The weather in August and September is always unpredictable. Despite the torrential rain last night, the next day was blazing hot again, with cicadas on the trees screeching madly.
Shen Lang was about to brush his teeth when he heard a commotion outside his door. It sounded like someone was moving things back and forth. Curious, he opened the door to see a tall girl dragging a large burlap sack past his door into the small room opposite his.
The girl was quite beautiful, with a braided ponytail and airy bangs. Her oval, fair face was as radiant as a peach blossom, her straight, delicate nose below her slightly red lips tightly pursed as she struggled to drag the sack. Her slender neck was lined with beads of sweat.
She dressed plainly in a faded blue t-shirt and simple white capri pants. Her light pink sneakers were somewhat worn.
These days, when girls move, they usually have family or boyfriends to help, or they hire movers. Who would choose to move using a burlap sack?
Shen Lang guessed that the girl's family might not be well-off. Yet, her simple attire couldn't hide her graceful figure and stunning beauty.
Shen Lang greeted her warmly, "Did you just move in?"
The girl nodded instinctively as she passed by but quickly averted her gaze.
"So aloof?" Shen Lang thought, surprised, when the system options popped up.
**1: Scold angrily: "It's early in the morning, can't you be quieter? The neighbors are still sleeping! Have some decency!"**
**2: Introduce yourself kindly and help her with the luggage!**
**3: Whistle to get her attention and friendly ask for her contact information!**
Shen Lang then noticed that the hallway near the elevator was piled with the girl's assorted belongings. Given the hot weather, she was already drenched in sweat from moving so many things alone.
"Let me help you," Shen Lang offered, walking to the elevator and gathering her items in his arms.
"No, no need," the girl said, flustered, running out of her room to stop him. She waved her hands nervously, "I can manage on my own…"
"Is such a big reaction necessary?" Shen Lang wondered but smiled and said, "It's no problem, it's just a few things."
Carrying the items into her room, the system's voice suddenly chimed.
**Ding! Li Liusu's favorability towards the host has increased by 5 points, currently at 5 points. Keep it up!**
"Heh, she's quite the tsundere," Shen Lang chuckled, thinking of Li Liusu's vehement refusal. Girls often say one thing but mean another.
"Wait, 5 points?!" Shen Lang was stunned. Helping her move earned him 5 favorability points? That seemed exaggerated!
He turned to look at Li Liusu, who was following him nervously. When their eyes met, she quickly lowered her head, staring at her dark sneakers. Humble seemed to be written all over her pretty face.
Considering her simple attire and the burlap sack at the door, Shen Lang smiled understandingly, "Where should I put these?"
"Just on the floor, thank you..." Li Liusu nodded gratefully, her humble eyes lifting slightly to steal a glance at this kind-hearted boy.
When Shen Lang met her gaze, she quickly looked away, avoiding his eyes like someone with social anxiety.
"She really is socially anxious," Shen Lang thought, recalling his own shy, introverted past. He knew how to interact with socially anxious people: be warm and friendly, express genuine goodwill, and quickly gain their favor.
"Okay, there are still a few more things. I'll help you move them," he offered.
"Really, you don't have to..."
"It's fine. Now that you're moved in, we're neighbors."
"Thank you..." Li Liusu nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't mention it. Just buy me a soda later," Shen Lang laughed.
"Mm..."
After helping her move everything, Li Liusu actually ran downstairs to buy him an ice-cold soda. The only convenience store was by the road outside the complex. When she returned, her fair face was flushed from the sun. She held the soda with both hands, offering it like a treasure, "Thank you."
"It's really nothing."
Shen Lang felt a bit uneasy about her humility, so he quickly accepted the soda and took a swig.
Li Liusu pulled out a slightly worn brown water bottle from the burlap sack and ran to the bathroom to fill it. Shen Lang, sitting in the living room, could hear her gulping down water, clearly very thirsty.
"Wow, is she that frugal?" Shen Lang was shocked. He didn't want to embarrass her by pointing out the health risks of drinking tap water, realizing she might not even be able to afford a 3 yuan soda.
After drinking, Li Liusu came out and stood quietly by the bathroom door, making it seem like Shen Lang was the room's tenant.
"I'm Shen Lang, a local. I live across from you," Shen Lang initiated conversation. "What about you? Where are you from?"
"I'm Li Liusu, from Gansu," she whispered, trembling slightly as if unused to such basic introductions.
"Ahem, your room is pretty nice," Shen Lang commented, glancing around the modest 30-square-meter space. "How much is the rent?"
"It was supposed to be 600," Li Liusu smiled shyly, "but the landlady, Mrs. Xia, reduced it to 300 for me because she said studying isn't easy."
"Oh, that's good," Shen Lang thought she was incredibly naive. Usually, such preferential treatment wasn't mentioned to others, especially fellow tenants. If others found out about her reduced rent, they would surely ask for a discount too.
"Ah, the world's a tough place," Shen Lang sighed, finishing his soda and tossing the bottle in the trash, planning to talk to Mrs. Xia about this.
As he stood up, Li Liusu quickly retrieved the bottle from the trash.
"What are you doing?" Shen Lang asked, baffled by her actions.
"I-I want to keep it to sell," she stammered.