Chapter 2

Slowly, deliberately, I pulled the apartment deed from my bag, opened it to the first page, and pointed to the owner's line. My name was clearly written there!

Behind me, the neighbors' murmurs suddenly grew louder:

"It can't really not be her place, right?"

"That girl comes and goes every day, I thought she was the owner…"

"She looks so young, but the apartment isn't hers?"

…

Hearing the whispers, the young woman's face flushed with rage. She lunged at me, trying to snatch the deed!

I quickly raised my hand, holding the deed high, and looked at her with a wry smile.

"Couldn't stand up, remember? Is this some kind of miracle recovery?"

The girl realized she was indeed standing. She shoved me hard, snarling:

"I've lived here for ages, so it's my apartment! Who even are you, just showing up out of nowhere?!"

I almost laughed, it was so absurd.

"So, according to you, nobody needs to buy an apartment anymore? Everyone just moves into someone else's place, and poof, it's theirs?!"

"The apartment I live in is mine!"

Amidst the shouting, a young man in a security guard uniform rushed over.

The girl's eyes lit up. She immediately burst into a dramatic wail:

"Ben, you're finally here! This guy came to break into my place and said my apartment is his! Tell him off!"

Ben, the security guard, immediately shielded her, his eyes bulging as he glared at me:

"How did you even get in here? Do you know where you are? How dare you harass an owner here?!"

I thrust the apartment deed at him, declaring loudly:

"Look closely! Who's the real owner here? I am the owner of this apartment!"

Ben's face instantly froze when he saw the deed. Noticing the other residents giving him strange looks, he lunged to snatch the deed from my hand!

Having learned my lesson moments before, there was no way I was just going to hand it over. I quickly dodged back.

"Hey! What are you doing? I'm holding it right here for you to see!"

Ben fumed, enraged:

"Who knows if your deed is real or fake?! You think you can just show up with a forged document and try to steal an apartment?! Get out of here, now!!"

He moved to push me, but the girl behind him seized the opportunity, quickly pulled out a key, and unlocked the apartment door!

The moment the door opened, a nauseating mix of perfume and old takeout odors hit me.

Through the crack in the partially opened door, I saw unfamiliar furniture and women's belongings everywhere.

"Ah!" I feigned a startled gasp!

Before I could react, the girl had already slipped inside, slamming the door shut!

Just as I was about to rush over and knock, Ben, towering like a wall, blocked my path, brandishing a riot stick.

"Still here? Believe me, I'll force you out!"

Perhaps feeling a pang of guilt for his earlier silence, the locksmith, still standing nearby, kindly warned me:

"Don't bother knocking. That girl, Tiffany, is Liam's girlfriend. And this security guard, Ben, is her brother. We're all scared to get involved with them; there's no reasoning with her!"

He said, then hurried off with his toolbox!

Staring at the hulking figure of Ben, I had no choice but to swallow my anger and leave for now!