Su Li watched Miss Cat enter the elevator before finally returning to her room.
Even she hadn’t expected that the cleaning lady she’d contacted last night would turn out to be Miss Cat.
She wondered if perhaps she had started seeing Miss Cat as the cat she once had, and that was why she felt a bit uneasy.
Was this the same mentality as Bai Huizi?
It wasn’t until she sat back down on the sofa, staring at the empty room, that Su Li felt something strange.
It was as if Miss Cat’s voice from earlier was still lingering in the room.
Honestly, when she had just arrived in this world and came home to find her cat no longer rushing into her arms, she still hadn’t quite gotten used to it.
But after all, humans are remarkably adaptable creatures.
Gradually, she grew used to a life without her cat, living as she should.
In reality, it was just like returning to that old state of not having a home.
Su Li looked at the empty room in front of her. Not long after, several cats came to rub against her feet.
She stroked their heads, feeling that there was something cat-like about Miss Cat.
That must be why she paid special attention to her.
Su Li didn’t overthink her strange shift in emotions.
She sat on the sofa and took out her phone.
As soon as the phone powered on, messages kept vibrating in nonstop waves.
[Speak!]
[Speak!]
[Speak!]
Su Li opened her messages, feeling her phone lag from the barrage.
She hesitated for a moment, but still didn’t scroll up to look at the messages Xiao Yuyu had sent her.
Even without scrolling, Su Li could guess what Xiao Yuyu had written.
Nothing more than asking why she hadn’t replied.
[Sorry, baby, I was too tired last night and fell straight asleep. Didn’t even charge my phone.]
After typing her message, Su Li waited for Xiao Yuyu’s reply.
Mainly because she still had some free time now.
There was still a bit of time before she had to leave for school.
So she still had the time and energy to check Xiao Yuyu’s messages.
She could even read them slowly on her way to school.
Su Li hadn’t accepted any payment from Xiao Yuyu, so there was no sense of owing her anything.
Out of courtesy, she still chose to reply.
[Were you really too tired to reply to me?]
[Or were you spending time with someone else last night?]
Su Li looked at Xiao Yuyu’s messages. In the top left corner of the chat window, there was still the indicator that Xiao Yuyu was typing…
But after a long time, no new messages came.
Taking advantage of the pause, Su Li scrolled up. Xiao Yuyu had sent her several red packets.
Su Li, however, hadn’t accepted any.
Because in the past, Xiao Yuyu had used the same tactic—except the red packets always contained just one jiao or even one fen.
Rather than waste time and energy accepting Xiao Yuyu’s red packets, she might as well pretend not to see them.
Su Li wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice in the same place.
When she had just joined the Class Group, one of Chi Qingya’s Sisterhood members had sent a red packet in the group.
After seeing several people claim it, that person sent a “cut-the-price” link, even reaching out directly to those who had accepted the red packet asking them to help cut the price.
Su Li saw the few cents in the red packet, but after being asked to download a new app, she ended up giving back several times that amount to the other party.
That was one of the few times she’d done a losing trade.
After that, Xiao Yuyu tried to bait her with a few-cent red packet.
So when it came to red packets, no matter how big the amount, Su Li wouldn’t waste her time.
There were no transfer notifications.
Once she confirmed that, Su Li simply replied to Xiao Yuyu.
[No, baby, I was just too tired and went to bed early.]
[Get online!!]
The repeated “get online” messages came flooding into Su Li’s phone. Su Li wondered if Xiao Yuyu hadn’t slept all night, or had stayed up until dawn.
Usually, Xiao Yuyu only messaged in the afternoon or evening. It was rare to get messages from her in the morning.
[Sorry, baby, I have to go to class.]
Saying that, Su Li slung her bag over her shoulder, tidied up a bit, and got up to leave.
As for the phone that continued to vibrate with messages, Su Li paid it no mind.
Chi Qingya opened her eyes groggily, feeling as though her whole body was weighed down with lead.
Even just sitting up, she felt as if every inch of her skin was burning, as though she were being roasted by fire.
Sweat beaded constantly on her forehead, soaking her bangs and making them stick damply to her face.
Cold sweat had long since drenched her pajamas, the fabric icy and clinging to her back.
She scratched at her chest with all her might, fingernails leaving red marks on her skin.
The suffocating feeling from her dream—of something like waterweeds wrapping around her ankles and dragging her down—still stuck in her throat.
She had forgotten exactly what she’d dreamed about.
But in any case, it was unpleasant.
Just like a drowning person, with no one to rescue her.
She had hoped that a good night’s sleep would make her feel better.
But it hadn’t.
In fact, it had gotten worse.
Sweat had already soaked through her quilt. As soon as she sat up, the cold air kept seeping into the blanket, making her shiver involuntarily.
Water…
Water…
Her throat felt parched, burning as if it were filled with smoke.
She wanted to get up and pour herself some water, but her body was so heavy that even lifting the cup felt like an impossible task.
She shouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
Someone used to take care of her.
But now, that person was gone.
Chi Qingya looked at the water cup just within reach, stretching out her hand.
She felt her nose sting, a wave of emotion welling up as if she might cry.
Even though the thought was there, her body was too dazed to respond.
She should drink some water first…
Thinking this, she picked up the cup. But her fingers trembled, and before long, the water spilled onto the bed, soaking through the quilt.
She sat there, staring blankly at the scene, not knowing what to do.
It wasn’t until the soaked, heavy quilt pressed down on her thighs that she snapped back to her senses, realizing what had happened.
She needed to change her quilt…
Chi Qingya sat on the bed, unmoving, her mind filled with thoughts but her body refusing to act.
Even if she died here, no one would find out, would they?
That thought crossed her mind, and suddenly she remembered the Landlord’s fierce face.
If she died in this room, her body slowly decomposing, the neighbors would eventually notice and inform the Landlord.
A bunch of people would look at her rotting corpse, their eyes filled with disgust and loathing.
Just like before.
Would anyone shed a tear for her corpse that had begun to stink?