So she had an apartment that she didn't live in for 3 months...how did she pay the rent and not realize that the place turned into a Chinese restaurant? She paid rent, utilities, ect with out actually living there?
Many people move in with their significant others and keep paying rent either because the lease is not up or they want to keep their apartment for <insert reason here>. Lily was not there for three months so she probably did not receive the notice about the conversion from apartments to a Chinese restaurant. As for why the checks kept being cashed, who knows? I doubt this storyline was meant to be 100% realistic.
When did they say the checks were being cashed? Doesn't Lily's whole character of financial poor decisions suggest they were likely not cashed and she pays no attention to what she spends?
- Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.