The man stood outside the elevator, not entering immediately.
Nora Scott glanced at him a few more times.
He wore a long black trench coat over a turtleneck sweater, the coat left open, with straight black pants, wide shoulders and a narrow waist, his figure well-proportioned.
His hair was slightly tousled by the wind, and in the cold, white, hazy light, his facial features were more pronounced, the shadows adding a cool texture, making him look both handsome and aloof.
No one reacted, and the elevator doors began to close.
Suddenly, two hands shot out, stopping the elevator doors. He stepped forward, entering the elevator completely.
The elevator doors closed again, leaving just the two of them in the spacious elevator.
Only one button was illuminated on the digital panel inside the elevator.
Nora Scott lived on the 21st floor.
The numbers changed rapidly as the elevator ascended floor by floor, yet the man standing silently to the side showed no intention of pressing any buttons.
Nora’s gaze fixed on one side, her eyebrows unconsciously furrowing, a bit irritated.
Finally, the elevator stopped, and a few seconds later, the doors automatically opened from both sides.
As soon as Nora stepped out, she sensed the man following closely behind, his slow and steady footsteps echoing like sounds striking her nerves, putting her on full alert.
Almost as soon as Pedro Langley stepped out, his wrist was suddenly seized by an unexpected force. He chose not to resist the moment he realized what had happened, and the next moment, he was yanked forcefully to the side, pressed against the wall by the elevator doors.
With a cool voice questioning him, a figure leaned forward, her delicate and beautiful features magnified in his vision.
Thick, long eyelashes, deep, cool eyes, slightly upturned corners of her eyes, those narrow eyes staring directly with scrutiny and observation, as if peeling away all layers to reach deep inside.
A shiver passed through him momentarily.
What remained was the turbulent trepidation in the shadows.
Pressed against the wall, he could feel a slight chill. Nora secured his wrist with one hand and placed the other on the opposite wall, exhibiting a very assertive and direct posture.
After a few seconds of pause, Pedro Langley opened his mouth, "I live here."
His voice was low and magnetic, with a slightly husky timbre.
His eyes narrowing, Nora’s eyes were full of doubt as she coldly smiled, "What a coincidence?"
"Quite the coincidence."
Pedro Langley replied lazily, his expression calm.
With menace and frustration appearing on her face, Nora’s tone was laced with aggression, "Looking for trouble, aren’t you?"
This unexpectedly confrontational question left Pedro momentarily stunned.
Did he appear like someone here to settle a grudge, standing in front of her?
Just as he thought this, Nora gave him a definitive answer—
"So much time has passed, no need to hold a grudge, right?"
Slightly startled, Pedro pressed his thin lips into a straight line, his voice low, "Seems like you know you wronged me."
Nora frowned, "I didn’t say that."
Forthright and open, neither owing anything to the other, what was there to apologize for?
"..." After a brief pause, Pedro stopped the argument, his tone calm as he redirected the topic, "I don’t have time for that."
"Then why did you move to Cloudwater Haven and happen to live on this floor?"
Facing her aggressive questioning, Pedro looked at her silently and spoke slowly, "Fate, words cannot describe."
Learned some cold humor?!
An icy gaze assessed him for a moment, and although Nora found this logic unreliable, she couldn’t find any concrete evidence against it.
This neighborhood belonged to his family; he had reserved several apartments early on; he could choose to live wherever he wanted, why not?
Reluctantly retracting her hand, Nora gave him a warning look and turned to leave.
However, Pedro called out methodically—
"Just planning to leave like that?"
Her steps halted, and Nora sighed, impatiently asking, "What else do you want?"
With his hand on his wrist, gently rubbing it, Pedro tidied his sleeve meticulously and said, "Your hasty conclusion makes me feel offended."
Nora sneered, "You want me to apologize?"
"I’m available tomorrow."
His eyelids lifted slightly, Pedro fixed his gaze on her, his expression serious.
"..." Nora was baffled, "What?"
Pedro explained earnestly, "I’m available tomorrow, offering you the chance to treat me to dinner and apologize as compensation."
Nora raised an eyebrow and took a step closer to him, an intense pressure surging instantly.
"Taking my kindness for granted, are you?"
Unintimidated by her aura, Pedro’s lips curled slightly as he continued, "Also, celebrate my housewarming."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Considering I didn’t cause you any trouble and even did you a favor."
Standing still for a few seconds, she gave Pedro a meaningful look, didn’t respond, and turned away directly.
This time, Pedro didn’t stop her.
Watching her silhouette disappear from view, Pedro smiled softly and pulled out his phone to send a message to Butler Loxley.
Outside, the sky had completely darkened.
In the small study connected to the bedroom, the light overhead cast a faint, warm yellow glow. Nora leaned over the desk, with an eye-protecting lamp lighting her work area.
The computer and tablet had been moved aside, and a spread of comic storyboard pages lay on the desk, a few pens scattered carelessly.
Her fingers, holding a pen, were beautifully slender, knuckles prominent, and her skin fair, yet the sound of the pen tip meeting the storyboard paper was somewhat fierce, a rasping sound as the lines flowed smoothly into shape.
A sudden, irritated sound broke the silence, and the pen stopped moving.
The pen was tossed aside, and Nora leaned back in her comfortable office chair, brows knitted in frustration.
She couldn’t settle her mind.
Her head was filled with Pedro’s words by the elevator.
She replayed the conversation several times, still not understanding how, despite her clear advantage, Pedro had somehow turned the tables.
The whole day had been filled with vexing incidents.
Fine... do something to vent a little.
Nora’s fingers hooked around the drawer handle, pulling it open with some effort, taking out the phone inside.
She unlocked it with her fingerprint and opened Weibo.
[Zero: Feeling down, retweet, comment, like, and in two days, there’ll be a draw. Thirty people will win a complete set of Singleton comics, with a TO signature.]
After posting on Weibo, Nora didn’t exit immediately but deliberately browsed through some comments.
"I can do it! I can do it!"
"Holy crap, what did I just see?!"
"Grandma, the blogger you follow has finally posted!"
"Ahhhhhh! For the TO signature, CHARGE ahhhhh!"
Soon enough, there was a satisfying comment—
Nonono: God Z, is this the first time you’re giving a TO signature?
Nora replied happily with a single word—