Chapter 15: Become Popular
Ye Chen glanced at his landlord, who looked frail and hungry. A sense of unease settled in his chest. All he wanted was to retrieve his belongings, nothing more.
"Hello, landlord. My name is Ye Chen. I used to rent Room Eight. I came back to collect my things. Are they still here?" he asked politely.
The landlord, a woman named Yu Yae, barely paid attention to his words. Her eyes gleamed with something other than concern. Instead, she seemed preoccupied with the sight of Ye Chen, her mind clearly elsewhere. "Oh... what? Ah, yes! Of course! Please, come in," she finally said, snapping back to the moment.
Ye Chen hesitated for a second but stepped inside. Yu Yae gestured for him to sit in the living room before heading upstairs to retrieve his belongings. As he waited, minutes stretched uncomfortably long. Just as he was about to call out, he heard footsteps descending the stairs.
When he turned to look, his breath hitched. Yu Yae was holding his bag, but she had changed into a sheer nightgown that left little to the imagination. A slow, knowing smile played on her lips.
"Here you go, handsome," she purred, handing him the bag.
Ye Chen took it quickly and checked inside. His belongings were all there, but before he could stand to leave, he felt a cold touch on his thigh. His eyes darted up to see Yu Yae's fingers lingering there suggestively.
"You're quite the looker. How about staying the night? I can make it... worth your while," she whispered, leaning in too close.
Ye Chen stiffened and immediately pulled away. "Landlord, please respect yourself. I only came for my things."
Yu Yae pouted, her gaze lingering on him hungrily. "Oh, come on. I still have a fine body, don't you think? Are you really going to refuse me?" She moved closer, her perfume overwhelming.
Ye Chen had had enough. He stood up, heading straight for the door. But when he reached for the handle, he realized it was locked.
Yu Yae chuckled behind him. "You're not leaving so easily, handsome."
Ye Chen exhaled sharply. A locked door was hardly an obstacle for him. With a firm push, the door creaked open, breaking the weak lock. Without wasting a second, he dashed outside.
"Damn it! He got away!" Yu Yae cursed as she ran to the door, but by the time she stepped out, Ye Chen had already disappeared into the night.
---
Ye Chen finally slowed his pace when he reached a quiet alleyway. Shaking his head, he let out a deep breath. "That was insane..."
Still recovering, he made his way to an ATM to check his balance. When the screen displayed his remaining funds, his heart sank. "Only $150 left? That's barely enough to get by."
Sighing, he decided to at least buy some new clothes. His old ones were in terrible shape. Fortunately, there was a nearby store known for affordable prices.
As soon as he walked in, a young female employee greeted him. But the moment she laid eyes on his face, her expression changed. Her cheeks flushed red, and she stared at him as if she had just seen a movie star.
"Um... I'd like to buy some clothes that fit me," Ye Chen said, but the girl remained frozen, lost in admiration.
Ye Chen cleared his throat. "Excuse me?"
The girl blinked rapidly, snapping out of her daze. "Ah! Yes! Clothes! Right! Follow me!" Without waiting for his response, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to a section with neatly arranged outfits.
"These should fit you perfectly!" she chirped, handing him a few shirts and pants.
Ye Chen took them and went to the fitting room. As he pulled off his shirt, he noticed movement from the corner of his eye. The girl had slightly opened the curtain, peeking inside.
"Hey! What are you doing?" he asked, startled.
Before she could respond, another female voice interrupted. "Qin! What do you think you're doing to our customer?"
The girl—Qin—jumped back, looking flustered. "I-I was just checking if he needed help!"
The second woman, named Lin, stepped forward, her eyes landing on Ye Chen. The moment she saw his well-defined muscles, her breath hitched. "Wow... you're even more handsome up close..."
Without hesitation, she grabbed Ye Chen's hand. "Be my boyfriend!"
Ye Chen nearly choked. "What?!"
Qin turned on Lin angrily. "Hey! You already have a boyfriend!"
Lin smirked. "I'll break up with him right now."
"You can't do that!" Qin protested. "Besides, I saw him first! He's mine!"
Lin scoffed. "Please. You're still flat as a board. I have the real curves here."
Qin turned red with frustration. "At least I still have time to grow! Unlike you, who'll have wrinkles soon!"
The two girls bickered loudly, drawing attention from other employees and customers. One by one, more women began to gather, their eyes locking onto Ye Chen.
"He's so handsome!"
"Be my boyfriend!"
"Marry me!"
"I'll pay you a monthly allowance if you date me!"
Ye Chen's eyes widened in horror as the crowd of women closed in. This was getting out of hand. He had to leave. Now.
Without thinking twice, he leaped over the crowd, making a beeline for the exit.
"He's escaping!"
"Chase him!"
"He's mine!"
Ye Chen ran as fast as he could, dodging through streets and alleys. The sound of pursuing footsteps echoed behind him. "What is wrong with these women?! Have they been possessed or something?!"
Eventually, he ducked into a traditional Chinese clothing store, hiding behind a display. Using a small energy barrier to conceal himself, he watched as the frenzied women stormed past, still searching for him.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally gave up and dispersed. Ye Chen let out a relieved sigh. "I need to be more careful where I go..."
Shaking his head, he straightened his clothes. "What a crazy day..."
I've rewritten your story with better grammar, improved dialogue, and a more realistic tone. Let me know if you'd like any further refinements!