Chapter 28 "Beautiful and Kind-hearted"?

He Chunmei exchanged gazes with her and immediately understood. "Then let's just wait here. I'm not working today anyway, and there's nothing to do at home."

Although her son and daughter were running a fever, there was nothing she could do except worry.

Besides, she was right at her own doorstep and could take care of any situation immediately.

Her husband, Zhou Guangfu, hadn't come back from buying medicine and supplies yet, but there were still two elderly people at home.

"Sister, do you have any disposable cups?" Zhang Qiqi asked her sideways.

He Chunmei was taken aback, "Yes, I have some. What's up?"

Zhang Qiqi flicked her shoulder-length hair and gently opened her red lips,

"I still have a few packs of sour plum powder at home. I'll go down and bring a pack up. You can use the cups to make a drink to help everyone cool down. My son is still inside—it seems like he's starting to show signs of a fever, and I'm not comfortable leaving him alone downstairs. I'll bring him up with me."

Everyone loved the idea, sending admiring and envious glances her way.

"My God, Miss, you're so young and you have a kid already!" The one who spoke was the young girl who earlier reminded everyone that blocking the door was illegal.

Another woman clicked her tongue, "Exactly, just look at that slender waist, not even a tiny belly. And her face is all plump with collagen, not looking like someone who has given birth at all!"

It was extremely hot today, and Zhang Qiqi wore a slim-fit floral spaghetti strap chiffon long dress, revealing her slender and graceful figure without a doubt.

"Lady, you're not only beautiful but also kind-hearted. Sour plum soup is perfect for beating the heat!" a woman in her fifties echoed.

"That's right! This is the kind of normal behavior we neighbors should have, helping each other to overcome tough times together. Not like that selfish brat in 3201; she just looks out for herself! When she needs help, I'd like to see who's willing to help her!"

While venting her frustration, He Chunmei did not forget to turn her head and spit towards Jiang Yan's door.

Overhearing the compliments, joy was evident in Zhang Qiqi's eyes.

Once the topic of gossip started, there was no stopping it.

"Let me tell you, typically having a son means the wife is smarter than the husband. But if they have a daughter, it means the husband is smarter than the daughter. This is scientifically proven! So Qiqi, you must be clever and totally in control of your husband!"

"Lady, your husband must have saved a galaxy in his past life!"

The conversation quickly shifted towards Zhang Qiqi's husband's occupation.

"Qiqi, what does your husband do? It's so hot these days, how could he leave you all alone at home? Plus, I don't think I've ever seen him," said the pregnant woman who had earlier mentioned seeing Jiang Yan leaving.

She usually had nothing to do and liked to stand by the floor-to-ceiling windows, observing the various people coming and going in the garden.

She certainly saw Zhang Qiqi when she moved in.

But from a distance and probably because she was in a black dress, she hadn't noticed the black mourning band Zhang Qiqi wore on her arm at that time.

Prompted by the pregnant woman's question, everyone's curious eyes turned to Zhang Qiqi.

Indeed, being so young and beautiful with a husband who was hardly ever home sparked a great deal of curiosity.

"My husband is a deep-sea sailor, off on a voyage overseas. He hasn't returned yet," Zhang Qiqi said naturally, frowning slightly as she sighed,

"Ah, with the intense heat worldwide and the Blood Mosquito, who knows when he can come back..."

"Wow, a deep-sea sailor, that's a high-paying job! And since he's always on the ship, there's nowhere for him to spend money. Perfect, he earns abroad while you stay beautiful at home! I'm so envious!" someone exclaimed with an envious expression.

Others joined in, echoing similar sentiments. The atmosphere was, at a glance, hotter than the fifty-degree room temperature.

Zhang Qiqi, with a smile listening to everyone's compliments, was internally feeling a mix of emotions, wishing she could just disappear from the spot:

"Alright, ladies, keep chatting. I'm going to head downstairs and get the sour plum powder for everyone."

With that, she left without waiting for a response, turning around and departing.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, her expression changed in an instant.

The others' conversation continued, growing louder.

At that moment, He Chunmei glanced at the continuously closed doors of 3202 and 3204 next door and suggested:

"Everyone, it's still early, and it's not practical just standing here. Moreover, we don't know when that troublemaker will return. How about this—most of you come wait at my place, and we'll rotate shifts keeping watch here. As soon as someone spots the elevator reaching the 30th floor, they can call the rest. How does that sound?"

"Good!"

"Then we'll trouble Sister Chunmei!"

Everyone, already dizzy from the heat, was further influenced by the conversation and atmosphere, unanimously agreeing.

*

By the time Jiang Yan returned near Shallow Bay, it was already past five in the afternoon.

At this moment, the temperature had risen to fifty-five degrees Celsius.

She had earlier hidden her motorcycle in an unmonitored alley near the community, away from any cameras, and stored it in her "Space."

She also took out a large backpack she had prepared in advance.

This was the same backpack she had been wearing when she left home in the morning.

She knew that in urban communities, there usually wasn't high attention among neighbors.

Some next-door neighbors barely greeted each other throughout the year.

But there were always those curious folks who liked to surreptitiously observe, especially on a day with unusually high temperatures and human attacks by Blood Mosquitoes.

Furthermore, the layout of the buildings in Shallow Bay was quite peculiar.

To leave, all residents had to pass through the central garden, essentially putting their behaviors on full display.

At this moment, the backpack was stuffed with light yet bulky supplies like instant noodles and a box of tissues.

The side pockets were bulging with two bottles of mineral water.

Not forgetting, she also carried two non-woven shopping bags filled with various goods.

Anyone observant enough could tell she had been out to get supplies.

Moreover, when she left early in the morning, there were almost no people in the community garden.

Since she was fully protected from head to toe, no one took notice.

But now, there were noticeably more people returning home laden with large and small bags of supplies at the community entrance.

The stream of cars heading to the underground garage had also increased.

Thinking it over, she removed her odd, attention-grabbing thermal hat and replaced it with a cap and sunglasses to shield her eyes from the glaring sun.

All set, Jiang Yan bravely walked towards the community entrance despite the heat wave hitting her face.

Just as she stepped into the community, "Snap!" a black dead bird fell from the sky.

Jiang Yan slightly furrowed her brows.

Glancing at the ground, several dead birds were scattered around the central garden.

There were some on the outside road as well, but noticeably more inside the garden.

Most likely, they had died from dehydration due to the high temperature.