Chapter 006: Odd Neighbor 06

Chapter 006: Odd Neighbor 06

As the words echoed in the quiet hallway, they left a distinct resonance.

Behind the large black-rimmed glasses that nearly concealed half of his face, Yu Bai's expression was as usual, as if he were simply asking about the other person's meal.

Yet, the neighbor who had clearly heard the offensive question didn't respond immediately.

An eerie silence engulfed the air.

Taking this opportunity, Yu Bai observed him attentively.

Yesterday, when they encountered each other in the malfunctioning elevator, Yu Bai hadn't given him a thorough look and merely perceived him as a possible mixed-race individual with blue eyes and black hair.

But now, standing extremely close face-to-face, he clearly saw the turmoil of emotions shimmering within those gray-blue eyes, akin to a tranquil lake.

Those should have been cold eyes, strikingly beautiful and translucent, seemingly belonging more to a long, desolate winter than to a human being.

Yet at this moment, they revealed a vivid, palpable anxiety.

Yu Bai's gaze descended further, tracing the man's straight nose, chiseled jawline, gently pulsing Adam's apple, and the broad shoulders and chest concealed by the fabric.

...He had a decent build.

But he wasn't an intimidating muscle-bound giant.

Otherwise, Yu Bai would have brought Yan Jing along to knock on the door.

He preferred this restrained yet powerful physique over exaggerated bodybuilder types.

Half a minute passed.

Yu Bai's eyes circled the neighbor, examining him from top to bottom and then back up again.

The silent neighbor still hadn't said a word.

What on earth could be going through his mind as he was being scrutinized like this, Yu Bai wondered.

And then, after an extended silence, the neighbor finally responded.

He nodded silently.

A nod, and another, and another.

Seeing this, Yu Bai responded with a calm "oh," then turned and left.

Perfect.

Definitely not human.

Who among ordinary people would react with such composed ambiguity after hearing such a question?

They would either look confused, thinking they misheard, or appear unhappy, believing they were being scolded.

Considering his neighbor was an unknown, non-human entity, before entering his home, Yu Bai removed the note from the door and bent down to pick up the small gift on the ground.

One couldn't reject another's kindness on the spot.

Then, without looking back, he closed the door.

Back in the familiar house, Yu Bai leaned against the door, acutely aware of the accelerated rhythm of his heartbeat.

There was no more commotion outside.

His non-human neighbor hadn't come knocking.

Inside the house, Yan Jing was on the phone, persistently questioning his parents who had also consumed the same mushroom soup last night.

"You're both really okay? No hallucinations? Like seeing oversized fruits or hearing explosions... No, I'm not drunk, I haven't had a drop of alcohol. I'm completely sober now!"

For ordinary people, it was indeed challenging to process everything that had just unfolded.

Even Yan Jing, who had grown up playing hide-and-seek in funeral parlors, wasn't immune to this bewilderment.

Yu Bai was an exception.

Although disbelief lingered in his mind, he still swiftly accepted the reality.

Perhaps it was because he had experienced so many dramatic events throughout his life that "having a non-human neighbor" didn't seem particularly astonishing.

...

Well, it was certainly unexpected.

But if there were non-human creatures in this world, could ghosts truly exist as well?

After Yan Jing hung up the call, disheartened from his parents' scolding, he looked up to see Yu Bai leaning against the door, seemingly lost in thought.

"Little Bai, where did you go just now? Hey, where did you get that ball? Did you prise it out of the stone lion's mouth?"

He continued talking, noticing Yu Bai's lack of response, and waved a hand in front of his face. "Hey! What are you thinking about?"

Yu Bai snapped back to reality. "I'm wondering when my dad will come back to see me."

"Huh?" Yan Jing processed this, his eyes widening in horror. "Which dad?"

"...How many do you think I have?"

"Well, strictly speaking, one...," Yan Jing shuddered. "Don't scare me like that, big brother. You're freaking me out."

Recalling the bizarre events from last night to now, Yan Jing, an ordinary man with a delicate heart, attempted to find a rational explanation.

"You honestly tell me, are you planning to switch careers and open a haunted house? The crying, the watermelon, the explosion trick – all of that was for testing amusement park attractions, right? Admit it now, or I'll run back home this instant!"

"That's not the case."

Yu Bai punctured Yan Jing's self-soothing thoughts mercilessly while making a decision. "Don't go home just yet. You're a witness."

"What are you talking about? What did I witness?"

"Everything."

Yu Bai took out his phone and dialed a familiar number.

As a law-abiding citizen who had lived in a society that adhered to materialism and rule of law for twenty-two years, his first instinct when faced with such an incident was naturally to report it to the authorities.

Considering how surreal the situation was, Yu Bai didn't want to risk being dismissed as a prank caller by the emergency line, so he didn't dial 110. Instead, he called a police officer he had known for many years.

Li Nanxiao arrived carrying a heavy plastic container filled with mouthwatering sweet and sour scents that wafted tantalizingly into the air.

"It's from that restaurant we used to visit often for sweet and sour pork. I got three servings; you can freeze them for later."

As he spoke, the astute detective glanced at the trash can, noticing no signs of takeout containers. He asked gently, "You haven't eaten yet today?"

Yu Bai shook his head. "I was going to order takeout but then forgot."

He quickly added, "I didn't have time to cook today, so I thought about getting delivery."

Yan Jing swallowed, his expression sincere as he stood upright. "Hello, Uncle Li. I haven't eaten either."

Uncle Li gave a slight smile. "Perfect, then. Eat while it's still warm."

Despite having only one deceased father, Yu Bai had encountered several fatherly figures in his life after becoming an orphan.

Like Sun Tiantian, the former mob boss who took him in like his own son after Yu Bai survived a narrow escape.

Or Yan Jing, the current criminal investigation team leader who, after showing compassion following an incident, had consistently cared for him.

Though it might seem awkward.

Their names, however, were not mistakenly swapped.

The one with the cold and domineering name, Li Nanxiao, was surprisingly a gentle-looking person.

After they finished three servings of sweet and sour pork, and recounted their bizarre encounters from the past two days, Li Nanxiao's expression remained indifferent.

He confirmed calmly, "You're not joking?"

Yu Bai replied, "I'm afraid you'll take me for a joker."

Upon hearing this, Li Nanxiao gave him a deep look.

"I'll check the kitchen first," he stood up, "then head to the rooftop later."

Yan Jing let out a long sigh of relief and whispered to Yu Bai beside him, "Believe it now, right? Policeman uncle is reliable."

But Yu Bai wasn't as optimistic, "But there's nothing in the kitchen now."

Despite witnessing the explosion in the neighboring kitchen with their own eyes, and seeing the thick smoke vanish as if it had never happened, they couldn't shake off the surreal feeling.

Peering out the window at that moment, the cooking oil, iron pan, and plastic bags on the countertop in the neighboring kitchen remained untouched. The neighbor who once blew up their kitchen seemed to have given up on another attempt.

To others, this scene might simply suggest that someone had left their purchases there after use.

Li Nanxiao's assessment echoed this view. "That kitchen hasn't been used for a long time. There are no fresh grease stains on the walls, dust has settled on the countertop, and only the sink has been recently used – it's filled with water."

As he spoke, he glanced at Yu Bai. "The same goes for your kitchen. You only use it for washing hands and tell me you just wanted takeout today?"

"…" Yu Bai gave an awkward laugh. "I was wrong, Uncle Li."

This could be called a case of shooting oneself in the foot.

Yan Jing, who had been subdued, quickly seized the opportunity to change the subject. "What about the rooftop? Such a heavy watermelon would definitely leave traces!"

Together, the three of them stepped out, crossed the stairs, and headed for their next destination.

Yan Jing racked his brain to provide more evidence along the way. "Oh, right! I spat all the watermelon seeds into the flower pot last night. Wasn't that considerate, huh? Ha-ha! Those seeds were bigger than ordinary ones, so Uncle Li, you'll see—"

Pushing open the door to the rooftop, his words got abruptly stuck in his throat.

Where last night a giant yoga ball-shaped watermelon had stood on the edge, now lush vines sprawled, their deep green tendrils stretching out from an old flowerpot, bearing numerous large watermelons.

Normal-sized ones, that is.

"I—"

Before the police officer, Yan Jing forcibly held back his profanity, redirecting it into a milder exclamation.

"Goodness gracious!" He expressed genuine astonishment. "These weren't here last night! These watermelons must have grown from the seeds I spat out. They sprouted overnight! I swear!"

Listening, Li Nanxiao's expression became enigmatic.

Yu Bai shifted his gaze away silently, feeling a sudden wave of despair.

Even he himself found these truths sound like the ramblings of a madman.

Despite this, the head of the criminal investigation team approached responsibly to inspect the scene.

There were signs of weight on both the flower pots and the ground, but indeed, a cluster of watermelons had grown there.

There were no abnormally large seeds among them.

As for the leftover rind, Yan Jing, with his good manners, had discarded it downstairs last night.

There was no evidence to prove the existence of the giant yoga ball watermelon.

Before leaving the rooftop, Li Nanxiao calmly said, "Watermelons aren't suitable for planting on the rooftop. They're too heavy and pose safety risks."

It was unclear whom he was reminding.

Yu Bai desperately tried to clarify, "I didn't plant these watermelons."

Li Nanxiao played along, "Mm-hmm, you didn't, but they're well-grown."

"Come, let's head back to your place first."

He turned to leave, revealing faint markings on the old flower pot behind him: 1205.

...a relic left behind by the previous tenant, an old lady.

Forget it, he didn't feel like explaining.

Yu Bai offered a pale smile and tugged Yan Jing, who was attempting to sneakily snatch a watermelon, along to follow Uncle Policeman.

"Alright, let's head home first."

The moon gradually climbed higher into the night sky.

The house was quiet. The three of them sat side by side on the couch in the living room.

The clock on the wall ticked away steadily.

Aside from that, no other sound could be heard.

Li Nanxiao wore a calm expression, patiently waiting.

Yan Jing had initially been nervous, but his eyelids soon began to droop, fluttering open and shut repeatedly, as if he were in a math class.

Yu Bai was lost in thought, staring at the small, round object on the coffee table.

It was a gift from their non-human neighbor: a smooth, grayish-white ball that felt light and icy to the touch. Its purpose and composition were unknown.

Surely, it wasn't a bomb.

The criminal investigation team captain had already roughly assessed it.

He speculated that it was likely an avant-garde minimalist decoration.

In his heart, Yu Bai doubted it would be that simple, but he couldn't identify its true nature either.

Another minute ticked by.

Li Nanxiao suddenly spoke, "At what time did you hear the crying last night?"

Yan Jing, who had been secretly dozing off, jolted awake and promptly responded, "She must have been frightened by my slap, so she didn't come today!"

"..." Yu Bai's heart had long since turned calm, and he adopted a resigned attitude, "To be honest, I also think so."

"Uncle Li, it's late. You should head back first."

With the lack of substantial evidence, Yu Bai decided to temporarily abandon the idea of seeking help from the police and explore other options.

"You must think I was joking today. My apologies," Yu Bai said.

Li Nanxiao didn't respond immediately. He gazed steadily at Yu Bai for a moment before softly speaking, "When I came over earlier, I saw Sun Tiantian downstairs."

Yu Bai was taken aback. "Downstairs? Qiang and the others?"

Since returning home the previous day, he hadn't ventured downstairs.

The bodyguards assigned to him by Brother Tian usually wouldn't enter the residential area unless summoned.

"No, not them. I heard one of the elevators broke down yesterday afternoon, and in the evening, his people were there, preparing for repairs and the installation of a new elevator," Li Nanxiao explained, his tone casual yet revealing a hint of concern.

"Falling in an elevator is a horrifying experience. It's quite normal to develop stress-induced trauma afterward, sometimes blending illusions with reality unintentionally."

Saying this, he gently stroked Yu Bai's head with a tender expression.

"You should have told me about it. Even if not me, you should have shared your feelings with someone else, so you could gradually overcome the trauma."

Li Nanxiao smiled. "Even talking to Sun Tiantian would have sufficed."

Yu Bai laughed as well.

"But you didn't mean a word of the second part."

Before Sun Tiantian quit his criminal activities, he had been under close surveillance by the Criminal Investigation Unit. Naturally, a good cop and a former crime boss wouldn't see eye to eye.

"Hmm, I assume you didn't initiate contact with him," Li Nanxiao admitted, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly before he asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

Yu Bai nodded.

Although Li Nanxiao had misinterpreted Yu Bai's hallucination as a result of PTSD, it was still better than being thought of as a fool.

Being cared for was indeed a touching experience.

However, emotions aside.

Yu Bai gazed into Li Nanxiao's eyes and spoke with utmost sincerity, "Don't call Doctor Chen, she's already retired."

"..." Li Nanxiao raised an eyebrow. "Was my intention that obvious?"

Yu Bai sounded a little melancholic. "This is the second time I've saved Doctor Chen's retirement in recent days."

She had only been retired for a single day.

"Alright, I won't call. It's getting late, I should head back first."

Li Nanxiao stood up and glanced at Yan Jing, who was sprawled on the couch, oblivious to the world. He was puzzled.

"Was this guy also in the malfunctioning elevator?"

"No," Yu Bai pulled Yan Jing up without any change in expression. "But he ate undercooked mushrooms and got poisoned. Hey, wake up, you still have work tomorrow."

He accompanied Li Nanxiao and Yan Jing downstairs.

The malfunctioning elevator had been marked with a "Under Maintenance" sign. This once bustling neighborhood, now showing signs of neglect, had likely never seen such efficient replacement service.

The trio took the functioning elevator down and, upon exiting the building, coincidentally encountered someone.

A gentle night breeze rustled through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A tall man was approaching, his slightly curly black hair tousled by the wind, his gray-blue eyes serene like a fragile dream.

His appearance was unmistakable.

Recognizing the description from Yu Bai's account, Li Nanxiao immediately knew it was him and whispered, "Is it this person?"

In Yu Bai's "fantasy," there was no evidence that could justify Li Nanxiao directly investigating their neighbor. Apart from exchanging gifts with Yu Bai, the neighbor hadn't done anything, and even that was initiated by Yu Bai.

Still, this person was the source of the perceived danger in Yu Bai's imagination.

As a detective, Li Nanxiao couldn't resist the instinct to test the waters.

Seeing Yu Bai nod slightly, Li Nanxiao, as they passed by the stranger, suddenly spoke up, as if casually greeting a familiar neighbor.

"Going downstairs to throw out the trash?"

Yu Bai noticed that this inhuman neighbor had paused in his steps.

For some reason, he seemed different from how he appeared before.

Perhaps it was the lonesome night that lent an air of melancholy to this nameless neighbor.

His striking blue eyes were as cold as winter.

In response to the unexpected greeting, he softly acknowledged with a low sound. There was no unease or panic, just a touch of surprise.

It was a very natural reaction.

On the other hand, Yan Jing, half-awake and half-asleep, took a sharp step back upon realizing who the visitor was. Hiding behind the police officer, he appeared flustered and frightened.

The tall and slender police officer couldn't entirely shield the muscular fitness coach, creating a somewhat comical scene.

Li Nanxiao: ...

Yu Bai averted his gaze, unable to bear the sight.

The non-human neighbor appeared entirely normal, but it was their human counterparts who seemed off.

Li Nanxiao clearly shared this sentiment.

With a rare touch of awkwardness, he attempted to ease the atmosphere while also gauging the other's response. He spoke in a gentle tone, "I heard that you gave Little Bai a gift. It's the first time he's received one from a neighbor. He really likes it, thank you."

As Li Nanxiao spoke, Yu Bai surreptitiously observed his peculiar neighbor, who seemed different tonight.

Suddenly, he noticed a spark in the man's eyes, reminiscent of their initial encounter in the elevator.

Winter's chill dissipated, and that hint of melancholy was like fireflies wandering into a forest.

Only a soft moon illuminated the gray-blue lake surface now.

"It doesn't matter," Yu Bai replied with a faint smile, "It's also my first time receiving a gift."