C5 The Cohabitation Agreement

Lying in the familiar bed, Zhang Xiaodong's mind overflowed with images from his youth. Slowly, he drifted off into a deep slumber...

Until the next morning, when the cheerful sunlight streamed through the rust-speckled window, accompanied by a persistent knocking at the door. Zhang Xiaodong's eyes snapped open, a fierce killing intent swirling within them. He leapt from the bed, his muscles coiled tight, veins on his forehead standing out, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Damn it!" Once he regained his composure, he realized he was no longer on the perilous African continent. He was back—truly back home.

Once his emotions settled, Zhang Xiaodong sauntered over to the door.

Upon opening it, he was greeted by Nalan Feifei, her expression sour as if she were in debt for millions. She huffed, "Here's the cohabitation agreement. Sign it, and I'll give you the rent."

"Hey, gorgeous teacher, up with the birds, I see. Why not catch a few more winks?" Zhang Xiaodong, momentarily taken aback, quickly grinned, his gaze unabashedly lecherous as it roamed over Nalan Feifei's shapely figure beneath her pajamas—lingering particularly on her chest.

"Keep staring, and I'll gouge out your eyes!" Nalan Feifei snapped icily.

"I firmly believe that all beautiful things in the world are meant to be admired, especially a stunner like you. To miss out would be a true pity."

"Enough with the sweet talk. Sign it," Nalan Feifei demanded, tossing the cohabitation agreement in front of Zhang Xiaodong.

Zhang Xiaodong glanced at the agreement and quipped with a teasing smile, "What's the rush?"

"Just sign the damn thing!"

"Where's the money?" Zhang Xiaodong asked, holding the agreement with a cheeky smile. "Surely it's paid annually at least."

"What! Annually?" Nalan Feifei, who was in the midst of pulling out her wallet, stopped and stared at him with wide eyes and a fierce expression. "Who pays annually? Isn't it every six months? Besides, I've already paid for the first half of the year."

"That's not my problem. You made the deal with someone else, not me." Zhang Xiaodong quipped dismissively, "Pay up or pack up and leave."

"Fine! I'll pay!"

Nalan Feifei was fuming with frustration but felt helpless. She had grown attached to the house after living there for so long; walking away wasn't an option for her.

She retrieved her wallet, pulled out her phone, and intended to transfer the rent via Alipay, only to discover a meager balance of two thousand yuan.

The rental contract stipulated eight hundred yuan per month. Paying annually would amount to at least eight or nine thousand yuan. As a middle school teacher with less than six months on the job and various living expenses, her total savings barely reached three or four thousand yuan.

What was she to do?

"Could I possibly pay just three months upfront?" Nalan Feifei pondered, realizing she'd be strapped for cash after settling the rent.

"Three months, huh?" Zhang Xiaodong shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk on his face. "That's doable, but you'll need to sign an IOU."

"An IOU, really?" Nalan Feifei was taken aback by his audacity.

"Take it or leave it."

"Alright! I'll sign it!" Considering her housing situation, she felt cornered into agreeing, despite her reluctance.

Having left her family behind, Nalan Feifei had no intention of returning anytime soon. With her severe cleanliness obsession, she had to tough it out.

She planned to demand her rent back once she found her ideal home.

Zhang Xiaodong was quite pleased with himself after obtaining the IOU.

Having multiple women in the house meant cleanliness was never an issue, and having an attractive tenant who could pay the rent was a bonus. Why would he complain?

However, his mood soured upon reviewing the cohabitation agreement, which he found excessively stingy. The terms outlined seemed grossly unfair to him as the landlord.

Even when he needed to use the bathroom, he had to knock first to inquire if it was occupied. The upstairs bathroom was off-limits to him, leaving only the downstairs one available.

The master bedroom was hers, while he settled for the secondary one.

It was a clear case of an unequal treaty.

"Mr. Zhang, now that I've paid the overdue rent, shouldn't we sign the cohabitation agreement?" Nalan Feifei demanded, her arms crossed in a confrontational stance.

Her posture was a direct response to Zhang Xiaodong's earlier aggressiveness regarding the rent issue. Nalan Feifei was simply giving as good as she got.

Considering he had accepted her rent and issued a promissory note, Zhang Xiaodong wasn't the type to be unreasonably difficult. Reluctantly, he signed the so-called cohabitation agreement.

After all, she planned to move out as soon as she found another place. Signing it was inconsequential to her.

"Alright then. I hope we can live together harmoniously in the future," Zhang Xiaodong said with a grin, extending his hand in a friendly gesture.

Nalan Feifei gave him a disdainful glance and, taking the agreement, turned sharply and left.

Zhang Xiaodong's outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air, a picture of embarrassment.

For Zhang Xiaodong, returning after five years, the changes were overwhelming.

Even the villagers passing by the outskirts of the village seemed not to recognize him anymore.

The once youthful and delicate boy had transformed into a mature man. Although some might have a flicker of recognition, none dared to approach him.

Zhang Xiaodong preferred it this way, relishing his anonymity. He intended to spend his remaining time in tranquility.

After a day spent indoors, he ventured out to the small town in the evening.

With a cigarette between his lips, he approached a residential complex in the town.

Gazing up at the aging buildings, Zhang Xiaodong could still sense the familiarity. Shaking his head with a wry smile, he mused, "Auntie, if you were short on cash, you could've just told me. Why rent out the house?"

Mixed feelings of irritation and sadness washed over Zhang Xiaodong.

Before he left, Zhang Xiaodong entrusted his house to his maternal half-aunt. Moreover, he made it a point to send a fixed sum for the house's upkeep every month. Although it wasn't a substantial amount, it was certainly preferable to renting it out.

Despite his careful instructions before his departure, it seemed they were all in vain.

As he stood before the familiar doorway, Zhang Xiaodong's right hand, poised to knock, hesitated and eventually lowered.

Ultimately, he couldn't muster the courage to knock. After all, it had been many years. Perhaps his aunt had encountered some difficulties that led her to rent out the house, and the tenant didn't seem to be a bad person.

Fortunately, Nalan Feifei had been taking care of the house, cleaning and maintaining it. He owed her thanks for that.

But just as Zhang Xiaodong was about to walk away, a familiar silhouette appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Auntie!" he exclaimed, his gaze locking onto hers in shock.

Thud!

The woman at the staircase dropped the fruit she was carrying, which tumbled down with a series of thuds. Her eyes were vacant and rimmed with red, as she looked at Zhang Xiaodong with a surge of emotion.

"Xiaodong, is that really you?" she asked, her eyes fixed on him, as if doubting her own sight.

The beautiful woman before Zhang Xiaodong was indeed his aunt. She was a full decade his senior, yet she had aged gracefully. Her skin retained its smoothness, her features unchanged, and time had only enhanced her mature, captivating allure. Her figure was impeccably maintained, and the flowing dress she wore accentuated her enticing presence.