The knock comes at exactly 8:17 p.m.
Three sharp taps.
I freeze mid-step.
Jiang Yu freezes mid-breath.
We stare at each other.
His eyes widen. "Threat detected?"
"No," I whisper. "Worse."
Another knock.
"Neighbor."
His shoulders tense like he's about to fight a bear.
"Do not engage," I hiss. "Smile. Nod. Say very little."
"I am capable of minimal speech."
"That sentence alone says otherwise."
The knock turns into knocking-plus-doorbell. Aggressive.
I walk to the door, pasting on my polite human face.
When I open it, Mrs. Zhang from next door stands there, peering over her glasses like she's inspecting expired milk.
"Oh, Yunhua," she says. "I heard voices."
My soul leaves my body again. It's getting frequent.
"Oh?" I laugh. "Must be the TV."
She leans forward. "You don't usually watch TV."
Behind me, Jiang Yu shifts.
No.
No moving.
No breathing.
Then—
He steps forward.
"I am her boyfriend," he says.
The room goes silent.
Mrs. Zhang blinks.
I blink.
