Moments later.
Long Ming opened the door to his rental apartment, carried his things inside, and reached out to press the switch on the wall.
The dim overhead light flickered on, illuminating the cold, empty apartment.
Long Ming took off his shoes and swapped them for slippers, walked straight to the kitchen, placed the bag in his hand on the stove, picked up a small iron pot, and turned on the faucet.
Ssss~
The sound of water hitting the bottom of the pot seemed especially loud in the silent apartment.
Soon, Long Ming finished filling the pot and set it on the gas stove, then turned the knob.
Click!
Blue flames ignited.
After finishing this, Long Ming took a packet of instant noodles from the bag.
Just as he was about to tear it open,
Dong dong~
A sudden knock sounded on the door.
Long Ming's brows immediately furrowed. Who would come looking for him at this hour?
Still, he set down the noodles and walked toward the door, calling out,
"Coming!"
Creak~
When Long Ming opened the door, he froze.
Standing before him was a woman with a voluptuous figure and exquisite curves, an oval face, fair skin, eyes like autumn pools, bright red lipstick, a form-fitting red dress, and black high-heeled shoes. Her every gesture exuded mature charm. She held a red bag in her hand and stood at the doorway, smiling as she looked at him.
Behind this woman followed a man in a leather jacket with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking like a thug.
"Long Ming."
"Sister Ying, what are you doing here?"
Long Ming snapped back to his senses and asked in confusion.
The woman before him was named Lin Ying, Long Ming's landlady. In fact, she owned the entire rental building.
"Of course I came to see you. Don't tell me I'm not welcome?"
"No."
"Good."
Lin Ying walked naturally into the rental apartment.
At this moment, her henchman Zhou Yayao also tried to follow her inside.
But Lin Ying shot him a glare.
Though somewhat unwilling, Zhou Yayao wisely stepped back outside.
Seeing this scene, Long Ming sighed helplessly and closed the door.
Lin Ying swept her gaze across the living room and bedroom, then looked at Long Ming with an ambiguous gaze.
"Long Ming, don't you get lonely living alone?"
"Not really."
Long Ming replied coolly.
Lin Ying immediately smiled and handed the bag in her hand to Long Ming.
"This is for you."
"What is it?"
"Something good, of course."
Long Ming opened the red bag in confusion, only to find a bloody bull's penis inside, with two bull testicles still attached. His expression immediately became somewhat unnatural. What kind of person gives something like this as a gift? He promptly returned the item to Lin Ying and refused,
"Thanks, but no thanks."
"But this is my heartfelt gesture. How could you bear to refuse?"
Seeing Long Ming didn't want it, Lin Ying coaxed in a coy voice.
"I appreciate your kindness, but I really don't need it. Let me get you a glass of water."
Long Ming turned and poured Lin Ying a glass of water.
At this moment, the sound of boiling water came from the kitchen.
Lin Ying took the water Long Ming handed her while looking at him with some surprise.
"Are you cooking something? You haven't eaten this late?"
"Yeah. Wait for me in the living room for a bit."
Long Ming nodded slightly and walked into the kitchen, picked up the packet of noodles, and tore it open.
"Do you need any help?"
Lin Ying followed him into the kitchen, set down the red bag, then came up behind Long Ming, leaned her body against him, and asked softly by his ear,
"No need."
Long Ming's face immediately darkened, but he pretended as if nothing had happened. He turned and walked to the gas stove, took out the noodle cake and put it in the pot, then poured in the seasoning packet.
Lin Ying wasn't angry even though Long Ming was so clueless about romance.
Soon the instant noodles were cooked. Long Ming poured them directly into a stainless-steel bowl, then took a pair of chopsticks and carried the noodles out of the kitchen.
He placed the noodles on the small coffee table in the living room, sat on an old second-hand sofa, and asked while eating,
"Sister Ying, what did you come to see me for?"
Lin Ying sidled up to Long Ming and sat down beside him, her soft body nearly pressing against him.
A slightly unnatural expression appeared on Long Ming's face. Holding his bowl of noodles, he shuffled his hips a little to the side.
Seeing Long Ming so averse to her, Lin Ying's eyes turned slightly and she said with a smile,
"Nothing much. Your rent is about to expire."
"Oh, then I'll pay for half a year first."
Hearing Lin Ying's words, Long Ming's heart skipped a beat. He'd been so busy lately that he'd forgotten about this.
"No rush. Listen to me first."
"Go ahead."
"You know rent has been going up all year."
"You're raising the rent?"
"I have no choice either. I have to follow the market rates."
"How much?"
"Your place is 500 per month, but apartments with the same floor area in the building next door have gone up to 750, and those are only leased annually."
"Half again as much? That's way too much."
Long Ming immediately frowned.
Seeing Long Ming finally getting anxious, Lin Ying leaned in, reached out to take Long Ming's hand, and placed it on her fair thigh as she said seductively,
"Long Ming, I know you work late into the night every day to earn money, and it's not easy being alone. But why put yourself through such hardship? It breaks my heart to see it. If you're willing, Big Sister can take care of you."
"No need. I'll transfer whatever amount to you."
Long Ming stood up directly and refused outright.
He knew better than anyone that Lin Ying had taken a fancy to him, and over the past two years she had found all sorts of excuses to get close to him.
But alas, she was already forty-five, a full twenty years older than him. Though she took good care of herself and was quite good-looking, she simply wasn't his type. Besides, he wasn't so desperate that he would eat anything.
Most importantly, this Lin Ying was no pushover—she wasn't as simple as she appeared on the surface.
Seeing Long Ming reject her, Lin Ying rose regretfully.
"Then pay six months' rent first—five thousand!"
"That much?"
Long Ming was startled. He hadn't expected Lin Ying to charge him so much.
"Don't think it's expensive. I didn't raise your rent at all. The rent is still calculated at three thousand for half a year. The remaining two thousand is for your utilities over the past six months."
"Two thousand for utilities?"
"Yes, your electricity bill is expensive. You run such a high-end computer every day—how could the power consumption not be high?"
Lin Ying rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh, I'll transfer it to you right now."
Long Ming suddenly realized that his computer really did consume quite a lot of electricity. He took out his phone and transferred five thousand to Lin Ying.
After receiving the money, and seeing there was no chance of seducing Long Ming, Lin Ying stood up and said with a smile,
"I'll be going then."
"Okay."
"Also, if you ever change your mind, come find Big Sister! I may be a bit older, but I know how to treat a man right."
"Heh, sure."
Long Ming replied, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Seeing Long Ming's embarrassed look, Lin Ying threw him a flirtatious wink, walked to the door, and opened it.
As she did, she came face to face with her henchman Zhou Yayao, who was stretching his neck to eavesdrop.
"Had enough of listening?"
Lin Ying glared at him.
"Heh heh!"
Zhou Yayao laughed awkwardly.
Lin Ying closed the door casually and walked toward the stairs in annoyance.
At this moment, Zhou Yayao hurried after her, recommending himself with a grin,
"I'm telling you, Sister Ying, what's so good about that sickly pretty boy? If he won't, I'm willing!"
Hearing Zhou Yayao's words, Lin Ying immediately stopped, kicked him directly, and cursed with a dark face,
"Scram! You really think I'm so hungry I'd eat anything?"
"No, how am I worse than him? Just because his face is a bit paler?"
Zhou Yayao climbed up from the ground with a wronged expression and replied indignantly.
"Fine, I'll tell you then. The reason I fancy Long Ming isn't just because he's handsome. After all, where can't you find male models? I can have as many handsome men as I want! What I value is his character. You know Long Ming moved down from the Upper District, and he's an outstanding student who graduated from the best academy in Shanchengshan. What I want is that excellent gene pool."
Lin Ying extended her alluring tongue and licked the corner of her lips.
"Tch, what's so great about being able to read a few books? Also, he's a sickly ghost. He probably messed around plenty at school. Be careful he infects you."
Zhou Yayao was still very unconvinced.
"Hmph, I had someone look into it. What he has isn't any infectious disease. Anyway, it's none of your business. Also, don't come looking for trouble with him, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Lin Ying looked directly at Zhou Yayao and warned him.
"Since Sister Ying has spoken, how would I dare?"