Chapter 3

The weather was comparatively colder when Chen Dulan reached. He had a lot to do within a day. First, find a place to rent. He had looked through his phone, some of the cheapest apartments, but were not in the most habitable areas. He didn't have much of a choice though, it had to be good enough.

"Did you run away from home?" The landlord had asked him with a confused expression. The only ones finding refuge in this neighborhood were the poorest of the lot. And he looked young, innocent even to stay at a place like this.

"I'm only short of money, don't worry." He had replied in his usual way of speaking, the coldness only confused the landlord further. The man was probably half-drunk and didn't bother wasting his time anymore.

"I don't care boy, just don't get robbed or beaten!" He walked off.

Chen Dulan cringed at the apartment's condition. The cigarette stench was the least of his troubles. He was sure he'd seen a rat within minutes of entering the room. Maybe there was also leakage, because something had surely been rotting. Nothing too difficult to clean, but he didn't have the money or time for it now.

'A job, that doesn't take a lot of time.' He had thought a lot about it.

The town was quite small, the only police station had few officers, that too lenient. So no one was responsible to check what minors were up to. And in this small town, there was only one place that could serve alcohol to minors, in the guise of a 'Karaoke'. Yao Fang was sure to spend time there after school. Knowing the Young Master's famous incidents heard from Yao Jianguo, where else could he go? Yao Fang was too ill-mannered to not be a drinker anyway. He went for the interview.

"Sure, you're accepted." They hadn't even taken one look at his ID, he was 16. "Don't get beaten up, that causes us trouble. And don't steal alcohol, if you're good at your job, we'll be good to you too." One of the senior employees advised.

"I don't drink, I won't steal. Thank you for the job, sir." He bowed stiffly, and again, people looked confused. They hadn't seen such a gentleman in this town. Too bad he was poor enough to work at a place like this.

'The school now.' He thought, while throwing out the old tenant's trash. He had wiped down what all could be removed with water. Remembering his job starting tomorrow, he had to study for school, first had to finish cleaning. Thankfully the lights were working. Druken giggles were heard at a distance. The quiet shady looking neighborhood... sure got loud into the night.

There were cars, and too many lights, even noises from the next room he didn't want to think about. Study. He needed books too, he suddenly remembered. And the noise from the other room got louder. He only had his one phone and a charger, no backup either, and the only thing he'd eaten all day was an energy bar he's carried with him. This wasn't enough to make him panic, but everything seemed too uncertain, what would happen next? He had no idea.

This almost reminded him of his days with his father. When would he get a meal next? Where would he hide if he couldn't escape the next time? What would he do if his father got killed? Where would he go if-

"You shameless bastards! Stop making noise!" Someone had banged loudly on a door and screamed this. The noise had gotten lesser. And then he heard knocks on his own door. Very different from the other action, he was almost taken aback.

"New kid! Are you in there? Open up! Let sister see you!" A girl's voice.

Chen Dulan went to open the door. The girl beamed at him brightly, before handing him a bag. She wore a tracksuit and slippers. "I'm the landlord's daughter. Call me sister-An. Dad saw you moved in with only one backpack, did you run away? Don't worry, just ask sister if you need anything!" She smiled and pushed the bag towards him again.

She tried to get inside, and took a peak in. "Hmm, you've cleaned quite a lot at once. You'll sleep fine, I guess. Say, do you go to school? Where are your parents?"

"I'll start school tomorrow." Chen Dulan shifted uncomfortably after accepting the bag. He wasn't in a position to refuse whatever she had put in there. "Thank you... it's really helpful to find a place like this. You're kind." He'd replied.

"I'm probably your senior then, there's only one high school in here."

"-!!!" He thought himself the luckiest. "Do you- do you have your old books? You don't seem to be much older than me..." He had trailed off shyly.

"You really don't have money at all?!"