Crossroads

Chapter 290

When fate turned sour, it felt like a cascade of misfortune crashing down all at once.

Carrying two bags of garbage to dispose of on the ground floor, Stephanie noticed quite a few male neighbors stealing glances at her as she rode the elevator. She felt self–conscious and uncomfortable the entire way.

Underneath her long, dark green wool coat, she only wore a light purple silk nightgown. It was winter, and though she thankfully hadn’t completely lost her wits, she remembered to throw on a long coat. The modern style and color of the coat made her look even more radiant, with rosy lips and bright eyes. Despite her appearance, she felt deeply troubled.

She had no money, no phone, and no bra. Worse, she had forgotten to bring her keys.

Stephanie wondered if other renters faced such ridiculous mishaps. Glancing down at her feet in shabby flip–flops, she couldn’t help but sigh.

She walked through the complex, feeling utterly embarrassed and questioning how she had managed to get through the past few years.

Maybe the slight fever was clouding her mind.

For the first time. Stephanie fastened every button of her coat before seeking help from the property management. But her bad luck hadn’t run its course.

“Miss, I’m new here and don’t know where the spare keys are. Could you wait a bit?” said the new property manager.

“How long do I have to wait!” she looked at him and asked instinctively, crossing her arms and pulling her coat tighter in embarrassment. “Could you call someone? I’m in a bit of a bind.

Though the young manager didn’t understand her predicament, since it was a request from a beautiful girl, he agreed to resolve it as quickly as possible, even shyly offering her a seat in the property office to wait.

“No, thank you,” she replied, deciding to wait in her apartment instead.

Seeing a group of returning office workers waiting for the elevator at 10 PM, Stephanic wisely decided to take the stairs to avoid the crowd

her chest

lazy cleaning lady. Her

she took her time, but her mind

overheard the new manager’s call. The old property staff had gone for a late–night snack and wouldn’t return for at least an hour. ‘So I have to wait at least an hour,’ she

she might

and call Molly to come to my rescue?” In moments of crisis,

her step, she suddenly bumped into someone. Startled, she looked

her mind growing even duller. The stairway lights cast a hazy, yellow glow, and

abrupt and familiar, low and deep, filled

fear or shock, as she exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

and

to her left and saw her room, 402.

502!” she recalled, her tone complex, and quickly

in front of apartment 502, he turned to look at her, clearly displeased by her calling

stopping about 16

she mustered the courage to ask.

waited for his response. She had suspected the resident above her might be someone she knew, and she had considered it might

indescribable emotion, nervousness,

out his key to open

living here?” she pressed,

like him would randomly choose to live in this old apartment complex. He could have taken over the whole area by writing a project plan. A thought lingered in her mind,

She didn’t have the confidence to hope he

talking to you!” There seemed to be a thin veil between her and the truth, and she desperately wanted to know. She shouted his name, her eyes

him caught off guard, yet she was the one feeling anxious and

open the

he stepped inside, he paused, turned, and, with his sharp, cold eyes, asked, “Do

like mocking if she

about deeply, he dismissed

he asked that out of the blue. A thought flashed through her mind. It seemed that she never understood him. She

and likely never would

man seemed so distint from