They reached the rooftop. The entire roof was decorated with numerous flower pots—roses, lilies, and some unfamiliar colorful blooms. In the gentle morning breeze, the petals swayed softly.
Ling Shaomia took the wet clothes out of the bucket. She clipped them to a rope in one corner of the roof to let them dry.
Grey Kit looked around. After a moment of observing the flowers, he asked,
"These flowers are really beautiful… did you plant them?"
Speaking, he turned his head toward her.
At that exact moment, Ling Shaomia removed the towel from her head. Her long, wet hair cascaded down to her waist.
Grey Kit remained silent for a few moments. He couldn't quite figure out how to describe her beauty at that moment.
Her deep ocean-blue eyes were warm and serene, like the vast blue of a calm sky. Looking into them, one felt even the most restless mind slowly calm down.
Her bright oval face, with its soft, gentle roundness, made her even more captivating. That rare beauty seemed born from the union of the ocean's depth and the sky's blue.
She looked at him and smiled lightly.
"Yes… but perhaps I won't be able to take care of the flowers anymore."
Grey Kit raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why?"
Ling Shaomia said in a calm voice,
"I'm going to rent a new place."
"Where are you planning to go?" Grey Kit asked.
"To Cherwood Borough," Ling Shaomia replied.
Grey was a little surprised. "That's an upscale area. Isn't this house yours?"
Ling Shaomia shook her head. "Yes, the house is registered in my name. And you've seen the state of my room—I'm a fashion designer. Wealthy and elite people care a lot about fashion."
She smiled lightly, as if the statement were completely ordinary. But only Ling Shaomia herself knew the real reason she wanted to move to Cherwood Borough: she had a mission to complete, and she was contemplating what the system expected from her.
Ling Shaomia glanced at the rooftop for a moment and said,
"I'm going to the real estate agency now. I want to see if there's any available rental in Cherwood Borough. Do you want to come with me?"
Grey Kit nodded. "Yes, let's go."
Ling Shaomia went down to her room. After a short while, she came out with a small bag.
She stood in front of the mirror and adjusted her hair. Two small side strands were clipped gently behind, while the rest of her long black hair flowed down to her waist. Today, she wasn't wearing a hat.
Ling Shaomia and Grey Kit rented a small car in front of the house. The wheels of the car made soft sounds on the mist-covered, quiet streets of East Borough.
She looked at Grey Kit. "I've put you in a lot of danger. Often, I've made you travel with me against your will," she said in a soft, apprehensive voice.
Grey Kit smiled gently. "It's nothing like that, Miss Nightshade. I truly enjoy traveling with you," he replied, his voice carrying a subtle joy.
The car slowly drove through Cherwood Borough, passing the large, elegant houses. Everything was orderly and beautiful—trees and gas lamps harmonized to create a peaceful, sonorous calm in the neighborhood.
Eventually, they arrived in front of the real estate agency. Ling Shaomia got out and paid for the rental. She slowly approached the agency's door, which was already open. Ling Shaomia entered, with Grey Kit cautiously following, keeping an alert watch over their surroundings.
Behind the desk sat a woman whose eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and caution. She was reviewing some documents, and the shelves behind her were neatly filled with files and papers.
Next to the desk, a young agent was checking some information in a notebook. He looked up at Ling Shaomia and smiled faintly.
"Welcome, Miss. Are you here for rental information?" Then, he politely nodded toward Grey Kit. "And welcome, sir."
Ling Shaomia smiled lightly.
"Yes, I'd like to rent a nice place to stay. Can you provide me with available units in Cherwood Borough?"
The agent flipped through the notebook pages. "Of course. Here are a few vacant units. We can go over the list if you like."
Ling Shaomia pretended to carefully review various rental options. As she turned the pages, her gaze stopped at the listing for Minsk Street, Unit 13.
The first floor had a bright open living room, a dining room, a guest room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cellar, and a kitchen, along with a long balcony. The second floor had two bedrooms, an activity room, a solarium, a study, two bathrooms, a kitchen, two more bedrooms, and a spacious balcony. Additionally, the first floor had a large front garden.
She looked up at the agent calmly.
"I'd like to rent Unit 13 on Minsk Street. From the description, I'm quite pleased."
She paused briefly and asked,
"Who is the owner of this unit?"
"It's managed by our real estate agency," the young man replied.
The woman behind the desk also looked up at Ling Shaomia once, seemingly to confirm that she truly wanted this unit.
Ling Shaomia smiled lightly and said,
"Then, is it possible to see the unit today?"
The young man nodded politely. "Certainly, Miss. I can show you the unit right now." He opened a small key box on the desk and took out two brass keys, each with a small tag that read: Minsk Street, Unit 13.
The woman behind the desk spoke softly,
"Mr. Harrold, please take them. I'll prepare the documents here."
He looked at Ling Shaomia and Grey Kit again.
"Please follow me," he said politely.
Ling Shaomia nodded slightly. For a moment, a deep glimmer of thought passed through her eyes, as if she had already envisioned this place in her mind.
Grey Kit silently followed, mentally scanning their surroundings.
The three of them left the agency and began walking toward the quiet streets of Cherwood Borough.
Mr. Harrold walked ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure Ling Shaomia and Grey Kit were following correctly. After a few minutes, he led them down a relatively quiet alley on the left side of the road.
"This is Minsk Street," he said. Entering the alley, the atmosphere became even more peaceful. The houses were spaced apart, mostly two-story brick houses, with small front gardens and iron gates.
After a short walk, Mr. Harrold stopped in front of a house. He pointed to the gate and said,
"This is Minsk Street, Unit 13."
The house was a beautiful two-story brick building. The reddish bricks had darkened slightly with age. In front, a small garden with shrubs and flowers was neatly arranged. The iron gate was not too big but sturdy and tidy.
Ling Shaomia quietly observed the house for a moment. A faint trace of satisfaction appeared in her eyes, as if the place matched her imagination.
Mr. Harrold opened the gate, and they entered. He took the brass key from his pocket and unlocked the front wooden door. A soft "click" echoed from the lock.
He slowly opened the door and said,
"Please come in. This is the interior of Unit 13."
Ling Shaomia entered first. She noticed that the house was already furnished. A medium-sized living room had a wooden sofa on one side, a round table in the center, and a bookshelf along the wall. Sunlight streamed through the windows, brightening the room.
Grey Kit followed silently, his eyes quickly scanning every corner, as if instinctively checking for security.
Mr. Harrold explained as they walked through the room,
"The first floor is primarily for daily living. The previous tenant left some furniture, which remains here."
He continued,
"This is a bright, open living room. Next to it is the dining room, where several people can sit together comfortably."
He pointed to another door.
"Over there is a guest room. Also, two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor."
Then he pointed to the kitchen.
"Here is the kitchen, and beneath it, a small cellar for storing food or other items."
As they walked toward the back, they saw a large glass door. Opening it revealed a long, spacious balcony facing the back of the house. Below was a small yard with a few trees swaying gently in the breeze.
Ling Shaomia stood on the balcony for a moment, observing the surroundings. The area was quiet, with very little noise—perfect for a peaceful residence.
Mr. Harrold explained,
"The second floor is a bit different. To reach it, you use the outside stairs."
He pointed from the balcony to a metal staircase leading upward.
"You can enter the second floor directly via this staircase," he said.
Grey Kit glanced at the staircase and silently assessed the structure of the house.
Ling Shaomia nodded slowly.
"Can we see the second floor as well?"
They climbed the metal stairs and entered the second floor. Ling Shaomia went in first, then slowly entered the rooms.
The second floor, like the first, was already furnished. The architecture and interplay of light and shadow made the area feel even larger and more comfortable.
Mr. Harrold began explaining the rooms,
"There are two bedrooms here, and an activity room for various exercises or work. There is also a solarium for direct sunlight, and a study for reading or work."
He showed each room one by one.
"Additionally, there are two bathrooms, a kitchen, two more bedrooms, and a spacious balcony at the back—perfect for enjoying the surrounding view."
Ling Shaomia paused on the balcony for a moment, imagining how peaceful it would be to watch the sunset from this place.
Before leaving, she glanced once at Minsk Street, Unit 15. It was still afternoon, with the sun near the middle of the sky.
She walked alongside Grey Kit toward the Cherwood Borough real estate agency. Inside, the woman behind the desk looked at them.
Ling Shaomia spoke directly,
"I'd like to rent the first floor."
The woman tilted her head and replied,
"It rents for 25 pounds per year."
Ling Shaomia responded coolly,
"I'll pay 10 pounds and 8 shillings for five months."
She had considered renting for two months initially, but to avoid suspicion due to her unusual presence, she decided to extend it to five months.
Moreover, according to the novel's timeline, she knew about the December 28 Breakland mist event. She wouldn't stay long here. If possible, she could alert some people in advance to help.
"Alright," the woman said.
Ling Shaomia showed her ID and completed the paperwork. The woman handed her the keys and asked,
"Do you need help moving your belongings from your previous place?"
"Yes," Ling Shaomia replied.
"Then give us your address. At three o'clock, we'll send two people. You just need to guide them with your belongings," the woman said.
Ling Shaomia gave the address and left.