Volume One, Chapter 15: Becoming Neighbors with Fang Shenzhai

After getting some bruising medicine from the hospital, Duan Xiadong’s car once again arrived at Liyuan Residential Complex.

“I came to pick you up this morning, but I didn’t expect you to go to the factory on your own,” he said.

Duan Xiadong lit a cigarette and was the first to get out of the car.

Li Shuhe, carrying her now dry bundle, followed him down. Her foot still hurt, and she walked with a limp, not very fast.

At the entrance to the complex was a huge stone, with the four characters “Liyuan Residential Complex” embossed in gold. The gate was wide open, revealing the neatly arranged buildings inside.

Li Shuhe followed Duan Xiadong into the complex. He handed her a set of keys.

“You’ll live here from now on.”

Following Duan Xiadong’s gaze, she saw a six-story building with ground-floor units that included a small outdoor courtyard.

Duan Xiadong unlocked the gate to one of the courtyards, and Li Shuhe stepped inside behind him.

“Wow! Xiadong, this place is great. Is it a newly assigned apartment?” she asked, showing a timely expression of delight.

“Bought it,” Duan Xiadong said, stubbed out his cigarette by grinding it in the ashtray on the small courtyard table. “There’s a limited quota. If a newly purchased house stays empty too long, it gets taken back. You moving in now is just right.”

This had been part of Duan Xiadong’s plan since the lottery draw.

His sister and parents still worked at the factory and were used to the factory-assigned housing, so it wasn’t suitable for them to move here.

Besides, the newly bought apartment wasn’t as big as the factory housing and the location wasn’t as good.

“I knew Xiadong would take care of me best,” Li Shuhe said, having pieced together the reasoning. She paused for a moment, then put on a smile again.

“You live in that unit, I’ll take the other one. I won’t come back often, so keep an eye on the place.”

Her heart fluttered slightly at this. It was good that he wouldn’t be coming back often; she didn’t want him to return either.

But the act had to go on.

“Xiadong, I’m scared alone. Can’t you stay in the same unit with me? Didn’t you say I could live with you? I…” she began.

Duan Xiadong glanced at her, impatiently cutting her off.

“Enough. It’s getting late. You tidy up yourself.”

With that, he strode off.

“Wait, Xiadong, when do I start working at the factory?” Li Shuhe asked anxiously; her job hadn’t been finalized yet.

Duan Xiadong stopped and looked at her foot. “Is it healed?”

“I… I can manage,” she replied.

“Alright, since you insist, you’ll start learning at the factory with Xiao Qiu tomorrow. Don’t be late at five in the morning. If you’re late, don’t bother coming anymore. Walk straight down this road to the bus stop, take the bus to the factory.”

With that, Duan Xiadong left without mercy.

He deliberately set harsh conditions to wear Li Shuhe down.

Her gaze dimmed as she exhaled heavily, watching Duan Xiadong leave the room, exit the courtyard, and finally drive away.

Her eyes roamed the room—a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment with a kitchen. The living room faced south, leading to the courtyard, and north to the hallway door. It was bare inside, with only a folding wooden table and not even a stool.

On the east side were a small room and the kitchen; the large bedroom on the west was reserved for Duan Xiadong.

Li Shuhe opened her bedroom door. It was empty except for a cold, hard bed board and an empty closet.

She took a deep breath, looked at the darkening sky, and gripped the doorknob tightly.

Stepping out, she headed to the kitchen. As expected, there was only a tap.

After all the day’s troubles, she had eaten nothing and was so hungry she felt numb.

Resigned, Li Shuhe unpacked her bag and spread her dirty clothes on the bed board. She didn’t even have a hanger.

She gritted her teeth fiercely. She refused to believe Duan Xiadong didn’t know the state of this place; he was deliberately tormenting her.

Looks like she could only make do for one night. Tomorrow she had to quickly make nice with Duan Xiadong and get him in a good mood to buy some furniture for her.

Li Shuhe lay down on the cold, hard bed board, closed her eyes, and forced herself to sleep. She had to get up early tomorrow.

Her original plan had been to move into Duan Xiadong’s house to get closer to their life and make it easier to gather evidence.

Though that hope was dashed, her new situation wasn’t too bad.

She had her own independent space and a job as an accountant at Xiadong’s car factory, which actually made things more convenient.

She vowed to hold onto that accounting job tightly, so all her hardships wouldn’t be in vain.

Thinking this, exhausted from the day, Li Shuhe drifted off to sleep.

In her dreams, she faintly smelled the aroma of food.

Just as she was about to enjoy a feast in her dream, a knock on the door woke her.

She stretched her stiff body and called out, “Coming!”

Limping, she opened the door. Seeing the person outside, her mind instantly cleared.

Fang Shenzhai hadn’t expected Li Shuhe to be the one to answer.

Earlier that afternoon, Fang’s mother noticed the neighbor’s courtyard gate open. Since she had made extra food today and wanted to build goodwill with the neighbors, she sent Fang Shenzhai over.

Fang Shenzhai, unable to refuse his mother, came carrying a bowl.

He called out a few times in the courtyard with no answer, then walked inside and knocked on the door.

Li Shuhe gripped the doorknob, unsure what to say.

In the silence, her stomach growled loudly.

She blushed in embarrassment.

“Just moved in? Haven’t eaten yet, right?” Fang Shenzhai asked flatly, instinctively expressing concern.

“Yes,” Li Shuhe replied quietly.

Fang Shenzhai wasn’t sure if he heard her or not, but he placed the bowl on the small table in the courtyard.

“My mom made extra. It’d be a waste to leave it. If you don’t eat it, you can feed it to the dog.”

“I’ll eat it!” Li Shuhe quickly responded, lips trembling. “Thank you, I… I…”

Fang Shenzhai looked down on her, his gaze sharp.

Li Shuhe felt uneasy, as if he could see right through her.

“Where’s Duan Xiadong? Didn’t he bring you to eat?” Fang Shenzhai asked, glancing briefly inside. Seeing nothing in the room, he knew she probably didn’t even have a pot to cook with.

“No, he doesn’t live here often,” Li Shuhe blinked in response.

Fang Shenzhai frowned, shifting his gaze from the room back to her face and pausing.

He pinched the bridge of his nose between two slender fingers and clicked his tongue softly.

That same familiar look again.

He turned his head, seeming lost in thought.

After a long moment, Fang Shenzhai’s thin lips parted slightly.

“Remember to lock the door before you sleep.”

“Okay,” Li Shuhe answered quickly.

Fang Shenzhai looked at her once more, as if about to say something else, but in the end, said nothing.