The first thing Xiao Nuo did after waking up in the morning was check her phone. When she saw the notification about the 10,000 yuan deposit, her reaction mirrored Qin Fei's joy.
Normally someone who slept during the day and went clubbing at night, she unusually stayed awake this time and immediately contacted her friends to arrange a spending spree. Within five minutes, she had gathered her crew - including several boys, one of whom happened to be her crush.
Excited, Xiao Nuo got out of bed to prepare for the midday meetup with her friends and her special someone. She lived in apartment 904, while directly below in 804 lived a man in his thirties.
This man had also woken up, though his morning ritual involved spending an hour sunbathing on the balcony. Today, as he gazed at the beautiful scenery beyond his balcony, he felt profoundly grateful to be alive. Only in these moments could he truly feel his existence - vivid and tangible.
The man's name was Wang Tao, age 32. Formerly a high-ranking white-collar worker with substantial income, he had what seemed like a perfect life - a beautiful, capable wife and two adorable children. The epitome of success.
Until everything shattered a year ago.
He discovered his wife's infidelity. Worse yet, neither child was biologically his. The revelation devastated him - he would have accepted even just one being his own.
One day, he lied to his wife about a business trip. In truth, he planned to catch her in the act. The next morning, his trap succeeded. A violent argument erupted between him, his wife, and her lover. Overcome with rage, he killed them both.
To his shock, the children woke during the commotion. Seeing their mother and the other man lying in pools of blood, they rushed forward crying "Mommy! Daddy!" Realizing they'd always known he wasn't their real father - that the dead man was - Wang Tao's fury erupted anew. He stabbed both children to death.
Four lives ended in one night. Most would panic after such an act, but Wang Tao felt little fear. Why? Because this wasn't his first killing.As a child, he'd accidentally pushed a playmate into a river. Terrified but silent, he never told anyone. When the missing child was eventually found drowned, it was ruled an accident. His first escape.
In college, he fell for a brilliant, beautiful classmate - his goddess. When she rejected his confession, claiming she wanted to focus on studies, he admired her dedication. Until he discovered her secret relationship with a handsome but dimwitted classmate.Follow current novels on ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt
"Study focus" had been a lie. Cold toward him but throwing herself at another. So began his second, premeditated murder. After stalking the couple to their meeting spot in an abandoned building, he raped the girl before killing them both. Three entered, one left.
The wife and children had been his third killing. As a highly intelligent graduate, he covered his tracks perfectly. To outsiders, his family had simply vanished.
Now living alone, Wang Tao soon had new neighbors above him - a noisy family. Repeated complaints to them and management failed. His patience exhausted, he committed his fourth murder.
This time, misfortune struck. Unbeknownst to him, the family had invited relatives over that day. Caught red-handed, he expected execution after arrest. Miraculously, a mysterious man visited him in custody, striking a deal that spared his life.
The price? Permanent residence in Alice Apartment with strictly limited movement - though he could wander nearby. Additionally, he received 10,000 yuan monthly allowance. Wang Tao accepted gladly; he should have been dead anyway.
Eyes closed, Wang Tao basked in the sunlight's warmth...
At noon, Xiao Nuo met her friends - five boys and six girls, all around her age. Gathering in a park, they discussed evening plans.
"Xiao Nuo, are we clubbing tonight?" someone asked.
Xiao Nuo scoffed. "Clubbing every night is boring. Let's party at my place!"
"Your place? The villa?" a girl asked excitedly.
Xiao Nuo shook her head. "No, my parents bought me a new place. They said I was too noisy at home so made me move out."
"Wow! You're amazing, Xiao Nuo! Having your own place so young!"
"I'm jealous! My sister and I still share a rented room!"
"Xiao Nuo is incredible!"
The compliments inflated Xiao Nuo's ego. Among these friends, she always played the rich heiress, maintaining dominant status.
The prettiest girl in the group suddenly sneered, "A new house? I'd love to see this 'new house.'"
This girl, called Xiao Hua by everyone, had been the group's leader before Xiao Nuo joined. Though from an ordinary family, her beauty and style had secured her position - until Xiao Nuo's "rich girl" persona dethroned her. Resentment had festered ever since.