Mister Li, the Heart Bandit

Suddenly, Ji Weixi could faintly hear the sound of something being moved outside the door. She stood up to look out of her door’s peephole but couldn’t see anything clearly, but luckily, she only had to open a narrow slit to see several black-clothed men moving various brand-new furniture to the house next door.

The house next door had always been vacant. Were her new neighbors coming in today?

Still, that had nothing to do with her.

Ji Weixi was about to close the door when she saw a blonde woman with black eyes wearing a red deep V-neck dress, walking up to the black-clothed men and gesturing as she ordered them around.

That was probably the new owner.

As Ji Weixi closed the door, a hand suddenly reached out and firmly opened it.

It was the woman, who was smiling charmingly. “Hello. I’m Qiao Biluo, your new neighbor.”

Qiao Biluo?

That Qiao Biluo calling herself Li Shaoling’s former girlfriend?

Ji Weixi could not help studying her from head to toe right then. And after having lived four years overseas, Ji Weixi could tell at once that Qiao Biluo was of mixed race.

Moreover, she did not appear vulgar even if she was dressed in rather revealing and racy clothing, just as her looks were prim: her eyes were large and black, and a little sharp when looking at another person.

She wasn’t the same kind of person as Li Wanyun either.

Li Wanyun was kind towards her own type, and just a little less kind when it came to others.

On the other hand, Qiao Biluo was the kind who would destroy anything she thought was good.

Either way, she was dangerous, and it was problematic that she ended up in the same building.

Nonetheless, Ji Weixi smiled. “Hello. I’m Ji Weixi!”

“That’s a nice name!” Qiao Biluo smiled dazzlingly, just like an overly familiar westerner.

“Well, I’m off to clean up my place. Let’s chat when we have the time.” Qiao Biluo waved, and Ji Weixi quickly closed her door.

It seems that Qiao Biluo didn’t know her.

Still, why was she with Li Shaoling? Was this just a coincidence or deliberate on her part?

“Mommy, who was it?”

The little one asked, sitting up on the carpet and skinning another grape before putting it in his mouth.

Ji Weixi returned to the couch and put the little one on her lap while using a tissue paper to wipe his stained mouth. “We have a neighbor now.”

“Neighbor?” The little one’s eyes brightened. “Boy or girl?”

“Girl.”

The little one promptly pouted, looking very upset. “Hmph! Why does it have to be a girl?”

“What’s wrong with girls, baby?”

“What if she tried to take Daddy away? Won’t you have a love rival, Mommy?!” The little one folded his arms unhappily, and looked very blue.

Ji Weixi patted his head, although she was feeling uneasy too.

Her son was right: Qiao Biluo clearly did not recognize her, and they only had a phone call.

She wondered if Li Shaoling knew that Qiao Biluo had moved next door. Wouldn’t things blow up if he did?

She did claim to be his former girlfriend after all.

***

Later in the afternoon, Ji Weixi had sweated all over after busying herself with housework, and there was a knock on the door right after she took a bath.

“Answer the door, son.” Ji Weixi told her little one as she put on her bathrobe.

“Okay!” The little one put down a piece of watermelon and got to his feet.

“Hold on!” Ji Weixi quickly called out again, urgently tying her bathrobe as she walked out when the little one was almost at the door.

He blinked. “What is it, Mommy?”

Ji Weixi dropped to a crouch and told him seriously, “Son, I was wrong just now. Don’t open the door if the person knocking doesn’t tell you who they are. I’m worried some human trafficker would kidnap you, understand?”

The little one nodded. “Okay, got it!”

Ji Weixi petted his little head. “Go have your watermelon, but don’t eat too much.”

Then, she opened the door to find Qiao Biluo outside, holding a plate of steak.

“Hey, darling. Can I come in?”

Ji Weixi nodded. “Sure.”

She stood aside to let Qiao Biluo in, who put the steak on the table straightaway before meeting the little one’s gaze.

“Wow, is this your son?!” Qiao Biluo’s black eyes brightened then, and she walked up to the little one, wanting to pick him up.

The little one, however, was shrinking in fear until he had nowhere to run, and simply started bawling. “Boo-hoo… Mommy! She looks so ugly, I’m so scared!”

Qiao Biluo’s face darkened in irritation and her gaze turned icy.

Even so, she couldn’t afford to lose her temper because the child was crying very violently that his breaths were becoming ragged. It would have been fine if those were harmless words from a child, but his fear wasn’t fake despite his loud cries, and not many would have been able to tell that he was acting.

Her heart aching, Ji Weixi hugged her little one, patting his back. “Don’t cry. She’s a kind woman, you don’t have to be afraid.”

The little one, however, shook his head as hard as he could. “Mommy, I’m scared, I want to go back to my room.

Casting an apologetic glance at Qiao Biluo, Ji Weixi softly said, “Okay, okay. You haven’t had your nap yet, right? I’ll take you to bed, okay?’

Ji Weixi helped the little one change, pulled a blanket over him and kissed him on his forehead, while the little one put his short arms around her neck.

“Mommy!” He told her childishly and quietly. “Do your best! Don’t lose to your love rival!”

Helpless, Ji Weixi pinched his little nose. “Little drama queen.”

Ji Weixi closed his door behind her. “I’m sorry, Miss Qiao. My son is a little afraid of strangers.”

Qiao Biluo forced a smile. “It’s fine. I won’t take children seriously.”

“Oh, right,” she then pushed the steak in front of Ji Weixi. “Here’s some Florence steak. I’ve had my nutritionist import it from Italy. Have a try.”

Ji Weixi waved in refusal. “You should have it, Miss Qiao. Recently… I’ve been having poor appetite.”

And she had never gotten used to western food.

“Oh, just have some. You don’t have to be so polite since we’re neighbors now. Whatever you want to eat, there will be some at my place.” Qiao Biluo said, resting her chin on both hands with a sincere look. “I quite like you; I find you very kind.”

Ji Weixi would be more or less happy if it had been anyone else saying those words.

But for some reason, she actually gelt repulsed instead of happy when Qiao Biluo said it.

Nonetheless, she smiled humbly. “Thank you. You’re quite kind too.”

There’s no way she wouldn’t give face since Qiao Biluo already said it.

Taking a fork to cut and pick one mouthful, the thick honey spread fragrantly in her mouth.

She nodded in praise. “Tastes good. Delicious.”

It’s just a pity that she didn’t like it, not to mention that her teeth weren’t good lately.

Meanwhile, Qiao Biluo had stood up to study the design inside the house, asking questions as if they were long acquainted as she walked around. “Xixi, are you married?”

“No.”

“You have a son without getting married?”

“Yeah.” Ji Weixi did her best not to think about her past.

“Wow, where’s the father, then?” Qiao Biluo asked, smelling the scent of gossip.