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

down at her chest and sighed

dusty, likely due to the lack of foot traffic and a lazy cleaning lady. Her footsteps echoed as she climbed. each step triggering the sensor lights

climb, so she took her time, but her

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.

too much, she might end up spending the night outside her

I ask a neighbor for a phone and call Molly to come to my rescue?” In moments of crisis, she always

step, she suddenly bumped into someone. Startled,

growing even duller. The stairway lights cast a hazy, yellow glow, and she couldn’t be sure if he was a figment of her imagination

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

unsure whether it was fear or shock, as she exclaimed, “Why

her. He turned and continued walking

a second. She looked to her left and saw her room, 402. But he was going

from 502!” she recalled, her tone

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

stopping about 16 feet

she mustered the courage

might be someone she knew, and she

an indescribable emotion, nervousness, confusion, and a hint

silent, simply taking out his key to

are you living here?” she pressed,

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, but she

ordinary person now. She didn’t have the

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 reddening

off guard, yet she was the one

emotion and pushed open the door of

and, with his sharp, cold eyes, asked,

question now felt like mocking if she had been pushed to

she cared about deeply,

blue. A thought flashed through her mind. It

and likely never would

quietly, watching him. This man seemed so