Chen Xing’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
It was as if she weren’t the one being kicked out, or as if the world outside were perfectly calm and free of monsters.
"The curator, is it?" Chen Xing’s tone was still icy, as if she were born without emotion—so cold it made one’s hair stand on end.
At this moment, the other five people in the room were covered in goosebumps.
"That’s right! I’m the curator here. When the outbreak happened yesterday, I was the one who immediately advised Boss Song to lock this place down, preventing further danger and ensuring the safety of everyone in this building!" Mr. Hu ignored the immense pressure she exuded, his face full of smug pride.
’If not for his decision, would the survivors in the building have been able to escape Hualai City so easily?’
"Song Yiguo?" Even though Mr. Hu had only said "Boss Song" once, Chen Xing could hear his reverence. It was clear he often dropped Boss Song’s name to make himself seem important.
Mr. Hu was speechless. ’How could she say the name "Song Yiguo" so casually?’
’No one in the entire building dared to address him by his full name!’
"Yes, Boss Song Yiguo!" He still felt it was impossible for a young girl like her to know a big shot like Boss Song. "This entire building belongs to Boss Song, and he personally entrusted me with its care."
Boss Song was from the Capital City. Needless to say, he had a powerful background, and everyone wanted to curry favor with him. Mr. Hu guessed she must have heard about Boss Song through some rumor mill.
’I don’t want to show off too much,’ Chen Xing thought, ’but wouldn’t it be fun to watch this snooty old man get put in his place?’
’I’ve just about finished searching the building, and I’m bored anyway.’
"If the Boss Song you’re referring to is indeed Song Yiguo, then I don’t believe I need to leave. He’s the one who told me I could stay here. He also said I could take whatever I want from his supermarket—in fact, I can take anything I want from anywhere in this building!"
Bullshit!
The same thought flashed through the minds of Mr. Hu and everyone else present.
’Who didn’t know Song Yiguo?’
’He was a man of such high status. Forget about making small talk with him; it was hard enough just to get a glimpse of him on a normal day.’
’In this entire building, he, the curator, was probably the only one who had ever exchanged a word or two with the man.’
’Let her take whatever she wants from the supermarket? How could anyone be that generous?’
Even Hao Wenli, who needed to find a way to get close to Chen Xing, couldn’t help but scoff internally.
’It’s one thing to lie, but don’t make it so ridiculous.’
"Hah... Little girl, do you have any idea who Boss Song is? A man of his standing, why would he associate with a nobody like you?" Mr. Hu was certain this girl was just using the chaos as an excuse to squat in their building. "I’m warning you. If you don’t leave right now, we’ll be forced to throw you out!"
Hao Wenli wanted to put in a good word to let Chen Xing stay, but the lie was so blatant that even she couldn’t find a way to plead on her behalf.
The more Mr. Hu talked, the more Chen Xing wanted to prove him wrong.
’I really want to see the look on this old man’s face when he’s forced to eat his words.’
Deciding to let the facts speak for themselves, Chen Xing immediately walked toward the door.
The group thought she was scared, so they immediately followed her out of the room and into the elevator, heading down.
They had to see her leave with their own eyes to be sure she wouldn’t just sneak off and hide somewhere else.
In the elevator, Hao Wenli stood next to Chen Xing, her eyes full of pity and friendliness.
"Hi, my name is Hao Wenli. I wanted you to stay with us, but... your lie was a little too much. Still, it’s so dangerous outside, and I really don’t want to see you go out there and get hurt. How about this? Give Uncle Hu a sincere apology. Tell him you only lied because you desperately wanted to stay. Uncle Hu isn’t an unreasonable man. If I plead with him for you, I think he’ll let you stay!" Hao Wenli put on the perfect expression of a kind soul who couldn’t bear to watch someone walk into danger.
Though she kept her voice low, the elevator was small. Who wouldn’t be able to hear?
This was especially true for Hu Dawei, who couldn’t hide the hearts practically bubbling in his eyes.
’This girl isn’t just beautiful, she’s so kind-hearted, too. Is she an Angel who’s descended to the mortal world?’
Her best friend, Du Yina, thought she must have misheard and stared wide-eyed at Hao Wenli the entire time.
’In her past life,’ Chen Xing mused, ’I would have been fooled by this fake display of kindness all over again.’
’I wasn’t going to say anything, but Hao Wenli’s sanctimonious act is truly nauseating.’
’Isn’t she just trying to manipulate me under the guise of friendship?’
Chen Xing played along, turning to Mr. Hu. "If I apologize, I can stay?"
Seeing Chen Xing take the bait, Hao Wenli immediately began to plead sweetly, "Uncle Hu..."
Mr. Hu was speechless. ’Where was the slightest trace of sincerity in her eyes?’
Her question was tinged with disdain.
’I can’t tell if Hao Wenli is just pretending not to notice or is genuinely too stupid to see this girl has zero intention of apologizing.’
At that thought, he started to get annoyed with Hao Wenli as well. "You must leave!"
Hu Dawei, his son, was dumbfounded.
’My dad is usually so meek and mild-mannered, always bowing and scraping with a smile for everyone. Why won’t he even give his future daughter-in-law any face today?’
"Dad..."
"Don’t ’Dad’ me! I’m doing this for your own good! How dangerous do you think it is to let a stranger move in? Didn’t you see what happened to Doctor Wei? Do you want to end up dead too?"
Chen Xing glanced up at the floor indicator, completely unfazed by Mr. Hu’s words.
DING. The elevator arrived at the first floor.
’As far as Hao Wenli was concerned, she had successfully earned Chen Xing’s goodwill and was now seen as a friend. It didn’t matter if Chen Xing stayed or left. If she died, the mission was over—less trouble for me. If she was lucky enough to survive out there... it would be easy enough to get close to her again in the future.’
The elevator doors opened, and all eyes turned to Chen Xing.
As expected, Chen Xing was the first to step out.
However, she didn’t walk toward the main entrance. Instead, she turned to the side.
Mr. Hu was speechless for a moment. ’I knew this girl was up to something. Good thing I followed her down to keep an eye on her.’
He immediately chased after her, his tone contemptuous and harsh. "I knew you were a scheming little brat! The exit is over there..."
Hao Wenli was the second to follow, baffled by Chen Xing’s actions. "If you want to stay, you can just talk it over with us! It’s not right to just barge around and trespass like this!"
"I think she’s up to no good. She saw this was a high-end apartment building and wanted to do something shady—why else would she run into someone’s home and kill them? Lili, I think you should stop being so nice, or you’ll end up getting hurt yourself." Du Yina didn’t understand why Hao Wenli was defending this woman. She worried that if Wenli kept it up, they’d all get kicked out.
"Yina’s right. We should listen to my dad. He has way more life experience than we do; he can’t be wrong about people!" Hu Dawei was terrified his father’s stubbornness would lead to him kicking out his goddess, too.
Seeing Chen Xing shamelessly ignore them and continue walking, Mr. Hu rushed forward and reached out to grab her. But before his hand could make contact, she suddenly turned her head. Her gaze, as sharp as a blade, landed on his hand, forcing him to snatch it back instantly.
A moment later, feeling utterly humiliated, Mr. Hu’s tone hardened as he practically roared, "I order you to leave this place at once, or don’t blame me for what happens next!"