The bright moon hung low, and the silent clouds were captured by the eternal night, lightly brushed with a shade of darkness all their own. Streetlights, quietly standing tall, lined both sides of the university campus in long, solemn rows.
Their occasional flickers of quiet light seemed almost like a secret language, a way for them to confide in one another. Likely, their conversations were nothing but whispers of love and idle gossip. They never pondered why they waited or why they could not leave. They were simply born to stand there, and probably always would.
Half-past nine wasn't particularly late, yet it wasn't early either. But this was a university—a place where hormones and adrenaline reached abnormal concentrations. Whether it was romance or study, the worries that troubled students were always the kinds that robbed one of peace. Sleepless nights, accompanied only by the faint glow of lamps, were the norm.
It was early September again. The start of the semester was also the season of encounters—whether it was a reunion after a long time or love at first sight, interesting stories were never absent. After all, in every university's Lover's Lake, even the most hopeless "land ducks" paired up eventually.
So what about those who were single?
They could choose to go on a date with the knowledge on the bookshelf, or consider a virtual date with a roommate in the digital canyons of a screen.
But, of course, some people always found other options.
Life couldn't be all about love and dating, right?
Zhou Qin hummed an unfamiliar melody as he followed the streetlights along the main road leading away from the campus. From today onward, he would completely leave dormitory life behind.
Today marked the day he officially became a second-year student. For the first time after an evening class, he left the school and returned to the small apartment he rented. He had to admit—the feeling was novel.
His rented place was a modest one-bedroom apartment in an older residential complex. It was located about a thirty-minute commute from Baihua University, in a neighborhood with a noticeably older population. Bai Rong Complex had decent greenery, aged buildings, few young people, and security guards who occasionally nodded off.
Oh, right! It was a stairwell building. When Zhou Qin moved his luggage a while back, he finally understood just how wonderful elevators truly were. By the time he had hauled his suitcase up to the fifth floor, he had quietly cursed to himself.
No wonder this place, despite a good location, sat empty at the start of the semester.
About a month ago, Zhou Qin contacted his young aunt, who had just returned from studying abroad and was now a professional landlord.
When he mentioned wanting to live alone off-campus, his aunt paused for a long moment before replying, "Sure, I actually have a unit near your school. The previous tenant just moved out. Rent's at 80% of market price. Utilities and management fees—you'll handle yourself. Oh, and the other two units there—you'll be responsible for showing them to any prospective tenants."
True to her personality, his aunt handled the matter casually. Zhou Qin's move to live alone was settled in that same easygoing manner.
Starting five days ago, Zhou Qin returned to the dorm to gradually move his belongings to the new apartment.
Of course, he still hadn't finished cleaning the new place.
A little laziness, after all, was what made a person human. Places like the living balcony could wait until life truly began there.
He hadn't even started living yet—why bother cleaning the living balcony?
Carrying two meat buns bought along the way, Zhou Qin gave a slight nod to the dozing security guard at the entrance.
The sleepy guard sniffed, and perhaps catching the scent of the buns, his gaze became noticeably sharper.
Like a protective puppy, Zhou Qin held his buns tightly and hurried past the gate.
A small area of senior fitness equipment connected to a few chess tables formed a little square. Elderly residents sat by the tables, fanning themselves, chatting about family affairs. Fallen leaves rustled above their heads, blocking the occasional night breeze.
The night in an old residential area was just this peaceful. Neighbors, seeing each other every day, could rarely get angry. Even the grandmothers wanting to dance had to go to the park across the street.
For Zhou Qin, a quiet homebody, the tranquility of the old complex suited him perfectly.
He briskly passed the elderly, avoiding eye contact. He disliked talking to others, even more so being the topic of someone else's conversation. To him, any interaction only invited annoyance.
And the depth of idle gossip among the elderly? Whoever has lived among them knows. Zhou Qin decided it wasn't worth getting involved.
The complex stretched from Building A to D. It took less than four minutes to walk from A to D.
At the entrance of D Building, Zhou Qin punched in the code 2887. He placed a foot beside the iron gate and pulled hard at the rusted, stubborn door. With a harsh screech, the gate finally opened.
He relaxed his shoulders and climbed to the fifth floor. The third door along the corridor led to his apartment.
Key in, twist, pull, lock—he put tomorrow's breakfast buns in the fridge and immediately collapsed onto the sofa.
Burying his face in the softness of the sofa, Zhou Qin felt like a battered sandbag, sticking to the fluffy cushions. This tiny apartment might be the only place he could truly be at ease.
Morning classes at Baihua University, evenings collapsed on the sofa. Unless something unexpected happened, this routine would likely define the coming months of his college life.
He didn't expect to become someone extraordinary. Zhou Qin's goals were simple: earn enough to live comfortably, buy books, and occasionally attend concerts that interested him. That was more than enough.
In a time obsessed with success, even the right to live as an ordinary person seemed denied. If ordinary became a crime, life would truly be exhausting.
After a short rest, Zhou Qin slowly rose from the sofa. Today's study tasks were only half done, and the living room remained untidy. He swiped the lock screen of his phone, staring at the ticking minutes. Leisure time was apparently over.
The empty living room held only a few items. A three-tiered wooden bookshelf from a second-hand store lined the wall, neatly displaying his years of treasured books. A second-hand piano, purchased at a bargain by his aunt, sat along another wall with its matching chair, temporarily cohabiting with Zhou Qin.
Though his aunt, a seasoned landlord, could easily cover the minor moving and tuning fees, this old piano looked like it had long since exhausted its glory. Any attempt to play it might risk it falling apart.
Until she figured out what to do with it, it would remain in the living room as company for him.
Center stage in the room was Zhou Qin's prized lazy sofa, sprawled as if to announce his favored status.
In front of the sofa lay a super-large suitcase, currently serving as a makeshift table, holding a laptop and various small items. Until he found a proper desk, this "suitcase table" would have to suffice.
He swept the apartment from corner to corner. An hour later, Zhou Qin, exhausted, sat on the piano chair, surveying the quiet apartment.
Five days in, the living room and bedroom were finally cleaned! "I am truly a hardworking little bee," he thought.
Buzz~ buzz~. Standing by the closed living balcony, he caught a faint scent of salty sea air. But Bai Rong Complex, situated within the city's second ring, was clearly nowhere near the sea.
Where could that wind be coming from? Perhaps it was an illusion.
The slightly salty scent made Zhou Qin feel as if he were standing on a cool seaside. He had shut the windows tight before leaving, yet the balcony still seemed to blow a gentle breeze, leaving him confused.
Under the moonlit night, cool wind should accompany fine wine. A song to the wine, shadows forming threefold.
For a literary soul like him, perhaps only the night could always accompany quiet hearts. Lonely notes clung to a melody called darkness, composing gentle lullabies under the same sky.
Zhou Qin glanced at the closed living balcony, already planning that after a few days of tidying, he might get a rocking chair and a small tea table. Lying there on the balcony on weekends, reading and sipping tea—it would be blissful.
Bang! The sound of a heavy object crashing down came from the balcony.
The balcony—still untouched by his cleaning—was the source.
"I was just trying to be a little poetic! What the hell just fell off the living balcony?!"
Frosted glass blocked his view, leaving him in the dark.
Was the balcony sprite complaining that he hadn't cleaned the floor?
Wait… a few days ago, when he first moved in, his aunt had specifically reminded him in a green chat bubble:
"By the way, big nephew, make sure to lock your doors and windows once you move in. That apartment was empty recently because a thief broke in through the window."
Should it… not be?
"Ah!"*
A human voice! Zhou Qin frantically scanned the living room for anything that could be used as a weapon, finally settling on the corner of the sofa.
The object in his hand glowed red, as if burning with fierce fire. Its reddish-purple bristles spread like a lion's mane, emanating authority.
Yes, it was a broom from a general store, five yuan.
When he bought it, he hadn't even haggled.
Gripping the broom, he approached the balcony. Having some weapon—even a makeshift one—was a primal instinct, rooted in the genes of early humans. At the very least, it boosted courage.
Step by step, Zhou Qin advanced toward the balcony.
From a distance, it almost looked like a cavalryman charging into battle with a spear.
Quietly, he crept forward, trying not to alert whoever was behind the door. The closer he got, the stronger the unease.
Zhou Qin could clearly hear the chaos beyond the door: items clattering, footsteps wet with water, like a fish thrashing on a cutting board.
Someone was rifling through things? Could it really be a thief?!
Deep breath! Deep breath! Zhou Qin stood two steps from the balcony door, psyching himself up.
Charge! He kicked the door aside and raised his broom. Though it was just a broom with mixed red-and-white bristles, in his hands it resembled a lance of crimson authority.
But when the moonlight fell faintly on the balcony, Zhou Qin froze in bewilderment.
The window was securely locked, no gaps.
Yet, a classical European-style gown was awkwardly stuck among the clutter he hadn't had time to tidy. The whale-bone skirt frame acted like a trash bin, holding miscellaneous items, adorned with lace and scattered trash, resembling a Christmas tree covered in lights.
Two long, elegant legs seemed like ballet dancers floating on water, though one was trapped in the mess. The upper body was embedded in the heap.
Judging by appearances, it was an uncoordinated, not-so-bright, classical foreign female thief.
As if straight out of a children's cartoon.
Plop! The clumsy female thief struggled, pulling herself out of the mess like extracting a radish.
Along with her emerged a fresh, flopping fish.
So that thrashing sound really was a fish!
Discarding the fish, the thief leaned against the washing machine and the wall beneath the window. Her wet, pale golden hair partly submerged in the debris, now only slightly better than a tangled mess.
That hairstyle? Calling it a bird's nest would insult avian architecture. Perhaps it belonged more to wasteland or punk aesthetics.
So, this was a foreign beauty in a classical gown, who had just washed her hair in the sea and became obsessed with fishing?
The shock almost sent Zhou Qin's brain into a carousel spin. He recalled his mother's solemn words from a recent video call:
"Son, if you don't clean the house soon, grass will start growing."
My dear mom, there's no grass growing in the house—but now a foreign beauty has appeared.
Is it still possible to clean in time? Waiting online, it's urgent!