Chapter 650: Chapter 650: Hosting Classmates Chapter 650: Chapter 650: Hosting Classmates Lu Zhu’s rented house was deep within the alley, where the road was uneven and a strangely-smelling drainage ditch lay nearby.

The walls on both sides were covered in gray, with dried, flaking red paint clinging to them.

They bore sentences that were quite horrifying like “pay back debts or your entire family dies”.

Lu Zhu remarked, “All sorts of people live here. Keep your wallets and pagers safe; if you lose them, you definitely won’t get them back.”

Qu Ruorui pulled on Yue Qingqing’s sleeve as they walked further in–she hadn’t expected so many households could fit into such a narrow lane.

In one open courtyard enveloped in smoke, sounds of mahjong and poker drifted out. A few smoking hoodlums brightened up when they saw Yue Qingqing and whistled loudly.

Lu Zhu scowled and cursed, immediately annoying the hoodlums who prepared to charge over, but were held back by someone nearby.

That person said something to his companions and then pointed at his head.

The hoodlums immediately backed down and no longer looked their way.

Qu Ruorui looked on admiringly, “Lu Zhu, you really have a way with them; they’re all afraid of you.”

Lu Zhu just grunted without speaking, but Yue Qingqing clearly heard the comment from across the way.

“Don’t start trouble; last time Xiaola rushed to her house and nearly had his arm chopped off. That woman is crazy; she’s not afraid to die.”

At that, Yue Qingqing finally understood the origin of Lu Zhu’s stern demeanor.

Living with her mother in such an environment, it would be strange if she could manage a smile.

Lu Zhu’s place was just a particularly narrow little flat and a decrepit courtyard squeezed full of various messy cement bags.

Upon reaching the courtyard’s gate, Lu Zhu called out to her mom, and a woman leaning on a cane slowly walked out.

“My classmates, Yue Qingqing, Qu Ruorui.”

Lu Zhu introduced them seemingly casually, but the woman looked visibly tense, standing on one leg, with both hands leaning on the cane.

“Welcome, welcome. You two are Xiaozhu’s roommates, right? I often hear her talk about you,” Zhan Zhenfang said, her gaze somewhat vacant as she looked at the two girls.

Both young women were beautiful, especially one who looked just like a TV star, thoroughly stunning from every angle.

It made her feel all the more uneasy, “Please, please come inside; let’s talk in the house.”

Yue Qingqing and Qu Ruorui handed their things to Lu Zhu, and Zhan Zhenfang stuttered, “No need to bring anything, I’m alone at home; I can’t consume much anyway.”

Yue Qingqing and Qu Ruorui flanked Zhan Zhenfang, reaching out to help support her.

Zhan Zhenfang was so frightened that she was at a loss for words, quickly saying, “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m used to it, and it’s actually harder to walk if you help.”

In just a brief encounter, Qu Ruorui began to doubt how Aunt Zhang could have given birth to a daughter like Lu Zhu; their personalities were completely different.

Lu Zhu was austere, taciturn, and bold. Anyone at school who had seen Lu Zhu would unconsciously give way.

Aunt Zhang was like a touch-me-not, curling up at the slightest disturbance, taking a long while before daring to peek out again.

But Zhan Zhenfang was very elegant, certainly a beautiful woman in her youth.

Lu Zhu had actually inherited her mother’s good looks; if one looked closely, they would notice her features were also quite delicate.

But with her usual short, neat hair and a constantly cold pair of eyes, she seemed frightening, naturally diverting attention from her actual appearance.

Perhaps due to its proximity to a suburban river, the inside of the bungalow was quite damp, exuding an indescribable mildew smell.

Although one could see the signs of meticulous cleaning, a room less than twenty square meters serving as a dining room, living room, bedroom, and even a bathroom with several basins, was still hard to manage and appeared very cramped.

Lu Zhu brought over two chairs and poured two glasses of water, “Drink less water, we have a communal dry toilet out back, and it’s not very clean inside.”

While her daughter spoke plainly, Zhan Zhenfang’s face was full of embarrassment, “I’ll go see if the food is ready.”

The kitchen was communal as well; the landlord had had several cabinets installed, and each household locked up their condiments and staples in these cabinets, unlocking them when needed.

After putting things away, Lu Zhu then attended to her classmates, “Well, as you can see, that’s the situation. Have you thought of any way to help?”