Chapter 4

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Zhao Lin’s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open. No wonder he felt that Miss Ling had an extraordinary presence the moment he met her. He was just thinking of a few compliments when—

The sedan suddenly stopped. The driver in the front seat said, “Boss, the road ahead is a narrow alley. Our car is too big to get in. What should we do?”

Zhao Lin’s words got stuck in his throat. “…What else can we do? Just leave it!”

Ling Yue couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She waved her hand and pushed open the car door. “No need, no need!”

“This is an old residential area. There are even narrower roads inside. It’s no trouble at all. I can walk a few steps and I’ll be home.”

After speaking, she got out of the car smoothly. Facing Zhao Lin’s eager gaze, she said gently, “I’m not sure if this will work, but if I get any news, I’ll contact you.”

Zhao Lin was overjoyed. Afraid of putting too much pressure on her, he kept his expression under control and repeatedly said, “I believe in you! I believe in you! I believe in you!”

Was he nervous inside? Of course he was. How could a young girl possibly find any clues? In the end, it might all come to nothing. But for Zhao Lin right now, he had already exhausted every method he could think of. He might as well treat a dead horse like a living one — perhaps, just perhaps, a miracle would happen.

He didn’t even realize how brightly the hope and expectation shone in his eyes, like a 500-watt light bulb.

Ling Yue walked all the way home. She passed through old houses arranged like a spider web, varying greatly in size and quality. Her home was in one of the old neighborhoods. Actually, it was one of the newer ones among them, and the area was relatively well maintained.

Bright pink roses were blooming vibrantly in the flower beds. In the pavilion, several old men were gathered playing chess. When Ling Yue walked over carrying her bag, Grandpa Jin, who was watching the game, exclaimed in surprise, “Eh? You’re back from work? Why are you home so early today?”

Ling Yue smiled calmly. “I resigned.”

The noisy chess area fell silent for a moment. The old men looked at her in shock. She had resigned just like that?

Some wanted to persuade her. After all, they had watched her grow up, and these days, college graduates weren’t worth as much as before — jobs were hard to find.

But Ling Yue showed no signs of discouragement. Her smile deepened, revealing two sweet dimples on her cheeks. She politely and gracefully declined their kind advice, looking even happier than before.

Carrying her bag, she walked into her building. A lush climbing vine covered the mottled, peeling outer wall beside her, stretching upward like a green waterfall, forming a vivid and lively painting.

Ling Yue lowered her head and climbed the stairs, deliberately showing a distant and socially anxious demeanor. The reason she did this was—

She hadn’t climbed many steps when a middle-aged woman in a floral shirt, fanning herself with a cattail leaf fan, pursed her lips and called out, “Oh my, the university graduate from our building is back? Was work good today? There was even a luxury car parked right at the entrance of our building!”

Her loud voice made Ling Yue roll her eyes. She instantly understood what the woman was implying — with malicious descriptions like “middle-aged man,” “luxury car,” and “old enough to be her father,” she was clearly insinuating that Ling Yue was being kept by a sugar daddy!

As soon as there was gossip to be had, several heads poked out from the hallway. Some people chose to step forward, looking at Aunt Wang in disgust. They had been neighbors for many years — who didn’t know her personality? She saw that the young girl had no one to rely on and was bullying her again.

Unexpectedly, Ling Yue looked at Aunt Wang as if she had just woken up from a dream. “Wasn’t there an earthquake just now?”

“Auntie, what are you saying? I don’t understand. As for the blind date you mentioned, your son is over thirty, divorced with two children in their teens. I really don’t suit the role of stepmother.”

Most neighbors in the community were decent people, but in any forest, there are all kinds of birds. When Ling Yue was handling her mother’s funeral at home, she somehow got targeted by Aunt Wang.

At first, the woman maintained a fake friendly facade, pretending to help while secretly telling her that a woman always needs someone to rely on. An orphan like her with no parents would be bullied until not even her bones remained.

Before Ling Yue could respond, the woman started praising her precious son.

To use an internet phrase: *He’s so ordinary, yet so confident.*

Aunt Wang had only one son, whom she spoiled rotten. In her eyes, her son was perfect in every way. If her son hadn’t insisted on marrying Ling Yue, she wouldn’t have bothered saying a single extra word!

Now that her precious son was being slandered like this, her face turned from green to red, then to purple. She wanted to tear the little vixen’s mouth apart. “You’re talking nonsense! My son is a civil servant! A capital city civil servant! So what if he’s older? Older men know how to cherish their wives! So many people are after him! I’m the one who doesn’t think you’re good enough!”

Ling Yue clapped her hands. “Well said. Since your precious old baby who knows how to cherish people has so many suitors, then please stop bullying a little girl like me. Our homes are two buildings apart. You’re standing guard in this hallway — surely you’re not waiting for me, right?”

“Pfft—”

Someone couldn’t hold back their laughter. The sound was contagious. Aunt Wang, who had been throwing tantrums her whole life, felt a heavy blow to her chest and lost face completely!

She immediately started cursing loudly, insulting the entire building. The others were no longer happy. Who was she scolding? She bullied a young girl and still thought she was in the right?

They all started scolding her back. Outnumbered, Aunt Wang scurried away like a rat. Before leaving, she shot Ling Yue a venomous glare.

Ling Yue sneered coldly and closed the door.

It was a simple two-bedroom apartment of about a hundred square meters. Although the furnishings were old, they were clean and tidy. Since there was only one occupant, the place felt a little cold and empty.

Ling Yue went to the kitchen first, took out some small bowls and plates that she rarely used, then walked to the balcony and looked outside.

“Yaya.”

Several crows circling in the sky suddenly paused, then flapped their wings and landed on the balcony. They tilted their heads as if casually, their small bean-like eyes darting around as they peeked inside.

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