Chapter 3

Jenny from 501 quickly apologized: "I'm sorry about earlier, sis. I didn't know the situation. But you should go after the person responsible, why ask all of us to pay?"

Seeing several residents turn sympathetic, Karen became even more aggressive, her tone increasingly disrespectful.

"My daughter was knocked unconscious and assaulted just as she got off the elevator one night three months ago. Now she's pregnant, and I don't have money to take care of a pregnant woman."

"The son of a bitch who did this is definitely from our building. Since we can't find out who it is, each household will have to share the cost."

"For now, I'm only collecting for prenatal nutrition and check-ups. Other child-rearing costs will be discussed after the baby is born."

I was speechless. She was clearly trying to swindle the entire building.

The resident from 1201 interrupted Karen's long speech: "We sympathize with what happened to your daughter. However, what you should do now is report it to the police immediately, not cause trouble in the residents' group."

I had met the resident from 1201 in the elevator before. She's a teacher at a nearby high school and often helps mediate neighborhood disputes. When she spoke up, others were willing to give her face and stopped saying harsh things about Karen's messages.

But Karen clearly didn't appreciate it. She tagged 1201 and started cursing.

"Report to the police? Report what? You're supposed to be a teacher, don't you know not to air your dirty laundry in public? Are you deliberately trying to let everyone know about my daughter's situation?"

"You're just a slut who's always flirting with male students at school, trying to drag my daughter down with you? Pah! You shameless bitch, if you dare not pay, I'll go to your school and let everyone know what kind of filthy trash you are!"

"I'll only say this once in the group: whoever dares to spread the news about my daughter's pregnancy, be careful I don't tear your mouth apart."

Amidst Karen's cursing, the resident from 102 managed to squeeze in a message.

"My family only consists of my bedridden elderly father and his female caretaker. Even if your daughter was impregnated by someone, it couldn't possibly be related to my household, right?"

Karen's fighting spirit was impressive. Her mouth spewed profanities, with many words being censored. After 102 started it, several other households began trying to distance themselves from this troublesome affair and this difficult family.

"My apartment has been empty for two years, it couldn't have been a ghost from my place, right?"

"I've been on a business trip for six months and haven't been home."

"Only my mother and daughter live in my place."

......

Karen relentlessly battled with her words against the group, only stopping when no one was willing to engage with her anymore.

Interestingly, her daughter, the "protagonist" of this drama, hadn't said a single word in the group chat throughout the entire ordeal.