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

glanced down at her chest and

the lack of foot traffic and a lazy cleaning lady.

had four flights to climb, so she took her time,

old property staff had gone for a late–night snack and wouldn’t return for at least an hour. ‘So I

much, she might end up spending the night

Molly to come to my rescue?” In moments of crisis, she always thought

and not watching her step, she suddenly bumped

felt her mind growing even duller. The stairway lights cast a hazy, yellow glow, and she couldn’t

you’re going. The voice was abrupt and familiar, low and deep, filled with

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

ignored her. He turned and continued

She looked to her left

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

look at her, clearly displeased by her calling him a lunatic.

on the stairs, stopping about 16 feet from

she mustered the

might be someone she knew, and she had considered it might be him, but it was only

an indescribable emotion, nervousness, confusion, and a hint

simply taking out his key to

are you living here?” she pressed, his indifference

have taken over the whole area by

just an ordinary person now. She didn’t have the confidence to hope he was here because

the truth, and she desperately wanted

off guard, yet she was the one feeling anxious and

no emotion and pushed open the

he paused, turned, and, with his sharp, cold eyes, asked,

question now felt like mocking if she had

she cared about

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

and likely never would

him. This man seemed