Chapter 1707: Chapter 1708: The Ill-Fated Girl
Holding what seemed like a heavy water purifier, Yao Shuilan bowed her head slightly, standing there, momentarily unsure how to move.
After a short while, the bald man came out again, carrying a packaged lunch box in his hand. He placed the lunch box on the box containing the water purifier: "I’m sorry, consider this my apology for earlier."
After speaking, the bald man turned and went back into the room, closing the door.
Yao Shuilan carried the water purifier with her right hand while holding the lunch box with her left hand, sighed lightly, and turned to walk in your direction.
You deliberately avoided Yao Shuilan’s gaze, standing aside, watching her slowly walk towards Furong District.
You followed closely, your pace not fast, matching Yao Shuilan’s steps.
From behind, Yao Shuilan’s steps looked heavy, appearing very tired.
These days, apart from those born with parents to serve them, most people live very hard lives; this, you deeply understand.
You clearly remember a phrase spoken by your master, the Phoenix years ago — "Struggling means living each day with hardship, but every year is easier than the last."
Following Yao Shuilan’s weary figure, you entered Furong District, but you didn’t take the elevator with Yao Shuilan, intentionally avoiding her, choosing to take the stairs instead. After all, it’s just a little way up, running to the fifth floor is no effort; mother need not worry about my studies anymore, oops, seems like I got the advertisement slogan wrong, whatever.
When you reached the stairway on the fifth floor, you heard a man’s voice from the direction of 503: "What’s going on!? Coming home so late every day? Do you not know I’m hungry?"
"I’m sorry, I’ll cook now," Yao Shuilan’s voice sounded very weak and fragile.
"No need! I’ve already ordered takeout earlier!"
"Again takeout." This voice was very light, clearly Yao Shuilan spoke softly.
"What? You have an opinion?"
"I... I don’t."
"No? Better not! Let me tell you, in these times, only a rare perfect man like me would want someone like you, country girl! Do you even know what you are? Damn, still pretending to be aloof with me, not even letting me touch!"
"I—my mother said, when getting married only... only..."
"Marriage, marriage! I knew your gambling father and sickly mother were just after this apartment! Let me tell you, even if we get married, don’t think I would put your name on the property certificate!"
Hearing this, you couldn’t help but sigh lightly, turning to your room, reaching for the key, intending to open the door, when from the doorway, the man’s voice rose higher: "What’s going on? Why is the water purifier cracked? Did you break it?"
"I..."
"Filthy woman!"
"Slap!"
A loud slap!
"Even a fool wouldn’t break something so expensive as a water purifier, what the hell is inside your head, huh? Dog shit? My electricity bill, internet fee, and game cards for this month all depend on this machine!"
Even someone like you, who usually doesn’t meddle in others’ affairs, couldn’t take listening any longer — just how scummy could this man be?
No, to describe this scum with the word "man" is the greatest insult to "men"!
"Damn! I should have listened to my cousin long ago, should’ve sold your first night; at least that way, I could trade for a set of orange equipment!"
"What are you doing?" At this point, Yao Shuilan’s voice suddenly rose, "Don’t, this is the money I need to send for my mother’s medicine!"
"Get out of the way! Your mother’s existence is just dragging me down; she should die sooner!"
"No!" Yao Shuilan’s voice came to an abrupt halt, followed by the sound of a heavy object crashing.
A little while later, the door to 503 opened, the scum still wearing his army coat opening the door while dialing his phone: "Hey cousin, didn’t you get that dragon-slaying sword a few days ago? I want it. Yes, yes, 2,000 RMB, haha, I’ll bring it over now. Yeah, yeah, okay!"
The scum didn’t even close the door, going straight to the elevator. While waiting, he noticed you looking at him, and arrogantly glared at you: "What are you looking at? Watch it or you’ll get a beating from me."
At this moment, the elevator door precisely opened, and the scum swaggered inside.
The door of 503 slowly opened, Yao Shui covered her head with her left hand and held the water purifier with her right, dragging her tired and injured body, slowly walked out.
Upon seeing you, Yao Shuilan greeted: "Hello."
You looked at Yao Shuilan and deliberately asked: "Hello, may I ask, is this that you are holding a water purifier?"
Hearing this, Yao Shuilan suddenly raised her head, staring at you blankly, momentarily not knowing what to say, instinctively nodding.
You moved closer to check the brand: "Oh, it’s Qinyuan, nice brand. Miss Yao, I just moved in, haven’t installed a water purifier. You know this community is quite old now. The water pipes are extremely worn, and every morning when opening the tap there’s a strong rust smell. I was planning to go out and purchase a water purification device, and didn’t expect you to have one. Uh, where did you buy this water purifier? I’ll go buy one too."
Yao Shuilan hurriedly spoke: "I... I’m selling this."
"Great!" You said with a smile, "How much?"
Yao Shuilan instinctively said: "The market price is 2,800, but I got it directly from the dealer, and the casing of this purifier was slightly damaged by me just now, so..."
"What matters in a purifier is the filter, the casing doesn’t matter." Saying this, you directly took out your wallet, counting out $2,800, and handed it to Yao Shuilan with a smile, "Here, $2,800, you count it."
Saying that, you took the water purifier from Yao Shuilan’s hand, opened it in front of her, smiling: "Indeed, just a bit of plastic cracked on the casing, no big deal."
"Mr. Li, you’ve given too much; I’m only selling this purifier for 1,800."
"No problem, money’s no issue for me." Saying this, you gave Yao Shuilan a slight smile, turned into your own room, and before closing the door, smiled again at Yao Shuilan, "You better put the money away; these days, thieves abound, don’t let it catch the eye of a burglar."
After speaking, you closed the door.
Inside the door, through the peephole of the security door, you watched Yao Shuilan clutching tightly onto those twenty-eight China Yuan notes, with tears already overflowing.
She deeply bowed towards your door and then turned back into 503.
Looking at the purifier in your hand, you couldn’t help but shake your head with a bitter smile, having bought it already, now only having the chance during this time to install it.