Jiang Jinyue · Chat

The late autumn evening was wrapped in a cool breeze, stripping away the heat of the day. The entire residential building was so quiet that only the faint rustle of branches and leaves outside the window could be heard. Twilight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hallway, casting pale gray-blue light and shadows onto the cold tiled floor, making the long corridor appear lonely and tranquil. Jiang Jinyue finished a day of dull and complex work, her tired footsteps echoing as she walked into the apartment building. Her simple black business suit swayed slightly in the evening breeze, her sleek long hair loosely pinned back, with a few stray strands falling against her neck, adding a touch of lazy exhaustion. Her features were naturally pale, and her expression, devoid of any emotion, was covered in a layer of cold, detached air honed by the workplace, exuding an 'approach with caution' aura. Having finished a high-intensity day, she was physically and mentally exhausted, wanting nothing more than to return home, take off her bag, brew a cup of warm water, and rest in quiet solitude. The hallway was as quiet as ever, until she reached her floor, and an unfamiliar figure caught Jiang Jinyue's eyes. the door next to hers, which had been vacant for a long time, was now wide open. Several brand-new cardboard boxes, storage bags, and scattered daily necessities were strewn about the doorway, clearly belonging to someone who had just moved in. You were standing at the door, bending over to organize the items, your posture nimble and gentle. The trivial movements of moving were unhurried, appearing exceptionally vivid in the silent hallway, instantly breaking the long-standing stillness of this floor. Jiang Jinyue's footsteps faltered slightly. She had always been indifferent by nature, not prone to prying into others' lives, nor curious about neighborhood trivialities. Her peripheral vision swept over you briefly, her gaze lingering for a moment before she naturally withdrew it without further investigation. Most of the residents in this apartment lived alone, and neighbors never bothered each other; a new neighbor moving in was expected. To her, it was just an insignificant little event in her mundane life. With a calm expression and composed gait, she walked to her door and habitually reached for her suit pocket, ready to take out her keys to open the door. Her fingertips met empty air. Jiang Jinyue's movements suddenly froze. She furrowed her brows slightly, stunned for two seconds, then proceeded to pat down her jacket pockets, pants pockets, and even opened her minimalist briefcase to search thoroughly. Her fingertips brushed past pens, a work flash drive, tissues, and her phone, but the familiar house key was nowhere to be found. An image flashed through her mind: she had hurriedly rushed to the subway this morning and left the keys on the storage tray on her desk. Exhausted after work, she had completely forgotten them at the office. An indescribable sense of helplessness and embarrassment washed over her. It was completely dark outside now, the light in the hallway growing increasingly dim. The evening breeze snuck in through the gaps in the windows, carrying a hint of chill that made her even more irritable. After a day of rushing about, her heart was filled with the anticipation of returning home to rest, but now she was trapped at her own door by a forgotten key. Jiang Jinyue let out a soft sigh, shedding the steady composure of the workplace, and a touch of genuine helplessness appeared in her eyes. With no other choice, she slowly squatted down at her door, her back leaning slightly against the cold wall. She unlocked her phone screen, her fingertips carrying a trace of imperceptible lethargy, opened her contacts, found the number for a locksmith, and made the call. When the call connected, her voice was light and carried a hint of resigned grievance as she briefly explained her address and situation, confirming that the locksmith would take at least twenty minutes to arrive. After hanging up, the long wait became particularly agonizing. the hallway was too quiet, with only the sound of the evening breeze and the faint movements of you organizing items and moving boxes not far away. The blend of stillness and movement made Jiang Jinyue, squatting at the door, feel inexplicably awkward. She had always been a decent and restrained person, accustomed to maintaining a composed and orderly state at all times, rarely experiencing such a disheveled and helpless moment. Squatting alone in front of her door waiting for a locksmith was embarrassing enough if spotted by an acquaintance, let alone by a new, unseen neighbor who had just moved in. And yet, the very thing she feared happened. Just as she lowered her eyes, secretly calming her emotions, a slight sound of footsteps reached her ears. You had probably finished organizing the items outside and were preparing to go out to get the rest of your luggage, walking with a light pace, coming straight out of the open door. As your eyes met, the air in the entire hallway seemed to freeze. Twilight fell gently on you, outlining your soft silhouette, and your gaze landed lightly on Jiang Jinyue, who was squatting at the door, with a hint of initial confusion and politeness. Jiang Jinyue's heart tightened abruptly; the sudden eye contact made her body stiffen, and a sense of embarrassment instantly swept over her. She stood up almost subconsciously, her movements slightly hurried. To cover up her recent embarrassment, she deliberately relaxed her body, leaned slightly against the cold wall, and reached up to casually tuck a stray hair behind her ear, trying hard to put on a calm, indifferent, and nonchalant appearance, pretending that she wasn't locked out, but just standing there for no reason to take a break. The cool evening breeze brushed past her brows, blowing away some of the fatigue, but not the awkwardness that flashed in her eyes. After a silent stalemate of two seconds, to break the awkward eye contact, Jiang Jinyue spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of unnatural stiffness, her intonation even flatter than usual: 'Uh... hello, new neighbor. I'm Jiang Jinyue, who lives next door.' As the words left her lips, the embarrassment in her heart grew instead of decreasing. It was clearly just a simple, ordinary neighborhood greeting, the most normal first introduction possible, but combined with her recent state of squatting at the door waiting for a locksmith, it seemed exceptionally redundant and deliberate. Awkwardness spread wildly in the air; she could even clearly feel her cheeks heating up. This kind of petty, fidgety feeling was a state she, usually so steady and calm, rarely experienced. The more she explained or spoke, the more awkward it became. Jiang Jinyue sighed inwardly, completely giving up on the idea of forcing a conversation. She didn't want to force herself to maintain a polite atmosphere anymore. She simply pretended that the self-introduction was just a passing remark, pretended that their eye contact was meaningless, withdrew her gaze, lowered her head slightly, and swiped at her phone screen, pretending to be focused on checking messages and waiting for the locksmith. She lowered her brows and eyes, her long lashes casting a shadow that hid all the embarrassment and discomfort in her eyes. Her cold profile in the dim twilight carried a quiet and distant gentleness. The hallway fell into silence again, with only the sound of the evening breeze remaining. The scene of the first encounter was thus frozen in a slightly clumsy greeting and an unexpected silence. Two strangers, with only a wall between them, began their own mundane yet special first meeting on this cool late autumn evening.