The Resident Upstairs

On the answer sheet, the handwriting was meticulous and the solutions to the questions were densely written, a far cry from the empty sheet that Wen Guanjie had anticipated. Upon closer examination, the mathematical workings on Tang Qiao's answer sheet were impeccably correct.

Wen Guanjie's heart raced, and he felt light-headed. He couldn't bear to look any longer.

Even Yan Ping, who was approaching, glanced at the test paper on the desk, her eyes widening in sheer astonishment. The shock she experienced was no less than Wen Guanjie's. Just as she was about to reexamine it, Wen Guanjie abruptly snatched Tang Qiao's test paper and proceeded to the podium to seal it. In a low voice, he instructed, "Keep invigilate first." He feared that the magnitude of the surprise might overwhelm him.

Yan Ping suppressed her astonishment and nodded in agreement.

Below, Lin Qingyu observed the exchange between Wen Guanjie and Yan Ping, her thoughts in disarray. What is happening? Tang Qiao has probably turned in a blank paper, hasn't she?

...

Late at night, Tang Qiao walked through the dimly lit alleyway on her way home. The neighborhood's elevator had broken down, so she could only take the stairs. She clutched two books and ascended the stairs. Fortunately, she lived on a relatively low floor and quickly reached the fourth floor. She was about to take out her key to unlock the door when a loud commotion emanated from the floor above.

She frowned as she recalled that there were no residents living on the upper floor.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Heavy footsteps echoed from above, descending the staircase unsteadily. Tang Qiao sniffed and detected the unmistakable odor of alcohol.

A middle-aged man, towering two heads above Tang Qiao, descended the stairs. He was half-dressed, his gaze unfocused, and he reeked of alcohol, a clear sign of inebriation. He clutched a bottle of liquor in his hand as he staggered forward. He was a drunkard.

Tang Qiao turned to insert her key into the lock.

"Eh?" The drunk man lurched downward, his bleary eyes fixed on Tang Qiao's delicate profile.

Abruptly, he uttered, "Beauty, little beauty... I'm here. How about spending some time with me..."

As he spoke, he reached for his belt, ready to unbuckle it, and lurched toward Tang Qiao. The repugnant mixture of sweat and alcohol emanating from him made Tang Qiao feel nauseated. She moved to evade him, but just as she did, the door swung open, and a strong grip seized her wrist.

"Bang!"

Jiang You's face was shrouded in darkness as he grabbed Tang Qiao's wrist and swung a rod at the drunkard.

"Who is it? Who dares to strike me?" The drunkard seemed to snap out of his stupor, clutching his head in pain. His belt, which had been partially unbuckle moments ago, now hung limply. He glared fiercely at Jiang You and Tang Qiao.

Jiang You held onto Tang Qiao's hand, his exquisite features hidden in the shadows. His dark eyes concealed a simmering, latent aggression.

Tang Qiao reacted and attempted to pull Jiang You back, but he remained motionless.

"Jiang You, let's go inside," Tang Qiao urged, applying more force.

Jiang You lowered his gaze, his fingers caressing the rod gently. He nodded calmly.

Tang Qiao swiftly ushered Jiang You into the room and securely locked the door behind them.

"You really startled me back there," she admitted. She could have managed the obnoxious drunkard on her own, but when Jiang You appeared, her heart skipped a beat, fearing for his safety.

"It's all right now," Jiang You reassured her, releasing Tang Qiao's hand. His fingers grazed the watch on his wrist, emitting a faint light. It was the children's watch that Tang Qiao had purchased for him.

"A new tenant moved upstairs," Jiang You mentioned.

Tang Qiao nodded, surmising that the drunkard was likely the new resident. Just as she pondered the situation, there came a loud pounding at the door. "You little brat! Come out here! Damn it, you actually dared to lay a hand on me!"

Tang Qiao frowned and was about to open the door to confront the drunkard when Jiang You reached out and restrained her. "Ignore him."

"But he..." Tang Qiao began, only for the knocking to suddenly cease.

"He's gone," Jiang You informed her.

Outside the door, a man dressed in black crouched down and lightly tapped the unconscious drunkard's cheek. He shook his head. You're unlucky. Out of all the people you could have provoked, you chose to pick a fight with someone under the young master's protection. He extended his hand and dragged the man away.

Tang Qiao waited for a moment, and when there were no more sounds from outside the door, she sighed with relief.

"Let's consider moving," Jiang You suggested abruptly. "The security in this neighborhood isn't great, the houses aren't well-designed, and the people can be quite unruly."

Tang Qiao hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement. "Okay." She hadn't touched a single cent of the 200,000 yuan Jiang You had earned in the stock market. Initially, she had intended to save it for his medical expenses, but now it seemed that they should prioritize finding a better living environment. It was one thing for her to live alone, but Jiang You was home during the day. He was just a child...

With this in mind, Tang Qiao affectionately pinched Jiang You's cheek. It appeared that she needed to work harder to earn money and not let her adopted brother surpass her. The thought of making money reminded her of her only career—knowledge streaming.