Chapter 1: "If You Want to Die, Die Yourself" Shared Apartment

Early spring, a rainy night, Imperial Capital

It’s hard to imagine such a moment of silence within the Fifth Ring of the capital, but perhaps this is just what a backstreet at 3:30 a.m. looks like.

Through the dim glow of the streetlights, dense rain slants down toward the earth. Other than the sound of raindrops falling from the eaves, there’s nothing else. At times like this, probably only sanitation workers would be out on the streets, earning the lowest wages for the dirtiest, most exhausting work.

But this rare tranquility was suddenly broken. A girl who looked about 18 or 19, holding a transparent umbrella and dragging a large suitcase plastered with airport security stickers, came wobbling from afar.

A slender figure about 170cm tall, a black jacket with gold trim, and a plaid skirt barely covering her thighs—standard attire for a prestigious school. A pair of round-toed leather shoes with over-the-knee black cotton socks, exposing a long stretch of smooth, fair thighs—truly eye-catching.

Looking closer, it seemed the girl had just been crying. Her almond-shaped eyes were slightly red and swollen, and with her bangs cut straight across her forehead and two shoulder-length ponytails, she looked so cute it made your heart ache.

Who could be so heartless as to leave a girl like this out on such a bleak, rainy night? Suddenly, a crisp ringtone snapped the wandering thoughts.

The girl pulled out her phone, pressed the answer button hard, and shouted, "I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to hear it! Don’t explain to me! You sent me abroad to study, and after just one year, you tell me you’re getting divorced? Did you send me away just so you could get divorced? I hate you! You never consider my feelings. I don’t care! I’m done with school, I’m already back! Until you remarry, I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won’t go home! I’ve already found a place to live, and now I’ll show you that I, Grace Lincoln, can live without you! Just forget you ever had a daughter like me! Goodbye!"

She hung up fiercely, then Grace Lincoln dragged her suitcase forward, her only hope in hand—a hand-drawn map showing the location of her rental. To get her parents back together, she was ready for a life of hardship and planned to fight for the long haul.

Before returning, she’d found a shared apartment within the Third Ring of the capital for just 400 yuan a month, including internet—practically a steal.

The landlord wasn’t available during the day, only able to show her the place at 4 a.m. No problem—Grace Lincoln’s flight landed at 1 a.m., so the timing was perfect. So, even though it was late, cold, and rainy, she resolutely picked up her suitcase and set off for her future base—the shared apartment.

Her encounter with him was sudden, yet seemed fated.

He was sitting on a wooden bench by the roadside, a thin figure wearing only a black turtleneck sweater and an old black trench coat. Beside him was a yellowed leather suitcase, and a huge black umbrella that looked like it belonged at a funeral.

Next to him was a rectangular wooden box, like a case for a guqin, or maybe a modern, extra-long urn?

And despite being a man in his twenties, he was chewing on a lollipop like a little kid.

If she had to sum him up in two words, the only thing that popped into Grace Lincoln’s mind was "pervert"...

Lately, the capital had been reporting news of lunatics attacking people in the streets, so Grace Lincoln instinctively moved closer to the middle of the road, hoping to keep some distance from this weirdo.

But as the saying goes, "Misfortune never comes alone." The guy with the lollipop glanced at Grace Lincoln twice, and just as they were about to pass each other, he suddenly sprang up from the bench and spread his arms, blocking Grace Lincoln’s way.

"What do you want?" Grace Lincoln stopped and asked warily.

"Miss, your brow is dark, resentment surrounds you—this is a sign of disaster in your fate!" Under the streetlight, he had a handsome face, with a slightly upturned mouth that gave off a hint of mischief. If he put on a nice suit and did his hair, he’d be a real looker. But right now, he sounded like a fortune-teller spouting nonsense.

"You pervert, your whole family forgot their bras! I’m warning you, I’m in a bad mood today, don’t mess with me." Grace Lincoln guarded her chest with one hand and her suitcase with the other.

"Miss, maybe you think I’m just some bored idiot, and except for the idiot part, you’re basically right. But please believe me, I’m not helping you out of kindness. It’s just that you’re pretty good-looking, and I thought maybe if I helped you, I’d have a shot with you tonight, so... Ow!" Before he could finish, Grace Lincoln kicked him square in the groin, sending him collapsing to the ground in agony.

Who would have thought such a slender girl could leap up with the speed of a gymnast and, spinning around, land a heel right in his crotch? Anyone nearby could practically hear the sound of something breaking.