CHAPTER 57
After becoming a full-time employee, Sheng Qing had more money and planned to move from a shared apartment to a small single room closer to the company.
Although the rent was a few hundred yuan more expensive, Sheng Qing gritted her teeth and booked the place because she thought about having complete private space and the freedom to take a shower.
The landlord wasn't present. With the agent present, Sheng Qing verified the electronic property certificate and both parties' ID cards. She then signed the rental agreement, paid the deposit and three months' rent upfront, and received the access card and keys. Of course, she didn't forget to pay the agent half a month's rent as a commission.
Freedom and the future are within reach.
After a week of frantic moving, Sheng Qing happily treated herself to a hot pot dinner and then strolled around the streets before heading back home.
She heard police sirens in the distance, seemingly coming from the direction of her new rented apartment. She quickened her pace and sure enough, she saw police cars and a crowd gathered around the police cordon at the entrance of the residential complex.
What happened? This is a society governed by the rule of law.
"Your Majesty, what's going on?" Sheng Qing squeezed through the crowd.
"They say someone died, that's really bad luck!"
"Don't scare the young girl." The officers in police uniform walked over, lowered the cordon, and said in a friendly tone, "It's nothing, you can go now."
"Um, may I go in?" Sheng Qing asked slightly awkwardly, pointing to a building. "I live inside."
Could someone have actually died?
As Sheng Qing was muttering to himself, a series of cries and curses came from inside. The access control opened, and a cursing man emerged, supported by a community police officer. His left hand was wrapped in gauze, with a small section soaked in blood, making him look rather gruesome.
Then a disheveled woman followed behind, her face streaked with tears, but she was still sharp-tongued: "If you dare to lay a hand on me again, I won't be so polite next time."
Sheng Qing glanced at her curiously and noticed bruises on the woman's exposed arms. Upon closer inspection, he discovered bruises on her face and neck as well.
"Officer, listen to this! This slut is trying to kill someone! Arrest her!" the man shouted angrily.
Who on earth is causing trouble? Sheng Qing thought to himself.
"Sheng Qing..." The world seemed to fall silent for a moment. Hearing someone calling his name, Sheng Qing looked around, wondering if it was an illusion.
"Stop yelling. Go to the station and give yourselves a proper explanation." The officer seemed to be annoyed by the man too. After dismissing him with a few words, he led the man into the police car.
"Men who hit women are the most spineless; they deserve to suffer."
"I was so scared! Thank goodness no one was killed!"
"Next time, get a sharper knife and teach him a lesson!"
As the police car drove away, the crowd dispersed in twos and threes, and Sheng Qing walked towards her building along the dim streetlights.
Suddenly, a figure flashed by on the side path. Was it a cleaner? But the color of the clothes didn't seem quite right.
Sheng Qing shook her head and jogged into the brightly lit building, where security guards were always on duty, which gave her a greater sense of security.
Sheng Qing slept very restlessly that night, having many strange dreams. He was even startled awake in the middle of the night by the sound of his heart pounding. In the morning, he dozed off for several five-minute intervals before reluctantly getting out of bed.
He got up with half-closed eyes, hurriedly put on his slippers and headed to the sink. He hadn't gone far when he tripped over something. He glanced at it and saw that it looked like a book, which he kicked away.
Was it left behind by the previous tenant?
Oh no, I'm going to be late! Sheng Qing jumped up in alarm, and without thinking twice, finished getting ready in ten minutes and rushed out the door.
As Sheng Qing passed by the bulletin board at the exit of the residential area, he glanced at it. It was filled with advertisements for house rentals, locksmith services, and sewer cleaning, as well as some notices for lost cats, lost items, and lost people.
Hehe, it seems this new landlord is quite generous, it's even fifty yuan cheaper than the rental notice on the bulletin board. Sheng Qing happily squeezed onto the bus heading to the company.
Sheng Qing, exhausted from being tormented by clients all day, returned home listlessly, just in time to catch the last bus.
"Damn it, why do I have to call after work?" Sheng Qing cursed inwardly, glancing at the notice board again out of habit.
Huh, there's a missing person poster? Sheng Qing stopped in his tracks.
It was posted by the police. A man in his early twenties was found drowned at a certain location on a certain day. His body had a birthmark 3-5 centimeters long. The body is currently being kept at a certain location. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
Sheng Qing has always been quite timid, but the notice in front of her seemed to have a magical power, making it impossible for her to look away. Before she knew it, she saw the image of a person on the notice, who was wearing a gray-blue outfit.
I can't remember if the blue clothes were originally worn by the corpse or if they were the uniform that was changed into after the corpse was examined.
In short, Sheng Qing's mind had automatically conjured up a wrinkled yet swollen face.
When I got home, I didn't even have an appetite for the hot takeout.
Sheng Qing searched for several funny videos online, trying to diminish the presence of that face in her mind.
However, it didn't work at all, so I decided to read an extremely tragic romance novel with a bad ending, and stayed up until midnight.
I forced my eyes closed, trying to savor the plot of the novel, and barely managed to fall asleep.
"Knock knock knock!" A knocking sound rang out on the door.
Sheng Qing was startled awake, trembling with fear, and dared not utter a sound.
No one answered the door, and the person outside kicked the door twice in frustration.
The rustling sound is from a plastic bag rubbing together; the person hasn't left yet!
Sheng Qing got up, picked up the bedside lamp from the bedside table, and tiptoed towards the door.
I wanted to peek through the peephole to see what was happening outside, but I stopped halfway through.
What if a pair of scarlet eyes met the cat's eyes? That's how it's always portrayed in horror movies. Sheng Qing swallowed hard, not daring to move.
Then came the sound of a key being inserted into the lock—no wonder it wouldn't open! The person outside seemed to understand and grunted in realization, followed by the rustling of a plastic bag, and then the footsteps gradually faded away.
Phew! It was a false alarm. Sheng Qing put the lamp back in place and lay back down on the bed.
Okay, that swollen face is back in my mind!
How can anyone sleep like this? Luckily, I don't have to go to work the next day.
...
Sheng Qing couldn't help but wonder if he was incompatible with the energy field of this neighborhood.
I went out to pick up a package, and while walking perfectly fine on flat ground, I somehow managed to twist my ankle. There was a swimming pool right next to me, and if a kind person hadn't helped me, I would have fallen in and gotten soaked.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Sheng Qing then realized that the person supporting her was an extremely handsome young man, about the age of a college student, wearing a light blue work uniform with a cat head doodle on the left side of his shirt, and looking concerned.
"Ah, I'm fine, thank you!" Sheng Qing thanked him sincerely, subtly withdrawing his arm. No matter how handsome you are, you can't take advantage of others.
"Where do you live? I'll take you home." The boy smiled and glanced at the package that Sheng Qing had dropped on the ground. "Your foot is injured, so it's inconvenient for you to carry things."
Sheng Qing looked troubled, glancing at her sprained ankle and then at the two boxes of tissues. The items weren't heavy, but they were bulky and difficult to carry.
"How could I possibly accept that?" Sheng Qing's face flushed slightly as she met the boy's bright, sparkling eyes, and she said embarrassedly.
"No need to be so polite." The young man easily picked up the two boxes of packages and even had a free hand to help Sheng Qing.
The boy walked quickly ahead, seemingly unperturbed, stopping occasionally to wait for Sheng Qing, who refused his help and limped behind.
The building where Sheng Qing lived was just ahead, but the boy suddenly stopped and said cheerfully, "Oh dear, I just remembered something. Miss, I'll leave you here for now. See you later!"
"Ah, thank you." Two packages were handed to her. Sheng Qing, who caught them steadily, was stunned for a moment before thanking the boy who was hurrying away.
That's weird.
Sheng Qing tried moving her injured ankle, and miraculously, the pain was gone.
Just around the corner was the building entrance. Two men in police uniforms were talking to a security guard, and there was another man in plainclothes who seemed to be with them. Were they plainclothes police officers? As I passed by, I glanced at Sheng Qing.
Sheng Qing gave the address and asked the security guard to swipe his access card.
The person in plain clothes turned back to look at Sheng Qing, his expression filled with doubt.
Sheng Qing glanced back and quickly looked away. Sure enough, all the good-looking ones had been handed over to the state.
After passing through the ramp, Sheng Qing walked towards the elevator, pressed the up button with difficulty, and the elevator descended at a steady speed.
Ding! The elevator arrived. Sheng Qing stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for her floor.
"Wait!" A hurried shout rang out, and the elevator doors were blocked. "Sheng Qing from 11-4, right?"
Sheng Qing peeked out from behind the two boxes of packages and met a pair of deep, dark eyes. It was the handsome plainclothes police officer.
"It's me. What can I do for you?" Sheng Qing tried hard to recall if he had been caught looking at something he shouldn't have while hanging the ladder, and asked somewhat guiltily.
"My surname is Meng, and this is my business card." The handsome man slipped a business card between Sheng Qing's fingers as she clutched the package, and gestured as if answering a phone call. "You can contact me anytime if you need anything."
People entered the elevator one after another, pressed the button for the floor they wanted to go to, and looked at the two of them curiously.
"Would you like to come in?"
"No, thank you."
The handsome man who claimed to be surnamed Meng stepped back, and the elevator doors slowly closed.
After entering the door, putting down the package, and washing her hands, Sheng Qing finally had a chance to glance at the business card, which simply contained her name, phone number, and job title.
They don't seem like police officers in the traditional sense; they're more like personnel who assist the police in handling cases.
Could something really have happened in this neighborhood? Sheng Qing thought of the aunt who had been joining in the fun, who had mentioned someone dying.
And there was that missing person notice on the bulletin board.
blue?
Sheng Qing inexplicably connected with the kind young man she had met today.
No way, no way.
Where are there so many paranormal events?
Sheng Qing shook her head, comforting herself, and packed her change of clothes before going into the bathroom.
Sheng Qing stood under the shower with her eyes closed, rinsing off the foam that had been rubbed into her hair.
Suddenly I remembered the book that had appeared out of nowhere in my home, and in a flash I vaguely recalled its slightly worn cover.
The rent is so cheap, could something bad have happened there?
For example, was there a murder case?
As the 44°C warm water was poured over her body, Sheng Qing couldn't help but shiver.
As if some shadowy gaze was watching, Sheng Qing suddenly opened her eyes, but everything seemed normal.
The sound of dripping water and the crackling of burning natural gas were right beside me.
I need to contact that agent to ask about the situation and take a closer look at what that book is all about.
After changing her clothes and with her hair still wet, Sheng Qing walked out of the bathroom. A gust of cold wind blew in her face, making her shiver.
The floor-to-ceiling windows were wide open, revealing a dimly lit balcony that seemed to be baring its teeth and claws at Sheng Qing.
When was the window opened?
"Bang!" A heavy thud came from behind.
Beads of cold sweat appeared on Sheng Qing's forehead. Trembling, he turned around, a fleeting red blur flashing past his eyes.
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