her.
Lu Xiu raised an eyebrow, looking displeased. "Aren't you leaving yet?" The landlady, seeing his attire, knew he was not an ordinary person and didn't dare to argue with him. After a glance at her phone to confirm the payment, she left the building.
"Thank you. I'll pay you back," Su Qing said after she left.
As if expecting her to close the door, Lu Xiu lazily leaned against the door frame, no longer the same as before, taking out his phone.
Su Qing hesitated, reluctant to add him, standing at the doorway. "Give me your bank account number. I'll transfer it to you later."
Lu Xiu chuckled. "I won't remember it. Besides, I need a way to contact you to send you the money."
Su Qing picked up her phone from the table and added him on WeChat.
After adding him, she looked at his profile picture, still the same as before. She could still vividly remember the day she stood on the lawn in a white cotton dress while he took a photo of her. Although there were many people around, you couldn't see her if you didn't look closely. He changed his profile picture to that after that day.
She didn't expect him to still be using that picture, feeling surprised but not showing it.
Ready to close the door, Lu Xiu was still leaning against the door frame. The two of them locked eyes, and he showed no intention of leaving. "Won't you invite me in for a seat?"
"I have to go to work later. You should go back. It's too small here," her meaning was obvious. "If you can live here, why can't I?" Lu Xiu said as he tried to walk into the room, and Su Qing couldn't stop him.
The house was small, located in the south, dim and damp. Sunlight only streamed in during the morning, and a chill permeated upon entering.
Lu Xiu looked around the room, furrowing his brows. With lowered eyes, his voice was somewhat hoarse. "Why do you live here? How can you stand the cold?"
Su Qing couldn't help but find it amusing, self-mockingly saying, "Then where should I live? You've seen it, can you leave now?"
Before Lu Xiu could speak, his phone rang abruptly. He furrowed his brows and answered it. On the other end was a female voice, though not loud, it was still audible in the quiet room. It was his mother. Su Qing had heard her mother's voice during parent-teacher meetings, very gentle, giving off a feeling like sunshine after rain.
The gist was for him to come home for dinner. Lu Xiu responded indifferently. Listening to their conversation, Su Qing felt an indescribable envy. If her own mother were still around, she might act the same way.
A tingling sensation mixed with a hint of bitterness flashed through her heart, quickly fading away.
After Lu Xiu hung up the phone, he noticed her odd expression. "What's wrong?"
Su Qing took a small step back, her gaze drifting. "Nothing, you should go now. Let's not meet again."
His laughter was provoked by Su Qing's words. He stepped closer, forcing her into a corner, then lowered his head to look down at her, his voice tinged with anger. "Su Qing, do you really not want me to see you?"
She clutched her clothes tightly, feeling a pang of pain in her heart. Biting her lip, she raised her head to meet his gaze. "I don't. You overestimate yourself."
"Then don't regret it," Lu Xiu retorted before leaving, his tone subdued.
As she regained her composure, he had already left, leaving behind only the empty room filled with his presence.
Not liking him was a lie; liking him was the truth.
Glancing at the time, she took her medication and went to work. She arrived later than usual, with most of her colleagues already present.
Without hesitation, she went to her office and began working, the text on her computer screen causing her eyes to ache.
Liáng Qīngqīng walked over, holding a cup of coffee emitting steam. She glanced at Su Qing before sitting down, occasionally checking her phone, afraid of missing out on any gossip. Yáng Zhīyán followed behind her, yawning as he walked, sitting down and tidying his hair in front of the mirror.