At the supermarket downstairs, she bought a serving of low-fat bread and a bag of backup sanitary pads. Just as she was about to check out, she thought of something and went back to grab an extra pregnancy test stick. The young man at the counter and the middle-aged woman waiting in line to check out both glanced at Long Qi at the same time. She used her fingers to support her chin while chewing gum, completely oblivious as she stared at the candy counter at the front.

Then, before checking out, she made up her mind to grab an extra pack of chocolate beans.

Carrying the shopping bag with one hand, she went upstairs. At the sixth floor, she used her other hand to fish out her keys from her bag to open the door. Just as she opened it, she heard the sound of video games coming from the inner bedroom. She placed the bag on the living room table among the messy pile of bowls and chopsticks. She took out the chocolate beans from inside, and while unwrapping them, she stood on the scale in the corner of the living room.

When the pointer pointed to forty-five, the motion of unwrapping the packaging bag slowed down. Then, without hesitation, she threw the entire bag of chocolate into the nearby trash can. She returned to the table to take a piece of low-fat bread and bit it with her mouth, sealing up the rest and putting it in the refrigerator.

Next, she went to the bathroom to turn on the water preparing to shower. She also opened her phone to check last month’s period date. Outside, the sound of video gaming gradually quieted down. The sound of water grew louder. She pulled down the hair tie and ran her fingers through her hair.

But at this moment, the phone plopped and fell from her palm into the sink. She quickly grabbed it and shook off the water, muttering “tsk” under her breath. She pulled out a towel to wipe the phone. As she was about to put down the towel, she glanced at the top of the rack. This casual glance caused her movements to pause slightly. She discovered something.

It was a fingernail-sized black thing hidden at the bottom of a pile of towels. She pulled it out and saw the infrared camera lens.

In less than three seconds, the bathroom door was yanked open with a bang! A loud crash shook into the narrow living room. Long Qi walked toward the inner bedroom with the speed of wind under her feet, forcefully pounding the door with her palm! Panicked sounds of a chair spinning came from the inner room.

He didn’t open the door, so she went into the kitchen to find the spare key from the pile of dishes. In just a few moves, she unlocked it and forcefully pushed the door against the wall. Long Xinyi at the computer desk turned his chair around in a panic with no way out. His hand gripped the mouse tightly. On the screen was the game screen that had been quickly switched back to.

“What are you doing!” he roared.

Without stopping for a step, she walked over, seized the mouse and exited the game page. He cursed loudly, and the real-time voyeuristic footage of the bathroom immediately jumped out from behind the game page. She violently yanked the mouse cord apart and smashed it on the ground. Long Xinyi suddenly bounced up from his chair: “What’s the point of breaking things!”

Long Qi turned a deaf ear and lifted his computer tower out from under the desk. Long Xinyi was about to curse with profanity starting with “C,” but was immediately stunned by her action of opening the window. The shattering sound of the tower falling from the sixth floor to the ground floor was like a car accident scene. He seemed to be struck by thunderbolts from the clear sky. His entire face froze, his mouth shape stagnating in the grimacing state before cursing with “C.”

A sound of the door rapidly opening came from the living room. The aunt who had just gotten off work heard the noise and rushed in anxiously: “What are you doing, what are you doing! Tearing down the house or what!”

“Mom…” This tall guy Long Xinyi’s face was pale, “She threw my computer tower.”

Before the aunt could curse, Long Qi had already gone to her own room to get her bag and clothes. As she passed Long Xinyi’s room, she threw out one line: “Serves you right,” put on her jacket, and slammed the door as she left!

“Qi-Qi! Long Qi!” The aunt’s voice came sharply from the top of the stairs, “Come up! Auntie is giving you a chance to reflect, do you hear me!”

There was no response. The voice continued: “Not coming up, are you! If you don’t come up, go outside and think clearly! Don’t come back until you’ve thought it through!”

…

After leaving the residential complex gate, her stomach started to hurt. Long Qi pressed her abdomen and leaned against the entrance next to the supermarket. She opened her wallet to check how much money she had, then used her phone to search for nearby hotel room prices and rental information. Finally, enduring the pain, she flipped through her contacts. Her finger paused for a while when sliding past Jin Yiken’s number, then continued scrolling down, calling another person’s mobile number.

“Hello, Abel…” She squatted down in pain, “Do you have any events tomorrow that you can bring me to? Exhibitions or photoshoots are both fine…”

…

“Yeah, anyway any activities except drinking parties and dinner parties are fine. If you have any, call me… I need money.”