Chapter 289 286. New Home
In the evening, An Han followed behind her parents, holding her younger sister’s hand as they walked into an old residential complex near the school.
This neighborhood… looks very familiar.
“We rented a two-bedroom apartment here for you. Your dad will pay the rent to the landlord every month, so you don’t need to worry about it,” her mother explained.
An Han nodded in understanding as she listened.
“The rent here is quite cheap, and the renovation isn’t bad either. The only downside is that the complex is too old—there’s no elevator.”
“No elevator?” She looked up at the seven-story building and suddenly remembered something from last year.
Counselor Ren Chi had rented a place in this complex too, right?
Last year, when she helped Ren Chi move here, she had accidentally discovered women’s clothes in his wardrobe. He managed to brush it off at the time… but thinking back on it now, Ren Chi’s mental composure was truly impressive. Even when she had tentatively probed him about it earlier, his face didn’t change at all—he didn’t even blush.
She had even twisted her ankle in this complex once, triggering a system mission, and Ren Chi had ended up sending her back to school.
“Yeah, because there’s no elevator, the higher floors are cheaper. But your father insisted on renting the most expensive one—the first floor…”
Her father cut her mother off. “If An Han has to climb seven flights of stairs every day, how would she handle it? She’d be late all the time.”
Her mother shot him a disdainful glance, unable to understand how her husband had turned into such a doting father to his daughter.
It hadn’t even been that long.
“Sis! Won’t you be scared living here alone?” her younger sister asked with wide, innocent eyes. “If you’re scared, will you ask Brother Su Peng to keep you company?”
“……”
Only then did her father suddenly react. He looked at An Han with suspicion.
“Even if it’s a two-bedroom apartment, you can’t bring anyone else back here!”
“Don’t listen to my sister’s nonsense,” An Han sighed helplessly. “How could I possibly bring someone back to a rented apartment?”
Her mother rolled her eyes noncommittally.
She knew that last semester An Han’s rental place had been separated from Su Peng’s room by just one wall—basically the same as living together.
That was exactly why this time she deliberately chose a unit with only two households per staircase. From the first to the fourth floor, every apartment was already occupied. Even if Su Peng tried to use his money to rent a place here, he could only get something on the fifth floor or above.
At the very least, visiting each other wouldn’t be so convenient anymore.
When they reached the stairwell, An Han confirmed that this building was not the same one Ren Chi lived in and finally relaxed.
Watching her mother unlock the door, she couldn’t wait and rushed inside first.
The interior looked far better than she had imagined. The furniture was complete—TV, air conditioner, washing machine, everything was there. The area wasn’t very large, and the two-bedroom-one-living-room layout made the space feel a bit cramped, but it was more than enough for one person.
Realizing there was an extra unused room, An Han immediately started planning to turn the spare bedroom into a computer room.
A triple-monitor setup, surround sound speakers, flashy RGB lighting, and a professional gaming chair!
Unfortunately… that was just wishful thinking. She had no money.
“The owners went abroad to live, so this place has been left empty,” her mother said while giving instructions. “You should clean it every two or three days. Don’t be lazy. Remember to pay the water and electricity bills at the property office. As for the internet, someone will come install it in a couple of days. I got you a 100-megabit broadband plan—remember to recharge it every month.”
“Mm-hm!”
Parents really were reliable when it came to handling things. They had arrived near the school around noon, and by mid-afternoon everything had already been arranged.
After walking around and taking a look, she finished touring the entire apartment in just a few minutes. Since this place had originally been someone’s own residence, the renovation had clearly been done with care. After looking around, she realized the environment here was actually better than at home.
The only downside was that it was a bit far from school. From here to the teaching building would probably take about half an hour on foot.
“Mom, I want to live in a big place like this by myself in the future too… How about I move in here with my sister? I’ll be starting middle school next year anyway!”
“What nonsense are you talking about!” her mother glared at her.
“Anyway there’s an empty room. If Su Peng can live here, why can’t I…”
An Han’s fists clenched instantly.
Her sister was clearly trying to make things difficult for her and Su Peng!
Was it really necessary to hold such a grudge just because she gave her a set of practice exercises? Wasn’t that for her own good?!
“Alright, enough. Let’s do a big cleaning first, then we’ll go downstairs to eat,” their mother said, cutting off the argument as she rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a mop. “Let’s try to get everything ready so An Han can move in tonight.”
“Okay,” her father replied, but his gaze drifted thoughtfully toward the second bedroom as he considered whether he should dismantle the bed in there.
But if Su Peng ever came over, he could just sleep in that room.
If he removed the bed, that kid might end up persuading his silly daughter to share the same bed with him.
That so-called “three rules agreement” would have no effect if he wasn’t around! Even if Su Peng broke the rules, as long as An Han covered for him, nobody would find out.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became, pacing back and forth around the room.
“Stop wandering around. Go wipe the windows,” her mother said, tossing a rag into his arms.
After moving into this apartment, it meant she would effectively become neighbors with Counselor Ren Chi.
As An Han cleaned together with her family, her thoughts drifted back to Long Xing and Ren Chi.
If Long Xing never realized that the girl he had fallen in love with at first sight was actually Ren Chi in women’s clothing, then letting the matter quietly fade away would be the best outcome.
If a private hobby like cross-dressing remained unknown, it was one thing. But if Ren Chi’s cross-dressing somehow became public knowledge, then this counselor would undoubtedly be socially ruined within the university circle—he might even have to resign on the spot.
Just imagining things from Ren Chi’s perspective made An Han feel an intense sense of embarrassment.
In the students’ eyes, he had always been a serious, handsome, and gentle psychological counselor. If that image suddenly collapsed into “cross-dressing pervert,” almost no one could accept it.
No wonder Ren Chi had taken the risk of exposure just to visit the dormitory and check Long Xing’s reaction.
If he had been recognized, he could seal the secret in time. If not, then it would be treated as if nothing had happened.
An Han suddenly realized that, in Ren Chi’s eyes, she was probably the biggest threat—after all, she was the only one who knew that the girl was actually Ren Chi in disguise.
“Is Ren going to silence me to keep it secret?”
“Or threaten me with my student records to make me stay quiet?”
After muttering those two sentences to herself, An Han shook her head and rejected the thought.
She had never planned to tell anyone anyway. Besides, she and Ren Chi were somewhat familiar with each other. He wasn’t the kind of person who would sink that low.
Looks like Long Xing would have to be sacrificed again.
Who told him to fall for the wrong girl… again?
What kind of luck was that… three times in a row, all cross-dressing guys!
“Alright, that’s enough for today. We’ll finish the rest tomorrow. Let’s go eat dinner first,” her mother said after finally mopping the entire floor. She was so tired that she kept pounding her lower back with her fists, barely able to stand straight.
“Yay!”
Her younger sister—who had been slacking off for the past hour—immediately jumped up excitedly.
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