Volume One, Chapter 12: Would You Like to Take a Bath?

Tonight it rained, and thunder rumbled continuously outside the window. Lu Miao slept restlessly.

At three in the morning, in the quiet house, the sound of pressing buttons suddenly echoed.

Lu Miao jolted awake, holding her breath to listen.

If she heard correctly...

Someone was entering the passcode to her front door?!

She sat up abruptly, turning to look at the tightly closed door, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She was usually alone at home and had the habit of double-locking the front door. Occasionally, a drunken neighbor might mistakenly come to the wrong door, but no one had ever directly entered her passcode before.

Very few knew her code. Who could it be at this hour?

Lu Miao switched on the living room light. The house was silent. Suppressing her anxiety, she went to the entrance.

Through the video intercom, she saw a strange man standing outside.

Tall and thin, carrying a black bag, wearing a mask and a repairman’s cap.

“Who... are you?” she asked.

The man was inputting the code and paused when he heard the cautious female voice.

He looked up at the intercom and smiled kindly. “So someone’s home. I just knocked on your door and thought no one was in. Sorry about that.”

Only his narrow eyes were visible. Lu Miao saw the amusement in them and felt a chill run down her spine. “What do you want?”

“I’m the maintenance worker for this building. There was a fire downstairs, and I need to check the wiring in your apartment.”

Check the wiring?

Lu Miao eyed the man warily. He wore a repairman’s uniform printed with the name “Aohai Lanting Residential Complex Electrician.”

But if there had been a fire downstairs, the property management would have personally come up to notify her. Why would they send a repairman to enter her code?

Seeing Lu Miao hesitate, the man urged, “Don’t waste time. I still have another place to go.”

Nervous sweat broke out on her palms. “My wiring is fine. No need for inspection. You should go to the next one.”

The man’s expression darkened, his eyes turning fierce. “Why won’t you cooperate? Just open the door. It’ll only take five minutes.”

Lu Miao caught the menace in his eyes and immediately sensed something was wrong. She tried to scare him off. “If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the police!”

Hearing her threat, the man’s face twisted cruelly. “Heh, you’re not so easy to fool.”

He pulled a tool from his black bag and began to pick the lock.

Alarm bells blared inside Lu Miao’s head. “What are you doing?!”

The man sneered darkly. “Since you won’t open the door, I’ll come in myself.”

---

Every hair on Lu Miao’s body stood on end. Seeing no furniture to block the door, she stepped back two paces. The lock turned, and the door opened.

She screamed in terror and bolted back to her room, locking the door behind her.

She heard footsteps approaching and her heart seemed to leap into her throat.

Her phone buzzed continuously, casting a faint glow in the dark room.

Without hesitation, she lunged to the bedside and answered.

“Hello.”

Fu Shiyue’s deep voice came through.

Hearing him, Lu Miao’s eyes grew moist, her words stumbling. “Hello, where are you? Someone weird just broke into my home!”

A loud bang startled her—the man was kicking her bedroom door fiercely.

“He’s right outside my door! What should I do? The door’s about to break!”

Fu Shiyue’s calm voice reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. I’m coming back.”

Still panicked, she barely understood. “What?”

At that moment, the door burst open with a crash.

The man sneered, standing in the doorway, brandishing a knife, charging at Lu Miao.

“Ah!”

Just as the blade was inches from her, a hand grabbed the back of the man’s collar, yanking him back hard, followed by a fist crashing into his face.

The man staggered, quickly recovering, raising the knife to stab Fu Shiyue.

Fu Shiyue caught the man’s wrist and twisted forcefully. The man howled in pain as the knife fell to the ground.

Fu Shiyue kicked the knife away, twisted the man’s arm behind his back, pinning him firmly against the wall. Then he glanced at Lu Miao. “Are you okay?”

Lu Miao slumped down in the corner of the bed, breathing deeply. Her pale face still bore traces of panic. She forced herself to shake her head. “I’m... fine.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Stay in the room. Don’t come out until I call you.”

Fu Shiyue dragged the man out.

The broken door swung shut, blown by the wind.

Lu Miao, feeling as if she had just escaped death, held her chest as trembling lips quivered.

From the living room came a dreadful scream.

The man still had some life left, but Fu Shiyue had already called the police.

Officers arrived quickly. Upon learning Fu Shiyue’s identity, they spoke politely. “Please call the victim over. We need to take a brief statement.”

Fu Shiyue glanced at the room and said gravely, “She’s still shaken and unstable.”

The officers understood immediately. “Then we’ll trouble you to bring her by the station tomorrow.”

Fu Shiyue’s expression remained stern. “I hope this matter can be dealt with promptly.”

“Rest assured. We’re taking the suspect in for investigation and will give you a definite answer within two days.”

After seeing the officers off and closing the door, Fu Shiyue turned to see the young woman standing silently in the doorway.

They shared a quiet gaze for a few seconds before Lu Miao moved her lips. “Why didn’t you let me explain to the police?”

Later, she realized the man had come prepared—not for money or lust, but intent on taking her life. He must have been sent by someone.

She wanted to know who wanted her dead.

Fu Shiyue lowered his voice. “Let’s wait until tomorrow. I’ll take you to make a statement then.”

Lu Miao said nothing and sat down on the sofa.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for a cup, only to find it empty.

She paused for a moment.

The next second, the cup was taken away. She looked up to see Fu Shiyue calmly holding a kettle, pouring warm water for her.

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