Chapter 69: Because She’s a Hopeless Romantic, It Doesn’t Matter If Her Boyfriend Is a Little Twisted (1)

“This station’s reporter has conducted in-depth interviews. Based on current information, the recent disappearances in this city may be the work of a single individual. However, authorities have yet to find any concrete evidence. The missing include men and women, elderly and students, and no commonalities have been discovered. The perpetrator appears to strike at random, making the case even harder to solve. Now, we turn to our reporter for an update from the scene.”

The television screen shifted to show a female reporter standing in front of an alleyway.

“Thank you for the update. I am now at the location where the most recent missing person, Mr. A, was last seen. Unfortunately, the only surveillance camera outside the shop here was damaged by wind and rain not long ago, so no useful footage was captured. According to eyewitnesses, Mr. A entered this area around ten o’clock at night and was never seen again.”

Behind the reporter stretched an old, worn street. Many of the facilities were dilapidated, and even the streetlights flickered unreliably. No valuable clues were left at the scene.

The reporter continued, “Five people have disappeared this month alone. Citizens are concerned about whether their safety can be guaranteed. The spokesperson for the authorities said only that they will do their best to apprehend the perpetrator, but since those who vanished disappeared inexplicably and no bodies have been found, online speculation is rampant. Some believe the missing chose to disappear from public view themselves, while others suggest supernatural events are at play. What is the truth? Please stay tuned for the latest updates from our program.”

When the segment ended, the diners in the restaurant began to discuss the matter in small groups.

Huashi City, though called a city, was in truth a small place. It was often shrouded in gloomy, rainy weather; were it not for its excellent education system, the city would be even more deserted.

Yet, for some reason, strange rumors always lingered here: tales of the slit-mouthed woman, the eight-foot-tall figure, and the slender shadow—all stories even three-year-olds could recite. Recently, however, all conversation revolved around the “serial killer.” Though the term was used, no bodies had ever been found, and so the case remained unresolved.

While others discussed the matter heatedly, the girl sitting by the window calmly sipped her coffee. She grimaced at the taste and set the cup down, then flipped through the documents in her hand.

The man opposite her looked exhausted. He was a real estate agent—he had met countless clients, but never one as picky as this girl!

She was a university student from the city, young and beautiful, and it was clear from her attire and accessories that she was wealthy. She was already striking, but with her carefully applied makeup, she was even more dazzling.

Her long, slightly wavy hair framed her delicate features. She wore a sleeveless V-neck floral dress, its cinched waist accentuating her slender figure, and beneath the flared skirt were a pair of straight, graceful legs.

In truth, her appearance was flawless, but her temperament was impossibly fastidious!

The agent wiped the sweat from his brow with a tissue. “Miss Bai, I’ve shown you every listing in the city. If none of them suit your taste, I really don’t know what else I can do!”

He had introduced her to more than forty properties. She complained about some being too far, others too noisy—those were understandable. But then she criticized the placement of electrical outlets, the Wi-Fi signal in bathrooms, and so on.

When, finally, she seemed to take a liking to one house, he brought her for a viewing, only to encounter a domestic dispute next door—a young couple arguing loudly.

The husband demanded, “Whose child is it, really?”
The wife replied, “It’s yours, of course!”
He shouted, “Impossible! I’ve had a vasectomy!”
She yelled back, “Why does a grown man care so much? I’ll call the child your father’s, won’t I?”

The sounds of their quarrel echoed faintly from the other side.

She pressed her ear to the door for a while, then declared, “This won’t do.”

The agent protested, “Miss Bai, it’s not usually noisy here—just the neighbors having a rare spat. It won’t affect your rest.”

She clicked her tongue. “I didn’t even catch whose child it was. I can’t stand missing the gossip if I live here.”

The agent fell silent.

Once, his colleagues envied him for having such a beautiful client, but now he desperately wished to terminate their contract.

Back in the present, the agent watched as she finished perusing the documents, still dissatisfied. He raised a hand to his forehead.

Bai Yao crossed her arms and glanced at the balding man. “Didn’t you say you’re the best agent in Huashi City? Is this all you’ve got?”

Provoked, the agent produced a file from his bag that he hadn’t intended to show. “If you’re not satisfied with my listings, take a look at this one!”

Bai Yao flipped through it. It was a small detached house—two stories, white walls tinged by age, with pink and red bougainvillea climbing all the way to the roof, cascading like a vibrant waterfall.

Her interest was piqued. “Alright, take me to see it.”

The agent drove her to the house. Bai Yao looked up at the building; as expected, the flowers were beautiful. Still, it was near the outskirts, and though it was only a twenty-minute drive to campus, it seemed inconvenient.

The house was all wood, the agent explained, built in a uniform style—simple, natural, with an original timber aesthetic. After viewing the house, he took Bai Yao for a walk around the neighborhood.

The environment was excellent—lush greenery and tranquil. In fact, it was so quiet that they saw no one for half the day.

Bai Yao considered, then remarked, “The house is lovely, but wouldn’t ordering food here be a pain?”

The agent didn’t hide the truth. “It is a bit inconvenient, but the price is great!”

She shot him a look. “Do you think I’m short on money?”

He hesitated. If her commission weren’t so high, he’d never put up with this demanding heiress!

But she was, after all, still a student.

His earlier enthusiasm had brought her here, but as he regained his composure, he spoke professionally: “If you don’t like it, let’s forget it. Actually, this place has always had some bad rumors…”

Bai Yao’s attention was drawn to the basketball court nearby; she didn’t hear what he was saying.

At dusk, a tall, slender young man was practicing alone on the court.

He was remarkably tall, dressed in a white jersey. As he leapt to shoot, his shirt fluttered up, revealing taut abdominal muscles; when he landed in his sneakers, the lines of his calves appeared powerful and defined.

He caught the ball, his movements swift and lively, radiating youthful vigor. Most striking was his orange hair, brighter than the sunset, damp with sweat and exuding a magnetic energy.

The fading light cast a shadow that outlined the raw, vibrant contours of youth.

He looked up and met the girl’s gaze from the edge of the court.

The agent continued rambling, “In any case, this place isn’t suitable for a young woman to live alone. Let me find you another property.”

Bai Yao replied, “No need. I’ll take this one.”

The agent was baffled. “Why?”

She answered, “I think I’ve found my destined boyfriend.”

He was speechless.

The young man on the court, holding the ball in one hand, walked over. From inside the safety fence, he greeted the girl outside warmly, “Hello! I haven’t seen you here before. Are you a new resident?”

He smiled, bright and spirited.

Separated by the safety net, Bai Yao was struck by his vitality. She smiled, her eyes curving, and replied, “I’m moving in today.”

The agent glanced at the young man inside the fence, then at Bai Yao outside, his expression turning strange.

Had this heiress fallen in love at first sight with a seemingly delinquent youth?