The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

After confirming that the alarm had been lifted and that he wouldn't be handcuffed by the righteous uncle for the time being, Ye Shu breathed a long sigh of relief, but the heavy weight in his heart hadn't been completely lifted.

Alongside the relief of surviving the ordeal, there was a deeper sense of guilt and a feeling of utter disorientation.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the table that looked like it had been through a war, noticing the bones scattered everywhere and the beer cans strewn about...

"Last night... you really drank a lot..."

He rubbed his still throbbing temples and gave a wry smile.

After cleaning up the messy dining table, Ye Shu's gaze unconsciously drifted back to the tightly closed master bedroom door. The girl behind that door was probably more traumatized than by a hangover.

Something needs to be done...

He went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and began rummaging through it. He vaguely remembered seeing it while cooking last night...

Sure enough, amidst the many beers, stood a lone, unopened carton of milk.

He poured the milk into a small pot, watching the steam carrying the aroma of milk rise from it, and his mood seemed to calm down a bit with the warm white mist.

Ye Shu carried two steaming mugs to the bedroom door.

He stopped, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not knock. Instead, he spoke to the door in as gentle a voice as possible:

"Um... Miss An, I heated up some milk and put it on the cabinet by the door. Please... please remember to take it in and drink it; it's good for your stomach."

After saying that, he gently placed one of the glasses of milk on the side table next to the door, picked up his own glass, turned around and walked quickly back to his room, deliberately making a sound as he closed the door.

He needs to give her space.

Ye Shu knew very well that if he stayed in the living room, the girl who was like a fawn in the forest would never dare to come out.

Sure enough, after hearing the clear sound of the door closing across the hall, the corridor fell into a brief silence. After a while, An Suxue slowly turned the doorknob and carefully pushed the door open a crack.

A pair of large, watery eyes quickly scanned the empty living room through the crack in the door. Only after confirming it was safe did An Suxue peek out. Her cheeks still held a lingering blush, like a ripe apple.

Her gaze immediately fell on the cup of milk steaming on the shelf.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then reached out her hand, and like a little squirrel stealing food, "whoosh," she scurried back into the room.

Leaning against the door, An Suxue held the warm milk in her hands, feeling the warmth from her palms. Her tense nerves seemed to finally relax a little.

She looked down at the pure white liquid in the glass and took a small sip. The sweet taste melted in her mouth, and it seemed... even the panic and embarrassment in her heart were quietly melted away by the warmth.

In the room opposite, Ye Shu also leaned against the door, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp of milk.

The warm milk slid down his throat, seemingly relieving his headache and stomach discomfort, and also easing the somewhat awkward atmosphere between the two.

At least, she accepted the somewhat clumsy apology.

With her worries gone, Ye Shu lay on the bed, swiped her phone screen, and the pressure of reality resurfaced.

Looking at the balance of about thirty yuan in her bank card, Ye Shu began to worry again.

Although I found a job, my salary won't be paid for another month. How am I going to get through this month?

A: I don't buy anything myself, I rely entirely on An Suxue and the others.

B: Tomorrow, as soon as I get to work, I'll ask Sister Chen Xing to advance me half a month's salary.

C: Ask your dad for money, saying your son is starving to death outside.

He scratched his head and sighed.

In this situation, although Sister Xia Qing said that she would buy groceries and cook her own meals in a model where one person pays and the other contributes labor, she can't really rely entirely on others. Even if she doesn't need to buy groceries, she can't expect others to buy her daily necessities.

Besides, how could Chen Xing possibly give me an advance on half a month's salary when we've only met once and had only "a brief encounter over tea"?

As for asking his father for money, forget it. He's a grown man; he shouldn't be causing his father, who does so much work, any more worry.

With his fingers hovering in mid-air, Ye Shu felt a sense of powerlessness.

Ye Shu realized a long time ago that she had a fatal flaw: she didn't like socializing and didn't like maintaining relationships.

If friends chat with him, he can talk for a long time. But if no one contacts him, he can immerse himself completely in his own world, and it's common for him to not contact them for ten days or half a month.

When it really comes down to it, only one or two people can actually open their mouths and talk over and over again.

His finger finally stopped on a contact labeled "Han Yang." This was his college roommate; they were good friends. They skipped classes together and stayed up all night together.

Ye Shu hesitated for a long time before typing two words on the cold screen:

"Are you there?"

Less than ten seconds after he sent the message "Are you there?", a phone call came in from the other end, startling Ye Shu.

He quickly answered the phone, but before he could even speak, a familiar, loud voice boomed from the receiver, accompanied by some background noise:

"Hey?! Xiao Shu? Has the sun risen in the west? What do you want with your brother? Missing your dad? This is the first time you've contacted me since you graduated."

With just one sentence, the three elders were thrown at him.

Hearing that familiar voice, Ye Shu chuckled and playfully scolded:

"Get lost, you're so unreliable."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Han Yang chuckled on the other end, still yelling at the same loud voice; it did sound very noisy from his end.

"Where are you now? Still in the south of the city? If you are, hurry up and come out, I'll treat you to some skewers."

Ye Shu felt a warmth in his heart; it seemed his friend was still a true friend. But he still said somewhat shyly:

"I'll go for some skewers... but let me make this clear beforehand, I'm broke right now, I really don't have any money to spare."

"Look at your conscience. When have you ever paid for a meal with me? Hurry up and send me your location. I'll drive to pick you up."

After saying that, the call ended abruptly. Ye Shu felt as if the lump of cotton in her chest had suddenly dissipated.

After sending her location to Han Yang, Ye Shu changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans.

He walked to the window, took a deep breath, and the bright morning sunlight shone through the glass, dispelling some of the fatigue from his hangover and the gloom in his heart.

Going out for a walk might really change your mood.

Before leaving, he stopped at the master bedroom door. Speaking softly to the closed door, he said:

"Miss An, I... have to go out to meet a friend. I might be... a little late. You don't need to wait for me for lunch."

After saying that, he turned around, changed his shoes, and left the apartment.

With the soft sound of the door closing, the living room returned to silence.

After a while, the master bedroom door was quietly pushed open a crack.

An Suxue hugged the huge carrot pillow, peeked halfway out from behind the door, and looked into the empty entryway.

Sunlight cast a bright patch of light on the floor by the door, where Ye Shu was no longer present.

She subconsciously pursed her lips, her upper lip still bearing the "milk mustache" left from drinking milk, making her look somewhat naive and innocent.

She blinked her clear, yet often timid, large eyes, gazing in the direction Ye Shu had left. She seemed to want to say something, her lips moved slightly, but ultimately no sound came out.

She silently retreated to her room, gently closed the door, went back to bed, and buried her face in the soft carrot pillow.

The room was quiet, with only the faint noise of the city coming from outside the window.

She used to stay in this room alone; it was the place she was most familiar with and felt safest in.

But why...

Do you feel a little empty inside?