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

the lack of foot traffic and a lazy cleaning lady. Her footsteps echoed as she climbed. each step triggering the

to climb, so she took her time,

for a late–night snack and wouldn’t return for

much, she might end up spending the

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

watching her step, she suddenly bumped into someone.

yellow glow, and

The voice was abrupt and familiar, low and

shock, as she exclaimed, “Why are you here?” Her eyes reflected his stern

her. He turned and continued walking

to her left and

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

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

stairs, stopping about 16 feet

mustered

had suspected the resident above her might be someone she knew, and she had considered it might be him, but it was

indescribable emotion,

simply taking out his key to

are you living here?” she pressed,

in this old apartment complex. He could have taken over the whole area by writing a project plan. A thought lingered in

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

you!” There seemed to be a thin veil between her and the

been him caught off guard, yet she was the one feeling

emotion and pushed open

his sharp, cold eyes, asked,

His cold question now felt like mocking if she had been pushed to tears by frustration

cared about deeply, he

asked that out of the blue. A thought flashed through her mind. It seemed that she never understood him. She couldn’t grasp his

and likely never would

man seemed so distint