Jiang Ran returned to Alice Apartnt in the late afternoon.
He had taken the day off, so he didn't need to work in the afternoon - just attend Manager Xiao Zhang's first matchmaking event in the evening as a filler participant.
With free ti in the afternoon, he planned to return to Room 304 and lounge around.
Jiang Ran had just stepped out of the elevator.
As he walked down the third floor hallway toward Room 304,
he unexpectedly encountered soone.
The man appeared to be in his thirties,
with handso but gaunt cheeks and ssy black curly hair.
Nothing particularly unusual - except this person wasn't Chinese, but a foreigner
with distinctly Caucasian features.
Jiang Ran noted how many foreigners had been appearing in the apartnt lately -
first Mike, now another unfamiliar face.
The white man smiled warmly at Jiang Ran as they approached each other,
appearing friendly and cheerful.
Jiang Ran nodded back with a polite smile.
Just as they were about to pass each other,
the foreigner suddenly spoke: "Hello, my na is Robert. What's your na?" (in English)
"Uh..."
Jiang Ran had assud this foreigner could speak Chinese,
since Mike's Chinese had been unnaturally fluent for a foreigner.
But this one didn't know a single word!
Now that he thought about it, that assumption had been foolish -
Chinese was notoriously difficult to learn.
Of course many foreigners wouldn't know it.
Now ca the problem - Jiang Ran's English was terrible too.
Not completely nonexistent, but certainly not enough for actual conversation.
"Hello, could you repeat what you just said?"
Technology could solve this.
Jiang Ran pulled out his phone with its automatic translation function,
perfect for communicating with foreigners.
"Hello, my na is Robert. What's your na?" (in English)
The white man repeated.
After hearing the translation,
Jiang Ran responded through his phone: "Hello Robert, I'm Jiang Ran."
Robert smiled and said: "Oh, I see. Nice to et you, Jiang Ran." (in English)
Jiang Ran replied: "Likewise. By the way, are you staying on the third floor or just passing through?"
Robert answered: "No, I'm visiting a friend. Staying for a week before returning to Maple Country - a very beautiful place." (in English)
Jiang Ran suddenly asked curiously: "Friend's invitation? Was your friend an Arican nad Mike?"
Mike was the only Arican Jiang Ran knew in the apartnt - perhaps he was Robert's host.
Robert shook his head: "No. Well, I have things to do, must go now." (in English)
Jiang Ran nodded: "Goodbye."
As Jiang Ran turned toward Room 304,
he completely failed to notice how Robert's eyes burned with dangerous intensity behind him,
nor the sinister smile that remained frozen on the foreigner's face.
anwhile, in the live stream room:
Ultimate Rich Kid: [He's finally appeared! Robert, one of the world's top ten serial killers!]
Middle-aged Uncle: [I really didn't want to see him.]
Ultimate Rich Kid: [Haha, because you bet on Jiang Ran, right? I wonder when Robert will make his move?]
Domineering Female CEO: [Definitely within the week. They'll clash during these seven days. Prepare for all-nighters if you want to watch live instead of replays.]
Ultimate Rich Kid: [Why?]
Fairy Sister @ Ultimate Rich Kid: [Seriously? Didn't you listen to Robert's profile? This creep only strikes late at night when everyone's asleep!]
Ultimate Rich Kid: [Oh right... But I do rember Jiang Ran is still on that clown's hit list!]
Domineering Female CEO: [Such an unlucky boy!]
Little Aunt: [Those guys Xiao Q and company aren't doing much better - still being kept like dogs in Room 1001...]
Little Dragon Girl: [Hahaha those poor bastards! I checked their feed earlier - they don't even have toilet paper when they shit now!]
Returning to Room 304,
Jiang Ran cooked instant noodles with two eggs - supposedly good for virility.
After eating,
he turned on the TV, planning to watch sothing before taking the Arican imported dicine Wang Qingzhao bought for him in half an hour.
As his gaze fell on the wall-mounted TV,
he couldn't help noticing the ancient beauty kite hanging nearby.
Honestly, he didn't know how it got there,
but suspected one of his alternate personalities must have taken it from Wang Nuli's place during a blackout period.
As for Wang Nuli's death,
the incident had passed and been ruled a suicide.
At least that worry was gone.
"Sigh... I wish I never developed dissociative identity disorder..."
This had always been Jiang Ran's deepest wish.
But wishes were just wishes.
He didn't think this condition could ever be cured - just managed as best as possible.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Checking it, he saw a ssage from a resident in Alice Apartnt asking for help.
"Hmm..."
Normally he could refuse since he was off today,
but this was the first ti soone needed assistance during his day off.
He ssaged Manager Xiao Zhang for guidance.
The manager replied he could either decline, citing his day off,
or go help and earn 50 yuan as overti pay added to his monthly salary.
Jiang Ran was like Tao Yuanming - he wouldn't bend for five pecks of rice.
But six pecks? That was another matter.
So he got up from the sofa to assist the resident.
The person needing help was soone nad Xia Xiaoi in Room 901.
From the na, probably a woman.
Jiang Ran quickly arrived at Room 901 and knocked.
The door soon opened,
revealing a woman who looked at least 35 years old,
with rather plain - frankly ugly - features.
Truth be told,
all the won Jiang Ran had t in this apartnt so far -
Qin Yi, Qin Kelian, Su Mi -
could be described as stunning beauties.
So when he first saw this unattractive woman nad Xia Xiaoi,
her appearance stunned him for several seconds.
Of course, this shock ca purely from her ugliness.
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