VIRGIN & FAKE CALL BOY, TRUE BILLIONAIRE

On a rare day off, Andy stayed up late watching a horror movie.

The eerie atmosphere relied entirely on the background music and screams, with no truly terrifying scenes-bland as plain water. Due to her obsessive tendencies, she forced herself to finish it, barely keeping her eyes open.

As soon as the ending credits rolled, Andy actually felt a sense of relief. She closed her eyes, and drowsiness immediately wrapped around her thoughts. Just as she was about to drift into sleep, suddenly, the door was pounded heavily.

Bang!

Andy's eyes snapped open.

Through the sliver of moonlight seeping through the curtains, she looked toward the door. Outside, she could clearly hear the thick, slurred voice of a drunken man and the unsteady footsteps staggering away in another direction.

Then came the sound of a door opening and closing.

The noise was mostly cut off.

She stared at the door for a few more seconds.

Only after everything went completely silent did Andy finally relax.

She pursed her lips, feeling a delayed surge of irritation.

How many times had this happened just this week?

Once her sleep was interrupted, it was hard for Andy to doze off again. She turned over, closed her eyes again, and idly let her thoughts drift back to the movie she had just watched.

Hmm.

Was it a ghost movie?

A low-budget horror flick that thought it could scare people.

...

Half-asleep, a ghostly face from the movie inexplicably surfaced in her mind.

Three seconds later.

She shot up abruptly and switched on the bedside lamp.

-

For the rest of the night, Andy slept fitfully. In her half-conscious state, she kept feeling as if a bloody ghost face was staring at her.

It wasn't until daylight fully filled the room that she finally managed to fall into a proper sleep.

The next day, Andy was woken up by a phone call.

Due to staying up late and lack of sleep, her head throbbed with a fine, needling pain. Irritated, she groggily reached for her phone and answered.

A low voice from her childhood friend, Sara, came through, "I'll call you back later."

"......"

Andy's eyelid twitched, her brain lagging for two seconds.

She had been woken up by a sudden phone call.

Fine, that was whatever.

But it wasn't even the main event-just a trailer.

Her morning grumpiness exploded instantly. "Are you-"

Before she could finish, the call was already cut off.

It felt like throwing a punch into cotton. Andy opened her eyes and let out a muffled sigh of frustration. After lying in bed for a while longer, she finally picked up her phone and checked the time.

Almost 2 PM.

Andy stopped lazing around, grabbed a jacket, and got out of bed.

She walked into the bathroom.

As she was brushing her teeth, her phone rang again. She freed a hand to slide the screen and put it on speaker.

Sara spoke first, "Damn, I just ran into a high school classmate. My hair's all greasy, and I'm not wearing any makeup-so embarrassing!"

"You won't actually die from that," Andy mumbled through a mouthful of foam, her words barely intelligible. "You're just looking for sympathy."

"......" Sara was silent for three seconds, too lazy to argue. "Wanna go out tonight? Andy, my dear journalist, you've been working overtime for a whole week. If you don't take a break, I'm afraid you'll drop dead."

"Mm. Where to?"

"How about somewhere near your workplace? Not sure if you've been there. My coworker said there's a bar there, and the owner is ridiculously-" Sara paused, then suddenly asked, "Hey, why do I keep hearing water running? Are you washing dishes?"

Andy, "Washing up."

Sara was shocked, "You just woke up?"

Andy hummed lazily in response.

"It's already 2 PM. Even lunch breaks are over." Sara was puzzled. "What were you doing last night?"

"Watched a horror movie."

"What's it called?"

"Awakening to See Ghosts."

Sara clearly knew this movie and choked, "You call that a horror movie?"

"I watched it and then went to sleep," Andy said as if she hadn't heard the sarcasm. She grabbed a towel and wiped the water off her face. "Then in the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up, and just like in the movie, I actually saw a ghost."

"......"

"So I spent the whole night fighting it."

Sara was speechless. "Why are you suddenly bringing up such an R-rated topic?"

Andy raised an eyebrow. "How is that R-rated?"

"What kind of fight lasts all night?"

"......"

"Enough, stop fooling around with ghosts. Let's go fool around with men." Sara grinned. "Handsome, alive, warm-blooded men."

"Then I'd rather stick with ghosts." Andy picked up her phone and walked out of the bathroom. "At least they're free."

Sara, "Who said men cost money? We can have them for free too."

Andy, "Hm?"

"We can use our eyes."

"......"

-

After hanging up the call, Andy sent another message to her landlord on Facebook, bringing up last night's incident again. After a moment of hesitation, she added that she might not renew the lease once the contract ended.

Two months ago, she had moved from Chicago to New York City.

Her current residence was a place Sara had helped her find. There weren't any major issues-except that it was a shared rental. The landlord had divided an 80-square-meter apartment into three independent rooms, each with its own bathroom, but there was no kitchen or balcony.

Still, the rent was cheap.

Andy didn't have high demands for a living space. Besides, the location was convenient, and the surrounding area was lively. She had even considered staying long-term.

Until one day, when she happened to run into the man next door as she was leaving.

That was when everything started to change.

Unknowingly, the sun had set, draping the small room in darkness. The city's lights gradually flickered on, illuminating the night in another way, while the night markets bustled to life.

Seeing that it was about time, Andy changed her outfit and put on some light makeup.

Sara had been bombing her with messages on Facebook.

Grabbing the small bag from the coat rack, Andy replied with a voice message, "Heading out now." She stepped outside, instinctively glancing at the opposite door before quickening her pace down the stairs.

The two had agreed to meet at the subway station.

Their destination was the bar Sara had mentioned earlier-a place located across from Red Square. Passing through an alleyway, they were soon greeted by a string of neon lights glowing above various storefronts.

A place that only came alive at night.

New York City's famous bar street, often referred to as "Degenerate Street."

Having never been there before, they spent quite some time searching until they finally spotted the bar nestled in a small corner.

The name was quite interesting-"Overtime."

Its sign was surprisingly simple, a solid black background with squared, neatly arranged white letters glowing against it. Among the gaudy, flamboyant neon signs surrounding it, it stood out with an understated presence-like a small hair salon hidden in the midst of the chaos.

"This is actually a good idea," Andy stared at it for a moment before commenting. "A hair salon in a bar street-guys coming here to pick up girls can get a quick styling first."

Sara's mouth twitched as she dragged Andy inside. "Stop talking nonsense."

To their surprise, the interior was not as deserted as Andy had imagined.

They had arrived early, before peak hours, yet more than half the seats were already occupied.

On the stage, a woman with a guitar sat with her head lowered, singing in a soft, soothing voice. At the bar, a blond-haired bartender was skillfully tossing cocktail shakers like a performer, moving with practiced ease.

After settling into their seats, Andy ordered the cheapest drink on the menu.

Sara scanned the bar with a hint of disappointment. "Is the owner not here? I don't see anyone particularly handsome."

Andy rested her chin in her palm and replied absentmindedly, "Maybe it's that bartender."

"Bullshit!" Sara was immediately offended. "My colleague, who basically lives on Degenerate Street, swears this bar's owner is the hottest guy here."

"Maybe he just calls himself that."

"?"

Noticing Sara's hostile glare, Andy sat up a little straighter and clarified, "I mean, maybe."

Sara huffed.

They chatted idly for a while before Sara brought up what happened earlier in the day. "By the way, I ran into my high school vice class president at lunch. He also went to Cambridge for college-same dorm as Charlie, apparently. But I don't think I ever met him."

Hearing that name, Andy's fingers stilled for a moment.

"Speaking of which, do you still remember-" Sara's gaze wandered casually before suddenly locking onto the bar. "Hey, check ten o'clock-do you think that's 'Degenerate Street's poster boy'?"

At the same moment, Andy heard someone call out, "Brother Charlie."

She followed Sara's line of sight.

At some point, a man had appeared beside the bartender.

The dim lighting of the bar cast shadows across his figure. He leaned against the counter with his back facing the bar, head tilted slightly as he spoke to the bartender. He wore a simple black jacket, his tall frame carrying an effortless presence. Even as he hunched slightly, he still stood taller than the bartender beside him.

His eyes were dark, lips tugging into a faintly careless smirk.

The shifting hues of the overhead lights traced across his face, leaving fleeting streaks of color.

Andy recognized him in an instant.

"Holy shit." Sara's voice shot up in pitch, equally stunned. "Girl, the poster boy is Charlie!"

"..."

"The moment I mention him, he appears... Do you still remember? Before you transferred schools, he used to-"

Before she could finish, a sudden clatter interrupted her.

A waiter, seemingly startled, had accidentally bumped into someone. The tray in their hands tilted, sending a glass of alcohol toppling over.

-Spilling right onto Andy's left shoulder.

The cold liquid, along with ice cubes, soaked into her loose-knit sweater, seeping through to her skin. A shiver ran down her spine.

Andy inhaled sharply and instinctively stood up.

Though the bar's music was loud, the commotion wasn't small either.

The waiter turned pale with fright, repeatedly apologizing.

Sara got up as well, brushing ice off Andy's clothes with a frown. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Andy's voice trembled slightly from the chill, but she wasn't angry. She turned to the waiter. "It's okay. Just be more careful next time."

Then, to Sara, she said, "I'm going to the restroom to clean up."

As she finished speaking, she lifted her gaze-

And locked eyes with someone.

Dark, unreadable, and indifferent.

Their gazes met for two seconds.

Andy looked away first, striding toward the women's restroom.

Inside a stall, she took off her sweater, leaving only a fitted inner shirt underneath.

Fortunately, most of the liquid had been absorbed by the outer layer.

Andy clutched the sweater and walked to the sink, dabbing a tissue with water to clean up as best as she could.

Once she was done, she stepped out.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed someone standing in the hallway.

She instinctively looked over-and froze.

Charlie leaned against the wall, a cigarette held loosely between his lips, his posture lazy and relaxed. Unlike before, he had taken off his jacket, now holding it casually in one hand.

Only a black t-shirt remained on his body.

It had been six years since their last meeting.

Andy wasn't sure if he had recognized her. And she didn't know whether she should greet him.

She hesitated for barely a second before lowering her gaze, deciding to pretend she hadn't recognized him either. She continued walking forward, stiffly determined to pass him by.

The dim hallway was lined with sleek, dark marble tiles, their irregular patterns reflecting the scattered light. From here, she could still hear the singer's voice-soft, lingering, full of wistful longing.

She drew closer.

She was about to walk past him.

At that moment-

"Hey."

His voice was languid, almost careless.

Andy stopped, turning her head slightly.

Without warning, Charlie tossed his jacket at her, covering most of her vision.

Andy froze before pulling it down, puzzled.

Charlie still hadn't looked up. Lowering his gaze, he stubbed out his cigarette in the nearby trash bin.

Neither of them spoke first.

Seconds stretched out.

Then, Charlie slowly lifted his eyes, meeting her gaze-his expression distant.

"Let's talk," he said.

It had been years since they last met. Since their last conversation, there had been no contact whatsoever. The connection had faded so much that Andy had almost forgotten this person's existence.

But she still remembered.

Their last conversation hadn't been pleasant.

It wasn't the kind of relationship where he would come over to check on her or offer help when she was in a tough spot.

Andy's first reaction was-

He must have mistaken her for someone else.

But then another thought crossed her mind.

Maybe over the years, Charlie had matured, grown more broad-minded, and no longer cared about what had happened in the past. Perhaps he was just being polite, exchanging pleasantries upon seeing an old classmate.

Andy pulled herself from her thoughts, handed her coat to him, eyes filled with doubt and inquiry.

Charlie didn't take it. His gaze merely swept past her hand. Then, in a calm voice, he said, "I'm the owner of this bar."

Andy's hand froze mid-air, her reaction a little slow.

For a moment, she wasn't sure-

Was he introducing himself?

Or was he boasting about his success, flaunting how well he was doing now-already owning a bar at such a young age?

Even in this situation, she found herself distracted, recalling what Sara had said-

"The owner of this bar is basically the star of the scene."

Her eyes lingered on his face for a few extra seconds.

Dark hair, sharp brows, and pupils as pure black as ink, appearing even colder under the dim lighting.

Gone was the rebelliousness of youth-his once youthful features had sharpened into something striking and well-defined. Tall and lean, dressed entirely in black, yet still exuding an air of arrogance and confidence, as if he were both untamed and distinguished.

A star indeed.

It didn't seem like an exaggeration.

Charlie spoke again, slowly pulling her back to reality.

"Last name is Green."

"......"

Was he telling her his last name?

So, he hadn't recognized her. He was just introducing himself.

Andy understood now. Keeping her expression neutral, she said, "Is there something you need?"

"My apologies. Due to our mistake, we've caused you inconvenience." Charlie said, his voice steady. "If there's anything you need, feel free to let me know. Additionally, your entire tab tonight is on the house. I hope this won't affect your mood."

He kept addressing her as "you", but Andy didn't hear much respect in his tone.

He still spoke like he used to-casual, indifferent, with a laziness that made him sound both distant and infuriating.

Andy shook her head, politely responding, "No need. It's fine."

At that, Charlie's expression relaxed, as if relieved. Maybe because she was being easygoing, his tone softened slightly. With a small nod, he said, "Then, excuse me."

With that, he retracted his gaze and turned to leave.

Andy was still holding his coat, and she called out instinctively, "Mr.-"

Charlie turned back.

Their eyes met, and in that instant, she realized-they were strangers now.

The name Charlie got stuck in her throat, neither coming out nor retreating.

Her mind blanked, and in her panic, the words she had been mulling over earlier slipped out instead. Staring at his face, she hesitated a beat before blurting-

"-Star of the scene."

"......"

They locked eyes.

The world fell silent once more.

In that nearly frozen moment, Andy could almost see a tiny twitch in his brow.

"......"

Huh?

What did she just say?

Charlie, star of the scene.

Charlie... star... of the scene.

Oh.

Charlie...

Oh, shit.

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!

"......"

Andy stopped breathing, barely keeping her expression in check. She didn't dare look at Charlie's face. Pressing her lips together, she quickly held out his coat again.

"Your coat."

The best way to handle this was to act as if nothing had happened, just like she always did-pretend there was nothing wrong and move on.

But Charlie wasn't about to let it slide.

Tilting his head slightly, he slowly repeated, "Charlie, star of the scene?"

Andy feigned ignorance. "What?"

A moment of silence.

Charlie looked at her with some surprise, as if he had just understood something. He let out a drawn-out "ah" and smirked slightly, an expression of "of course."

"Sorry, but this is a proper bar."

"......"

The implication was clear.

I know I'm gorgeous, but I don't offer that kind of service. Please, control yourself.

Andy wanted to explain, but there was no way to make it sound right.

She sighed inwardly, giving up the struggle altogether. Since they wouldn't see each other again, she might as well roll with it.

So, she went along with his words, "Oh? That's a shame."

"......"

For a split second, Charlie's expression seemed to stiffen.

Or maybe she was imagining things.

Andy blinked, and his face remained as unreadable as ever, unchanged.

She didn't dwell on it, just smiled politely and repeated, "Your coat."

Charlie still made no move to take it.

Then, over the next few seconds, Andy noticed something strange.

His gaze lingered on the curve of her lips, direct yet unreadable.

Then, he suddenly spoke-

"Wearing my coat," Charlie paused, then smiled. "You seemed quite happy, didn't you?"

"......"

Andy, ?

"I'm not sure, but it seems like I'm more famous than this bar?"

He raised a playful brow, his voice laced with amusement, as if offering her a graceful way out.

"Keep it as a souvenir."

"......"

-

"He actually said that?" Sara confirmed, before bursting into laughter. "Damn, why didn't he just tell you to frame it?"

Andy replied slowly, "That's exactly what he meant."

Sara stifled her laughter, offering a token of sympathy. "Don't take it too seriously. Maybe this happens so often that Charlie just assumes everyone comes here to see him."

"Did you forget why we came here?"

"Huh?"

"Weren't we here to 'indulge'?" Andy said. "Just 'seeing' him doesn't do justice to his behavior."

"......"

Sara started laughing again.

Andy chuckled too. "Alright, keep it down. Laugh after he leaves-he's still sitting there."

At that moment, all the high stools at the bar were occupied.

Charlie was seated at the very edge, casually sipping from a clear glass, his expression leisurely and composed, like a young, unruly aristocrat.

Seeing this, Sara finally held back her laughter.

Just then, a waiter approached, carefully placing drinks on their table. He looked quite young, still carrying a bit of baby fat on his face.

"Here's your drink."

Andy noticed the money under the check holder. "This is...?"

Before she could finish, the waiter hurriedly explained, looking a little nervous.

"I'm really sorry for earlier-it was my mistake. The boss has already covered your tab for tonight."

Andy remembered Charlie's words.

After a brief pause, her first reaction was to refuse. "It's fine, really. Take the money back."

But the waiter shook his head. "Besides this, if you need anything else, just let me know."

His tone was firm. Andy didn't insist. Instead, she picked up a coat beside her.

"I found this in the hallway on my way to the restroom. Might belong to a customer."

The waiter quickly took it. "Thank you."

After he left, Sara blinked at her. "What's going on?"

Andy briefly explained.

Sara gaped. "And you still tried to pay?"

"Running a business isn't easy," Andy sipped her drink. "No need to take a few hundred bucks from him over this."

Sara scoffed. "You're worried about a rich kid struggling with his startup? This young master has been loaded since forever."

Then, she frowned. "But he really didn't recognize you?"

Andy reasoned, "I don't think so."

"Didn't recognize you?" Sara looked incredulous. "Do you even know what you look like?"

"......"

Andy nearly choked. "The way you said that, it sounds like an insult."

Because Andy was truly beautiful.

Her appearance was extremely seductive, carrying an aggressive allure that starkly contrasted her calm personality. Those fox-like eyes seemed as if they were meant to steal souls, their corners slightly upturned, exuding charm with every glance and movement.

Sitting in this dimly lit bar, she seemed to glow on her own.

Sara had always thought that Andy could easily make a fortune based on her looks alone.

Who would have guessed that she would end up as a struggling news reporter?

"And you don't even look that different from high school-you just have shorter hair now-" Sara glanced toward Charlie and instantly changed her tune. "Okay, maybe it's possible."

"...?"

"With his looks, I doubt he's been short of women these past few years. Maybe he's met a few who have a similar type to you."

Hearing this, Andy propped her chin on her hand and glanced in Charlie's direction.

This time, there was a woman sitting beside him.

She didn't seem to mind the cold, wearing a tight-fitting short dress that exposed two long, fair legs. Leaning against the bar, she tilted her head slightly as she toasted him, her smile sweet and charming. Her delicate curves were outlined clearly with every subtle movement.

Charlie raised his eyes to look at her, his expression carrying a hint of amusement.

With the atmosphere around them, there was an undeniable sense of flirtation.

The topic was fleeting. Soon, Sara moved on to something else.

Drawn back by her voice, Andy retracted her gaze and continued the conversation.

After a while-

The female singer on stage finished her last song. Seeing the time, Andy asked, "It's almost ten. Should we head out?"

Sara nodded. "Yeah."

The two of them got up to leave.

Sara held onto Andy's arm, scrolling through her phone as she said, "Lucas just texted me. He's coming back next month. Next time, let's bring him along. Somewhere with a dance floor-this place is kinda boring."

Andy hummed in agreement. "Sounds good."

Before walking out, she glanced back at the bar once more.

Charlie was still sitting in the same spot. The woman beside him seemed to have changed. His face remained expressionless, as if he didn't care about anything in the world.

Their unexpected reunion truly seemed to be as he had acted-just a chance encounter with a complete stranger.

Andy was momentarily dazed.

She suddenly recalled the last time they had seen each other before losing contact.

A cold night, moonless. Thick fog and heavy clouds pressed down on the small town. A fine drizzle fell softly. In a narrow alley, the only streetlamp flickered, and flying insects hurled themselves toward it without hesitation.

The boy's hair was damp, eyelashes wet with raindrops. His pale skin contrasted with the light in his eyes, which had been completely extinguished.

It all felt unreal.

She didn't remember how she had felt at that moment.

She only remembered-

Charlie's voice was hoarse as he called her name for the last time.

"Andy."

Then, he looked down and mocked himself. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

She also remembered-

He had discarded all his pride, seeing himself as nothing more than filth that others wished to avoid.

"Don't worry," he had laughed. "I won't bother you anymore."

-

After spilling alcohol on a customer earlier, Jack had spent the entire night on edge, careful with every move, terrified of making the same mistake and reigniting the boss's recently cooled temper.

Once the customers at that table left, he stepped forward to clean up.

As he collected the glasses, he pulled out the check folder, and a few crisp red banknotes slipped out from underneath.

His hands froze.

Then he noticed a bracelet that had fallen beneath the chair.

Picking it up, Jack's expression grew heavy as he made his way back to the bar. Pushing his tray inside, he told the blonde bartender, "Brother Bob, the customer from K11 left something behind."

Bob took it from him and glanced up. "Oh yeah, that coat you brought over earlier-I swear it looks just like Brother Charlie's."

"Oh, I don't know. They said they found it in the bathroom," Jack replied. Remembering the money, he scratched his head. "Bro, Brother Charlie told me to comp their table, but the customer at K11 didn't take the money back. Should I go tell him?"

Bob gave him a sideways look. "Go confess your sins."

"..."

Jack was dumbfounded, feeling the need to explain. "Bro, it's not like I wanted to pocket the money. She just didn't take it. I even told her multiple times!"

Sealing the bracelet in a clear bag, Bob chuckled. "Brother Charlie doesn't care about logic."

"..."

Yeah, that sounded about right.

Even so, Jack still attempted to defend himself as he made his way upstairs to find Charlie.

Charlie had spent the whole evening at the bar, so Jack wasn't sure when he had moved to the second floor. Now, he was seated in the innermost booth, his face unreadable.

It was unclear whether he had even heard Jack's explanation.

Charlie didn't respond, idly toying with the glass in his hand.

The air felt suffocating.

Jack braced himself and tried to smooth things over. "Maybe she didn't pay for the drinks. I overheard her and her friend talking..."

He suddenly realized how bad this was going to sound and hesitated. "But, uh, it was noisy, and I couldn't hear clearly, so I'm not really sure... I mean, she..."

His voice trailed off as he met Charlie's cold gaze.

Jack shuddered and forced the words out. "I heard her friend ask if she came to the bar just to see Brother Charlie. She said no."

Charlie's eyelashes twitched slightly.

Jack swallowed hard. "Then she said she came to... to..."

Charlie stared at him impatiently. "To what?"

Jack shut his eyes and blurted out, "She said she came to hire a gigolo."

Charlie, "..."

Charlie, "?"

"So... this might be your, um, payment..."

"..."

It was even colder outside than when she had arrived.

The only warm sweater she had was completely soaked, stuffed into a bag. By the time Andy reached her door, she felt like her body was no longer her own. She unlocked the door, then instinctively glanced across the hall.

At this hour, the man across the hall was probably still out.

Usually, it was around two or three in the morning-when she was already deep in sleep-that he would walk past her door with a grin, knocking twice on the wooden panel with deliberate force. The sound was deafening in the quiet night, like rolling thunder.

And then, he'd simply return to his own apartment.

Doing absolutely nothing else.

It was infuriating, yet there was nothing she could do about it.

Andy had brought it up with the landlord multiple times, but nothing seemed to change.

Locking the door behind her, she put on the kettle and sent a message to Sara on Facebook, [Got home.]

Sara, who lived farther from New York City and was still on the subway, replied, [That fast? I still have a few stops to go.]

Sara, [Hey.]

Sara, [I was just thinking about Charlie's behavior tonight after stepping into the cold air again.]

Sara, [Do you think Charlie threw you his coat because he was afraid you'd be cold? And then, being too embarrassed to say so, he just came up with that excuse?]

Andy was digging through her wardrobe for a change of clothes when she saw the message. She paused. [Say something realistic.]

Sara, [?]

Sara, [How is that not realistic?!]

Andy, [He was there to resolve a problem.]

Andy, [So he was probably afraid I'd catch a cold and try to scam him for medical fees.]

Sara, [......]

Sara, [Then why didn't he just ask someone else to give you a coat?]

Andy, [In weather this cold, that's not an easy thing to do.]

Sara, [?]

Andy reminded her, [He might not be able to borrow one.]

Sara, [......]

Just then, a low-battery notification popped up.

Andy plugged in her phone and went into the bathroom.

As she carefully removed her makeup, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

A pair of familiar yet unfamiliar brows and eyes flashed through her mind.

Lowering her gaze, Andy absentmindedly tossed the used cotton pad into the trash.

Even back when they were closest, she never truly understood Charlie. So now, she couldn't tell whether he was pretending not to recognize her or if he genuinely didn't remember.

Like a coin toss.

No clues to go on, no way to guess. Only luck could determine the outcome.

Because from what she knew of him, both possibilities...

Were entirely plausible.

-

After drying her hair, Andy habitually turned on her laptop and worked on a news article for a while.

When sleepiness finally set in, she crawled into bed and reached for her phone.

While she had been in the shower, Sara had sent a few more messages, [Anything is possible. Even if it isn't true, we can just imagine it to make ourselves happy.]

Sara, [I'm actually curious-how do you feel seeing Charlie again now?]

She had even attached a nosy emoji.

Andy thought for a moment. [He's still really handsome.]

Sara, [......]

Sara, [That's it?]

Andy, [I haven't thought of anything else. I'll let you know if I do.]

Andy, [I'm going to sleep now. Super tired.]

To be honest, saying she felt nothing would be a lie.

But she didn't think there was much worth discussing.

Bringing it up would only lead to a long conversation, and she'd rather use that time to sleep.

She tossed her phone aside and tried to drift off.

As expected, she slept terribly.

She was caught in a restless cycle of half-dreams and half-wakefulness, tangled in strange visions. Every time she felt like she was finally about to sink into deep sleep, she was jolted awake-

By that idiot next door slamming his palm against her door.

Andy yanked the blanket off her head, her entire body seething with frustration.

People generally agreed that she had a good temper-calm and composed, always handling things without panic. It was rare for her emotions to fluctuate drastically.

But everyone needed a way to vent.

And for her, that way was...

Extreme morning crankiness.

Getting woken up made her irrational.

Let alone in a moment like this, when she was just about to finally sleep.

Andy tried to calm herself, hoping that, like usual, the guy would knock a few times and then leave.

But this time, it was like he was possessed. The knocking continued relentlessly, accompanied by drunken hiccups.

"You still asleep? Pretty lady, do me a favor-my toilet's broken... let me use yours for a shower..."

Andy closed her eyes for a moment, then got up, grabbed her camera, adjusted the angle, and started recording the door.

Then, she picked up her phone and dialed 911, calmly reporting the address and situation.

After all this, whatever remained of her sleepiness vanished completely.

Alone in her apartment at midnight, with a drunk man harassing her outside.

Andy knew she should be afraid.

But at that moment, all she felt was anger and exhaustion.

She had no energy left for fear.

Since he never got a response, by the time the police arrived, the man had already returned to his apartment.

Andy showed them the footage and requested to settle the matter at the police station.

Since things had escalated to the point of calling the cops, she had no intention of settling amicably. She planned to move out after this was over.

The video showed the door trembling under the force of the knocking, accompanied by the man's slurred, insistent voice. It was disturbing to watch.

The officers knocked on his door.

It took a while before he opened it, his tone impatient. "Who the hell is it?!"

Despite the cold, he was only wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt, exposing a fierce-looking tiger tattoo on his muscular arm. His build was huge, muscles bulging like a brick wall.

"We received a report," one of the officers said. "You were accused of harassing your neighbor in the middle of the night."

"Harassment?"

The man hesitated for a few seconds, then pretended to be dazed, his tone much softer than before.

"Officer, I just got back from drinking... maybe I knocked on the wrong door by mistake? It's just a misunderstanding."

The officer's face remained stern. "The victim provided a video. You 'knocked on the wrong door' while also demanding to take a shower in her apartment? Don't bullshit me. Come with us to the station."

The man made a few more weak attempts to explain, but quickly gave up when he realized it was useless.

He lifted his head, his gaze dark and heavy, locking onto Andy, who stood behind the officers.

Andy leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, staring back at him with an expressionless face.

Her eyes were cold, devoid of any fear.

If anything-

She looked like she was staring at filth.

At the police station.

The man insisted he was just drunk and talking nonsense. Andy, on the other hand, clearly explained the situation over the past few days. However, this incident didn't cause her any financial loss; it only impacted her daily life, leaving her mentally sensitive and exhausted.

In the end, the man was fined a few hundred dollars and given a one-week detention, and that was the conclusion.

Before leaving the station, an older policeman kindly reminded her not to stay in shared rental housing.

It wasn't just this issue but other safety concerns as well.

Earlier, a fire had been caused by overloading electricity in a shared rental house, and the New York City government had started paying attention to this issue. Once the policy is approved, management would begin.

Andy nodded and thanked him.

By the time she left, the sky had already brightened.

She simply went back to the station.

After returning to New York City, Andy applied for a position at the city's television station, working on the "Transmission" program through external recruitment.

"Transmission" was a program focusing on people's livelihood, reporting on news from the city and surrounding towns. The main theme was "focusing on the lives of the people and conveying their voices."

Andy thought that her situation should be paid attention to, and she vaguely thought about whether to report this incident as a topic, as she entered the office.

The lights were on inside, but no one was there.

She went to the tea room to make a cup of coffee. She wasn't in the mood for much, not even breakfast. But she couldn't sleep, so she scrolled through the news apps before starting to write her article.

The whole day passed in a haze.

The new intern, John, was with her on an interview and seemed to hesitate as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he couldn't hold back and said, "Sister Andy, did I do something wrong?"

Andy only then realized that her grumpiness had lasted the entire day.

By the time she finished her news report, she made the rare decision not to stay late. She packed up her things and left.

That night, the cold wind made her feel like sharp ice blades cutting through her ears.

After walking a short distance, Andy received a message from Sara.

Sara, "Andy, I'm dead."

"..."

Andy, "?"

Sara, "I really am about to die!"

Sara, "My bracelet is missing!"

Sara, "It was a gift from my idol! I barely wore it, oh no!"

Andy, "Did you not find it?"

Sara, "No...TAT"

Sara, "I just noticed it was missing this morning at work. I thought it was at home, but when I got home, I couldn't find it."

Sara, "But I think I left it at Charlie's bar."

Sara, "Can you check for me after work? It's too far for me to go to San Francisco."

Andy, "Okay."

Andy, "Don't worry too much."

Her mind seemed sluggish, and after a bit of slow thinking, she finally raised her foot. Fortunately, it wasn't far from here to the bar; it was just a seven- to eight-minute walk.

She made her way to "Overtime" bar.

Inside, things were different from last night. The round table was replaced by a rock band, and the music was so loud it numbed her ears. The bar was dimly lit, with a lively atmosphere, and the colorful lights flickered rapidly.

Andy approached the bar.

It was the same bartender with the yellow hair from last time.

Andy caught his attention, "Hello."

The bartender smiled. "Good evening, miss. What can I get you?"

Andy shook her head and directly got to the point, "I lost a bracelet when I came here with a friend yesterday. Do you happen to have found it?"

The bartender seemed to recognize her immediately, nodding, "Yes, please wait a moment."

"Thank you."

Andy waited as the bartender opened a drawer and searched inside. Then he opened another drawer and rummaged through it. His movements suddenly stopped as he looked up and waved in a certain direction, calling out, "Jack."

The server named "Jack" came over. "Hey. Brother Bob, what's up?"

Andy looked over.

She immediately recognized him as the server who had spilled the drink on her last night.

The bartender was confused, "I thought the bracelet was in here. How come it's missing?"

"Ah? That bracelet..." Jack was also confused and suddenly remembered. "Oh, right. When Brother Charlie came down to get his clothes, he took the bracelet with him."

"..."

Andy was stunned, unable to believe what she had heard. "What?"

Jack repeated, "Brother Charlie took it."

"..."

This time, Andy heard it clearly, and she couldn't believe it.

The owner of a large bar like this, so blatantly taking a customer's lost property as his own.

The bartender, clearly unaware of this, looked puzzled, "How could Brother Charlie take it? Where did he go? Wasn't he just here?"

Jack looked clueless, "I don't know."

A brief silence followed.

The bartender awkwardly looked back at Andy. "Sorry, the lost items are generally handled by the boss here. Maybe you could leave your contact info, or I can try contacting the boss now?"

Andy didn't want to stay there too long, figuring she could come back tomorrow to pick it up. "It's fine, I'll leave my contact info."

"Okay." The bartender handed her a business card. "Write it down here."

Andy lowered her head and wrote down a phone number, handing it back. "Please help me look for it. If you find it, you can call this number-"

Before she could finish, someone suddenly snatched the business card from behind her.

Andy turned around in surprise.

It was Charlie, standing close behind her, almost trapping her. He was tall and handsome, with his head slightly tilted, casually glancing at the business card.

Then, his gaze met hers.

In the bright, noisy bar, with the deafening music and the mixed smell of tobacco and sandalwood, the man's expression, usually cold, now carried a hint of casualness.

His eyes-familiar yet strange-looked as though he had recognized her.

In an instant.

His lips curled into a half-smile as he said, "Not giving up, huh?"

Andy was taken aback, not understanding his words.

Charlie casually tossed the business card back at her and stood up straight, increasing the distance between them.

"You came all the way here just to leave your contact info?"