Chapter 3

The next morning, I ran into Sarah, my neighbor from 1002, in the elevator.

There are three units on each floor in our building.

Sarah is also a single woman.

We know each other, but we're usually busy with work, so we don't interact much.

She hesitated, then asked, "Are the people from 1003 giving you trouble?"

I nodded.

She immediately looked distressed and warned me, "You need to be very careful. That family is incredibly difficult to deal with."

I asked, "Have they bothered you too?"

Sarah's face was a picture of exasperation. "I'm a preschool teacher, and their son, Leo, is in my class."

She showed me her SnapChat chat history.

My jaw literally dropped, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The couple who'd been pounding on my door, Brad and Tiffany, were not only leeching off Sarah's WiFi but were also treating her like their personal, unpaid babysitter.

【Sarah, our Leo isn't very good at wiping his butt. You need to check him every time he poops and clean him up.】

【Leo said you criticized him today? We're neighbors, and you're not only not showing him favoritism, but you're criticizing him? He hit someone because he's got strong motor skills! Sarah, you *must* apologize to Leo formally, or we'll go to the school and the Board of Education to complain.】

【Sarah, our Leo says he doesn't like the food the school cook makes. Please change it to something Leo likes as soon as possible.】

…

I was utterly stunned.

Were they treating her like a genie, making wishes, or their family slave? How could they ask for anything and everything?

I looked at Sarah. "You didn't actually do all that, did you?"

She said, frustrated, "If I didn't listen, they'd come to the school, block the classroom door, make a scene, and complain about me to the principal."

I couldn't believe it. "So you actually did what they asked?"

Sarah looked like she was about to spit blood. "I'm up for a big promotion this year, and there's only one spot, so the competition is fierce. If they cause a scene at the school a few times, I'll lose my eligibility."

I immediately understood her frustration.

I said sympathetically, "Sister, you're in such a terrible situation!"

She shook her head. "I just wanted to warn you that family is completely unreasonable and incredibly difficult. Be careful."

I was about to speak when the elevator doors opened, and Tiffany's voice rang out from outside. "1001! Did you call my husband a pig yesterday?!"

I rolled my eyes.

What kind of brain did she have? It took her all night to figure that out?

Her expression twisted, then she looked at me with a sneer.

Before I could say anything, she turned to Sarah. "Sarah, didn't I tell you Leo hasn't been eating carrots lately? What's going on? Why were there still carrots in the school lunch yesterday? And his most hated onions?!"

Sarah replied weakly and perfunctorily, "I'll pay attention today."

The crazy woman wasn't done. "Is this your attitude as a teacher and a neighbor? Sarah, I'm just telling you, you're not particularly pretty, and if you don't make yourself more likable, how will you ever get married? You'll end up an old maid, and when you're old, who will take care of you? You could die in your apartment and rot away, and no one would even know."

Sarah clenched her fists, but she didn't dare to speak.

I scoffed. "Does her mouth have a direct line to her colon, just spewing out crap?"

3

Sarah’s face flushed crimson.

Tiffany didn't quite understand, but her son, Leo, rushed over, ready to hit me. "How dare you talk about my mom like that, you bitch! I'll beat you to death!"

I swiftly stepped back, and he swung at air, tumbling hard onto the floor.

He opened his mouth and wailed.

Tiffany immediately started cursing. "You bitch, you little whore, you hussy! How dare you hit our only son, the heir to the Liu family! I'm not done with you!"

I pointed to the camera above. "I'll call the police. Let's see who's doing the hitting."

She reached out to grab me, but I slapped her hand away.

I realized I was going to be late for work, so I didn't bother to argue with the crazy mother and son. I walked past them, got in my car, and drove off.

I thought my attitude had made it clear to the delusional couple that I wasn't a pushover like Sarah.

I thought this whole thing was over.

But when I got home from work, I saw that the Brad's SUV was parked in my spot.

Brad was standing by the elevator, and when he saw me, he smirked provocatively. "I parked my car here. What are you gonna do about it?"

He turned and stepped into the elevator right in front of me.

Just as the elevator doors closed, he was still grinning at me, showing off his stained yellow teeth.

Oh, really? Fine.

It seemed I was still too easygoing!

I first contacted the building management.

As expected, they sounded really helpless.

"Ms. Harper, all the residents in your building have reported various issues with that family. But we don't have law enforcement authority, and that family is completely brazen. Last time, they almost physically attacked our staff. I'll arrange for staff and security to go talk to them now, but it's unlikely to solve the problem. Please be prepared."

I hung up the phone and suddenly felt excited.

Brad's family, weren't they just those infamous crazy neighbors you read about online?

All those little tricks I had saved in my notes might actually come in handy!

My work had been pretty dull lately, not much fun.

I first called my studio, telling them my work hours would be flexible for a while.

Then I exported and saved the dashcam footage of Brad occupying my parking spot and intentionally provoking me.

After that, I made a U-turn and drove out.

When I returned, my trunk was filled with bags of cement.

Brad's car was indeed still sitting comfortably in my parking spot, not moving an inch.

I asked the building management, and they said they had talked to Tiffany, who claimed our two families had agreed to switch spots and told them to mind their own business.

I told the management not to worry about their apology.

I hung up and went to find the security guards, asking them to help me surround my parking spot with bags of cement, front and back.

The two security guards initially looked a bit reluctant, but as soon as they saw the license plate number of the car in my spot, their faces lit up with excitement.

Like they'd been given an energy drink, they quickly blocked off the spot.

They did an even better job than I asked, ensuring the car parked in the spot definitely couldn't get out.

I offered them cigarettes, but they refused, only accepting bottled water. They chugged it down, shaking their heads, and practically skipped away.

Wow, it was clear just how much Brad's family was hated.

I was basically doing God's work.

After I got home, I happily watched some reality TV and went to sleep.

I dreamt of the crazy couple next door kneeling and begging me for mercy.