My Female Manager Roommate

homeless

I watched her receding figure， thinking to myself: how can someone so beautiful have such a sharp tongue? It was definitely her fault， not mine.

The sky was growing darker. Just then， a bus approached， and I ran toward the stop. Perhaps sensing the impending rain， a crowd of pedestrians surged forward， all anxious to board quickly.

The distance from the company to where I lived wasn't far—just four stops， twenty minutes at most. The real headache was the long trek from the bus stop to the apartment complex.

Outside the window， the rain began to fall， gently at first. But by the time I was about to get off， it had turned into a torrential downpour. I had never made a habit of carrying an umbrella.

But the bus stopped， and I had to get off. I huddled under the bus stop shelter， staring at the heavy rain. It didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon. I decided to make a run for it. I had promised to move my things out today; if I waited any longer， who knew if they would really throw my stuff out tomorrow.

I sprinted toward the apartment building， soaked to the bone. Thinking about how I had lived in this neighborhood for so many years， only to leave so suddenly， I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness.

Before I knew it， I was at the door. Out of habit， I took out my key and unlocked it. No sooner had I stepped into the living room than I heard a woman scream behind me.

I turned around to see a beauty wrapped in a towel standing at the bathroom door. What a coincidence. This was the woman who stole my taxi!

She pointed a finger at me.“Are you some kind of stalker? Just because I fought you for a taxi， did you actually follow me home?”

She looked me up and down.“Wait... how do you have a key to my house?”

Her question suddenly made everything clear. The landlord must have rented the place to her.

I smiled.“Hey， fate really loves to play a joke. Do you know who lived here before?” I jingled the key in my hand.

She immediately understood.“So it was you，” she said， pointing at me.“I knew it. This place is such a mess， I figured the previous tenant couldn't be much better. Your luggage is on the balcony. Grab it and get going.”

I touched my dripping hair and looked at my soaked clothes.“Thanks to you， I'm now a drowned rat. Where exactly am I supposed to go now?”

Her face was serious.“I don't care. That's not my problem.” With that， she walked into the bedroom.

I noticed she was sleeping in my old room. I had been gone to Long Island for just one day， and not only had I lost my home， but I had also been kicked out by the new tenant.

I walked onto the balcony and looked at my luggage—two suitcases and a bag. My clothes and miscellaneous items were neatly arranged， and even the charging cables were bundled up， organized with perfect order.

This gesture gave me a slightly favorable impression of her. She seemed like the type who pursued perfection. But regardless of what kind of person she was， this place no longer belonged to me.

I thought of my female friend， Ava. Maybe she had a place to stay? Ava and I were from the same hometown; our parents knew each other and had even tried to set us up. But neither of us was interested in a relationship. In Ava's words， we were too familiar—kissing would feel like i****t.

“Ava， can you put me up for the night? My lease expired， and I need a place to stay.”

“Brian， I'm really sorry. I'm on a business trip in Boston. I have the keys with me. Why don't you just find a hotel for the night?”

“Sis， it's not just for one night. If it were just one night， I wouldn't have called you. Alright， you get back to work.” I hung up.

Ava wasn't available， so I had no choice but to call my buddy James. James was a typical second-generation rich kid. He didn't have a proper job in New York， but his family had already bought him a two-bedroom apartment and a car. He had basically reached the peak of life without much effort.

“James， can you put me up for the night? My landlord rented the place out. I need to crash at your place for a few days.”

“Bro， I just got a new girlfriend today. If you can stand the sound of us having s*x， then come on over.”

I rolled my eyes. Another new girlfriend?“Forget it. Don't wear yourself out.”

“Haha， don't worry， bro， I won't die of exhaustion. Besides， it's raining. Just rough it at your old place for one night. I'll figure something out for you tomorrow.”

I lowered my voice.“The landlord rented the place to a woman. I can't stay with her. It's inconvenient.”

“That's even better! Single man and woman， dry wood and fierce fire... just thinking about it is passionate!”

“Get lost. I'm hanging up.” I wasn't a saint， but I still had some basic moral standards.

I looked up and found her standing at the bedroom door. She had changed into loose white pajamas. Her hair was still wet， draped over one shoulder. She didn't look like a girl in her twenties anymore; she had to be at least thirty. Her face was kind， and her every move exuded the charm of a mature woman.

I took a towel from my suitcase and wiped the rain from my hair.“I have the key. You keep it. Or better yet， change the lock after I leave. That way you can sleep with peace of mind.”

She said nothing， just leaning against the doorframe and nodding.

I looked around the apartment where I had lived for three years. Suddenly having to leave， I felt truly reluctant. After all， this place held the best memories of me and my ex-girlfriend. Perhaps once I walked out that door， those beautiful memories would vanish into thin air.

I pointed to the living room window.“Don't open the windows too wide during the day. There are no buildings in front to block the wind， and when it blows， the whole room gets dusty.”

She stood there and nodded again.

“And the water heater. It's too old. Unplug it when you shower so you don't get electrocuted. It short-circuited once before， so be careful. That's about it. Rest well.” I picked up my suitcases to leave.

Just as I turned to walk to the door， she suddenly said from behind，“Hey， wait... why don't you just... just...”