Chapter 33

Xiao Hu in the front seat: “Pfft.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

This really couldn’t be helped.

Isn’t that how friends should be?

Chu Yu turned to glance at Chi Xiting, as if he wanted to say something but stopped. After a while, he silently turned back around.

Chi Xiting didn’t press him; after all, his own ridiculous idea was pretty unreasonable.

He would give Chu Yu some time.

He’d figure it out eventually.

Chi Xiting’s mood, which had been rather unpleasant, subtly shifted after the exchange.

His phone, which he had been holding, rang again.

He looked down at it.

It was Shen Zhizhe.

[Shen Zhizhe]: Oh, I see. Alright, stay safe.

Before Chi Xiting could respond about his relationship with Shen Zhizhe, another message came through.

[Shen Zhizhe]: When you get to the office tomorrow, come to my office. I need to talk to you. Wink /

Chi Xiting: “……”

What the hell.

Not replying.

With a gloomy expression, Chi Xiting turned off his phone screen.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at their destination.

Xiao Hu pressed the brake, turned back, and said to Chu Yu, “Mr. Chu, we’ve arrived.”

Chu Yu responded and glanced at Chi Xiting.

Chi Xiting obediently got out of the car.

Chu Yu lived in a high-end apartment in Nanshan. The building was a one-unit-per-floor design. Chu Yu’s apartment was on the 17th floor, and after the elevator door opened, it was only a few meters ahead before reaching his door.

The door lock was a smart sensor lock.

It opened automatically when Chu Yu got close.

Chu Yu reached out and opened the door. His gaze lingered on Chi Xiting’s legs for a moment before he said, “Wait a minute.”

Chi Xiting also looked at his feet briefly and quietly said, “Oh.”

Chu Yu took a pair of slippers from the nearby shoe cabinet, slightly bent down to place them by Chi Xiting’s feet, then stood upright and closed the door behind him.

—–

After Chi Xiting thanked him, he changed into the slippers, took a couple of steps forward, and took in the interior decor.

It had a very minimalist, cold style.

It matched well with Chu Yu’s indifferent face.

“Do you live here?” Chu Yu asked casually, leading Chi Xiting down the corridor. When they reached the end, he opened the door on the right.

It was a guest room.

No one had ever stayed there, but it was well-maintained, likely because the cleaning lady often came to tidy up. The room was spotless and clean.

Though it was a guest room, it was still quite spacious. The decor was similar to the living room, with gray and black tones. In the center of the room was a soft, square double bed, and on the wall near the door was a wardrobe in the same color as the bed. Further in, there was a corner, and around the corner were the bathroom on the right and a small walk-in closet on the left.

Chi Xiting had no complaints and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Chu Yu stepped back a little, leaving space for Chi Xiting, and just as he was about to look away, he seemed to remember something. He turned to look at Chi Xiting again and said, “I might have to leave early tomorrow. Will you go to the company on your own?”

Chu Yu had to visit the Chu family’s old residence early in the morning and then rush back to Chu Corporation for a meeting, so he was pressed for time.

Chi Xiting replied, “That’s fine, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Chu Yu responded and then took out his phone from his pocket, tapped it a couple of times, and said to Chi Xiting, “I’ve sent you the location. You can either take a taxi or the subway to the company.”

Chi Xiting nodded and instinctively checked his phone.

The distance wasn’t far—just a ten-yuan taxi ride or a few subway stops away.

Chu Yu was quite thoughtful.

Chi Xiting tightened his grip on his phone.

After giving all the instructions, Chu Yu turned and left. Soon, Chi Xiting heard the sound of the door closing.

Chi Xiting closed the door as well, took a quick shower in the bathroom, and wandered aimlessly around the room. It wasn’t until he was about to go to bed that he realized it was almost 2 AM.

Chi Xiting flopped onto the bed, lazily turned over, and started scrolling through videos on his phone.

He must have slept quite a bit on the plane, because now he wasn’t tired at all.

Fu Ning, being a night owl, saw that Chi Xiting was online and sent a “Good night” message.

Chi Xiting was in a good mood and responded courteously.

Before Chi Xiting could even react, Fu Ning sent a video call.

As soon as Chi Xiting answered, Fu Ning began to wail, “I swear, you have no idea how hard my life is right now! Look!”

Fu Ning flipped the camera to show Chi Xiting his surroundings.

It looked like a rundown grass hut, with a roof made of wooden planks, each with marks from animals chewing on them. The planks were precariously stacked, and Fu Ning appeared to be lying on a shabby quilt, with what looked like a dry pile of grass underneath.

Chi Xiting frowned and asked, “Where are you?”

Fu Ning flipped the camera back, sighed dramatically, and said, “I’m on a shoot right now. The crew’s in F city, and now we’re in a village down here…”

The conditions were extremely harsh.

There was nowhere decent to stay. The slightly better rooms were given to the main and supporting actors, while Fu Ning, playing a minor role, had to stay in the grass hut.

This broken house housed at least six people.

“I’ve been here for four days,” Fu Ning said with a deep sigh. “I’m getting bitten by bugs every night. It’s torture, but at least I can leave after tomorrow’s shoot.”

Seeing Fu Ning in such a state made Chi Xiting feel some sympathy. Just as he was about to comfort Fu Ning, Fu Ning perked up, full of energy, and said to Chi Xiting, “You have to watch this drama when it’s out! I have so many scenes!”

His role was far more significant than all the minor parts he had played before.

Now that he thought about it, the hardships he was enduring didn’t seem so bad.

Fu Ning smiled widely, looking optimistic.

Seeing Fu Ning like this, Chi Xiting felt touched and promised, “Okay, I’ll definitely watch it.”

Fu Ning’s smile grew even bigger. Then, as if noticing something, his smile froze, and his eyes narrowed as he carefully scanned his surroundings. He asked, suspiciously, “Wait, where are you right now?”

Chi Xiting hadn’t expected Fu Ning to be so perceptive, and he tightened his grip on his phone.

Fu Ning asked again, “Hmm? What’s going on?”

Chi Xiting paused for a moment, blinking and carefully considering his response before cautiously saying, “Well… I just got back from a business trip, and it’s a bit late, so I’m staying at a friend’s place for the night.”

Fu Ning visibly relaxed, letting out a big breath, exaggeratedly patting his chest.

Chi Xiting, confused, asked, “What’s going on?”

Fu Ning shot him a playful glare and said, “Phew, I almost thought you were escaping from your miserable life or something!”

Living so well…

Chi Xiting was speechless.

“Alright, I’m going to bed,” Fu Ning said. “By the way, I’ll be back in B city in a few days. Let’s grab a meal. It’s been so long since we saw each other.”

“Yuan Yin, bring me the trash can!”

A rough voice sounded, loud and boisterous, with full vigor, causing Chi Xiting to furrow his brows even more tightly.

“Tsk.” Yuan Yin complained impatiently, “Can’t you come down and get it yourself? You’re so lazy. You said you’d come here to find a job, but this job of yours…”

Before Yuan Yin could finish his sentence, it was caught in his throat.

“You, you’re back?” Yuan Yin looked at Chi Xiting in stunned silence, standing at the door.

Chi Xiting’s gaze lingered on Yuan Yin for a second before he directly looked into his room.

The door to his room was wide open.

The door stood wide open, revealing the entire scene inside.

The room he had cleaned and tidied up before he left was now in complete disarray. Toilet paper, cigarette ash, and sunflower seed shells were scattered across the floor. The blanket was carelessly piled into a ball, wrinkled and twisted, with a burly man clutching it between his legs.

When someone gets angry to the extreme, they end up laughing.

Chi Xiting couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, then shifted his gaze back to Yuan Yin.

Yuan Yin, usually composed, now appeared somewhat awkward, perhaps knowing deep down that what he had done was improper. He nervously pinched his hands and stammered, “My cousin, well, he just wanted to come to B City to find a job…”

“Your cousin?” Chi Xiting asked back.

Hearing the voice of a stranger, Yuan Qiang sat up on the bed and stared at Chi Xiting. His gaze flickered, and with a smirk, he said, “Oh, Yuan Yin, who is this? Your lover?”

Chi Xiting furrowed his brows.

Yuan Qiang lazily leaned back on the pillow, continuing to speak in an unrefined manner, “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m just like a brother to Yuan Yin. Don’t mistake me for some affair partner, haha.”

Yuan Yin glared at Yuan Qiang, his voice turning sharper. “Can you shut up? Why do you have to say so much?”

Yuan Qiang snickered, “Oh, so now you’re siding with outsiders?”

Before Yuan Qiang could finish, Chi Xiting reached for his phone, swiftly dialed 110, briefly explaining the situation, and calmly opened the camera to take photos of the room.

Yuan Yin sensed something was wrong. The veins on his forehead twitched, and he reached for Chi Xiting’s phone, but the height difference made it impossible for him to grab it. Chi Xiting stepped aside and coldly looked at Yuan Yin, saying, “Don’t move, I’ve already called the police.”

Yuan Yin gritted his teeth. “Chi Xiting, do you have to be this ruthless? We’re roommates.”

Chi Xiting smiled. “You still remember we’re just roommates? From the looks of it, I thought this place was all yours.”

Bringing strangers home so casually.

Letting them live in his room without permission.

Chi Xiting was extremely irritated, glancing briefly at his room again, feeling like it was being invaded by Yuan Qiang’s smell.

The stench of smoke mixed with sweat and foot odor.

There were also clumps of used tissue paper scattered across the floor.

Chi Xiting recoiled and continued, “I checked everything in my room before I left. If anything’s missing when the police arrive, I’m holding you responsible. Got it?”

Yuan Yin, displeased, retorted, “You think something’s missing just because you say so? My cousin is only temporarily staying here, he won’t touch your stuff.”

Chi Xiting didn’t want to argue with Yuan Yin further. He crossed his arms and stepped outside, quietly waiting for the police to arrive.

When the police arrived, Chi Xiting patiently explained the whole situation and showed them the photos he had taken.

The police nodded and, along with Chi Xiting, carefully checked the room.

Yuan Yin and Yuan Qiang, who had been so arrogant earlier, were now silent when they saw the police. They stood still, like quails.

Yuan Yin tried to speak a few times, but Chi Xiting’s gaze silenced him.

They were clearly in the wrong.

It was all Yuan Qiang’s fault.

Why couldn’t he just sleep on the bed and leave other people’s things alone? Why make everything so awkward?

Yuan Yin’s head felt like a tangled mess. He irritably glared at Yuan Qiang, who appeared indifferent.

By the time the police and Chi Xiting were done discussing the situation, it was already close to midnight.

Chi Xiting sent the police downstairs and stood still for a moment, considering his next move.

His room was a mess, and someone had slept in his bed. He had no desire to sleep there, but at this hour…

Going back to his parents’ house was too far, and it would disturb them.

As for Chi Heyuan?

There was a chance they’d just throw him out.

Maybe he should find a hotel.

Chi Xiting sighed, glanced down at his phone, and absentmindedly scrolled for a while. Then, an idea came to him, and he impulsively snapped a picture and posted it on his social media.

[Chi Xiting]: Is there anyone kind enough to let me stay for one night? Image.jpg

He posted a picture of himself squatting on the ground.

—-

After posting, he turned off his phone and looked up at the quiet building. His gaze traveled far into the night.

His home was very close to the city center’s business district, and Chu Corporation was the tallest building there, surrounded by two other office towers.

Even though it was almost midnight, there were still a few lights shining in the building.

It felt like those three skyscrapers were like anchors, keeping him stuck at the bottom of society.

Chi Xiting withdrew his gaze, looking down at the ground, idly twiddling with the disposable gloves he had used while inspecting the room.

This life seemed no different from his previous one.

Still alone, indifferent to everything, just taking things one step at a time.

His previous life had been chaotic.

Success was always a pseudo-concept—what even defined success? In his previous life, he had a respectable job, a good salary, and was known for being one of the top performers. Most people thought he was relatively successful.