Chapter 47: The New Tenant

The next morning.

At eight sharp, the shift changed. Zhao Yihang’s eyes were pitch black, looking like a millennium-old zombie from a Hong Kong horror flick. He patted my shoulder and said, “Ding Han, man, I’m really about to break. Why don’t you talk to the boss and see if we can hire someone else? At least then we could take turns and get some rest. Who can handle working all year without a break?”

“Alright, I’ll mention it to her.”

“I’m counting on you!”

With a sigh, Zhao Yihang left, looking like a beast drained of its spirit.

After I sat down, I noticed Lu Xiaobei had already gone out to set up her stall. I sent her a message about hiring someone else.

Ten minutes later, she finally replied: “If you return the twenty thousand yuan to me, I’ll hire someone. Where else would I get the money to hire?”

I was speechless. After a moment’s thought, I replied, “This matter might have to wait.”

She sent me a dark emoji that made my screen shake.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was the landlord.

“Ding Han, are you home?”

“No, I’m at work.”

“Alright.”

The landlord said, “Milo moved out yesterday. I’m bringing a new tenant over today to check the place.”

“Okay.”

I said nothing more—the house belonged to the landlord, and I was just a tenant.

...

At noon, my phone beeped with a message from Lu Xiaobei: “Ding Han, come have lunch. I’ll buy you a boxed meal.”

She sent me a location.

“Ah?”

I was surprised: “What about the internet café?”

“Let Lao K watch it for a while. He’s been around before. If he weren’t so addicted to hacking games, I’d consider hiring him as the admin—it’d save a lot of money.”

I was speechless. Raising my hand, I said, “Lao K, Lu Xiaobei wants you to watch the place for a bit. I’m going out to eat.”

“Got it!”

Lao K didn’t refuse at all. He dashed over and motioned for me to quickly hand over the admin seat.

I left the internet café and headed to the location Lu Xiaobei sent. A few minutes later, I arrived.

She stood beneath a blue sign that read, “I miss you deeply in Creek City.” The cold wind brushed through; her coat fluttered beautifully. She held a boxed meal in her hand.

“Aren’t you eating?”

I took the meal.

“I’ve finished. You eat.”

“Alright...”

Hungry as I was, I squatted by the roadside and devoured the meal.

“Ding Han, look up.”

When I looked up, I heard a shutter click. Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaobei was holding a selfie stick, bending forward with her long hair cascading down, capturing both of us and the “I miss you deeply in Creek City” sign behind us.

The photo was great—except I was caught mid-bite, looking utterly confused.

“Nice photo…”

Lu Xiaobei was very pleased. Her long hair blew in the wind, and even her long legs were captured.

“Alright, you better get back to work. Also, check if Lao K’s been sneaking money into his account—I saw he still had over three hundred yuan last time.”

“Wow, you really don’t trust Lao K!”

I looked at her with disdain. “You called me out for lunch just to take this photo, didn’t you?”

“Otherwise?”

She said confidently.

Back at the internet café, I checked my phone and saw that Lu Xiaobei had posted the photo of us together with the caption: “My Outstanding Employee of the Year,” tagging me.

I couldn’t help but smile, then I downloaded the photo and posted it as my first social media post for “Star Abyss,” adding: “My 23-year-old beautiful boss.”

Seconds later, she liked the post.

She was too idle—I suspected she was glued to her phone.

Then Lu Xiaobei called.

“Hmph, I knew the novel on Origin Novel Net was yours. Admit it or not?!”

“Ah?!”

I panicked. “Wait... so that reviewer named Lu Xiaobei must be you?”

“Of course!!!”

“Damn!”

“Hmph!”

Lu Xiaobei hung up and then sent a long message: “Let me list your crimes: One, writing novels during work hours—salary deduction. Two, using my name without permission—defamation. Three, making me your girlfriend in the novel without consent. Four, kissing me in the story without approval. Five...”

Her message was so lengthy it left me dazed.

“Alright, alright, I apologize.”

I replied, “When I have the time and money, I’ll treat you to a meal to make it up to you.”

“Good attitude. I’ll forgive you for now. Off to the stall.”

After that, she went silent, probably busy bargaining with the urban management officers again.

...

“Beep beep~~”

In the afternoon, the landlord called again.

“Ding Han, I’ve rented out Milo’s old room. Just letting you know, no other matters.”

“Alright.”

I nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll get along well with the new roommate.”

“That’s good.”

The landlord hung up without more words.

In the evening, I received a message from Yingzi: “Ding Han, my boyfriend and I went to a concert. We got stuck in traffic on the way back. I might be a bit late for the shift. Can you hold down the fort a little longer?”

No choice—I had to work extra.

After six, when darkness fell, Yingzi finally returned, exhausted but thoughtful—she brought me a piping hot roasted sweet potato.

I ate the roasted sweet potato on the way home, the cold wind biting and making me shiver. Winter had arrived; maybe I should buy a down jacket, but I had no money.

Outside the apartment building, which was usually deserted, a car was parked—a very high-end one, all white, with a winged emblem on the front and a big “B” badge on the back.

A Bentley Flying Spur!

‘No way,’ I thought, glancing at our shabby neighborhood. It was hard to imagine such a luxury car parked here.

I went upstairs and opened the door.

“Click~”

Inside, a woman sat on the sofa.

From where I stood, I could only see her gently curled long hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a beige coat with a light sweater underneath. The coat collar bore a silver logo that looked very expensive.

She slowly rose and turned around.

She was stunning—almost unreal in her beauty.

“You must be Ding Han,” she said calmly, even coldly.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “You’re the new tenant?”

“Yes.”

She looked at me. “Have a seat. I have something to discuss.”

“Alright.”

I sat, avoiding her eyes. She gave off a distant, untouchable aura—something of a high-ranking presence, and combined with her cold gaze, I felt both intimidated and unwilling to get close.

“I want to rent your room as well. Would that be okay?”

She paused. “I don’t like sharing. I want to live alone.”

“Why?”

I frowned. A sudden surge of anger flared inside me. Milo, my previous neighbor, was so approachable—bold and shameless in her own way. Now this woman replaced her, and it felt uncomfortable.

“I was here first. Why should I leave?”

“I can compensate you for the rent.”

She looked at me. “Think it over.”

“Compensate? How?”

I said calmly, “I’ve lived here long enough to have an attachment to every inch of this place. If you really don’t want to share, then shouldn’t you be the one to leave?”

“I’m willing to pay ten times.”

She said evenly, “I checked with the landlord. You paid a 4,000 yuan deposit and rent. I can give you 40,000 now. Is that acceptable?”

“Forty thousand?”

I was stunned, frowning. “Since you’re so determined, I suppose leaving isn’t impossible.”

She pulled out her phone.

“I’ll add you on WeChat and transfer the money.”

“Alright.”

I shared my WeChat QR code. Moments later, someone added me, and the 40,000 yuan was transferred immediately.

Opening her WeChat profile, there was no picture—just a blank white image. No name either, probably a blank space or symbol. No posts at all. She was like a void.

“Alright, I’ll move out, but I need time.”

I frowned. “Three days. I’ll definitely move out within three days. Is that okay?”

“Fine.”

She nodded and returned to her room.

...

I went back to my room and glanced at my phone, then at the adjoining wall. Who was this “Miss Blank” next door? Transferring 40,000 yuan just like that—definitely not an ordinary rich person.

And that white Bentley downstairs—could it belong to her?

*Beep!*

A message popped up from Zhang Ruolin: “Ding Han, are you there?”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“I want to make a deal. I have 5,000 rounds of Roar bullets. This morning, I completed a mission and got a blue submachine gun, but it uses a different caliber, so I can’t use Roar bullets. Want to buy? I’ll give you a discount—12,000 yuan for all 5,000 rounds.”

“Sounds good!”

I was thrilled. “Where are you? I’ll come find you. At the bar?”

“No, I’m just passing by your building. Wanna trade here?”

“Sure.”

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

As I opened it, I saw the next door’s door open too. The “Miss Blank” from WeChat stood there, looking at me with slight surprise.

Zhang Ruolin entered the living room and noticed her too.

Miss Blank closed her door quietly without a word.

“New roommate?” Zhang Ruolin smiled and asked after coming inside.

“Yeah. Keep your voice down.”

I took out my phone and transferred her 12,000 yuan in virtual currency.

Zhang Ruolin pulled out bullet packs one after another, while I tossed them into my extra-dimensional storage space.

The two of them whispered to keep their voices low.

“What mission did you get that blue submachine gun from?”

“A B-level daily mission. Got lucky.”

Zhang Ruolin smiled. “Want to hang out at the bar later?”

“No. Milo moved to Beijing, so there’s no reason to go to the bar anymore.”

“True.”

Zhang Ruolin said, “Since Milo left, the Fifth Element feels dull.”

She glanced at the time. “It’s still early. I’ll rest here a bit and watch some TV with you.”

I was speechless but went along.

Zhang Ruolin turned up the TV volume quite loud; I suspected she did it on purpose.

...

Not long after, Zhang Ruolin left. I opened the door to see her off.

I was surprised to find Miss Blank sitting in the living room, browsing materials on a laptop. A thick stack of documents sat beside her. When the door opened, she turned, surprised to see us.

“All done. If you need anything, contact me. I’ll give you a 20% discount!” Zhang Ruolin whispered in my ear, her breath sweet and intoxicating. Her slender hand slid off my shoulder like a snake, then she smiled and left.

“???”

I was dumbfounded—what was all that about?

On the sofa, Miss Blank frowned slightly. A flicker of disdain crossed her eyes.

Great. I was sure my reputation was already tarnished in her mind!