ANGEL Chapter 2: Courtship Preparations

The security team said they hadn’t seen any foreigners enter the premises. The property management immediately sent out a group notification, urging everyone to stay vigilant. They promised to increase monitoring and thanked a particular resident for their suggestions, calling on everyone to report any issues promptly.

Zeng Yu glanced at his phone. In truth, he hadn’t provided any useful leads. The last time, he had been too drunk to remember any details and forgot to report the incident. Just now, he’d only caught a fleeting glimpse before the person vanished.

Still, at least someone else was handling the matter now. He didn’t have to waste his energy worrying about it.

As for the banana peel incident, it was probably just his bad luck and poor eyesight.

Zeng Yu thought about it calmly and even optimistically mused, Who loves bananas so much anyway? Are they really that good? Where can I buy some? I want to try them.

Having decided to buy bananas tomorrow, Zeng Yu climbed the stairs to the fifth floor.

He used to take the elevator, but after experiencing two malfunctions, he stopped using it. The fifth floor wasn’t too bad—he could think of it as exercise.

He unlocked the door, placed his things on the entryway cabinet, turned on the lights, and changed into his slippers before heading to take a shower.

Washing away the day’s bad luck, he emerged feeling fresh and clear-headed. His previously flat mood lifted slightly.

After blow-drying his hair, he threw two days’ worth of laundry into the washing machine and then went to the kitchen to cook a pot of braised pork rib noodles.

Carrying the bowl of noodles to the table, he opened his laptop to watch the replay of a new variety show. Just as he sat down, there was a knock at the door.

“Xiao Yu, it’s me.”

When Zeng Yu opened the door, his neighbor, Ye Ping, stood there holding a bowl of braised snacks, her smile warm and enthusiastic.

Behind her, her daughter Ye Zhishu, the same little girl who had come earlier to ask him to pump air into her bike tires, peeked out shyly. Her rosy cheeks lit up with a playful smile.

The mother and daughter had moved here two years ago. The reasons were twofold: the daughter was starting primary school, and Ye Ping had won her divorce case and was ready to start a new life.

When they first arrived, Ye Ping was pale and thin, with visible injuries on her body, shielding her healthy daughter protectively behind her. Her gaze was wary and timid. But she hadn’t let herself remain trapped in fear. Soon, she stepped out confidently, building relationships and providing her daughter with a good life.

It was from her that Zeng Yu had learned to be optimistic.

Ye Ping gently patted Ye Zhishu on the head. “This girl is obsessed with good-looking people. The bike I bought her came with its own pump, yet she deliberately deflates the tires every day just to bother you. Sorry for the trouble! Here, have some of the snacks I made. You haven’t brushed your teeth yet, right?”

“No, I haven’t. Thank you, Jie Ping.” Zeng Yu didn’t stand on ceremony and took the bowl.

Ye Ping worked in a factory but loved experimenting with cooking during her free time. She hoped to become a food blogger one day.

When she first moved in, she hated cooking and ordered takeout daily. Zeng Yu had seen the accumulating trash by her door and knocked, offering to cook for her in exchange for payment.

Grateful to Zeng Yu, she eventually realized she actually enjoyed cooking. She picked up the spatula again and started sharing her creations with the neighbors.

Ye Ping especially loved sharing food with Zeng Yu. Over time, their exchanges deepened, and they became good friends.

Ye Ping then brought up a request. “Zhishu’s school has a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow, but I’ve been called to go on a business trip with my boss. Xiao Yu, could you go in my place?”

Ye Ping always handled her daughter’s affairs personally. Zeng Yu thought about it for a moment and smiled faintly. “Congratulations on your promotion.”

Ye Ping blushed and shyly waved it off. “Oh, it’s not confirmed yet. But thank you so much.”

Ye Zhishu gleefully raised her hand. “Xiao Yu-ge, you have to dress super handsomely tomorrow!”

After saying their goodbyes, Zeng Yu closed the door and carried the snacks back to the table to finish his meal.

After dinner, he washed the dishes, hung up the laundry, and took a key from the drawer. He then walked to another door in his apartment.

This two-bedroom unit originally belonged to Jiang Guang, who rented it to Zeng Yu after moving out. Everything had been cleared out, so Zeng Yu could use it however he liked.

He used the smaller bedroom as his own, while the larger one held metal instruments and mechanical parts.

Opening the door, the fluorescent light revealed a room full of scattered items, all glinting under its glow.

To Zeng Yu, this chaos had its own order. He navigated the clutter skillfully to reach the center, where a robot as tall as he was stood.

It was still just a skeleton. As Zeng Yu gazed at it, its dark eyes seemed to reflect its completed form.

Blinking once, Zeng Yu turned to look at a competition poster on the wall. He then turned back to the robot, lifted its arm, and resumed adjusting its components.

The past few days had been unlucky, and his inspiration had been lacking.

Still, tonight’s unexpected events hadn’t derailed him entirely. At least Ye Ping’s braised snacks were delicious.

The next morning, Zeng Yu woke up feeling refreshed and ate an extra steamed bun for breakfast.

At the repair shop, he worked until noon. Once yesterday’s customer came to pick up their car, Zeng Yu half-lowered the shutter door, signaling he was unavailable.

The parent-teacher meeting started at 3:30, with sign-in at 3pm. As he stared at his reflection, Zeng Yu couldn’t help but feel lost.

His personality was as plain as water, but his features were sharp and striking, with edges that gave him an air of quiet strength.

At work, he wore a black tank top that showed off the smooth, defined muscles of his arms.

Now, he took off the dirty tank top, changed into a clean T-shirt, and scrubbed his hands and face until they were spotless.

After locking up, he stopped by the rice shop next door for lunch. Just as he finished eating, the owner rushed over, drenched in sweat, handing him a packed meal.

“Xiao Yu, I’m counting on you to deliver this today. Next week, I’ll cover all your meals!”

“No need.” Zeng Yu grabbed the food and assured the man he’d keep an eye on the elderly customer while he rushed back to work.

After returning from the hospital, it was already past two. Walking under the blazing sun, Zeng Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d forgotten something.

Passing a fruit store, he stopped to inspect the different types of bananas.

“This one’s sweet,” a small, dark hand pointed to a bunch on the left.

Zeng Yu looked up. A mischievous little boy winked at him and whispered, “Xiao Yu-ge, are you free this afternoon? Can you help me attend the parent-teacher meeting? I’m begging you! You can have as many bananas as you want, free of charge!”

The boy clasped his hands together, tears brimming in his eyes. Before Zeng Yu could respond, Ye Zhishu popped up and shouted, “Qiao Dongkai, you shameless liar! You’re actually trying to find someone to pretend to be your parent for something this important!”

“Parent-teacher meeting? Qiao Dongkai! Get over here!” A furious shout came from the boy’s parents inside the store.

Qiao Dongkai pointed at Ye Zhishu in disbelief, his face alternating between red and black. “You just wait, Ye Zhishu!”

Ye Zhishu stuck out her tongue, hugging Zeng Yu’s leg.

Zeng Yu hesitated as the sound of a slap echoed from the store. In the end, he silently picked up a bunch of bananas, scanned the QR code to pay, and let Ye Zhishu drag him outside.

“Don’t feel bad for him, Xiao Yu-ge,” Ye Zhishu chirped. “He put a fake bug in my pencil case yesterday. He’s the worst!”

Zeng Yu handed her a banana, and the two of them ate as they walked.

When they reached the repair shop, Ye Zhishu tugged his arm. “Xiao Yu-ge, let’s take the motorcycle to school!”

Zeng Yu had a custom-modified black motorcycle that he used for joyrides on quiet days.

He wheeled it out, helped Ye Zhishu put on a helmet, donned one himself, and straddled the bike. Ye Zhishu wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

“Let’s go!”

A Black Panther roared as it sped away.

Normally, Ye Zhishu’s school bus ride took half an hour, but now with Zeng Yu’s exclusive pick-up service, it only took ten minutes.

But she wanted to take the long way. The wild wind drowned out her ears, and she shouted excitedly, “Xiao Yu-ge! Take the long route!”

Through the windshield, Zeng Yu’s calm eyes reflected her enthusiasm. He leaned forward, making the Black Panther take a sharp turn.

As the clock neared three, Zeng Yu slowed down and cut through a shortcut to the school.

Ahead was the final turn. From behind him came Ye Zhishu’s cheerful laugh, “Xiao Yu-ge, thank you! I had so much fun today—”

Zeng Yu’s lips quirked into a small smile. It had been a while since he’d felt this carefree.

But his good mood hadn’t climbed far when the Black Panther suddenly screeched to a halt.

Ye Zhishu covered her ears and peeked her head out. “What happened?”

“…” Zeng Yu sighed lightly, reaching out to help Ye Zhishu down. “You go in first. I’ll catch up in a bit—got something to deal with.”

Ye Zhishu gave a wistful glance at the bustling school gate. “Alright, but hurry up, okay?”

Zeng Yu hooked their pinkies together, watched her enter the gate, and then turned back to face the banana peel in the middle of the road.

“…”

A laugh almost escaped him.

Now he understood what had been missing. No bones in his steamed buns, no missing screws, no accidental surprises while walking, no bad bananas, no obstacles while driving—everything had gone too smoothly.

It was unsettling. Seeing the banana peel finally grounded him.

Zeng Yu stared at the peel in silence, stepped closer, and pondered.

If he didn’t slip now, it would sneak up on him later.

Might as well take the initiative.

Slowly, he lifted his left foot, slowly stepped on the peel, slowly slid forward, and slowly sat down on the ground.

His head tilted down, and he muttered, “Is this enough?”

“Yes, yes!”

A familiar voice suddenly responded, filled with excitement and accompanied by applause.

Zeng Yu looked over calmly. The suspicious foreigner crouched behind a dusty, battered tricycle, trying to hide.

His blue eyes, sparkling against soft under-eye shadows, stayed fixed on Zeng Yu without blinking. There was no mockery in his smile, just pure delight.

Zeng Yu frowned slightly.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” he asked. The man froze at the question, tilting his head.

Their eye contact barely lasted half a second before the man’s face flushed crimson. His eyes sparkled as he stammered in a barely audible voice, “I—I like…”

Zeng Yu didn’t catch it. He assumed the man was about to make another excuse about being in the wrong place and trying to run off, so he stood quickly and grabbed his wrist.

Zeng Yu’s cool fingers wrapped tightly around the man’s pale wrist. His calm black eyes fixed on the darting blue ones.

But the vibrant flush on the man’s face was so absurdly vivid that Zeng Yu paused. The question on the tip of his tongue took a sharp turn.

“Where did you buy your bananas? Are they good?”