Chapter 5

Chapter 5

At noon, the busybody across the hall must have finally woken up because she started firing on all cylinders in the homeowners’ group chat.

First, she posted a video of her husband beating their child from the night before.

Building 14, 1002: “Sorry, everyone. My kid has caused trouble for you all again. We’ve already disciplined him.”

Building 14, 1002: “If this kid goes begging for food again, please let us know immediately.”

Someone couldn’t help but curse: “Here she goes again. Will it ever end?!”

I noticed this person hadn’t changed their nickname yet; they probably didn’t dare show their real identity.

Building 14, 1002: “Building 14, 1101-everyone, remember this woman. She’s promiscuous and probably has a disease, and she even runs a restaurant at the neighborhood entrance! Eat there at your own risk!”

That alt account replied: “Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

I tagged her directly: “Excuse me, but the video you posted includes me in the shot.”

She ignored me.

I tagged her again: “You’ve violated my personal privacy, neighbor.”

“Let’s just say if you apologize to me right now, we can let this go.”

She blew up: “You’re just a tenant, why are you meddling?! Is it even your place to speak?!”

I was highly amused: “I suppose you’re right. You don’t seem to care much about privacy rights anyway.”

Then, I packaged an audio recording from last night and sent it to the group.

“After all, you scream so loudly every single day.”

A few minutes later, she came over and pounded on my door with earth-shattering force.

I walked over and swung the door open, smiling. “Hi there. Do your hands hurt?”

Her face was dark with rage.

I said, “I have a doorbell, you know. You can just press it next time.”

The woman went ballistic. “Ah! You just wait!”

I thought she was preparing some major move.

As it turned out, she called the police.

The police arrived, and so did the property management.

She even called the members of the homeowners’ committee over. Then she started crying while looking things up online, claiming I had violated her privacy rights.

She also went on a rampage against the homeowners’ committee and property management.

“Our neighborhood has been turned into a cesspool by these tenants! Are you going to do anything about this or not?!”

I hid behind the young police officer. “What’s wrong with being a tenant? Did I eat your family’s rice? Does buying a crappy apartment make you superior to everyone else?”

She jumped up and screamed, “Why haven’t you taken her away yet! Give her a criminal record!”

I thought to myself, *I already have a record.*

But it wasn’t going to happen for this.

The young officer looked utterly speechless. “How is it you again? Is it really that hard to live in harmony with your neighbors?”

Well, it seemed this wasn’t the first time she’d dragged the police into her drama.

The woman immediately shrieked, “Are you obviously taking her side? Believe it or not, I’ll file a complaint against you!”

The officer got annoyed. “Even if you complain, you’re still in the wrong!”

And why was that?

Because my recording was made inside my own home, not by sneaking into hers to record secretly.

She wailed and made a scene. Eager to pass the buck, the property management persuaded us to go to the police station to file a case and give our statements.