Chapter 3

The moment they heard me speak, both of them froze.

Derek rushed over and snatched the food from my hands.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You even steal other people's food? Can't afford to feed yourself?"

I immediately turned to the delivery driver. "Hey, did you deliver it to the wrong place? My girlfriend told me she bought me lunch. When I opened the door and saw this sitting outside, I assumed it was from her."

The driver quickly pulled out his phone and checked the order several times. "No mistake. This is the twelfth floor, right? The note says to leave it here, and the apartment number is 1201."

He glanced at Derek. "You don't even live here. Why would you tell us to leave it here? You're just creating trouble for no reason."

Derek's face darkened instantly. "What the hell does it have to do with you? You're a delivery driver. Just deliver it wherever I tell you and shut up. Keep talking, and I'll file a complaint against you."

After cursing him out, Derek turned and headed upstairs through the emergency stairwell.

I thought that after this incident, he might finally learn his lesson and stop pulling this kind of stunt.

Unexpectedly, another delivery showed up outside my door that evening. I took it downstairs and tossed it into the trash along with the garbage from my apartment.

When I came back upstairs, Derek was once again standing outside my door arguing with a delivery driver.

The moment he saw me, he pointed a finger in my direction. "Was it you who stole my food? You pathetic freeloader. I caught you once at lunchtime, and now you've got the nerve to steal it again tonight?"

I played dumb. "What food? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Derek immediately turned to the delivery driver. "Well, I never got my order. If he won't admit it, then you can pay for it. Triple compensation."

Just like that, he shifted the conflict onto me and the driver.

The driver panicked and quickly turned to me. "Come on, man, don't joke around. That fried chicken cost more than $200. I don't even make that much in a day. I left it right here. You really didn't see it?

"I'm just a college student working part-time. If that order is gone, I'll basically be working for free for two days."

Meanwhile, Derek stood there with his arms folded across his chest, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. "You definitely took it. Stealing food just to survive? Looks like you really can't make ends meet."

I repeated the same trick I'd used at lunchtime and had the driver verify the address on the order.

The driver rubbed his eyes and checked it three separate times before finally confirming there had been no delivery mistake.

"This is my apartment, all right. But I didn't order any food. Why are you asking me about a missing delivery? You don't even live here."

Derek remained completely unfazed. "You know perfectly well that I always use this address. If you don't hand it over, then this kid will have to pay for it."

Then he deliberately stirred things up even further. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. He definitely took it. If you can't get it back, then pay for it yourself."

The student driver's eyes were already welling up with tears.

I quickly tried to reassure him, "It's okay, kid. You won't have to pay a single cent. I've already called the police. We'll wait for them to get here."

Derek's expression immediately darkened. He turned as if he intended to leave.

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and two police officers stepped out.

I grabbed Derek's wrist and said coldly, "This isn't over yet. Did I say you could leave?"