Dragging her last suitcase, Chen Jingan stepped into Apartment Building No. 69 with practiced ease.

The building had fifteen floors, two elevators serving two units per floor. It had been finished just three years earlier and was known as the showpiece tower of Phase Four of Lixiang Star City.

They say the units were sold out in less than half an hour—its popularity rivaled that of grabbing tickets to a top-tier pop star’s concert.

Chen Jingan’s boyfriend, Wei Chengying, was the building’s designer and used his special connections to secure apartment 1301 on the 13th floor right away.

She hadn’t originally wanted to move in and live with him, but Wei Chengying kept persuading her with the excuse of a trial marriage.

She couldn’t refuse him forever, so she finally gave in.

Today was the perfect day for her to move in; it was also the beginning of their life together.

Chen Jingan stepped over the red mat inscribed with “safe comings and goings,” her heart full of expectation, and entered the ground-floor lobby.

The lobby was strikingly designed, full of warm, fashionable touches — all the work of Wei Chengying.

No matter how many times she came, Chen Jingan always felt proud to have such an outstanding boyfriend; sometimes she even felt she didn’t deserve him.

He’s really exceptional — good-looking and makes money. Compared to him, she was just a shut-in who earned a living by writing online novels. The gap between them wasn’t just vast; it was like two parallel lines that could never intersect, yet by some twist of fate they’d sparked a connection.

Chen Jingan reached the elevator and pressed the up button.

While waiting, she took out her phone and sent Wei Chengying a WeChat message.

–When will you be back? I’m down to my last piece of luggage, I’ll be home in a bit.

Wei Chengying replied immediately:

–Almost there. What do you want for dinner tonight? Eat out or cook at home?

Chen Jingan looked at the message, a happy smile spreading across her face.

–Let’s cook at home. I think there are still ingredients in the fridge; don’t want to waste them.

Wei Chengying replied:

–Already slipping into the role of a wife so soon? Then I’d better hurry back and taste your cooking.

Chen Jingan sent a kissing-face emoji, then shoved her phone back into her pocket.

At that moment the elevator arrived. She stepped in, pressed for the 13th floor, and then heard hurried footsteps outside.

“Wait! Don’t close the door yet!”

Chen Jingan quickly hit the open-door button, and the nearly closed elevator doors slid back open.

A girl with a backpack and a high ponytail ran in, head down.

“Thank you.”

The girl was still gasping heavily. Chen Jingan glanced over casually and noticed she was soaked from head to toe, as if she’d been submerged in water.

Mid-July weather makes you sweat after standing outside for a while, though not so much that your socks and shoes drip with water.

The elevator doors closed again. Chen Jingan saw she had pressed the 6th floor—she must be a resident of this building.

“Do you have class this weekend?”

Chen Jingan broke the silence and made small talk.

The girl seemed a little shy, leaning in the corner with her head down, her voice pitifully soft.

“Mm, I’m attending a cram school.”

Chen Jingan didn’t look at her, staring at the numbers on the elevator display as they kept ticking upward.

“You must be in high school, right? First year or second year?”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Second year.”

“Second year of high school, huh.” Chen Jingan breathed, about to ask if her studies were very stressful when the sixth floor arrived.

The girl stepped out of the elevator, then turned back and thanked Chen Jingan again.

“Thank you.”

Chen Jingan returned the smile: “You’re welcome.”

The elevator doors slowly closed, and the girl’s figure disappeared with them.

Not long after, floor 13 arrived. Chen Jingan dragged her suitcase to Wei Chengying’s door, took out the spare key to unlock it, and called into the empty living room, “I’m back.”

At 5:58 p.m., Chen Jingan finished organizing her clothes and prepared a whole table of good dishes, waiting for Wei Chengying to come home.

Wei Chengying was very busy with work and often worked overtime on weekends. Chen Jingan was considerate of him; afraid he was too tired, she would frequently come over to cook for him, wait until he finished eating, then wash the dishes before going home.

This routine lasted a whole year, and she seemed to have grown used to treating his home as her own.

So living together wasn’t a huge change for her — the biggest difference was going from sleeping alone at night to sleeping with someone else.

Chen Jingan curled up on the sofa, watching a variety show on TV and laughing out loud.

Suddenly, a bouquet of bright red roses blocked her view.

Chen Jingan looked up in surprise and saw Wei Chengying’s handsome face grow closer and closer until his lips softened—his light, flitting kiss.

Chen Jingan’s face flushed uncontrollably.

“Enjoying the view? What if a thief comes in?”

Wei Chengying yanked off his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

Chen Jingan watched his effortless, fluid movements and found them hopelessly sexy.

“Mm…aren’t you a thief?”

“Mm?”

Wei Chengying paused briefly, then realized she was teasing him.

“Then tell me, what did I steal?”

Wei Chengying bent down again, pretending he was going to kiss her.

Chen Jingan’s face flushed to her ears; she pushed against his chest and stammered, unable to speak.

“Is it your heart?”

Wei Chengying’s palm covered her chest, and combined with his low, husky voice, Chen Jingan couldn’t help her pulse quicken; she willingly closed her eyes.

The kiss ultimately didn’t happen—the sudden, loud knocking interrupted them at the worst moment.

Wei Chengying rose to open the door. Two unfamiliar policemen stood outside.

An older police officer said, “Do you know the tenant of Apartment 402?”

Chen Jingan heard the question and followed along.

Wei Chengying put an arm around her shoulders and replied calmly, “I don’t know her.”

Another young policeman sneered and retorted, “Someone saw you get into the elevator with her; she even greeted you. And you still say you don’t know her?”

Wei Chengying thought for a moment, then stuck to his story: “When I came back from work, I did get into the elevator with a woman, but I don’t know her. Her greeting was probably just basic politeness—what’s the problem?”

The older policeman shook his head at the younger officer and continued to ask, “What were you doing between six and six-thirty?”

Wei Chengying answered truthfully, “I drove home; I got back at around 6:28.”

“Officer, what’s wrong with the 402 resident?” Chen Jing’an asked casually.

The young policeman seemed to be in a bad mood and shot her a warning glance. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

Chen Jing’an retreated into Wei Chengying’s arms, waited until they finished their questions, then watched them head for the elevator.

As luck would have it, the elevator doors opened and the next-door neighbor, who had just come back from watching the commotion, immediately clammed up when he saw the police.

When the elevator reached the ground, the neighbor ran up to them and asked what the police were there for.

Wei Chengying brushed off with a few inconsequential words, and then used a counter-question to draw out what they’d seen.

It turned out that Apartment 401 was occupied by a female resident named Zhang Yuyan, twenty-four years old. Her family ran a glass factory—she was a bona fide second-generation rich kid. For some unknown reason, she suddenly couldn’t bear it anymore and hanged herself at home.

That’s not the worst part — the worst part is she died wearing red, and after death she’ll have to turn into a vengeful ghost.

The neighbor grew more and more frightened as he spoke, clutching his wife and preparing to go sleep at his mother-in-law’s house for the night.

Chen Jingan felt a chill run through her limbs. She had just moved into the building and already someone had died — it felt like very bad luck.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here, everything will be okay.”

Wei Chengying held Chen Jingan, comforting her.

Chen Jingan nodded and went into the room with him, but who could have guessed this was only the beginning.

📘 The complete novel is available for download in PDF via the link below.