American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

They went up to the fourth floor, and Susan opened the apartment door. The room was indeed small, with only a main living area, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. The window faced a narrow street, so the light wasn't very bright.

“The rent is $1,800 a month, including heating and hot water,” Susan said. “For this location, the price is quite reasonable.”

Elisa walked to the window and looked at the street scene outside. She could sense the various emotions of the other residents in the building—some were lonely, some were anxious, and some were content. This intense emotional environment made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

“The space is a bit small,” Lynn said politely. “We’d like to look at other options.”

The second location was a relatively new apartment building on Second Avenue. This time, they viewed a one-bedroom apartment that was significantly larger. The living room and bedroom were separate, and the kitchen was also more spacious.

"How about this one?" Lynn asked Elisa.

Elisa walked around the room, sensing its "atmosphere." "It's better than the last one, but how much is the rent?"

“Two thousand six hundred dollars a month,” Susan replied, “including all utilities, and there’s a laundry room and gym downstairs.”

Lynn frowned. Although the FBI's salary was good, it was still a bit high for a clerk who had just started working.

“We’d like to think about it,” Lynn said.

They then looked at several more places, but either the prices were too high or the environments weren't ideal. Around four o'clock in the afternoon, they arrived at their last destination—a brownstone apartment building in East Village.

This building was noticeably older than the ones they had seen before, but it possessed a unique charm. Ivy climbed the red brick exterior, and there was a small garden in front. The person showing them the apartment was the owner herself, an elderly woman in her seventies named Margaret White.

“This apartment is on the third floor; it used to be where my late daughter lived,” Margaret said as she climbed the stairs, her voice trembling slightly but warm. “It’s been empty ever since she moved to California.”

The moment the door opened, Elisa was immediately captivated by the scene before her. It was a cozy one-bedroom apartment, with sunlight streaming through large windows that filled the entire room. The living room had a small fireplace, and the walls were covered in delicate patterned wallpaper. The bedroom, though small, was comfortably furnished. Most appealing was the apartment's view of a small, tree-lined courtyard, a truly tranquil spot.

“It’s beautiful here.” Elisa walked to the window and looked out at the courtyard. She could feel a peaceful energy in this place, without the emotional oppression she felt in other places.

“My daughter says the same thing,” Margaret said with a smile. “She’s lived here for five years and has been very happy. The kitchen is small, but it’s fully equipped. The bathroom was renovated last year.”

"How much is the rent?" Lynn asked.

“Two thousand dollars a month, including heating,” Margaret said. “I know that’s slightly more expensive than elsewhere, but I value the tenant’s character more than how much they can pay.”

Lynn and Elisa exchanged a glance. The price was within their budget, and the apartment's location was indeed ideal.

“Mrs. Margaret, would you mind if I asked why you chose us?” Elisa asked curiously.

The old woman looked closely at Elisa, her eyes shining with kindness. “Young lady, I’ve lived in this building for forty years and seen so many people. You have a special quality that reminds me of my daughter. And…” she paused, “your eyes are very special. I can tell you’re a kind person.”

A warm feeling washed over Elisa. Margaret's words reminded her of what her professors often said at the academy—kindness is the most important quality.

"Could you give us some time to consider?" Lynn asked.

“Of course,” Margaret nodded, “but I must tell you, there are other people who are interested in this apartment.”

After they left the apartment building, Lynn and Elisa sat down in a nearby park to talk.

"Which one do you like?" Lynn asked.

“The last one,” Elisa answered without hesitation, “not just because of the environment, but also because of the ‘feeling’ there. Mrs. Margaret was a very warm person, and the place had a tranquil energy that helped me control my abilities.”

“But it’s not cheap,” Lynn cautioned. “As a clerk, your starting salary is about $3,500 a month. Besides rent, you also have to consider other living expenses.”

Alyssa considered it for a moment. "The professor gave me some money as start-up capital, which should last for a few months. And I believe I'll adapt to the job quickly, and maybe even get a raise."

"So you've made up your mind?"

“Yes,” Elisa nodded firmly, “I want to rent Mrs. Margaret’s apartment.”

They returned to the Brownstone apartment building and knocked on Margaret's door. The old lady's face lit up with surprise when she saw them.

"Have you made a decision?" she asked.

“Yes, we want to rent this apartment,” Alyssa said.

“Great!” Margaret clapped her hands happily. “Please come in, let’s talk about the specifics.”

In Margaret's cozy living room, they discussed the terms of the lease. The old lady was very understanding and agreed that Elisa could pay the rent monthly and that not much upfront payment was needed.

“There’s one condition,” Margaret said. “I hope you’ll agree to come and chat with me occasionally. This building has become too quiet since our daughter moved out.”

“I’d love to,” Elisa said sincerely. “Actually, I also need some guidance to learn how to live in this city.”

“Then it’s settled,” Margaret said with a smile. “Welcome to your new home, dear.”

After signing the contract, Lynn and Elisa returned to the apartment that would soon become Elisa's new home. As the sun set, golden rays streamed through the windows, bathing the entire space in a warm glow.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Lynn asked again to confirm.

Elisa stood by the window, gazing at the tranquil courtyard outside. "Yes, I can feel that this place suits me. And Mrs. Margaret reminds me of my grandmother—though I've never met her, I imagine her to be just like that—warm and kind."

“Then tomorrow we’ll go buy some furniture and household items,” Lynn said. “You’ll need a bed, a table, chairs, and kitchenware.” “Would you like to come with me?” Elisa turned around, her eyes filled with anticipation. “I have absolutely no experience buying these things.”

“Of course.” Lynn nodded. “It’s part of helping you adjust to normal life.”

They stayed in the apartment for a while longer, with Alyssa carefully examining each room and planning how to furnish her new home. They didn't leave the building until nightfall.

"Where are you staying tonight?" Lynn asked.

“I’ve booked a hotel nearby,” Elisa replied. “I can move into my new apartment tomorrow.”

They walked down the street, and the streetlights around them began to come on.

“Detective Lynn,” Elisa suddenly spoke.

"What's up?"

"Thank you for spending time with me today. I know you have important cases to handle, but you still took the time to help me."

Lynn stopped and turned to look at her. “Alyssa, I hope you understand one thing. Helping you isn’t a burden, it’s my choice. Seeing you try to adapt to this world, seeing your courage and kindness, reminds me why I chose this job—to protect good people like you.”

Tears welled up in Elisa's eyes, but they were tears of gratitude. "I won't let you down."

“I know you won’t,” Lynn said with a smile. “Now, let me take you to the hotel. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”

The next day.

The morning sunlight streamed into the apartment through the large windows, and Elisa slowly opened her eyes. This was her first night in the new apartment, and although there was only a makeshift air mattress and a blanket she had brought from the hotel, she slept soundly. The tranquil energy of the room allowed her mind to fully rest, a comfort she had never experienced outside of college.

She got up and walked to the window, looking at the leaves swaying in the morning light in the courtyard. Today was her first day of officially starting independent life. Lynn had said she would take her to buy furniture and household items, but first, she wanted to try something she had never done before—buying groceries and cooking for herself.

At Xavier's College, all meals were provided by the college kitchen, and Alyssa had never actually studied cooking. But she was filled with curiosity and anticipation. She imagined preparing food in her own little kitchen; that everyday experience was a completely new adventure for her.

After a quick wash, Elisa put on a light blue sweater and dark jeans, grabbed her purse, and prepared to leave. Inside was the cash Professor Xavier had given her—a total of three thousand dollars—as start-up capital to help her adjust to her new life. For a young girl who had never handled money on her own before, this was a considerable sum.

As she walked out of the apartment building, she ran into her landlady, Mrs. Margaret. The old lady was watering the flowers in the small garden downstairs, and when she saw Elisa come out, a kind smile immediately appeared on her face.

“Good morning, darling.” Margaret put down the watering can. “How did you sleep?”

“Very good, thank you,” Elisa replied sincerely. “It’s even quieter and more comfortable here than I expected.”

"That's good. Are you leaving so early to go to work?"

“No, it’s Saturday, and I want to go grocery shopping and learn how to cook,” Elisa said a little shyly. “I’ve never shopped for groceries by myself before.”

A loving glint appeared in Margaret's eyes. "That's good, dear. Cooking for yourself is an important part of independent living. There's a great farmers market three blocks from here, with fresh vegetables and meats."

“Thank you for your suggestion,” Elisa said politely. “I will take a look.”

“Remember to be careful when shopping in New York,” Margaret kindly advised. “Most people here are friendly, but there are some with bad intentions. If someone approaches you asking for money or telling you a pitiful story, it’s best to be wary.”

Elisa nodded, but she didn't yet fully grasp the significance of the suggestion. Surrounded by kind people at the academy, it was hard to imagine anyone deliberately deceiving another.

Following Margaret's directions, Elisa headed towards the farmers' market. The streets were already bustling with activity, and various shops were gradually opening for business. She could sense the diverse emotions around her—the vendors' anticipation for the new day's business, the customers' hurried pace and clear goals, and some more complex emotional fluctuations, but she tried hard not to let herself be overwhelmed by these feelings.

The farmers' market was located in a small square, with a dozen stalls selling all kinds of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and bread. The aroma of fresh ingredients filled the air, making Alyssa excited. She took out her shopping list on her phone—she had carefully studied several simple recipes last night and decided to learn to cook a few basic dishes first.

Her first stop was a vegetable stall. The stall owner, an Italian man in his fifties, was arranging brightly colored vegetables.

"Good morning, miss!" the stall owner greeted her warmly. "What fresh vegetables would you like? The tomatoes are especially good today, just arrived from New Jersey."

Elisa approached the stall, looking at the vegetables she'd only ever seen in the college cafeteria; now she would choose and buy them herself. "I need some tomatoes, onions, and carrots."

“No problem!” The stall owner started selecting vegetables. “Are you new to this area? I’ve never seen you before.”

“Yes, I just moved here yesterday,” Elisa replied, observing the vendor selecting vegetables.

“Welcome to this community!” the stall owner said, packing vegetables into a paper bag. “Twelve dollars in total.”

Elisa took a twenty-dollar bill from her wallet, and the vendor gave her eight dollars in change. This simple transaction gave her a sense of accomplishment—she had successfully completed her first independent shopping trip.

Next, she went to the butcher's stall and bought some chicken and beef. The stall owner, a friendly old lady, patiently explained to her the uses of different cuts of meat. Then she went to the bakery and bought fresh bread, and from the dairy stall she bought milk and eggs.

Each transaction boosted Elisa's confidence. She began to feel that she could truly live independently and handle daily affairs like an ordinary person. Her shopping bags gradually filled with various groceries, and her mood became increasingly cheerful.

Just as she was about to leave the market, a voice called out to her.

"Miss, please wait!"

Elisa turned around and saw a man of about forty years old walking towards her. He was wearing shabby clothes, his hair was somewhat disheveled, and he had a beard that he hadn't shaved for several days. But there was a earnest look in his eyes that made Elisa not leave immediately.

“Miss, I’m sorry to bother you.” The man’s voice trembled slightly. “My name is Tony. I’m having some trouble, and I hope you can help me.” (End of Chapter)