James spent all his money on Jennifer before breaking up with her.
So his phone was also an old-fashioned one, only good for making calls. It would crash as soon as he opened Facebook.
Remembering Donna's reminder, after leaving Azure Pavilion, he found a phone store nearby and bought the latest model of an Apple phone.
The money spent on the phone was nothing to James now.
It wasn't until now that James realized how great the life of a wealthy person is.
Half an hour later, James rode his bike back to the rental apartment.
As he inserted the key into the lock, James hesitated for a moment.
He wondered if he would find Linda sitting in the living room, her face cold and expectant, waiting for him to return and resolve their issues.
Honestly, he didn't think he was wrong at noon, but women never admit their fault; all the blame is on men.
With this complicated feeling, James turned the key, and the door opened.
The living room was pitch black, and the entire house was dead silent without a single sound.
James breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling a bit silly about his earlier thoughts.
Having shared the apartment with Linda for almost half a year, this beauty locked herself in the room all day, doing who knows what.
Even dining was a matter of ordering takeout and eating indoors; the total time the two spent together didn't even add up to three hours.
Sometimes, James would wonder what she was up to in her room.
Driven by curiosity, he would occasionally lean in to listen, catching snippets of music and faint traces of Linda's voice.
Switching on the lights and gently closing the door with his foot, James dragged his heavy feet to the living room, collapsing onto the sofa.
Having endured a series of significant events that day, James felt utterly drained, lacking the enthusiasm to do much.
After a short rest, he struggled to get to his feet from the sofa and returned to the room to change clothes before stepping into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, clad in a towel, James emerged from the bathroom, passing by Linda's room next to the bathroom. As he approached her door, he heard Linda's voice from within, prompting him to pause and listen intently.
The noise from Linda's room was deafening, the discordant music unsettling James and making Linda's voice sound garbled.
After eavesdropping for a while, James only caught a few words like "tips," "brother," and "followers."
His curiosity gnawed at his mind like an insistent itch, leaving him yearning for answers.
What exactly was Linda doing?
This had always been a lingering question in James's mind.
Linda hardly worked or attended school, staying indoors all day, often with her computer running.
Given her lavish lifestyle - designer bags, makeup, clothing from renowned brands like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana were part of her belongings. Maintaining such expenses seemed beyond the means of an average working individual.
With a monthly rent of two thousand dollars, how did Linda manage to sustain herself without any visible means of income?
Recalling the words he had heard, James suddenly had a realization, 'Could she be a streamer?'
The term "internet streamer" was not alien to James.
As a typical guy, he often browsed various websites to alleviate his youthful restlessness.
Some streaming applications hosted female streamers who, for a fee, interacted with viewers through dancing, singing, telling jokes, or more adult-themed content.
Viewers could some time develop a rapport, even dining out or watching movies with the streamers.
Privately, these streamers would exchange selfies with affluent fans as a gesture of gratitude.
Essentially, these streaming platforms were akin to adult sites, albeit clothed, with the streamers' attire and conversations laced with seductive undertones.
Upon hearing the noise from Linda's room, James couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity. Could Linda be one of those online streamers?
Streamers primarily relied on viewer tips and sponsorships to earn a living.
Given Linda's striking appearance and alluring style, James speculated that she likely earned a decent income from such endeavors.
James rubbed his nose, emitting a sigh.
"What has the world come to? Beautiful women either resort to prostitution or seducing the wealthy. Can't they seek honest employment to support themselves?"
Muttering ruefully to himself, James felt bewildered.
Today, Jennifer left him in pursuit of a wealthy lifestyle, now even his neighbor engaged in unspeakable deeds.
It seemed that every attractive woman had to resort to shortcuts to lead a comfortable life.
Reflecting on his own life, spending three years delivering takeout, constantly busy outside, James felt he had wasted those years.
With a sudden loud creak of the door, the entrance suddenly swung open.
Linda emerged, colliding head-on with James.
Startled, Linda took a step back, warily locking her gaze on James. "What are you doing standing here?"
James, equally startled, hadn't expected Linda to exit at that precise moment.
His eyes inadvertently fell on Linda, clad in cheeky short shorts that nestled between her thighs.
Wearing a cream-colored camisole stretched tightly, her neckline hinted at a glimpse of her ample, snow-white bosom.
James swallowed hard, feigning composure as he uttered, "I've just finished showering."