57: Neighbor?

She scrutinized him, probing, with a hint of a flicker that she herself hadn't even noticed.

A few seconds later, she finally spoke faintly, her voice still carrying the hoarseness of her illness.

"It's nothing major."

Her tone was like an invisible wall being built up.

But then she changed the subject and asked, "How did you know it was a heart problem?"

Lin Chao felt a sense of relief in his heart.

The fact that she was willing to communicate meant the conversation wasn't completely dead yet.

He answered honestly, "Your symptoms looked like it—pale face, rapid breathing, and pressure in your chest."

"Besides, what you just took should have been nitroglycerin."

Shen Zhixia looked at Lin Chao, the probing look in her eyes deepening. "You know medicine?"

Lin Chao scratched his head and gave a somewhat honest smile. "A little."

The conversation was once again killed.

This "a little" was like a period, forcibly ending any possibility of further depth.

In the air, only the awkwardness remained, fermenting.

Ding—

A crisp notification sound rang out, sounding like heavenly music.

The elevator from the 30th floor had finally arrived.

The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing an empty interior.

Shen Zhixia immediately stepped inside and stood in the innermost corner.

Lin Chao followed her in.

The elevator doors closed behind them. This cramped metal space made the already strange atmosphere feel even more oppressive.

Shen Zhixia extended a slender finger and pressed "19."

Lin Chao silently reached out and pressed the one below hers—"18."

Shen Zhixia's gaze seemed to be drawn by a magnet, staring fixedly at the glowing "18."

Then, she abruptly turned her head and glanced at Lin Chao again.

This glance was more complex than any of the previous ones.

In fact, just a moment ago, Shen Zhixia was still feeling suspicious.

Does he... really live here?

What kind of place was Qinglan Garden?

It was a famous high-end residential complex in the center of Linhai City, where those coming and going were either rich or noble.

For a young man like Lin Chao, who had just been promoted from an ordinary clerk to a supervisor, his income level was far from enough to buy a house here.

Even renting would cost enough to break his back every month.

So, when he said he lived here, could it have been just another lie made up on the fly to defuse the awkwardness?

But as soon as this thought arose, she snuffed it out herself.

If Lin Chao really wanted to lie to her, there was absolutely no need to say he lived in the same building.

That would be too stupid.

What did living in the same building mean?

It meant that in the future, whether going to work, coming home, taking the elevator, or going to the parking lot, they might run into each other.

This lie was too clumsy and too easy to see through.

So... he wasn't lying.

He really lived on the 18th floor.

Right below her.

"Ding—"

The elevator came to a steady stop on the 18th floor.

The doors opened.

Lin Chao stepped out and then subconsciously looked back.

In the elevator, Shen Zhixia was still standing in that corner. The cold light hit her face, revealing no expression.

"Director Shen," Lin Chao paused and then politely bid her farewell, "I'll be heading in now."

Shen Zhixia merely nodded slightly.

Lin Chao thought about it and ultimately couldn't help himself.

He added another sentence: "Um... Director Shen, if you feel unwell at any time, you can contact me."

"I'm just downstairs; I can be up here in a few minutes."

As soon as he said it, Lin Chao felt it was a bit abrupt.

But looking at her bloodless face, he felt he had to say it.

A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in Shen Zhixia's cold eyes.

She was slightly stunned.

Before she could decide how to respond, the elevator doors let out a "hum" and slowly closed.

The smooth metal doors reflected her solitary shadow.

Lin Chao's words echoed in her ears.

Was it presumptuous?

Not really.

After all, she had just walked back from the gates of hell right in front of him.

His saying that could be considered a basic form of humanitarian concern.

It was reasonable.

Only... she suddenly remembered a key issue.

What about contact information?

She didn't have his private phone number at all.

She curled her lips in self-deprecation.

Forget it.

Since she had just taken her medicine, she shouldn't have another episode for a while.

Contact info... it wouldn't be too late to add him tomorrow at the company.

The elevator continued upward and soon stopped on the 19th floor... On the other side.

Lin Chao unlocked the door with his fingerprint and pushed it open.

"Click."

He casually tossed his keys onto the cabinet in the entryway, leaned against the back of the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Damn.

Being with that She-devil was more exhausting than running after ten clients.

His mind was a mess.

Heart disease... neighbor... these two terms were like two flies buzzing and circling in his head.

He couldn't shake them off.

Suddenly, he jolted, abruptly remembering something.

"Oh no!"

He slapped his forehead.

Back in the parking lot, he had solemnly promised her that he was coming back to change clothes before going to see a client!

If he stayed at home and didn't move... what if, just what if, that She-devil came down to find him for something and discovered he hadn't left at all?

Wouldn't that be an immediate exposure?

With her suspicious nature, who knew what kind of "deliberate approach" or "ulterior motive" drama she would cook up in her head.

"No, I can't leave any room for criticism."

Lin Chao felt a surge of irritation.

He walked quickly into the bedroom, pulled open the closet, and haphazardly grabbed a set of casual clothes to change into.

T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

He grabbed the car keys he had just tossed down, thought for a moment, and also pocketed his phone and wallet.

If you're going to act, you have to do the full performance.

He leisurely headed back downstairs, got into his flying fox SUV, and drove out of Qinglan Garden.

As noon approached, the city's traffic was somewhat congested.

Lin Chao drove aimlessly, calculating in his mind where to kill some time.

His stomach let out two untimely rumbles.

It was time to eat.

Where should he eat?

A place instantly flashed in Lin Chao's mind.

He remembered an inconspicuous old alley nearby that hid a hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

The storefront was small and the environment was shabby, but the Hunan Cuisine they made was top-notch.

That's the place!

Lin Chao turned the steering wheel and drove toward that alley with practiced ease.

The alley was too narrow for the car to enter.

Lin Chao parked the car in a marked space by the roadside, locked it, and walked inside.

The entrance to the alley was a bit dark, and overhead was a dense web of wires, like a messy spiderweb.

It wasn't far inside, about two hundred meters, but it was a bit winding.

The air was filled with a mixture of humidity and cooking fumes.

Lin Chao expertly made two turns, and the sign of the small shop appeared before his eyes.

He pushed the door open and entered, ordering a plate of stir-fried pork with peppers, a dish of sour and spicy chicken giblets, and two bowls of rice.

He finished the meal like a whirlwind, and a layer of hot sweat broke out over his body.

Refreshing!

Lin Chao paid the bill, let out a satisfied burp, and was just about to get up and leave.

Right then.

A burst of intense arguing suddenly came from deeper within the alley.

The sound was very loud, clearly audible even through the walls of the restaurant.

It sounded like a man and a woman were fighting.

The man's voice was coarse, carrying an unreasonable and arrogant tone.

The woman's voice was sharp, filled with anger and grievance.

Nowadays, there are many people who watch the drama, but few who intervene.

Lin Chao didn't consider himself some kind of meddling hero.

But right now, he was free anyway.

He didn't want to go back to the company.

If he went home, he was afraid that She-devil hadn't left yet, and if they bumped into each other, he'd have to waste breath explaining.

Find a place for tea?

He was feeling a bit sleepy.

Might as well... go take a look.

With that thought in mind, Lin Chao's feet were already moving.

He wiped his mouth, stood up, and followed the increasingly intense sounds of the argument, walking unhurriedly toward the depths of the alley.