Chapter 76 Part 2

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Jingyun stepped out a beat later. The outward-opening door blocked his view, and he only heard the sound of the door closing without seeing anything.

“It’s nothing… let’s go wait for the elevator.” Zhong Nian locked the door, glanced at Jiang Jingyun, then lowered his eyes, unconsciously digging at his palm.

He looked like he had something on his mind—obvious to anyone.

During the elevator wait, Jiang Jingyun spoke up at the right moment. “You can tell me about it.”

Zhong Nian had been waiting for those words. He looked around, covered his mouth with one hand, leaned in closer in a secretive posture, lowered his voice, and said seriously, “My neighbor is really weird.”

Jiang Jingyun nodded, listening intently.

“It’s the one in 1604.” Zhong Nian pointed with his finger. “Every time I go out, I catch him peeking from behind his door. Just now too.”

Jiang Jingyun’s expression grew more serious. “There’s such a thing?”

“Yeah.” Zhong Nian nodded vigorously. “He hasn’t done anything, and he’s not bold, but he does it every time. It’s pretty strange. Mo… my husband says he’s just weird and tells me not to go out, but I can’t stay home forever.”

Ding—the elevator doors opened.

The elevator was empty, but once inside, Jiang Jingyun still stayed close to Zhong Nian, speaking softly. “The resident in 1604 is indeed a bit special.”

Zhong Nian held his breath, listening carefully, his pretty eyes fixed on Jiang Jingyun.

Jiang Jingyun said, “His personality is rather odd, but I don’t think he means you any harm.”

“…Really?” Zhong Nian recalled the tall man’s gaze.

It was hard to describe, but being watched made him uncomfortable. Yet, his herbivore instincts didn’t classify the other as a “natural predator.”

More than fear, it was a sense of panic and bewilderment.

Because he didn’t understand why the man did it.

Jiang Jingyun quickly resolved his confusion. “He’s socially anxious.”

Zhong Nian: “?”

“He’s too reclusive and doesn’t like seeing people.” Jiang Jingyun smiled wryly. “As the apartment administrator, I have to interact with residents sometimes. Every time I visit, he only cracks the door open, barely speaks, but he’s cooperative—signs when needed, pays the management fee without issue.

“Because of his personality, some resident once deliberately dumped trash at his door.

“It went on for a month, every day. He would dispose of it at exactly six a.m. per the Apartment Rules without a word until Mr. Mo complained, and I found out.”

Hearing this, Zhong Nian was a bit surprised.

Not just because his husband was involved, but it was hard to imagine the burly guy in 1604 enduring such bullying so meekly… quite the contrast.

But what Jiang Jingyun said next surprised him even more. “Later, I held a special voting meeting for it and proposed adding a new rule to the Apartment Rules.

—Prohibiting trash in the corridors, to protect the apartment environment.”

“After that, the offending resident probably felt too ashamed and moved out soon after.”

By then, the elevator reached the first floor. Jiang Jingyun stepped out first and noticed Zhong Nian still standing there in a daze.

“Mrs. Mo?”

“Oh… sorry, I zoned out.” Zhong Nian caught up and casually asked, “Which number is that new rule?”

“The Ninth Rule.” Jiang Jingyun smiled faintly.

“I see…” Zhong Nian fell into thought.

He hadn’t expected to learn an unknown rule so easily—purely by lucky happenstance.

Direct questions didn’t work; it needed a natural opportunity for the NPC to speak up?

“Out of my duty as administrator, I shouldn’t reveal residents’ privacy like this, but I just wanted to tell you, Mrs. Mo, that 1604 isn’t a bad person.”

Jiang Jingyun sighed. “You’re new here, so he might be curious or wary of strangers, leading to this immature way of observing… But if it’s bothering you, don’t worry. I’ll find a chance to talk to him.”

Zhong Nian waved it off. “It’s fine. I understand.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” Jiang Jingyun said sincerely.

Zhong Nian couldn’t help sizing him up a few more times and praised, “Mr. Administrator, you’re so responsible to everyone.”

Jiang Jingyun was slightly taken aback. “It’s just what I should do.”

Zhong Nian shook his head. “You’re really a good person.”

Attentive to everything, kind, without any administrator airs, and so considerate of the residents…

For the apartment’s inhabitants alone, having such an administrator was extremely reliable and reassuring.

“Mr. Administrator, if I run into any issues later, can I come bother you?” Zhong Nian asked.

Jiang Jingyun: “Of course. I said that before too.”

“What if… it’s a more special kind of trouble? Something beyond an administrator’s duties.” Zhong Nian probed further, testing how much help the other could provide.

“Are you troubled by something right now, Mrs. Mo?” Jiang Jingyun led Zhong Nian to sit by the flower bed. His aura was approachable and warm, his steady voice comforting. “I’m all ears.”

Zhong Nian did have troubles, but with the opportunity handed to him so easily, he suddenly didn’t know how to start.

“Hard to bring up?”

“Uh.” Zhong Nian rubbed his palms and nodded.

Jiang Jingyun studied him. “Let me guess… maybe relationship issues?”

“?” Zhong Nian blinked, stunned, unsure why the other guessed that direction.

“Sorry, that might be presumptuous.” Jiang Jingyun smiled. “Actually, ever since I heard Mr. Mo got married, I’ve been worried. After all, he…”

Jiang Jingyun paused slightly, vaguely glossing over without finishing.

“Being his wife must be quite tough.”

Zhong Nian: “…Yeah.”

The direction was a bit off, but not wrong.

Jiang Jingyun’s tone grew even gentler. “No need to hold back. I’ll listen to all your worries, Mrs. Mo. I may not solve relationship problems, but I can at least be a sounding board to cheer you up a bit.”