The Unreturnable Refrigerator

Sypnosis:

Lu Yin has a recent problem: her hoarding seems to have gotten more serious.

Despite her best efforts to restrain herself, her two refrigerators and one freezer at home are all completely stuffed with things. Just as she was about to buy another fridge, a virus outbreak locked down her residential community.

Seeing messages in the community group asking for supplies, Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. This was the perfect chance to clear some things out!

She saw the owner of Unit 902 in Building 12 post a message in the group, asking to buy a carton of eggs. The complex consists of 9-story low-rise buildings with two units per floor. Lu Yin had chosen Unit 901, the top-floor unit on the west side.

Building 12 was her building, and 902 was her next-door neighbor! She’d lived there for half a year without ever meeting them, so she’d assumed the unit was empty.

Lu Yin glanced at the cartons of eggs packed into her fridge, her eyes curving into a smile. It was time for her neighbor to experience the saying: “A good neighbor is better than a distant relative.”

…

After being dumped by her ex-girlfriend, Sheng Xiali became a complete workaholic, hating that she couldn’t spend all 24 hours a day making money, and living in hotels far more than at home.

The virus outbreak forced her to work from home, but before she had time to buy any supplies, the complex was locked down. She had no choice but to seek help in the owners’ group.

Less than five minutes after she posted her message, just as she’d put on a face mask, the doorbell rang.

Sheng Xiali opened the door to find her neighbor, dressed in a pink fuzzy loungewear suit with rabbit ears on her head, smiling like a sunflower.

Sheng Xiali, who could confidently strategize and hold her own at any negotiation table, was instantly speechless, her body frozen stiff like a puppet.

The other woman glanced at her empty home, her eyes immediately reddened, and she put down the eggs and ran back inside.

In just five minutes, her little neighbor had brought her: A case of brightly colored sodas Two cases of 24-pack luosifen (river snail rice noodles) Three massive tins of teddy bear cookies … Looking at her now-stuffed living room, Sheng Xiali touched the dry mask on her face, her eyes moist and fervent.

Before she could even take off her mask, the doorbell rang again.

A large, 504L double-door white fridge appeared at the door.

A rabbit head peeked out from behind the fridge. Lu Yin’s eyes were curved into a smile: “Just return the fridge to me when you’ve finished everything.” “Don’t mention it.” “We’re neighbors, after all. We should help each other out.”

Sheng Xiali stared at the familiar white fridge. On it were the magnets she’d bought during her business trips. Her gaze fell on one blackboard magnet that read [On business, back in 7 days, love you]. Memories came flooding back.

“I still have the receipt for this fridge. Strictly speaking, it’s my fridge.”

Under Lu Yin’s shocked gaze, Sheng Xiali ripped off the now-dry mask on her face, a look of mockery in her eyes.

“Isn’t that right, ex-girlfriend?”