Chapter 38: Mutual Consent

Yesterday, Zhang Qiming made an impromptu visit to the property management’s surveillance room and obtained footage of Jiang Yan being cornered by He Chunmei and the others—including the moment he recognized Jiang Yan as the rumored heiress circulating online: worth three billion, orphaned, with her own car and apartment, a wealthy socialite and internet celebrity.

All thanks to Zhang Qiqi, who had asked him for a favor.

Before this, he only knew the resident of 3201 was named Jiang Yan.

But he’d assumed it was just someone with the same name.

Like Zhang Qiqi, he never thought the Jiang Yan he knew would live in such an ordinary residential complex.

“Director Zhang!” Zhang Qiqi had just glanced up and caught sight of him. Her pretty, rosy face broke into a smile as she called out crisply.

She’d sent Zhang Qiming several messages earlier and even called him, but he hadn’t responded.

Since she had her own plans, she’d slowly made her way up from the 7th floor to the 28th, step by step.

Even after resting for a while, her calves still felt weak.

Luckily, after years of working out, she had a decent foundation.

Otherwise, most people would have collapsed halfway up.

Zhang Qiqi’s “Director” really hit Zhang Qiming right in the feels.

Normally, the residents’ committee just dealt with trivial matters.

But now, with the special circumstances, he and the property management were the main points of contact with the authorities, responsible for the food, drink, and daily life of over a thousand residents in the complex—a position of real power.

He couldn’t afford to take his role lightly anymore.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qiming gave her a cool, sidelong glance, his tone taking on the air of a seasoned official:

“Qiqi, I remember you live on the seventh floor. What are you doing all the way up here? Not bad, you’ve got stamina!”

The reason he hadn’t replied to Zhang Qiqi’s messages was simple: after learning Jiang Yan’s true identity, he had his own plans.

Comparing Zhang Qiqi and Jiang Yan, he was clearly more partial to Jiang Yan.

He remembered a news story from a few days ago—about a billionaire founder of a famous foreign brand who left his entire fortune to his family’s gardener.

It sounded unbelievable.

But the real reason was that the two had formed a deep bond during the pandemic.

Now, with the global heatwave ongoing, these hardships were even more severe than those days.

Everyone knew Jiang Yan’s father died young, and now she was all alone.

From a psychological perspective, girls like her tend to be more drawn to or dependent on mature men.

Though he was divorced and much older than her, he understood women better.

As the saying goes, “Adversity reveals true character.”

If he could help her out several times during this crisis and win her heart in the process—

The rest of his life would be smooth sailing.

It sounded like wishful thinking, but who knew? Sometimes dreams came true.

Even if he didn’t win her over, just befriending her would be no loss.

Plotting away, Zhang Qiming grew more and more pleased with himself.

“Zhang, what’s got you so happy?” Zhang Qiqi couldn’t help but ask when she saw his goofy grin.

“Oh, nothing.”

Zhang Qiming scratched his head, suddenly realizing Zhang Qiqi was still waiting outside his door. “By the way, what brings you up here?”

Zhang Qiqi gave a sweet, coquettish laugh. “I sent you messages and called, but you didn’t reply. So I had to come up and visit in person. Zhang, isn’t that sincere enough?”

“Is that so?” Zhang Qiming’s gaze swept over her, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously, his voice dropping a few notches.

Zhang Qiqi parted her red lips, giving him a playful tap. “Of course!”

It was hot.

Zhang Qiming suddenly felt even hotter.

A bold idea flashed through his mind as he took in her curvy figure and flattering smile.

Extreme heat could cause dizziness and hypokalemia, and greatly increase the risk of heart attacks.

If they engaged in any strenuous activity now, it would be like dancing on the edge of death.

But if he missed this chance, there might not be another.

They say, “Better to die under the peony than live without romance.”

He’d been single for so long—why not indulge?

Besides, telling her who she’d offended wouldn’t affect his plans.

On the contrary, it might serve as a warning for her to drop the matter, which would actually help Jiang Yan.

If she picked up on his hints and something happened between them, well, it would just be between the two of them—no one else would know.

With that, Zhang Qiming swallowed, and as he unlocked the door, he lowered his voice to probe:

“Qiqi, you must be tired from climbing all those stairs. There’s no one home—why don’t you come in, have a seat, and drink some water? I’ve got the info and video you asked me to look up. I’ll send them to you once I’ve organized them.”

His meaning was quite clear.

Zhang Qiqi’s child was almost six, and she was a seasoned player in the dating game—she knew exactly what he was implying.

Though people kept telling themselves the heatwave would soon pass, most knew the apocalypse had arrived.

It came fast and unstoppable.

In the apocalypse, moral boundaries loosen, resources become scarce, and bartering becomes the norm.

Normally, Zhang Qiming—a middle-aged man with his circumstances—wouldn’t even catch her eye.

But these weren’t normal times.

Especially since Zhang Qiming, as the residents’ committee head, controlled some resources.

To put it bluntly, even if he just called on residents to do something, he had much more sway than others.

She and her son, just the two of them, needed some backing.

As for resources, she herself was a core resource.

Still, she didn’t agree right away.

They were both adults—if it was mutual, there was nothing immoral or illegal about it.

But she couldn’t say yes too quickly.

She was a master of playing hard-to-get.

“Thank you for the offer, Zhang. But I won’t come in today. Didn’t the property management say all residents have to move to the underground garage tonight and collect supplies themselves? It’s just me and my son—I need to get down early and prepare.”

She even sighed helplessly as she spoke.

Sure enough, her pitiful look struck Zhang Qiming right in the heart.

“Ahem, that’s nothing! I’m not busy anyway, and besides, we’re both Zhangs—practically family! Leave it to me to help you and your son!”

Zhang Qiqi finally gave a coquettish smile. “Then I’ll trouble you for a glass of water inside, Zhang.”

Even as she said it, she couldn’t help but gag a little inside.

Two minutes later, Zhang Qiqi came out, face flushed and looking utterly drained.

It wasn’t that Zhang Qiming couldn’t perform—it was just that the temperature was simply too high.

The two of them had nearly lost their lives."