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

at her

was 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

flights to climb, so she took her time, but her

and wouldn’t return for at least an hour. ‘So I

themselves too much, she might end up spending the

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

her step, she suddenly bumped into

hazy, yellow glow, and she couldn’t be sure if he was a figment of her

you’re going. The voice was abrupt and familiar,

was unsure whether it was fear or shock, as she exclaimed, “Why are you here?” Her eyes

turned and continued walking up

hesitated for a second. She looked to her left and

recalled, her tone complex, and quickly

apartment 502, he turned to look at her, clearly displeased by her calling him a lunatic.

hesitated on the stairs, stopping about 16 feet

uncomfortable, but she mustered the courage to

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

an indescribable emotion, nervousness, confusion, and a hint

simply taking out

here?” she pressed, his indifference making her

that someone like him would randomly choose to live in this old apartment complex. He could have taken

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

a thin veil between her and the truth,

off guard, yet

and pushed open the door of

he stepped inside, he paused, turned, and, with his sharp, cold eyes, asked, “Do you want the Innovate Group

silent. His cold question now felt like mocking if

about

blue. A thought flashed through her mind. It seemed that she never

and likely never would

quietly, watching him. This man seemed so