"You know that’s Li Zi’s room," the old woman frowned. "Your daughter’s bedroom, and you want to let your nephew live in it? Is that appropriate?"

This won’t work, that won’t work... Li Lanzhen was about to go crazy. "Mom, he’s my only nephew... He’s come to work nearby, so of course I have to take good care of him..."

The old woman replied, "Go ahead and take care of him. No one’s stopping you, but you have to act within your means. We don’t have enough space in this house. Or should your father and I go stay in a hotel?"

No matter how thick-skinned Li Lanzhen was, she couldn’t bring herself to say something like that. Although she secretly wished the old couple would leave right this instant, she knew she absolutely could not say those words out loud. After all, she wasn’t completely brainless.

Li Wanjun knew he had to say something now. He was someone who could swallow his pride. "Grandma Wang, you’ve misunderstood. My aunt had that idea, but I also felt it would be inconvenient, so I won’t be troubling her."

"I just came to see my aunt today. I’ll figure out renting a place on my own. My aunt just wanted to help me save a little on rent and utilities."

’This nephew from the Li family is quite the schemer,’ the old woman thought to herself. Outwardly, however, her face bloomed into a smile. "Little Li, it’s good that you can understand your aunt’s difficulties. Mostly, I’m just thinking about our Li Zi."

"Think about it, she works so hard out there and has to cover all of your aunt’s living expenses. Your aunt doesn’t work, and our Li Zi struggles so much. We can’t let her come home to a house that doesn’t even have a room for her, can we?"

Li Wanjun’s composure finally cracked. ’This is basically pointing a finger at my aunt and calling her a constant troublemaker who leeches off her own daughter. And now she’s thinking of kicking her daughter out?’

"Yes, this is my cousin Li Zi’s home. What you said makes sense, Grandma Wang. Aunt, I won’t stay for dinner tonight. My colleagues invited me out, and it wouldn’t be right to turn down a team dinner."

Without waiting for Li Lanzhen to ask him to stay, Li Wanjun grabbed his backpack from the side, pushed the door open, and left. Coincidentally, as he was heading out, he ran right into Auntie Liu, who was returning from grocery shopping.

Auntie Liu was taken aback for a moment when she saw Li Wanjun, but then she smiled upon noticing the backpack he was carrying. "Young man, are you one of Lanzhen’s relatives?"

Li Wanjun smiled back. "Yes, I came to see my aunt."

Auntie Liu glanced at the bulging backpack, her eyes holding a meaningful look. "Oh? Not staying for dinner? Leaving already?"

Li Wanjun felt as if this "auntie" before him had seen through something, but he couldn’t be sure. So, he answered cautiously, "No, it’s just that my cousin Li Zi’s grandparents are here. It wouldn’t be right for me to impose."

Auntie Liu understood. After watching Li Wanjun get into the elevator, she went home and immediately called Tan You.

Tan You answered instantly. "Auntie Liu, good evening."

Auntie Liu said, "Li Zi, a young man came to your place today, said he was your cousin. I saw him carrying a big backpack, and it looked like he had a lot of stuff packed inside..."

"I didn’t see him when he arrived; I only ran into him on my way back from shopping. But that’s strange. I was home all day. How come I didn’t hear a thing?"

Tan You replied, "He was being intentionally sneaky, so of course you wouldn’t have known, Auntie. So Li Wanjun didn’t end up staying at my place?"

"Nope," Auntie Liu said, her voice beaming with excitement. "Your cousin said your grandparents came over. What a brilliant move! With your grandparents there, you don’t have to worry about your apartment anymore."

The neighbors living across the hall definitely knew about the Tang family’s affairs. After all, they had lived opposite each other for so many years; who wouldn’t know about their troubles?

Tan You smiled. "I’ll still have to trouble you, Auntie. While my grandparents are staying here, please look after them a bit. They’re getting old. If they seem unwell at all, could you contact me anytime?"

"No problem," Auntie Liu said with a grin. It wasn’t that she was overflowing with kindness. The main reason was that Tang Li was always straightforward and generous. In the past, whenever Tang Li had asked for her help, she never let her do it for free.

Sure enough, right after she hung up, Auntie Liu received a transfer of 20,000. Tapping her phone, Auntie Liu was beaming.

Her husband asked curiously, "What’s up? Did you find some money? You were on the phone the moment you got back."

Auntie Liu said smugly, "Hehe, the old couple from the Tang family across the hall moved in. Li Zi asked us to keep an eye on things and make sure they don’t get bullied. Twenty thousand."

Auntie Liu’s mother-in-law smiled. "That’s wonderful. I’ll go have a chat with my old friend in a bit. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other."

Auntie Liu flattered her, "You’re brilliant, Mom! I don’t have much to say to Li Lanzhen anyway. She’s truly clueless."

Auntie Liu’s mother-in-law said, "Her brain is just broken. That’s not how you’re supposed to help your maiden family. Let’s not bother with her, as long as the old couple is alright."

Auntie Liu’s father-in-law added, "It’s hard on that kid, Tang Li. She works so hard, but can’t get any peace at home. Having a ’brother-worshipper’ for a mother is just too difficult."

Don’t underestimate him because he was old; he knew exactly what a "brother-worshipper" was.

Auntie Liu said, "That’s why I said her brain is broken. Mom, what are we having for dinner? Oh, right, I need to go deposit this twenty thousand tomorrow..."

Auntie Liu’s mother-in-law walked into the kitchen. "I’ll help you. Let’s invite our neighbors over for dinner tomorrow..."

After making arrangements with Auntie Liu, Tan You didn’t hide it from the old Tang couple. The old woman was pained by the expense. "It’s not easy for you to earn money. How can you spend it like that?"

"If I can spend it, I can earn it," Tan You said calmly. "You two are far more important than money. Once I finish my current project, I estimate I’ll be able to buy an apartment in the city. But even then, I can’t give up this one."

"Right. This is the apartment your father worked so hard to buy. Your grandpa and I pitched in quite a bit back then, too," the old woman agreed. "This place has special meaning. Even if you buy many more properties in the future, this one will always be different."

"I knew my grandparents would understand me," Tan You smiled. "Don’t tell Mom. Her brain is just broken; all she thinks about day in and day out are her brother and nephew."

"She cares so much about them, but in the end, I’m the one who’s expected to support her in her old age. If they have the guts, they should just take my mom in. It’s not like my dad is around anymore, anyway."

Tan You’s words were harsh. She wasn’t usually so caustic, but she truly couldn’t stand a "brother-worshipping fanatic" like Li Lanzhen.

The old woman said, "Of course she’s not willing to go back. Would it be as comfortable there as it is in our home? Here, she doesn’t have to do anything, doesn’t have to work, and someone even gives her money every month. If she went back, she’d have to help with chores. She’s not a complete fool."

"Exactly. She’s great at using other people’s things to do her own favors," Tan You scoffed. "If they dare to start a conflict with you, please don’t confront them head-on."

"Don’t worry," the old man chimed in. "Your grandma and I will be careful. You just focus on your work."

Tan You tapped the table. "I understand. I have to live well. I can’t let other people’s plans succeed."

The old woman was still annoyed thinking about it. "It’s a good thing we came today. If we had arrived one day later, do you think Li Wanjun would have already moved in?"

"Didn’t you see his backpack? It was bulging, looked like it was packed with all his luggage."

Tan You replied, "Whether he would have or not, their plan didn’t succeed. As long as Li Wanjun hasn’t moved in, no one can lay a hand on our apartment."