Chapter 146
C146 – Knocked on the Door
As Su Ming made his way back, he was caught off guard by a sudden gust of wind.
He glanced upward.
The sky was a blanket of dark clouds, with the moon now hidden from view.
Though it was just past seven in the evening, darkness had already fallen, obscuring the once-visible mountains in the distance.
Checking the weather forecast on his phone, Su Ming saw a heavy downpour was predicted for the night.
He needed to rush back and tell the workers to call it a night.
The construction site foreman, upon hearing of the impending storm, quickly directed his crew to secure the building materials.
The tasks were a breeze for them, and in no time, they had tidied up the site and headed off to rest.
Back at the villa, Su Ming flicked on the lights and settled into his bedroom. He booted up his computer, ready for a gaming session.
Just then, lightning streaked across the window, followed by a massive gust of wind and the onset of torrential rain.
A wave of concern washed over Su Ming.
Could this deluge harm his crops?
Still uneasy, he grabbed an umbrella and decided to check on his fields.
Standing there, everything was serene, as if untouched by the storm. The soil was dry, the crops thriving.
Yet, just beyond, the rain was relentless.
Could the System truly be this formidable?
Relieved, Su Ming let out a sigh. With the System’s safeguard, his crops were in no danger. He yawned, ready to dive back into his game.
But as the game loaded, a knock at the door jolted him.
Su Ming paused, realizing in his haste, he’d left the door ajar.
Only President Chen and Wang Guohui would visit, and the construction boss had already retired for the night.
With a hint of curiosity, Su Ming approached the window for a closer look.
A woman stood there.
From this distance, her features were indistinct, but her silhouette was striking in a short skirt, showcasing her slender, pale legs.
With a smile, Su Ming made his way downstairs to greet his unexpected guest.
The girl burst through the door.
“Thank you so much!”
Completely soaked, she apologized, “I’m sorry, it started pouring out of nowhere while I was walking, and with no shelter in sight, I took the liberty of knocking on your door. I hope I haven’t intruded…”
Su Ming was momentarily taken aback.
“Aren’t you scared I might be a bad guy?”
He smirked mischievously.
But to his surprise, the girl burst into laughter.
Su Ming was perplexed.
Was she questioning his intentions?
“Tell me, what was that laugh about?”
“I’m sorry, so sorry!” she quickly realized her mistake and apologized profusely.
She had been lucky to find shelter from the rain and couldn’t risk offending Su Ming.
“I, I, I…”
Then, an idea struck her. “Someone as good-looking as you couldn’t possibly be a bad person, right?”
Su Ming arched an eyebrow, skeptical of her flattery.
“I…”
The girl, catching Su Ming’s doubtful look, hung her head.
“I’m sorry.”
She seemed extremely anxious.
With a resigned shake of his head, Su Ming said, “The third room on your right is the shower. Once you’re done, you’ll find clean clothes in the wardrobe; they’re all men’s, but feel free to wear whatever fits. Next to the shower is the kitchen, stocked with food. Help yourself to whatever you’d like to cook.”
With that, Su Ming headed upstairs.
The girl breathed a sigh of relief as he left, still feeling a bit on edge.
She had only just recovered from an illness and was still quite frail.
The area was dominated by office towers – banks, business centers – places she couldn’t enter without an access card.
The downpour had been abrupt.
She had been right at this doorstep when the skies opened up. Even if she had dashed for the nearest Guoxing Building, it was a good two hundred meters away. By then, she would have been drenched.
Taking a taxi home would mean another half-hour on the road.
She was certain to catch a cold, perhaps even ending up in the hospital.
Above all, she had a deep-seated fear of thunder.
With a quiet sigh of relief, she watched Su Ming ascend the stairs to the second floor. Stealthily, she slipped into the room, gently closed the door behind her, and turned the lock.
Upon opening the wardrobe, she was met with an array of pristine men’s clothing, the packaging untouched.
She grabbed a towel from nearby and headed into the bathroom.
She quickly showered in the hot water, her nerves heightened by the unfamiliarity of being in someone else’s home.
Post-shower, she was somewhat dismayed at not having brought any undergarments.
Her only option was to wash her underwear and use the dryer to dry them.
With everything taken care of, she finally felt a bit more at ease.
No sooner had she stepped out of the room than she let out an involuntary sneeze.
“Are you okay?”
It was then that Su Ming descended from the second floor, suggesting, “Take a seat on the sofa for a bit. I’ll whip up some ginger soup for you.”
She nodded meekly and settled onto the sofa, taking in her surroundings.
The villa was expansive and exuded luxury.
What kind of person was he to own such a place in the heart of the city?
Her curiosity piqued.
Su Ming prepared a bowl of ginger soup, into which he dropped a Body-stretching Pill.
As he did this, memories flooded back to him.
He recalled a time with Wang Xue when she had a cold, and he had made her ginger soup.
Times had changed, though.
A smile crept onto Su Ming’s face. Since when had he become so nostalgic?
Shaking off the sentiment, he presented the ginger soup to the young woman. She eagerly clutched the steaming cup with both hands and began to drink.
After a cautious blow to cool it, she took a tentative sip.
The scalding ginger soup slid down her throat, sending a comforting warmth radiating through her body, soothing her considerably.
“Thank you.”