I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: There’s a Beauty, Come Over!

 

After a careful examination of the electrical appliances in the rental property and assessing the hygiene in some concealed corners, the property manager proceeded to inspect the water meter. Taking out a piece of paper and a pen from his coat pocket, he casually performed some calculations on it.

 

“You… cough, your brother paid two months’ rent at that time, right? 850 per month?”

 

I nodded, “Yes.”

 

“Two months would be 1700 yuan, the water bill is a total of 530, I won’t bother calculating the rest. By the end of the month, call a cleaning lady to come over for a casual cleaning and disinfection. Consider it as treating the lady to a meal, charge 20 yuan. So, deducting 550 yuan.”

 

Finally, noting down two amounts on the paper, the property manager, Yang Kun, handed me the note, saying, “1700 yuan minus 550 yuan, 1150 yuan, is that correct?”

 

“Uh?”

 

Somewhat bewildered, I took the small note, glanced roughly at the deducted amounts written on it, and replied, “Ah… yes, that’s correct.”

 

Surprisingly, the deduction did not fall below a thousand yuan. Did the property manager discover a sense of conscience? Or did he, considering my status as a young girl with a recently deceased brother, feel awkward about excessively deducting fees and hence made the effort to calculate the highest possible refundable deposit for me?

 

At the time of my lease in the Wujia Apartments, I deposited two months’ rent. It is said that this deposit is utilized during the refund process to cover water expenses, cleaning fees, and furniture damage costs. Wujia Apartments, much like long-term rental apartments, is externally advertised as a “move-in ready” type, equipped with a comprehensive range of amenities such as exhaust hoods, induction cookers, electric water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, and more. Even someone arriving from another province without any personal belongings can enjoy the same treatment as an ordinary family on the day they move in.

 

However, in return, we are required to bear the maintenance costs for these appliances in the apartment, which are factored into the deposit. In theory… as long as there is no violent misuse, most appliances are unlikely to encounter any quality issues.

 

Based on my observations over the years and information gathered from the apartment community, the most common deductions during check-out are related to water expenses.

 

This is because the water meters are located inside the apartments, and it is not feasible for the property manager to check them individually every month for billing. The handling of water expenses is typically addressed uniformly during the checkout process, with adjustments made accordingly.

 

In my previous solo living experience, I calculated that, according to the water deduction rates here, an average individual engaging in typical household activities such as boiling water, bathing, and laundry would not exceed 30 yuan in water expenses per month. This amounts to around three hundred yuan annually.

 

This is still an overestimation, as for the majority of the past few years, I have been working relentlessly at the company. Some companies require constant overtime. I would wake up at 7 am, head to the office, and the only water consumption I had was the minimal usage when brushing my teeth and washing my face. I would often work until 10 or 11 pm, sometimes even returning home at 1 am, eyes barely able to stay open. In winter, I would sometimes even skip showering, going straight to bed upon arriving home. So, I hardly used much water.

 

Hence, my previous estimate for water expenses over two to three years was around five hundred yuan, and the actual amount turned out to be just slightly over five hundred.

 

As for the household appliances, even when I was renting a few years ago, I can say that I am a relatively “quiet” individual, even if I were an older gentleman. I am not prone to rough handling or causing any miracles. After renting for several years, those appliances, apart from being a bit dirty, are still in good condition.

 

“Our standard practice for deposit refunds is within 7 working days, and it may extend if there are holidays. Today is May 20th, and your rent is paid until June. If you decide to check out now, the portion of rent paid for June won’t be refunded.”

 

Seeing that I had no apparent issues, the property manager, Yang Kun, continued, “Do you want to stay a few more days, or do you want to check out now?”

 

“No need to stay a few more days, there’s not much left here. Let’s check out now.”

 

I smiled, “Is the refund processed seven days later?”

 

With the refund date set for May 27th, I would still have some money left and could manage until then. On May 27th, upon receiving the refunded deposit, with the over a thousand yuan, I could sustain myself until June. Additionally, around June 10th, the draft fee for my Honeydew publication would come in, providing a modest sum, including attendance incentives and some rewards like monthly votes. This would be enough to cover my expenses for the next month, especially considering the additional “bonus” from my work at the café.

 

When I can receive the commission bonus from the café and the money earned from taking photos with fans, I shouldn’t have to worry about money in the future. This could be considered… making it through, right? I believe so.

 

During my time living in the Wujia Apartments, I always anticipated a day like this – achieving financial independence. I don’t aspire to immense wealth, as long as I can eat what I want every day, occasionally buy things I like without hesitation, and have time for personal pursuits, hobbies, and dreams outside of work, that would be sufficient.

 

I feel I don’t belong to the type of person who spends recklessly when having a lot of money, leading to limitless desires. Similarly, I wouldn’t find myself struggling to afford instant noodles when low on funds but indulging in Peking duck when there’s some extra money, and with even more money, thinking about enjoying a grand banquet. Having experienced financial difficulties in the past, I tend to save the surplus from my salary, anticipating various potential changes in the future.

 

Unfortunately, the company’s sudden closure, coupled with the owner absconding and the novel website shutting down, presented a series of setbacks that exceeded my risk tolerance.

 

“Later, I’ll report to the supervisor. Once they verify it, they will apply for the funds from the headquarters. In about a week, the company should approve it, and the payment will be processed.”

 

The property manager nodded, curiously scrutinizing me. “However, during the signing of the lease, we used your brother’s ID and bank card. Is it okay if we transfer the money to that account? Do you have the password?”

 

“It’s okay, I can use that card too,” I affirmed. “Just transfer the money directly.”

 

Back when I was still referred to as “Uncle”, I had pondered similar questions several times. How do relevant authorities handle the belongings left behind when someone passes away?

 

During that period, I often wondered about the fate of individuals like me, without parents, suddenly found dead in a rented apartment, only discovered days later by the property manager.

 

The manager reports it to the police, who arrive, rule out foul play, and leave. Afterward, would these police officers handle the aftermath for me? Would my phone number be deactivated? How would they handle my household registration and ID?

 

Now, having experienced these situations firsthand, I understand the answers to these questions. The truth is—no one comes to handle it. The phone remains functional, with no one bothering whether the person is alive or not. The bank card works without any issues, and the ID card can still be used.

 

To put it plainly, everyone is too busy. If someone passes away on your side, please come and apply for deregistration of the household registration, ID, and phone number yourself. If you don’t do it, we won’t bother. If you don’t take care of it, we’ll just leave it as it is.

 

However, from a legal perspective, as the “sister” of Yin Shiren, I have an obligation to deregister the household registration and ID. Failing to do so promptly is a violation of the law. Without canceling the household registration and processing various documents like the death certificate, it’s not possible to proceed with the cremation of the body.

 

The current issue, though, is that due to signing the body donation agreement, my “body” is likely being used for various research purposes in the hospital, rendering the need for cremation unnecessary. Consequently, there’s no immediate need to deregister.

 

Ah… I’ll deal with these matters during the next vacation.

 

Or should I directly ask Yin Xiamo to modify my identity again? Perhaps eliminate the sibling relationship between me and “Yin Shiren”?

 

“It will be within seven working days. For example, if today is Monday, after five working days, it will be Saturday. Then, two more days, and it will be within the next Monday, which is a total of seven working days at the latest.”

 

Facing my “innocent” question, the landlord, Yang Kun, patiently explained, “Of course, it usually won’t be delayed until that late. In most cases, after I report to the headquarters tonight, the cleaning lady will come tomorrow to clean the apartment. Once it’s confirmed that everything is fine, the headquarters approves the deposit refund. Then, we can process the refund here, which takes about three to four days. Stating seven days is just to allow for some buffer time in case of unforeseen circumstances.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Having finally grasped everything, I directed a thankful expression towards the property manager. “Thank you.”

 

“Don’t mention it. A young girl like you should pay attention to safety outside, have three meals on time, and, by all means, avoid staying up late, smoking, and drinking.”

 

The property manager sighed, “To be honest, in our building this month… including your brother, two people have passed away.”

 

“The big brother surnamed Zhang on the fifth floor, right?”

 

“You know him?”

 

“I spoke to him before when I came here. When he was leaving, I noticed his face didn’t look well. His lips were very pale, lacking any color.”

 

Carefully, I inquired, “What happened to him?”

 

“Well, he… has liver issues, kidney problems, a blood clot in his brain, high blood pressure, multiple organ failures…”

 

As if recalling something, the property manager lowered his voice, “I’m telling you this, don’t mention it in the group using your brother’s WeChat ID. If it gets out, I’ll face a salary deduction.”

 

I quickly shook my head, “I won’t say anything.”

 

“He has liver cancer, in the advanced stages, and also kidney failure. He had high blood pressure, and he never paid much attention to his health.”

 

The property manager sighed and stepped out of the room, placing his hands on the railing of the corridor. “As property managers, we often have night shifts. When we can’t endure it, we go to the convenience store, buy some barbecue-flavored melon seeds, and maybe a bottle of alcohol. It’s not like we drink every night. But him? Every time he sees me on duty at night, he insists on drinking together. If it’s not my shift, he goes to nearby bars or nightclubs to party until dawn, then comes back. He doesn’t rest properly the next day—either playing games or going out to flirt with girls.”

 

“When we have night shifts, we go home and take a nap after work. He doesn’t sleep at all, drinks heavily every day, chain-smokes. Think about the air quality in those bars and nightclubs, breathing secondhand smoke all night. Can his liver and lungs be healthy?”

 

The property manager chuckled bitterly. “He stacked all the ‘sudden death’ buffs. I wouldn’t dare to be that reckless. Now, even if I had noticed in time, sending him to the hospital wouldn’t have saved him.”

 

I fell silent for a moment. “Doesn’t he need to work?”

 

“He used to make money by selling game equipment online. Not a lot, around a hundred thousand or so. He came here, decided not to work, and intended to play for a few years.”

 

The property manager earnestly advised, “Young lady, you mustn’t follow his example.”

 

I blurted out, “Uncle, do you think I’m that kind of girl?”

 

Even before transforming into a girl with inherent cleanliness buffs, even as the former “Yin Shiren,” I had no interest in the popular drinking and clubbing culture among young people.

 

Late at night, I would rather stay at home playing games or watching anime and movies.

 

“Haha, just by looking at your appearance and style, I can tell you’re not that type.”

 

The property manager laughed heartily, “You give off a vibe of being particularly… natural, pure, and kind.”

 

An alternative form for ‘silly, sweet, and innocent’?

 

“Oh, by the way, I have a video obtained from the police. It’s a segment of the interrogation of the thief who stole your shoes at the police station.”

 

Seemingly recalling something, the property manager took out his phone, “Can you use your brother’s WeChat ID now? I’ll send you the video.”

 

“……”

 

……

 

Descending from the third floor, I found my bike parked in its usual spot.

 

Apart from the welcoming lobby, the first floor of the Wujia Apartments is dedicated to neatly arranged electric bike parking spaces, each equipped with several charging ports. Each port corresponds to the room signed during the lease agreement, and the electricity usage is directly accounted for in the electricity bill.

 

As the charging ports are located outside, incidents of “stealing electricity” or “charging at the wrong location” have occurred frequently. For instance, if the electric bike of person A is in spot 11 and person B takes spot 11 to charge, A has to bear the charging cost for both B and B’s friend if they bring another bike. If caught, the property manager can deduct money for such violations.

 

Being the only resident in the building using a regular bicycle, I opted for a spot without a charging port, avoiding the risks associated with such “electricity theft.”

 

“……”

 

In the corner of the first-floor lobby, looking at the bicycle in front of me, which appeared much taller than I remembered, I used my key to unlock it and attempted to sit on it.

 

No, it’s too high.

 

Sitting on the bicycle seat, I tried pedaling a few times, realizing that with my current short legs, trying to control this adult-sized bike was a bit too challenging.

 

It’s not that I can’t ride it, it’s just more dangerous.

 

This mountain bike was purchased during the first few years of my job, considered a very basic brand. The left handle has three gears, and the right one has seven. It was just right for me when I was still an Uncle, with an estimated height requirement of at least 160 centimeters for both men and women. However, now that I’m less than 140 centimeters tall, almost like a child’s height, riding this bike is out of the question.

 

It’s different from the shared bicycles at the medicinal plant garden. The base of the shared bicycle is quite low, probably designed by those companies with the minimum user age set at 12 years and above. So, I have no problem riding a shared bike, but riding this adult mountain bike is very dangerous.

 

With my new body now—lacking the muscle memory from the male period—I can only manage to ride the low-base shared bike with some experience and skills. Even if I tilt while riding, I can still maintain balance and support myself with my feet on the ground, preventing a fall. However, my feet can’t even reach the ground on this bike; I can’t ride it at all.

 

It seems I’ll have to push the bike out and find a hidden spot.

 

Realizing this, I placed the bike lock in front of the bike and then supported the front to push it out of the apartment.

 

“Today, there’s a cultural and art exhibition. How about we go check it out?”

 

As I stepped out, a young couple came in, both looking at us curiously. Then, the guy was forcefully dragged away by the girl, saying, “Stop staring, you lolicon!”

 

“No, I was just thinking, when did we have such a young girl here?”

 

“Whatever, I’m asking you if you want to go to that cultural and art exhibition. Aren’t you the author? Your website and editors should have a spot there, right?”

 

“I am the author, that’s correct. However, I haven’t received an invitation. Even if I go, I can only attend as a visitor.”

 

“Then let’s go check it out later. Besides, you can also talk with your editor. Who knows, you might even snag a recommendation slot?”

 

Huh? So, besides me, there are other novel authors in this building?

 

Pushing the small bicycle to the alley outside the apartment, I looked around and headed towards the rightmost lane.

 

This path had the fewest people in my memory because it led to a dilapidated storage room with hardly anyone around. The house housed transformers, and only electricians would go there when there was a power outage in the rented rooms.

 

“Meow!”

 

As usual, when someone passed by, the “boss cat” who had been living here for several years made strange sounds from the roof of the flat, lazily casting a glance in my direction.

 

I should have brought some catnip to mesmerize you.

 

With a slight headache, I thought to myself and stopped at the end of the alley.

 

But even if a cat saw me, it shouldn’t be a big deal… It can’t be a soul-devouring beast, right?

 

“I will summon Xiao Mo.”

 

After confirming that there was no one around except for the orange cat raised by the property manager, I called Yin Xiamo.

 

“Xiao Mo, come here.”

 

“I’m here.”

 

Accompanied by the energetic voice of the young girl, a pitch-black spatial crack appeared by my side.

 

“Meow! Meoww!”

 

The sudden movement made the cat on the roof instantly raise its fur. It somersaulted in place and jumped high before disappearing into the distance. The spacious rental house echoed with that somewhat comical voice, “Meow! Meoww! A beauty… is here!”

 

“Is this the bike?”

 

Yin Xiamo, who emerged from the crack, looked at the bike next to me. “It’s much bigger than the one in the park.”

 

“It’s different. The shared bike in the park probably costs around a hundred yuan, without gears. This one costs several hundred.”

 

I handed the bike to the girl in front of me. “Here, you can put it downstairs.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Yin Xiamo happily took the bike. “If Nuo’er can’t ride this bike, does that mean it’ll be my exclusive mount in the future?”

 

I exclaimed, “You can ride?”

 

“Don’t underestimate the learning abilities of a grim reaper. Give me half a day, and I guarantee I’ll learn it!”

 

As she spoke, Yin Xiamo checked the back of the bike. “Can it carry a passenger?”

 

“Sure, you can put down that footrest, and someone can stand on it. However, the person behind needs to stand.”

 

I gestured to the center of the rear wheel. “This is where you pedal. Then, hold onto the front person’s shoulders. Most bikes of this style are like this. If you want to have a seat for the person behind, you need to install a metal cushion. You can buy it online or ask the shop owner to help you with it.”

 

To be honest, when I bought this bike, I never thought there would be a day for carrying passengers.

 

Best friend? Girlfriend? Non-existent.

 

If I had a good buddy to go out with, I would only agree to meet somewhere and take a bus or a taxi together. As for a girlfriend… I don’t think I had the capacity for a romantic relationship back then.

 

“Wow, does that mean if I learn to ride, I can have Nuo’er hug me from behind?”

 

Yin Xiamo seemed to have discovered a treasure. “Well, Nuo’er, you can confidently attend the author’s conference, and I’ll practice riding here in the neighborhood. I’ll take you out for fun after dinner!”

 

“Are you sure you can learn in a day?”

I hesitated a bit. “I am… I’m really afraid of pain.”

I didn’t want to end up falling several times and getting covered in mud while sitting at the back.

 

“I’ll definitely learn, don’t worry. I am your exclusive Grim Reaper. I won’t let any danger come to my little pet without absolute certainty!”

 

“Alright, suit yourself. I might not be back until around four or five in the afternoon.”

 

As I spoke, I noticed the somewhat eerie rift behind Yin Xiamo, like a tear in space. After some hesitation, I asked the question that had been on my mind, “By the way, Xiao Mo, what happens if someone enters this passage halfway, and you close it?”

 

“Anything not passed through the passage will be completely severed. Absolutely severed,” Yin Xiamo said seriously. “Any substance, even the hardest thing on Earth, won’t work. You can think of it as a kind of magic that can destroy everything.”

 

Hmm… Severing all substances?

So, this door is really powerful, huh? If it could be developed, it seems like it could have a wide range of uses.

 

“Well then, I’ll head back for now. Nuo’er, do your best today, learn as much as you can, absorb the experiences of your predecessors, and create stories that captivate readers…”

 

As I spoke, the girl in front pushed the bicycle into the rift in space. “Although I prefer Nuo’er to write about our daily life, you know, the spicy details. Hehe.”

 

“What do you mean by our spicy daily life? Our daily life… our daily life…”

 

I was about to refute, but then I realized something under Yin Xiamo’s “guidance” — our daily life does seem quite spicy.

 

“Goodbye.”

 

The spatial door slowly closed, and the large alley returned to its usual tranquility.

 

Oh well.

 

With this, my matters on the side of the Wujia Apartment seemed to be completely resolved. As long as the apartment manager refunds the deposit when the time comes, I can register a new WeChat account with my current phone and stop using the one belonging to “brother.” In a few more days, I’ll go to the police station to cancel Yin Shiren’s ID and household registration, and the connection between me and him can be considered… completely over.

 

Speaking of which, what was that video the property manager sent me just now? Interrogated by the police?

 

Coming out of the alley, I sat down at the bus stop outside. I took out my phone, found the video, and played it.

 

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have violated the law. I deeply regret this…”

 

As soon as the video started playing, the first thing that appeared was the image of “Uncle Ben,” who had been assertive in the Editor Tuzi’s author group, constantly pressing, “As a guy, why are you using a female avatar,” sitting in the “chair of regret.”

 

“I shouldn’t have stolen other people’s property. Please give me a chance…”

 

Then came the questions from the police in front of him, “Come clean. How long have you been doing this?”

 

“Not… not for long.”

 

“For how many years?”

 

“Just… just two or three months…”

 

“Only two or three months? You dropped out of school two years ago, not long after that, we received the first report. The bag at the front desk of the Linjiang Hotel on Yingbin Road in the Central District, that was stolen by you, right?”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Is it or not!”

 

The sudden loud voice of the police frightened “Uncle Ben” on the chair, causing him to tremble. After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his head again.

 

“Yes… it was me.”

 

“What did you use the stolen money for?”

 

“Online…”

 

“For playing games?”

 

“Playing games, and sometimes writing… novels, to earn money.”

 

From the video footage, it’s clear that “Uncle Ben” was sweating profusely, probably not expecting to be caught.

 

“We also have a cross-provincial case here. There’s a novelist who, in his reader group, claimed he had no money, couldn’t survive, borrowed money from readers—over 800 yuan—and hasn’t repaid it in two years. Is that also you?”

 

“Ah?”

 

“Don’t ‘ah,’ is it you?”

 

“Yes… but I didn’t say I wouldn’t repay. It’s just that I don’t have money recently…”

 

“Why don’t you find a decent job instead of resorting to this petty theft?”

 

“I…”

 

As I was watching, I heard footsteps approaching. The couple who had entered the Wujia Apartments earlier had somehow walked over. Seeing me, both of them looked surprised.

 

“Little sister, didn’t you go out riding a bike?”

 

The woman walked quickly towards me, “Why are you back here taking the bus again?”

 

“I lent my bike to a friend.”

 

I turned off the video, put away my phone, and put on a seemingly innocent expression.

 

“Oh, are you going out to play now?”

 

The girl sat down next to me, “You’re so cute, how old are you this year?”

 

“Ah… I… I’m of legal age.”

 

“Legal age and still so young?”

 

The girl exclaimed, “Are you not going to class today?”

 

“I’m not going to school anymore.”

 

“Oh, so you’ve already graduated.”

 

The girl bombarded me with questions, and her chattering tone made me a bit unhappy. I decided to turn the tables, “Do you also take the bus? Where are you heading?”

 

“I’m going to that art exhibition with my boyfriend. Have you read online novels? Web fiction, you know… time-travel novels, surplus husbands, soldiers, invincible war gods.”

 

“I’ve read them.”

 

“My boyfriend writes those. Although his income isn’t high, he makes two or three thousand yuan a month.”

 

The girl pulled the guy over, “He writes on that novel website called Honeydew. I heard there’s an author conference there today, but unfortunately, he’s not eligible to attend.”

 

“Oh…”

 

I nodded and didn’t say anything more.

 

“It seems, little sister, if your job doesn’t pay well, you can actually try writing novels.”

 

Seeing that I didn’t respond, the somewhat presumptuous girl continued, “My boyfriend now gets a stable two to three thousand in royalties every month, which is enough for living in the Wandering Apartment. If he gets reader rewards and editor recommendations, the income could be over four thousand, and you don’t even need to go out. How does that sound to you?”

 

“I…”

 

At that moment, the bus I was waiting for arrived.

 

“I’m also going to the exhibition, I’ve been writing on Honeydew recently.”

 

With the rabbit backpack on my back, I smiled slightly at the couple, “It seems we are colleagues. Nice to meet you.”

 

“……”

 

……