"Lin Zhi, are you there yet?"
"Just got to the apartment."
Lin Zhi stood before an old-looking apartment building and glanced up at the wooden sign beside the door. The faded black paint on the sign read Aoyama Apartments, though the years had clearly taken their toll on it.
"That's good. Now remember, you're living on your own now, so take care of yourself. If you ever run out of money, call us right away, okay?"
While his mother's voice continued on the other end of the line, Lin Zhi looked around at his new surroundings and sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know, Mom. You really don't have to keep repeating yourself."
"I've still got some savings left, enough to last me a few years at least. You don't need to worry about that."
"How can I not worry?"
Her tone turned slightly reproachful. "You're a high schooler now, aren't you? It's about time you started thinking about finding a girlfriend. Even monks in Japan are allowed to marry, you know—"
The moment Lin Zhi realized where this conversation was heading, his expression froze.
Seriously? Where did that even come from?
"Mom, I literally just started high school. Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself? And besides… I'm a perfectly normal person, why would I suddenly become a monk?"
He let out a weary sigh.
"But I'm worried…"
Her voice now carried a strange melancholy. "You're surrounded by so many cute girls, yet nothing ever seems to happen…"
Lin Zhi's expression darkened. "..."
"Mom, that's enough. Everyone's barely out of middle school. What exactly are you expecting to happen?"
"Well, you're in high school now. And by law, you can get married once you graduate…"
Married? Who even gets married that young anymore? Lin Zhi groaned inwardly.
"If you want grandchildren so badly, call my second brother. Isn't Shinji still around? Anyway, it's getting late—I should go unpack. Talk later, Mom."
Beep…
As the call ended, Lin Zhi stared at his phone and shook his head. "At least Mom's gotten a bit better," he muttered, "but she's just as ridiculous as that pervy old man of a dad."
With that thought, he finally turned his attention to the place he'd be calling home for the next few years.
The Aoyama Apartments sat tucked within a quiet residential district of Usayama Town. In front of the building stretched a spacious courtyard, enclosed by a low wall lined with shrubs. A few sturdy cherry blossom trees stood in one corner, their branches heavy with soft pink petals.
It was March—spring, the season of renewal.
Petals drifted down like snowflakes in the breeze, a scene straight out of an anime.
Feeling his mood lighten, Lin Zhi smiled faintly. "Not bad at all."
He grabbed his suitcase and was just about to head inside when he noticed a petite girl in a sailor-style school uniform standing nearby. She was holding a small slip of paper, glancing around uncertainly.
Just a few steps away from him, the golden-haired girl suddenly froze. Her eyes lit up when she saw the Aoyama Apartments sign, and then she turned—only to find Lin Zhi standing right there.
Her expression shifted in an instant. The excitement faded, replaced by polite composure as she bowed slightly. "Hello!"
"Hello," Lin Zhi replied, bowing back.
His eyes lingered on her, curiosity flickering in them.
The girl was small—maybe not even five feet tall—and her long golden hair shimmered in the afternoon sun, a single strand sticking up playfully like a halo. Her skin was fair, her violet eyes bright and curious.
Altogether, she looked almost unreal—like a little angel descended to earth.
Middle schooler? Lin Zhi wondered.
On her part, Gabriel studied the boy in front of her with equal interest. Her gaze then dropped to the suitcase in his hand, and her eyes lit up again.
"Excuse me," she asked softly, "are you a resident here too?"
"'Too?'" Lin Zhi caught that word immediately. So she was also moving in.
He nodded and gestured to his luggage. "Yeah. I'm Lin Zhi Nozahara. Just arrived today, haven't moved in yet."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Tenma Gabriel White. It's my first day here as well. I hope we get along."
"Likewise."
Just then, a mechanical chime echoed faintly in Lin Zhi's mind.
"Target recorded: Tenma Gabriel White. Character card created. Please check the profile."
The sound was familiar to him, and he didn't react outwardly—just smiled and kept chatting naturally.
After exchanging greetings, Gabriel leaned forward to peer at his suitcase. Her lips curved into a bright smile. "Would you like me to help you carry that?"
"Huh?"
For a moment, Lin Zhi thought he'd misheard. Then he followed her gaze to the suitcase.
"You mean… this?"
"Mhm!" She nodded earnestly, her golden hair swaying.
Lin Zhi blinked, then scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh, that's okay. Thanks for the offer, but I've got it."
You? Carry my luggage? Seriously? The suitcase is almost taller than you are!
Gabriel looked mildly disappointed, but she quickly smiled again. "Then let's head upstairs together."
"Sure."
They chatted as they climbed the stairs.
"So, which room are you in, Gabriel?"
"Room 3, on the third floor."
"Oh? Then we're neighbors—I'm in Room 2."
"Really? What a coincidence!"
Lin Zhi couldn't help but be surprised. So she's my next-door neighbor, huh? That's… pretty lucky.
When they reached the third floor, he stopped before his door, placed his suitcase down, and pulled out the key he'd gotten from the agent. Gabriel watched curiously as he opened it.
The apartment was spotless. The floor gleamed, and the sunlight streamed straight through from the balcony on the far side.
It was simple, bright, and—most importantly—clean.
"Wow, so this is what it looks like inside!" Gabriel exclaimed behind him.
Lin Zhi turned, intrigued. "You haven't been inside your place yet?"
"I told you—it's my first time here."
He blinked. "What about your parents? You came here alone?"
Gabriel tilted her head, eyes curious. "Aren't you alone too, Lin Zhi?"
"Well, yeah, but… you're still in middle school, right?"
"..."
The moment he said it, the air went still.
Gabriel's expression froze, then turned into a bright, way-too-sweet smile. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head. "It seems you've misunderstood something, Lin Zhi. I may be a little short, but I'm a high schooler too. I'm living here by myself."
That smile was radiant—but for some reason, it made Lin Zhi break into a cold sweat.
High schooler? Really?
He coughed twice, forcing a polite smile. "My bad. Sorry for the mix-up."
What a way to make a first impression on your new neighbor…
"Don't worry about it," she said cheerfully. "It's an easy mistake to make. See you later, Lin Zhi."
"Yeah… see you."
He watched her disappear into the room next door, then let out a long breath.
Still… she really doesn't look like a high schooler.
He quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought, and stepped into his own apartment, closing the door behind him.
The hallway fell silent once more.
And that day, the angel still remained pure—unfallen.
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T/N:
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