Chapter 112: An Unexpected Interloper

"Xia Qing, I’m begging you, please help us one last time!" Wang Haiyan pleaded.

"I’ve made myself perfectly clear. Please go back!" Despite her gentle nature, Xia Qing’s attitude was exceptionally firm this time... There was nothing to be done; she was simply livid over what Zhou Dazhuang had done.

"SOB... Are you really going to just stand by and watch as Zhou Qiang gets dumped by his girlfriend and threatens to end his life? How can you be so cruel!" Wang Haiyan wailed.

"..." Hearing this, Xia Qing fell silent.

"This whole thing is Zhou Dazhuang’s fault. It has nothing to do with Zhou Qiang. After Zhou Qiang found out, he hasn’t eaten properly for days.

If this goes on, he’s going to ruin his health... If the late Zhou Xian knew about this, it would break his heart..."

Seeing Xia Qing’s silence, Wang Haiyan launched into the entire speech she had prepared before she came.

"Mommy."

Xia Qing frowned, listening to Wang Haiyan’s incessant rambling from outside. Just then, she heard her daughter’s voice from behind her.

"Tongtong, go back to your room for now."

"Mommy, is that Auntie outside? Why is she sobbing so hard?" asked a confused Zhou Tongtong. She wore a small ponytail and a little pink dress that complemented her chubby face.

"She..."

Xia Qing opened her mouth, wanting to pour out all the grief Wang Haiyan and her family had caused them over the years to her own daughter.

But the words wouldn’t come out. She could only say, "Tongtong, you’re still too young. When you’re older, Mommy will tell you. For now, please go back to your room."

"Oh." A little dejected, Zhou Tongtong nodded and turned to leave.

But just then, Wang Haiyan, who was outside, heard the conversation between Xia Qing and Zhou Tongtong inside. Her eyes lit up. She pounded on Xia Qing’s door and cried out.

"Is that you, Tongtong? It’s me, your Auntie! Your cousin, Zhou Qiang... his wedding is off! He’s so miserable! All your mommy has to do is help a little, and he’ll be able to marry his girlfriend."

"Mommy?" Zhou Tongtong, who was about to leave, stopped in her tracks after hearing Wang Haiyan’s words. She looked up at her mother.

"..." Xia Qing said nothing. On one side of the door was the shameless Wang Haiyan, wailing and refusing to leave. On the other was her own daughter, her wide, innocent eyes filled with confusion.

She was torn. Deep down, she wanted nothing more than to ignore Wang Haiyan, but she couldn’t bring herself to be completely heartless in front of her daughter, feeling it would be a bad influence.

Just as Xia Qing was agonizing over what to do, she heard a door open outside, followed by a blunt voice.

"Ma’am, what do you think you’re doing? You’re so loud, don’t you know you’re disturbing the peace? Leave now, or I’m calling the cops."

Lin Li, who now understood the situation, decided to help his neighbor. He opened his door and spoke in a deep, firm voice to the wailing Wang Haiyan.

In the midst of her wailing, Wang Haiyan was startled by an unfamiliar voice from behind. She stopped her racket and turned to see a young man in his early twenties staring at her, his face devoid of expression.

"I... I’ll leave in a bit." Wang Haiyan had sensed Xia Qing’s resolve wavering behind the door. She was on the verge of success. ’And now this guy shows up out of nowhere to ruin it all!’

She was furious but couldn’t show it. She didn’t live in this complex, and her tantrum could definitely be considered a public disturbance. If he actually called the police, she could be arrested.

’Leave in a bit? Does she take me for a fool? Trying to stall, huh? Fine. You said you’ll leave in a bit, so I’ll just stand here and watch you.’ Lin Li, holding half a bag of beef meatballs, stood in his doorway, watching Wang Haiyan expressionlessly.

’I’ll just say I’m leaving in a bit, and this kid will go back inside.’ That’s what Wang Haiyan thought. But to her surprise, the young man simply stood in his doorway, watching her. ’He’s going to stand there until I leave!’

With him staring her down like that, Wang Haiyan couldn’t continue her performance for Xia Qing or play the sympathy card.

Lin Li stared at Wang Haiyan for two or three minutes straight, making her squirm with discomfort.

Realizing the young man was dead set on seeing her leave, Wang Haiyan had no other choice. ’Nosy brat,’ she muttered to herself, deciding to come back another day.

"DING."

The elevator doors opened. A fuming Wang Haiyan stepped inside and left.

After watching Wang Haiyan get on the elevator and go down, Lin Li walked over to his neighbor’s door and rang the bell.

"DING DONG..."

"CLICK."

The doorbell was still chiming when the door swung open.

Xia Qing appeared before him, her hair tied up, wearing a white dress.

Unlike her usual self, the normally placid Xia Qing looked mortified. She thanked Lin Li, saying, "Lin Li, thank you. I’m so sorry you had to see that."

"Don’t mention it. We’re neighbors; it’s only right that we help each other out... If she comes back to harass you again, just ping me on WeChat. I’ll help you run her off," Lin Li said with a smile.

"Mhm." Xia Qing nodded lightly, thanking Lin Li once more.

Lin Li thought for a moment before speaking again.

"My chasing her off is just a temporary fix. I suggest that if she harasses you again, you call the police directly. With people like her, they won’t stop bothering you until they see you’re serious."

Xia Qing considered Lin Li’s advice for a few moments and realized he made a lot of sense.

’Isn’t it because Wang Haiyan and her family know I’m a pushover that they keep coming back to harass me time and time again?’

"RING RING RING..."

Suddenly, the phone in Lin Li’s pocket began to ring. It was a call from Su Yue.

"Hello."

"Lin Li, what’s taking you so long? I’m all ready. I was just waiting for you so we could eat."

Su Yue’s sweet, melodic voice drifted from the phone. Lin Li quickly replied.

"I just took a shower, so I got a little delayed. I’m heading out now. Just give me a minute, I’ll be right there."

After ending the call, Lin Li turned to Xia Qing. "My friend’s waiting for me to eat, so I’ve got to go."

"Okay." Xia Qing nodded, closed the door, and walked into the living room.

"Mommy, what was all that about? Why was Auntie crying outside our door?" Zhou Tongtong asked as she followed Xia Qing into the living room.

"Tongtong, this is grown-up stuff. Little kids shouldn’t ask. When you’re older, Mommy will tell you all about it."

"Mommy, I am grown up..." Zhou Tongtong felt that since she was six years old now, she wasn’t a little kid anymore. She could help with Mommy’s worries.

But Mommy still called her a little kid and wouldn’t tell her what happened. She pouted, feeling a little upset.

Seeing her daughter pout, Xia Qing smiled faintly. She reached out, patting her daughter’s head, and pulled her into a hug.

...