Chapter 189: Rumors

After the pandemic situation improved, people in the neighborhood started bringing out their leftover Banlangen granules to trade for food.

Ten jin of grain could get you a bag of granules, which attracted quite a few people.

As more and more people gathered, they started bartering other goods as well. Gradually, a small market formed outside the neighborhood gates.

It wasn’t just residents from this neighborhood trading here—people from nearby neighborhoods also came to swap things.

At the little market, a few familiar neighbors finished their trades and gathered to chat.

Neighbor A: “Hey, what do you guys think that nouveau riche guy sees in the demon queen? I just don’t get it!”

Neighbor B: “Me neither. Every time I see her, my legs go weak! And this guy actually has the guts to fall for her?”

Neighbor C: “What else could it be? She’s pretty, that’s for sure!”

Neighbor D: “Pretty? Who cares if the Grim Reaper looks good or not?”

Neighbor A: “Rich people have seen all kinds of beauties. Would he really risk his life just for a pretty face?”

At this point, the woman selling medicine nearby chimed in, “She’s not just pretty—she’s stunning. I think even most actresses can’t compare to her.”

No one disagreed with that.

Neighbor B curled his lip. “If we’re talking looks, the demon queen really is flawless.”

Neighbor A: “But no matter how pretty she is, you’ve got to live to enjoy it!”

Neighbor C: “Why wouldn’t he live? From what I’ve seen, Chainsaw Lady treats that rich guy differently.”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s attention was instantly piqued.

He lowered his voice and pointed at the sky. “Anyone else who dared knock on her door before is long gone. But that rich guy’s come by so many times, and he’s still perfectly fine!”

The group’s gossiping spirits burned even brighter.

No one noticed the slender figure standing at a nearby stall, wearing a mask.

“Wait, now that you mention it, that’s actually true!”

“I’m heartbroken. Turns out even the Grim Reaper has a soft spot for rich guys.”

“If you ask me, maybe it’s not about the money. The demon queen’s got plenty of supplies herself. She’s only in her early twenties, right? Maybe it’s actually love!”

“Love???”

For a moment, no one could connect the chainsaw killer with such a sweet word.

After a while, someone asked, “Do you think if the demon queen fell in love, she’d become a little gentler?”

The group looked at each other.

Neighbor A blurted out, “Don’t even think about it. Anyone who likes her can’t be a good person. For all we know, the two of them will team up to torment us!”

The scene immediately went quiet.

Before they could say anything else, the stall owner next to them spoke up:

“Miss, you’ve been standing here for a while. Is there anything you want to trade with me?”

The group’s attention was drawn by his voice, and they instinctively looked over.

They saw a woman with long, silky hair and a curvy figure—it was obvious she was a woman, but with a mask on, her face was hidden.

Wait a minute—silky?

Who these days still has the luxury to keep their hair that soft and smooth!

Could it be...

Neighbor A was the first to react, screaming as he ran home:

“It’s the demon queen!!!”

Neighbor B, just as he’d said, went weak in the knees at the sight of Annan. Realizing he’d just been gossiping about her right in front of her, he was so scared he could barely stand.

Luckily, the other two were loyal enough to grab him by the arms and run off together.

Only the medicine-selling lady was left, clutching her medicine box and trembling.

“Miss, I didn’t say anything bad about you! If you heard me, all I said was you’re prettier than any actress.”

Annan helplessly touched her mask.

Was her reputation in the neighborhood really this big now? It was one thing for everyone to gossip about her, but even with her face covered and not saying a word, she could still be recognized!

She glanced at the medicine lady but said nothing.

The stall owner, who was from a neighboring community and didn’t know Annan, persisted,

“Miss, do you want to buy something or not?”

Annan waved him off and left.

She’d only come out because Chu Peipei mentioned the area outside the neighborhood had turned into a little market.

She wanted to see if she could find any jade or other useful things.

She hadn’t expected the market to be so tiny and empty, and even less that it would be filled with rumors and gossip about her and Gu Zhiyu.

Annan went home, speechless.

The next night, a helicopter once again landed at Maple Forest Estates.

This time, Gu Zhiyu knocked for a long time before Annan finally came out.

As soon as she saw him, she frowned and scolded, “The epidemic is basically over. What are you doing here again?”

This guy had been coming up with all sorts of excuses to visit lately, and the helicopter’s constant noise in the neighborhood was exactly what had sparked all those rumors.

This time, Annan was determined to kick him out.

Gu Zhiyu noticed she was in a bad mood and raised his eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”

Annan pouted. “You’ve ruined my image in the neighborhood!”

Gu Zhiyu was baffled. “What image?”

Annan said, “Now everyone’s saying there’s some rich guy who’s crazy about me, flying in on a helicopter every day just to see me.”

Gu Zhiyu couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t see anything wrong with that?”

He paused, then added, “Oh, wait, I’m not some country bumpkin.”

Annan snapped, “That’s not the point!”

She was supposed to be the cold-blooded, ruthless demon queen, not some delicate little flower by a domineering CEO’s side.

The twisted image she’d built up in the neighborhood was about to turn into a romance drama heroine, all thanks to him!

Gu Zhiyu grinned and stepped closer, his tall figure completely enveloping her.

“An’an, don’t be mad. They’re not wrong, you know.”

He slowly lowered his head, his eyes swirling with emotions she couldn’t quite read. “I really am a little crazy right now.”

He said those last words so softly that Annan could feel his breath brush lightly across her lips.

She stared at Gu Zhiyu’s face, so close to hers, her eyelashes trembling.

Then she couldn’t help but ask, “Crazy how?”

Gu Zhiyu gazed straight at her. “Crazy in every way.”

Their eyes met, and it felt like the air around them grew warmer.

After a few seconds, Annan blinked and, as if waking from a dream, took a sharp breath.

Then she quickly stepped back. “Anyway, you should go home! Don’t come again.”

Gu Zhiyu noticed her cheeks were a little red and, unable to help himself, stepped forward again, backing her into a corner.

Annan’s sense of security vanished, and she immediately tried to push him away.

But Gu Zhiyu suddenly felt as solid as a mountain—no matter how hard she pushed, he didn’t budge.

They stared each other down for a moment before Gu Zhiyu chuckled and coaxed,

“An’an, I’m thirsty. Can I come in for a cup of tea?”"