The New Neighbor Was a Socially Anxious Beauty!

August and September weather was always this strange.

A torrential downpour had fallen just last night, yet the next day was still blazing hot, with summer cicadas clinging to tree trunks and shrieking like mad.

Shen Lang had just been about to brush his teeth and wash up when he suddenly heard a commotion outside, as if someone was moving things back and forth.

Curious, he opened the door and saw a tall girl dragging a huge woven plastic sack past his door and into the small room opposite his.

She was very pretty, with a braided ponytail and wispy bangs. Her fair, oval face was as radiant as a peach blossom. Beneath her straight, pale nose bridge, her slightly red lips were pressed tightly together as she struggled to drag the sack along, beads of sweat sliding down her slender white neck.

She was dressed rather plainly: a faded navy-blue short-sleeved shirt, simple white cropped pants, and light pink sneakers that had become somewhat grimy.

These days, when girls moved house, they either called their family and boyfriends over to help or hired a moving company.

Who would willingly move around so conspicuously with woven plastic sacks?

Shen Lang guessed that the girl's family circumstances were not very good.

Yet even such plain and simple clothes could not conceal her graceful figure or breathtakingly beautiful face.

Shen Lang greeted her warmly. "Did you just move in?"

As the girl dragged the sack past Shen Lang, she nodded instinctively, then quickly averted her gaze.

"So aloof?"

Shen Lang was somewhat surprised, but the system options popped up the next second.

1: Rebuke her angrily: It's early in the morning. Could you keep it down? The neighbors are still trying to sleep. Do you have any manners at all?

2: Introduce yourself warmly while helping her carry her luggage!

3: Whistle to get the girl's attention, then politely ask for her contact information!

Only then did Shen Lang notice that the hallway by the elevator was also piled with the girl's assorted belongings.

The weather was so hot today, and she had already broken out in a fragrant sweat from moving so many things by herself.

"Let me help you."

Shen Lang went to the elevator, sorted out the scattered items, gathered them into his arms, and headed straight for the girl's room.

"N-no need."

The girl hurried out of the room in a panic. Seeing this unfamiliar boy holding her belongings, she anxiously waved her hands. "I can do it myself..."

"Was there really a need to react so strongly?"

Shen Lang was curious, but he still smiled. "It's fine. It's not much stuff."

Shen Lang carried the pile of belongings into the girl's room when the system's voice suddenly sounded.

Ding! Li Liusi's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 5 points. Keep up the good work!

Heh, this girl was quite the tsundere.

Thinking of Li Liusi's intense reaction when she had refused his help earlier, Shen Lang could not help but chuckle.

Girls really were tsundere creatures who said one thing but meant another.

W-wait? Five points?!

Shen Lang froze immediately. Just helping this girl move some things had raised her Favorability by a whole five points? How could that be so exaggerated?

Shen Lang abruptly turned to look at Li Liusi, who was standing behind him at a loss.

When she saw Shen Lang looking at her, Li Liusi timidly lowered her head again and stared at her grimy sneakers.

The word "humble" seemed practically written across her lovely face.

Considering the girl's plain outfit and the woven plastic sack she had left at the door—

Shen Lang seemed to understand something and asked with a smile, "Where should I put these?"

"J-just put them on the floor. Thank you..."

Li Liusi nodded, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness. Her humble eyes lifted slightly as she secretly examined this kind-hearted boy.

When Shen Lang's gaze met hers, Li Liusi quickly turned her head away again, avoiding his eyes like someone with social anxiety.

"She really is socially anxious."

Shen Lang silently remarked to himself, as if he were seeing his former introverted and insecure self.

When it came to dealing with socially anxious and introverted people, Shen Lang had the most experience.

As long as he spoke to them warmly and kindly, fully expressing his goodwill, he could quickly earn their favor.

"Alright, there's still some more. I'll help you move it all."

"Y-you really don't have to..."

"It's fine. Since you've moved in, we're neighbors now."

"Th-then, thank you..."

"Hahaha, no need to thank me. Just treat me to a bottle of Coke later."

"Mm..."

After Shen Lang finished helping Li Liusi move her things, the girl really ran downstairs and bought him an ice-cold Coke.

There was only one convenience store by the road outside the residential complex.

When Li Liusi ran back, her fair face had been reddened by the sun. Like she was presenting a treasure, she held the Coke up with both hands and offered it to Shen Lang. "Thank you."

"No need, really."

Seeing a girl act so humbly in front of him made Shen Lang smile awkwardly. He hurriedly took the ice-cold Coke, twisted off the cap, and began drinking.

Li Liusi also pulled a slightly worn brown thermos from her woven plastic sack, then ran into the bathroom and turned on the tap.

Even Shen Lang, sitting in the living room, could hear her gulping water. She looked like she was terribly thirsty.

Damn, was she really that frugal?

Shen Lang was stunned. He also felt embarrassed to remind her that drinking unboiled water was bad for her, since that would hurt her pride.

He just had not expected that, even in 2024, there were still girls so frugal that they could not bear to buy a three-yuan bottle of Coke.

After drinking some water, Li Liusi came out of the bathroom and stood silently by the door, making it seem as though Shen Lang, rather than her, was the tenant of the room.

"My name is Shen Lang. I'm a local, and I live across from you."

Shen Lang took the initiative to start a conversation. "What about you? Where are you from?"

"My name is Li Liusi. My hometown is in Gansu."

After speaking in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, Li Liusi's body trembled slightly, as though she was not used to even such a normal introduction.

"Ahem, your room is pretty nice."

Shen Lang looked around the tiny room, which was less than thirty square meters, and asked curiously, "How much is the rent each month?"

"It was originally 600."

Li Liusi smiled. "Landlady Auntie said studying wasn't easy for me, so she reduced it by 300."

"I see. That's pretty good."

Shen Lang felt that this girl was simply too innocent.

Anyone would know that this kind of special treatment should not be mentioned to others, especially other tenants.

If the other tenants found out that Xia Shuyi had reduced Li Liusi's 600-yuan rent to 300, they would definitely go to Xia Shuyi and ask for rent reductions too.

"Ah, the world really was going downhill."

Shen Lang finished his Coke in a few gulps, tossed the bottle into the trash can, and planned to go have a chat with Xia Shuyi.

But just as Shen Lang stood up, Li Liusi walked over to the trash can, crouched down, and picked up the Coke bottle.

"W-what are you doing?"

Shen Lang was rather surprised by her baffling action.

"I-I want to keep it and sell it for money."