Aunt Liu immediately turned her fire on Xu Yao, her eyes wide with shock.

"What are you laughing at? You little vixen! What's so funny!"

She looked at Xu Yao and immediately started spreading rumors.

"No wonder Zhou Yang suddenly wanted to move out, it seems he's set his sights on you, you little vixen!"

"A man and a woman alone in one room, I'm afraid you've already been completely naked together, how shameless!"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Zhou Yang's eyes.

Just as he was about to retort, Xu Yao blinked her innocent big eyes, tilted her head, and slowly spoke.

"Old lady, I advise you to stop spreading rumors. Since you refuse to refund the money, the house will just sit empty anyway."

"How about we go to the market downstairs before we leave and buy a few pounds of the stinkiest eggs, and accidentally spill them in the living room, bedroom, bathroom... in every corner? Ugh, the smell, tsk tsk..."

She paused, seemingly savoring the "wonderful" scene, and then added:

"Or, how about we just close all the doors and windows tightly, and we... um, have a poop inside?"

"Let it sit there for days and nights, let this house really marinate! I guarantee the next tenant will run away as soon as they smell it, and then let's see how anyone can live in this house!"

"Or, is the fire safety in your building up? If I report you for fire safety issues, the fines could exceed the rent!"

"Or maybe we forgot to turn off the gas, forgot to turn off the tap... Oh..."

The scene described in these words is extremely disgusting and vividly descriptive.

Aunt Liu and Liu Lili's faces instantly turned ashen.

Especially Aunt Liu, she's counting on this house to continue collecting rent!

"You...you vicious little bitch!"

Aunt Liu was so angry that she was trembling all over, and her finger pointing at Xu Yao was shaking.

"How can someone so young have such a vicious mind! They really are in cahoots with that Zhou Yang, not a single one of them is any good!"

Zhou Yang stepped forward, shielding Xu Yao behind him, and looked at Aunt Liu with icy eyes.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Aunt Liu, Yao Yao is right. Since you don't follow the rules, don't blame us for being ruthless."

"The money must be returned today! Otherwise, you can decide for yourself whether this house will be a good place to rent or a dead house."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of pressure.

Upon seeing this, Liu Lili quickly stepped forward.

She forced out what she thought was her sweetest and most charming smile, her voice so sweet it could melt your heart.

"Oh, Brother Zhou, my mom was just confused for a moment, don't be angry, don't be angry."

"Of course the money can be refunded. We have a contract, so we'll just follow the contract."

As she spoke, she playfully tossed her hair, glancing at Zhou Yang with a hint of self-satisfied allure.

"However, Brother Zhou, your attitude towards my mom just now was indeed a bit harsh. We're neighbors, let's part ways amicably..."

Wow!

The aroma of this green tea can be smelled even across the Pacific Ocean!

Zhou Yang almost vomited from disgust at this woman.

He looked Liu Lili up and down, as if he were looking at a pile of trash lying on the roadside that no one cared about.

"you?"

Zhou Yang scoffed, interrupting her performance without any mercy, "Stop with your seductive tricks! Who are you trying to fool with that affected voice? Do you think you're good enough for my 'rich second-generation' friend? Ha!"

His tone was extremely sarcastic.

"To tell you the truth, with your appearance and that vulgar, scheming vibe, not only would my friend look down on you, but I'd even rather you were the one to carry my shoes!"

"you--!"

Liu Lili's meticulously drawn face instantly contorted, her eyes reddening with anger.

She prided herself on her looks and had never suffered such humiliation.

Aunt Liu was so angry that her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were aching, and she wished she could pounce on Zhou Yang and tear his mouth apart!

But seeing Zhou Yang's fierce, "barefoot but not afraid of those wearing shoes" demeanor, and recalling Xu Yao's disgusting and malicious tricks, she chickened out again.

If she really ruins the house, she'll be the one who suffers the loss!

Damn it! I'm so unlucky!

Aunt Liu gritted her teeth and reluctantly took out her phone.

"I'll transfer the money to you and get you arrested. You paid three months' rent and have only lived here for half a month. I'll deduct 1,000 yuan. Two months' rent plus one month's deposit, 3,000 yuan will be transferred to you via WeChat!"

"Get out of here right now! Get as far away as you can!"

Zhou Yang took the cash and glanced at the bank transfer notification on his phone.

It was supposed to be 3,500 yuan, but it was only 500 yuan, and Zhou Yang was too lazy to argue anymore.

He took Xu Yao's hand and didn't even glance at the mother and daughter who were red-faced with anger.

The two pulled the cart and the suitcase, turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Bang!"

The door slammed shut behind them, shutting out any further curses that might have drifted down the hallway.

...

"call--"

Standing in the spacious, bright, and exquisitely decorated living room of the Jinjiangyuan apartment.

Xu Yao let out a long sigh of relief, a relieved smile appearing on her delicate face.

"Finally got rid of that awful mother and daughter! They really scared me to death, but it also feels so satisfying!"

Looking at the expansive river view outside the window, Zhou Yang felt completely relaxed.

"You can't be soft-hearted when dealing with that kind of person."

He turned around, looked at his new home which had been partially tidied up, and a hint of anticipation for the future flashed in his eyes.

"Alright, out with the old, in with the new! Yao Yao, are you hungry? Let's go to the supermarket and buy some groceries!"

"I'll show you my skills today. Our grand braised food business will begin preparations tonight!"

"Yay!"

Xu Yao's eyes lit up, and she nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Zhou Yang used to call her by her name, but now he calls her Yao Yao.

Xu Yao felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

Does this mean their relationship has progressed further?

Hehehe, I must work hard. Not only should I help Zhou Yang during the day, but I should also take on more voice-over work at night.

She wants to earn lots of money so that she can be more worthy of Zhou Yang!

The two arrived at a large fresh food supermarket nearby.

Pushing the shopping cart, Zhou Yang headed straight for the condiment section.

Star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, amomum villosum, fennel seeds...

He meticulously selected and categorized all the spices needed for braising.

He then went to the fresh produce section and carefully selected fresh chicken, duck, beef, lamb, pig ears, pig tails, pig snouts, pig trotters...

I also picked out some vegetables suitable for making braised dishes, such as lotus root, kelp knots, potatoes, and tofu skin.

Just as the two were carefully selecting ingredients, a young man wearing glasses and looking rather refined suddenly covered his mouth excitedly.

Then he quickly pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos.

"Holy crap! We caught Boss Zhou and his assistant Yao Yao shopping for groceries!"

The boy muttered to himself as he took the pictures, his fingers flying across the phone screen.