Chapter 5: Master, Let Me Give You an Apartment

The policeman let out a sigh of relief, offering a comforting smile as he patted Shiyi gently on the head.

“Don’t worry. These criminals have already received their due punishment in prison. If they cause trouble again after being released, we’ll make sure to put them back behind bars. You have nothing to worry about.”

He handed Shiyi a business card, pressing it into her palm.

“Here’s my card. If you ever need anything, just give me a call.”

Shiyi paused, staring at the card in her hand.

“Officer, what I mean is, you need to be careful with these criminals. Some of them were caught by you personally, right? There’s always the chance they might seek revenge. Please be cautious.”

She spoke earnestly, even though she didn’t know this officer by name.

But after seeing how he handled the traffickers today, she could guess he was a leading figure in the force.

The officer paused, considering her words, then broke into a hearty laugh.

“So that’s what you’re worried about… Don’t fret, little one. I’ll be careful.”

Shiyi nodded, seeing him to the door, but couldn’t help adding another word of caution.

“Officer, when you finish your night shifts, always take the main roads. Don’t try to save time by taking shortcuts; most of those old murder cases happened on side roads. You’re a pillar of the nation—please, look after yourself!”

Her face was serious and earnest.

The officer was taken aback by her concern, then chuckled softly.

“Thank you for the reminder. I’ll remember that.”

After seeing him off, Shiyi closed the door.

She hadn’t expected another knock not long after.

It was odd—hardly anyone ever came to her home, not in years. If there was ever a visitor, it was either the gas company or someone checking the water meter.

Shiyi opened the door with a sigh, only to find a family of three standing on her threshold, eyes glistening with tears.

Zhao Yong, upon seeing Shiyi, grabbed her hand without hesitation.

“Master, thank you so much for saving our family. We’ve been looking for you for ages, and I can’t believe you actually live here!”

Faced with Zhao Yong’s sincere gaze, Shiyi couldn’t help but sigh. From the look of things, he was here to express his gratitude yet again.

“You really don’t need to worry about it. It was just a small thing, and besides, you already gave me a thank-you gift. We’re even now.”

She’d lost count of how many times she’d repeated this to him.

Zhao Yong’s respect only deepened when he heard this.

“Mom, look at that—this is the true demeanor of a master! She does good deeds without seeking recognition. If I wasn’t so familiar with the neighborhood, I’d have had a hard time finding her.”

He spoke with heartfelt emotion. The elderly woman beside him wiped her tears, nodding repeatedly.

Her hands trembling, she stepped forward, and Shiyi hurried to steady her.

“Grandma, take it slow.”

The old lady dabbed at her eyes with a withered hand and spoke in a quavering voice.

“Child, I know everything now. You didn’t just save me, you saved my son and my granddaughter as well. You’re our family’s great benefactor. A few tens of thousands of yuan can’t possibly express our gratitude—you saved our lives!”

Shiyi tugged at the corner of her mouth.

A mere tens of thousands of yuan…

Well, truth be told, she’d never seen so much money before. It was thanks to Zhao Yong that she’d earned it at all.

“Master, half of the apartments in this neighborhood belong to my family. Let me give you one! That money doesn’t even come close to showing our thanks.”

For a moment, Shiyi wondered if she’d misheard him.

Was he serious? Just like that, offering her an apartment?

She was dazed, hardly able to believe it.

Zhao Yong noticed her hesitation and his eyes lit up with hope.

This might work!

He quickly pulled out a massive key ring from his pocket.

“Master, you may not know this, but I make my living from renting out apartments. Half of this complex belongs to my family. These apartments are nothing to me, just a drop in the bucket. Please, I beg you to accept—otherwise, our whole family will feel indebted!”

He gazed at Shiyi with pleading eyes.

“You really don’t have to do this. I didn’t save you for a reward—it truly was just something I could do…”

She found herself in a tug-of-war with him, reluctant to accept such a gift for nothing.

An apartment like this was more than most people could earn in a lifetime.

The old lady, seeing Shiyi’s resistance, snatched the keys from Zhao Yong and stuffed them into Shiyi’s arms.

“No need for formalities. Take your pick, whichever you like. Grandma’s word is final—whether it’s one or ten, they’re all yours. If there’s one thing our family has, it’s plenty of apartments!”

Shiyi stood holding the heavy keyring, completely bewildered.

“Host, just accept it—don’t waste their good intentions!”

Suddenly, as Shiyi was lost in thought, a mischievous child’s voice echoed in her mind, startling her.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m your system; you can call me White Tiger.”

In a flash, an image appeared in her mind, beyond her control—a little calico cat with black, white, and yellow fur.

It was incredibly cute, though with a hint of arrogance.

“Just accept it. Good deeds should be rewarded. Besides, these apartments mean little to them—better for you to live there than leave them empty. At most, just look out for them a bit more in the future!”

The system was bouncing around her thoughts, sounding quite excited.

Shiyi was still coming to terms with the fact that a tricolor cat had appeared in her mind.

The old lady took her hand again.

“Child, which one do you like? Just tell Grandma, and I’ll arrange for your move tomorrow!”

Shiyi looked at the old woman before her—dressed in a brightly colored shirt and a pair of cheap slippers—and then at Zhao Yong, clad in an ill-fitting suit and battered flip-flops.

They didn’t look the least bit like people who owned half a neighborhood.

Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Suppressing her thoughts, Shiyi frowned and glanced towards her kitchen and bathroom. In the end, she nodded.

“Alright, thank you. But just let me live there—there’s really no need to give me an apartment.”

She looked at them both with genuine sincerity.

The place she was renting now was older than she was, cramped and worn out, with kitchen and bathroom leaks.

Especially when it rained, the whole house felt like it was flooding.

Yet, it still cost her two thousand yuan a month.

Now that she could save on rent, she couldn’t help but feel a bit pleased.

Seeing her agree, Zhao Yong slapped his thigh in delight.

“Take your pick from half the neighborhood; the one you’re living in is too run-down. I’ve got a brand-new apartment for you—let me help you move in!”