Silent Witness - Chapter 12

Inside the office, discussions about the case continued to rise and fall. By the window, Li Hewei stared intently at her phone screen, the message she had been typing in the WeChat chat box remaining unsent.

Your dorm application was rejected? Why are you looking at rental listings?

Known for her straightforwardness, Li Hewei typically avoided beating around the bush. Yet when it came to Tao Ling, she often hesitated. She attributed this to their shared fate as transmigrators, believing she should act with utmost caution.

Moreover, after over half a month of living together, she felt she had gained a basic understanding of Tao Ling’s personality. Likely troubled by her original family, Tao Ling was introverted, thoughtful, and carried a subtle air of detachment. Her strong sense of pride likely made her reluctant to accept kindness from others.

Boundaries warring within her, Li Hewei carefully deleted the message.

At 9:10 PM, Li Hewei was the last to leave the office. She took the elevator downstairs, walked through the bicycle parking shed, and suddenly stopped.

Across from the dormitory building, a small figure stood beneath a sycamore tree, slender and unassuming like a jasmine flower, blooming quietly yet radiating an undeniable presence. Li Hewei watched as the girl steadied her bicycle with her right hand while talking on her phone with her left. Drawn closer without realizing it, Li Hewei faintly overheard the conversation.

“550 a month, no lower. Fully furnished, even has air conditioning. Where else are you going to find a deal like this?”

Tao Ling reasoned, “This is the seventh floor of a walk-up building, and it’s the smaller bedroom.” Studio apartments in walk-up buildings typically rent for around 500, with rents decreasing as the floor number increases.

“Take it or leave it.”

“Thank you, I’ll think about it.”

“Waste of time.”

The call abruptly ended. Tao Ling lowered her head, her thumb scrolling across the screen as she dialed another number.

“The number you have dialed has been turned off. Please try again later…”

The third call.

“Hello, I’m nearby. May I view the apartment?”

“It was rented out yesterday.”

“Thank you.”

Tao Ling dialed the last number on her list.

“Auntie, is the master bedroom occupied by a man or a woman?”

“A young man who just graduated from university. Don’t worry, he has a wonderful personality and is very clean.”

Tao Ling politely declined, pressed her lips into a thin line, and put away her phone. The streetlight cast a halo around her profile, highlighting her long, slightly curled lashes, the warm yellow glow on her nose, and the bead of sweat tracing a path down her neck to disappear into her pale collarbone.

Li Hewei sighed almost imperceptibly and stepped toward her, her slender figure slowly enveloping the petite form.

“Tao Ling?” Li Hewei called out softly, feigning a chance encounter. “Why aren’t you home yet?”

Tao Ling paused for a moment before replying, “I have something to take care of.”

Li Hewei decided to press further, determined to get the full story from the little quail before her. “What is it?”

Tao Ling wasn’t good at lying, and she didn’t want to deceive Li Hewei. She hesitated, stammering, before finally admitting, “My housing application was rejected, so I’m looking for an apartment. I want to find one as soon as possible.”

“Why was your application rejected?”

A deep, unyielding sorrow clouded Tao Ling’s features as she replied in a heavy tone, “Dormitory priority is given to single colleagues without permanent housing. My family lives in Puchen, so I don’t qualify.”

“That’s quite a hassle,” Li Hewei said, feigning ignorance. “Have you found a suitable place yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Are you looking for a roommate or a studio apartment?”

“A roommate.” Studio apartments start at 800 yuan per month, and Tao Ling’s current salary only covers shared housing.

Li Hewei blurted out, “How about this? I’ll be your landlord. 500 yuan a month, utilities included, with water, electricity, and gas split evenly.”

“Sister Wei…” Tao Ling looked up, meeting her gaze, a subtle ripple of emotion stirring in her eyes.

“If you share with a stranger, you won’t know their habits or temperament. What if you clash and it affects your work? That would be counterproductive,” Li Hewei hummed softly. “Besides, I’m not offering you free rent.”

Imperial Garden International was a high-end residential complex with comprehensive amenities. A shared second bedroom there would typically cost at least 700 yuan, not to mention the quality of Li Hewei’s apartment, which could easily command 800 yuan. Tao Ling understood this was a friendship price. She twisted her hands together, hesitating for a long moment, but before she could speak, her bicycle was suddenly snatched away.

Li Hewei pushed the bicycle. “Let’s go.”

Tao Ling silently watched her straight back, sensing her unwavering resolve. There was no room for further refusal. She hurried forward, falling into step beside Li Hewei, her voice barely a whisper: “Thank you.”

Knowing Tao Ling carried a psychological burden, Li Hewei deliberately said, “As repayment, how about cooking for me occasionally?”

“Okay.” The heavy weight in Tao Ling’s heart lifted slightly. It seemed she’d rather explore new flavors with someone who could offer emotional support than spend weekends cooking for her parents, only to have her father criticize her slow pace.

“When are you planning to move?”

“Anytime. After this busy period is over.”

Li Hewei worried about her parents’ reaction. “Have you told your family?”

Tao Ling nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

“What did they say?”

“They disapprove.” Tao Ling smiled bitterly. “But I’ve already made up my mind.” Tao Luhai had refused to pay Aunt Zhang to help transport the fish, so Tao Ling secretly negotiated with her, offering 300 yuan as a token of gratitude and promising to help out during her own breaks.

As they walked down the long street, Li Hewei silently led her into the Imperial Garden International residential complex. “Let’s strike while the iron’s hot. We’ll go right now.”

Tao Ling stopped in her tracks, inwardly surprised, but her voice remained calm. “Almost 9:30.” She glanced around and realized they were standing beside the parking shed next to the neighborhood basketball court.

Li Hewei raised an eyebrow. “That’s not late.”

Tao Ling’s steady heartbeat faltered at her sudden suggestion.

Li Hewei bent down to lock her bicycle tire to the railing, then took two steps forward. Noticing Tao Ling still rooted to the spot, she turned back. “What are you waiting for?”

Tao Ling gazed at Li Hewei’s refined features, her eyes—like a winter river—slowly thawing, fragments of sunlight shimmering within.

In the underground parking garage on the second basement level, Li Hewei and Tao Ling had just settled into the car when Cheng Yingqiu yanked open the back door and slipped inside.

“Hey, I told you to wait at home,” Li Hewei said, tilting her head as she fastened her seatbelt.

Cheng Yingqiu grinned. “I was bored. I can be the pack mule.”

Li Hewei scolded her playfully. “If you’re taking the back seat, where will Tao Ling put her things?”

“It’s fine. I don’t have much luggage. I can just take my summer clothes for now,” Tao Ling replied, turning to look back, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. “Yingqiu…”

Cheng Yingqiu raised a hand to stop her. “Enough. We’re sisters. No need for thanks.”

Tao Ling’s heart warmed. Just as she was about to say something, the person behind them changed the subject. “Sis, Qiu Wan wants to treat me to dinner.”