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Chapter 5 - Chapter Five: The Landlady’s Anxiety

In that cramped, dim room redolent of mildew and cheap instant noodles, Lu Chen had barely slept the entire night.

Outside the window, the neon lights of Star City—never extinguished—ghosted through the thin, long-since faded curtains, casting mottled shadows across his face, contorted by exhaustion, nervous excitement, and a hangover-like headache.

"Heartsight…" Or, as he preferred to call it, the "Mind Hunter's Codex."

This thought burned like a wildfire in the depths of his soul, bringing an indescribable shock and fear, yet also kindling a poppy-like hope—beautiful, dangerous, and fragile—amid the ruins of his despair.

He knew that this sudden "gift" or "curse" might irrevocably change his life.

But before he could indulge in dreams of an uncertain, possibility-filled future, a harsher reality snapped him back like a bucket of ice water: he'd been fired. He was penniless. He didn't even have next month's rent.

"Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!"

A rapid, violent pounding threatened to shatter the thin wooden door like the drumbeat of Death itself, rousing Lu Chen's scattered thoughts.

His heart skipped a beat. Who could it be now? Aside from one person, he could think of no one.

"Lu Chen! Lu Chen! I know you're in there! Open up this instant, or I'll toss all your junk out the window if you dare stall me again!" came a shrill, fiery voice outside.

It was the landlady, Liu Guifang—a woman of about fifty, her figure slightly plump from years of hard labor and lack of pampering, her hair casually tied back with a rubber band, a few streaks of gray rebelliously framing her forehead, her face perpetually locked in a scowl that seemed to say the whole world owed her millions. She lived downstairs and remembered every tenant's rent date better than her own birthday—she was infamous throughout this urban village as the "She-Tiger" of rent collection.

Lu Chen's scalp tingled; his temples throbbed anew from the sudden fright. Just as he feared, this she-tiger's nose was keener than a police dog's!

He took a deep breath, forcing his weary voice—thinning from lack of sleep—to sound calm, lacing in humility: "Liu… Liu Jie, please give me a moment. I'm on my way."

In panic, he scrambled from the rock-hard single bed, slapping on a wrinkled old T-shirt, forgetting his shoes, and dashed barefoot to fling open the creaking wooden door.

Sure enough, Liu Guifang stood before him, hands on hips, blocking the entrance like a wrathful goddess. Her small, clouded eyes—dulled by sleepless nights and endless scheming—scanned him head to toe as though she intended to strip every last ounce of value from him. Behind her loomed two burly young goons whose menacing glares promised to hurl both him and his belongings out onto the street at her command.

"Oh, Mr. Handsome Lu finally deigns to appear?" she sneered, arching a brow, her tone so shrill it could pierce eardrums. "Today's the ninth. Last month's rent—seven hundred yuan. Care to explain? Save me the 'My company hasn't paid me yet' excuse; I'm deaf to it! If that rent's not on my desk by day's end, I'll have you evicted and locks changed this afternoon. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

Her words, high-pitched and relentless, drew curious glances from neighbors eager for free entertainment.

Lu Chen's cheeks burned; mortification and helplessness coiled in his gut. He knew this time she meant business. If he couldn't produce the rent today, he'd soon be another homeless soul wandering Star City.

In that moment of utter desperation, the audacious idea flared again: to use that forbidden "Mind Hunter's Codex" to delve into her thoughts.

He knew each use cost him excruciating pain and mental exhaustion. Yet he was out of options. This alone offered a sliver of salvation.

Steeling himself, he inhaled deeply and extended his fragile mental tendrils—like the finest, most sensitive threads—toward the furious landlady.

"Buzz…"

A wave of dizziness crashed over him, needles of pain stabbing his skull! Yet unlike yesterday's all-consuming chaos, this time he sensed a subtle improvement—perhaps mental focus, perhaps sheer resolve.

Drowning out the cacophony of other tenants' thoughts, he honed in on Liu Guifang alone.

Instantly, a torrent of crystal-clear, urgent thoughts flooded in—worry, helplessness, fatigue, embarrassment:

[That brat Lu isn't dodging rent on purpose… but last month I spent 1,200 yuan on Little Bao's math tutoring. If that's not paid, they'll kick him out of the advanced class! And my husband's latest hospital bill—over 3,000 yuan! Where am I to find that money? I have to make this kid cough up rent today, even if it's just two hundred to cover those tutoring fees. If he can't pay, out he goes, and I'll rent to someone else. Can't let this place sit empty. Why did life do this to me?]

Like the keenest blade, these thoughts stripped away her savage façade, revealing an ordinary middle-aged woman crushed by life's demands, anxious for her family's future.

A gasp escaped Lu Chen's mind: she wasn't just a greedy rent-seeker. She bore burdens far heavier than his own. Her fierce demands masked fierce maternal love and worry.

If he could speak directly to that hidden truth—her most desperate need—perhaps he could win her sympathy… and a reprieve.

His mind raced. He only had the forty-some yuan he'd borrowed from her yesterday. But if he could earn her trust, even briefly, he could buy precious time.

Meeting her blazing gaze with genuine sincerity, he spoke with empathy: "Liu Jie, I know how tight things are for you right now. You need this rent to cover emergency expenses—especially your son's tutoring. You can't afford to delay that."

Liu Guifang, poised to unleash another tirade, froze. Her furious eyes widened in disbelief and… panic.

How could he know about Little Bao's tuition? Had he some supernatural gift?

He let no pause slow him. In a tone brimming with regret and understanding, he continued, "My company hit a snag this month, so salaries are delayed a few days. I did manage to borrow some money—intended for my father's medicine. If you'll accept it, please use these forty yuan for your son's tutoring. Don't let this small sum jeopardize his future."

He drew the crumpled bills and coins from his pocket, offering them with both hands, downcast in guilt over delaying his father's medicine but compelled by empathy. "This is all I have. But I swear, by five o'clock the day after tomorrow, I'll pay every last yuan of rent. If I fail, I'll pack up and leave without you having to ask. My word is my bond."

Liu Guifang stood speechless. The insults she'd rehearsed died on her lips.

He held her gaze, his humility, the quaver in his voice, the clarity of his conviction—augmented by his uncanny insight—all combined to melt her hardened heart.

Especially the plea not to jeopardize her son's education struck like a hammer to her soul, recalling all she'd sacrificed for his future.

She studied this gaunt tenant with a mix of suspicion, awe, and something like respect. Had he truly penetrated her mind, or was this trickery?

Either way, his steadfast sincerity prevailed. With a reluctant sigh, she reached out and took the coins and bills, her ferocious façade softening like frost in spring. In a voice tinged with warmth, she said, "Alright, Lu. I'll trust you this once. But remember—by five o'clock the day after tomorrow, you must pay in full, or else…"

He saluted with firm resolve: "Thank you, Liu Jie. You have my word. If I can't make it, I'll leave willingly and never trouble you again."

She hesitated, then surprised him with genuine concern: "Take care of yourself, kid. You're young—you've got a long road ahead."

As she descended the stairs with her two lackeys, Lu Chen exhaled a long-held breath, his legs trembling as he slid down against the cold doorframe, sweat chilling on his back.

It was done.

He had averted the crisis that threatened to render him homeless—at least for now.

But almost instantly, the crushing backlash of pain—mental and physical—returned in full force, tearing through him like a tsunami. His face drained of color; cold sweat beaded his brow.

He staggered back to the icy bed, collapsing as if he'd run a death-defying marathon, too weak even to lift a finger.

"This Mind Hunter's Codex… truly… cannot be used lightly," he rasped, breath coming in ragged gasps, awed by the power he had wielded.

Yet in that harrowing success, a spark ignited—a fierce flame kindled in the frozen depths of his battered spirit.

He had read the landlady's deepest fears and leveraged them with mere coins to win two precious days.

It proved that this forbidden talent was real—able to pierce hearts, avert disaster, even alter destiny.

Though the path ahead remained perilous, from this moment on, Lu Chen would no longer be the fate-driven worm he once was.

Two days. He must find enough money to secure his rent.

Dismissed by Star Corp, betrayed by Wang Hai, the worried image of Xu Tingxia flickered in his mind, alongside visions of revenge.

Perhaps this power—this miracle—wasn't only for averting small-town disasters.

A bolder, madder dream took root in his exhausted but exhilarated mind: to unleash this codex upon Star City, Feichi Group, Wang Hai, Jiang Wanxing… and Xu Tingxia.

His true game was only just beginning.

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