Chapter 1, The Girl Across the Door

You actually share the same surname as me

Yang Qicheng, too lazy to pay her any mind, quickly put on his shoes and left.

Yang Qicheng: "Quite clever indeed"

Yang Jing: "Brother Cheng, thank you for temporarily taking me in"

Yang Qicheng sat silently, smoking a cigarette.

Yang Qicheng glanced at her and asked, "Are you sure your grandfather will come to pick you up in a couple of days?"

The smell inside was quite unpleasant, and Yang Jing covered her nose, hurriedly exiting and entering the public bath across the street

You must return before 8 PM, and let me know where you are going to have fun first

He cursed under his breath, rummaged through his pants pocket, pulled out a coin, and tossed it at Yang Jing

Yang Qicheng whistled and asked, "Who died?"

She rolled up her sleeves and began to work

Yang Qicheng chewed on a fried dough stick and looked up

The little girl stood up and said, "May I stay at your house for two days? My grandfather will come to pick me up in two days."

The man with a rough voice lowered his head to look at Yang Jing and asked, "Are you moving?"

Yang Jing quickly returned to the fourth floor, dragging a pile of her belongings, while Yang Qicheng was moving the wire bed from room 410 outside

Yang Jing left the house with a clatter

It should be, I remember it is 409

I cannot find him..." Yang Jing's voice was already tinged with tears.

Yang Jingyi shrank her neck and said, "I... I have nothing to do anyway"

Who the hell knows whether it is clean or not, whether there is a problem or not.

Yang Qicheng sat on the bed in silence, feeling a surge of agitation within his heart

Yang Jing stared at her own shadow for a long time, then turned around and said, "Boss Zhao, bring me a pack of 'Hongmei'"

What do you want to do

The four of them laughed heartily, "Where has your mother gone?"

It is just cleaned in my home

After finishing his meal, Yang Qicheng found a wearable outfit from the pile of clothes and put it on in preparation to go out: "Remember to take the door with you when you go out"

This is my family's bed

Yang Qicheng was simply impressed, "Even without doing anything, I still get one piece!"

After settling in properly, Yang Qicheng and Yang Jing established three agreements.

In the evening, Yang Qicheng returned and found the door ajar. He glanced inside and immediately stepped back, looking at the house number on the top of the door frame.

Yang Jing got up and ran to the pile of "junk," reaching in and rummaging for a long time before pulling out a cloth bag. "Brother Cheng, I won't stay here for free; I will pay you rent."

Yang Jing held tightly onto Yang Qicheng's rough hand, her ear pressed against the door panel, her heart pounding wildly

After everything was said and done, Yang Qicheng lit a cigarette and said, "Go buy two boxes of takeout."

Yang Qicheng glanced down; her five fingers were slender and pale, contrasting sharply with his bronze skin

Yang Qicheng smoked there with a blank expression, taking slow puffs. By the time he finished one cigarette, the crying outside had also ceased

He has never truly valued his life; he simply feels an indescribable emotion in his heart upon seeing Yang Jing struggling to survive now

I know

What is the purpose of going to the crematorium

Yang Jing slightly averted her eyes and said softly: "It was left by my mother"

Yang Jing was dozing off at her desk when she suddenly jolted awake, rubbed her eyes, and hurriedly said: "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

She drew lines on the wall with chalk, leaned her back against it, pressed her palms tightly against the top of her head, and looked up for a moment, still only reaching the highest line.

Yang Jing immediately jumped up from her chair, took the money, and hurriedly left the room

Yang Qicheng let out a cold snort, "Did you not say that you would definitely come?"

When will your grandfather arrive

Immediately followed by several kicks

The little girl's cries were sharp and high-pitched, and Yang Qicheng felt a surge of anger in his heart. "Do you not understand human language? Do you want me to kick you out like the landlord would?"

I do not know how long I have slept

Upon arriving at the fourth floor, I heard a commotion in the corridor

I sleep on the floor

As the sun rises, a shadow stretches across the ground, thin and elongated

A friend.

Yang Jingjing paused for a moment and said softly, "I do not want to sleep on this bed"

Then you go find her friend

Yang Jing quickly moved away from the door panel, "There is a wardrobe inside, you hide, I will open the door"

Yang Qicheng was at a loss for words, "Stop fooling around and focus on your studies"

Yang Jing stepped in swiftly, picked up the telephone receiver, and dialed a series of numbers

Yang Qicheng felt a bit like laughing, but he held it back with effort and nodded, wanting to see what tricks she would come up with

After ringing several times, there was no response

Where did the bed sheet come from

Upon waking, a fragrant aroma of food wafted through the air. Yang Qicheng sniffed, opened his eyes, and saw a young girl setting out soy milk and fried dough sticks on the table

... ...

Yang Jingfei quickly changed her words: "Brother Qicheng..."

Yang Qicheng said with a dark expression: "Who the hell told you to clean up?"

Yang Qicheng stood still

Yang Qicheng then said: "I have no time to take care of you, eat in the cafeteria by yourself at school"

Did you stop going to school because your mother passed away

Yang Qicheng paused for a moment, then continued to blow.

Do not want to read

Yang Jing looked at him and asked, "What is your name?"

Yang Jing was taken aback

The four individuals exchanged glances with one another

Yang Jing opened her mouth but did not make a sound

Yang Jing walked out, while Yang Qicheng stood still.

Yang Qicheng felt a chill in his heart and pushed her out, "Run quickly"

Make money

If there is nothing to do, just stay put

There is a scent of laundry detergent in the air, and the water stains on the cement floor have not yet dried. The clothes that were carelessly thrown around are gone, and the sheets and pillowcases have been replaced with new ones. The palm-sized space has been tidied up neatly. Even that greasy and dirty table has revealed its true appearance.

Yang Qicheng kicked the door open and shouted, "I. Damn. Your mother!"

However, when she is sober, she is not a bad person. Sometimes, when she cooks too many dumplings and brings them back to her room, she will smile and ask Yang Qicheng if he wants to eat.

Yang Jing stood for a moment, not daring to provoke him any further. She picked up the keys and quietly exited the door. When the door closed, Yang Qicheng's eyelids twitched slightly, yet he did not open his eyes.

Yang Qicheng certainly did not want it

Yang Qicheng paused, staring at the grayish mass for a moment, then shouted with a dark expression: "Come in quickly!"

Washed

Yang Jing's frail shoulders trembled slightly

I do not know! What I heard at the alley entrance was that there were a total of four people, each with tattoos on their arms, and they mentioned your name...

Yang Qicheng's expression was cold as he said: "Are you deaf or something? I've been calling you for ages to open the door."

The restroom features a long urinal, partitioned into several stalls with brick walls, equipped with fixed flushing points. As Yang Jing entered, she immediately saw a woman squatting in the first stall, straining and humming.

Yang Jing bit her lip and said, "I have nowhere to go"

Yang Qicheng: "... ... too many trivial matters"

Yang Jing raised her head, her eyes already filled with tears, "Just give me a place to sleep, and I can help you with work, it won't cost you anything..."

In the dim light stood a frail little girl, her shoulders slumped, her expression unclear

Yang Qicheng first noticed that this little girl had quite big eyes, "This matter is non-negotiable. You are still studying, right? Find your teacher, and if the teacher is unavailable, look for the principal. There will always be someone to help you resolve it"

The thirteen-year-old girl, who has not yet begun to develop, is wearing a somewhat worn T-shirt, resembling a sprout. Her sparse ponytail is a dull yellow color.

And you?

Yang Qicheng was smoking, walking around the room, "... ... Where are the clothes?"

My mother has passed away

Yang Jing asked: "Have they arrived?"

Three days later, Yang Qicheng returned and saw the little girl once again. The door across was tightly shut, and she was squatting amidst a pile of debris, with her head deeply buried.

Yang Qicheng knew her, the daughter of the prostitute living across from his home

After entering the room, Yang Qicheng took out the straw mat and quilt from the woven bag, threw them onto the cement floor, ignored her, and fell asleep immediately

Yang Qicheng did not respond

Go ahead and check all the nearby places!

What are you doing out so late

The midday sunlight streamed in through the small window, illuminating the mottled red-painted wooden table, on which lay an unopened package of soft yellow boxes labeled "Hongmei".

After Yang Qicheng left, Yang Jing threw away the trash and looked around the room. It was cramped and damp, devoid of the evening glow, the pungent scent of perfume, or the sour smell of leftover food. Only the man's scattered underwear and tank tops remained, along with a faint odor of sweat.

... ...

I, I do not know, it should be coming soon

Who is causing me trouble

Boss Zhao did not respond

Yang Jing stood at the entrance of the convenience store, her toes unconsciously rubbing against the ground, "Boss Zhao, I need to make a phone call"

Hello

Yang Jing tightly pressed her lips together, nodding repeatedly like a chick pecking at grains.

Yang Qicheng raised an eyebrow, "Could you say that again?"

Yang Qicheng let out a grunt through his nose, "Unwilling to sleep on your mother's work bed, yet willing to use your mother's work money, is that being pretentious or not?"

Yang Qicheng: "No."

Yang Jing! Open the door for me!

Yang Jing was caught off guard, and this kick landed squarely on her abdomen, causing a piercing pain. She let out a muffled groan, staggered back several steps, covered her belly, and a layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on her forehead

He washed his face, sat down, and took a fried dough stick, "What is your name?"

I have nowhere to go. It has been nearly an entire day without a drop of rice, and her voice sounds a bit hoarse

She spread the cotton mat on the cement floor and lay down with her eyes closed. After just a short nap, she was not at all sleepy now

I must say this upfront: your stay here is merely a temporary arrangement, and I am only acting as your sub-landlord. I can barely support myself, so do not expect me to take care of your well-being

Reincarnation

Who sent your mother for cremation

Hello

In two minutes, go down and buy a lighter

Part-time work

He played cards all night, and his luck was quite good. When the game ended and he counted up, he had won three hundred.

Yang Qicheng leaped up and opened the door, revealing Yang Jing with a tear-streaked face and an anxious expression

In a room of about 10 square meters, a fabric curtain was drawn, with Yang Jing sleeping inside and Yang Qicheng sleeping outside

Yang Qicheng was surprised, "Dead so soon?"

Someone asked: "Not here?"

Yang Qicheng glared at her and said, "If you don't want to study, then get out."

My own pocket money

Yang Qicheng hummed a tune while taking out his keys to unlock the door

Yang Jing closed the door expressionlessly, then leaned against the door frame to listen for a while. After confirming that everyone had left, she let out a long sigh and walked behind the curtain, saying, "Brother Cheng, they have left."

Yang Jing's eyes were red, "... ... No, I really have nowhere to go"

Before the call was even completed, a thunderous knocking sound erupted, "Cheng Ge! Cheng Ge, hurry and run! It seems someone is looking for trouble with you!"

Yang Qicheng had no clothes to wear, so he couldn't go out. He sat down on the bed with his legs crossed, turned on the television, took out two banknotes, and instructed Yang Jing, "Go buy me a box of lunch." After a moment's thought, he added another note, "Two boxes, the keys are on the table."

Yang Qicheng glared at her: "Figure it out yourself!"

She washed her face with cold water and walked out of the tenement building

Crematorium

Yang Jing seemed to be stabbed, her body trembled

Go check if the clothes are dry

Yang Qicheng paused his movements and turned to look at her, "Then I will sleep on this bed."

She locked the door, lifted her clothes, and looked down to see a small patch of faint blue on her abdomen. She gritted her teeth and pressed on it; it did not hurt inside

Various sounds echoed in the corridor, with some shouting at students to get up, others arguing early in the morning, and some setting up iron pots, creating a clattering noise

Yang Jing's heart tightened, and her hand clenched as well

Yang Qicheng was also momentarily taken aback, realizing he had misspoken. Annoyed, he took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth, saying, "Alright, alright, from now on, do not touch a single cent at home without my instruction."

Yang Jing ultimately did not lay down a few days' worth of bedding. Yang Qicheng somehow acquired a second-hand single mattress, placed it against the wall on the floor, and covered it with cotton and a bed sheet, making it more comfortable than a wire bed.

Yang Jing shrank back slightly, "... ... I'm sorry."

Yang Qicheng glanced at her and snorted, "No one cares."

There are not only two boxes of takeout on the table, but also a bottle of chilled beer

Yang Jing: "Oh"

Yang Jing sat back at the table with her head down, only then realizing that Yang Qicheng had left the house without taking the keys

Everything returns to calm, as if nothing has ever happened

Yang Jing pressed her lips together and remained silent

Boss Zhao glanced at her, took a pack of cigarettes from the shelf behind him, and tossed it onto the glass counter

The boss held a bowl of vermicelli, slurping it noisily while looking up at the morning news. "Damn, a bunch of cowards! If you have the guts, give that bastard a shot!"

Yang Qicheng

After sleeping for half the night, I groggily got up to relieve myself. As soon as I opened the door, a shadow suddenly sprang up in the darkness. Yang Qicheng was startled and took a moment to focus, then exclaimed, "What the hell, you are still here?"

Yang Jing remained silent, squatting at the entrance of 410, vigorously digging at an old mouse hole at the base of the wall. After a long while, she raised a key and exclaimed, "I found it!"

Yang Jing suddenly remembered that she had not yet collected the clothes, and she dashed to the drying platform, then quickly returned, saying, "Not dry yet"

After a while, Yang Qicheng glanced at the soy milk in his hand and realized something: "Where did you get the money?"

Four people stepped onto the fourth floor, and a coarse male voice exclaimed, "Hmph, can anyone live in this place? What are you staring at? Do you think you have a long life?"

Yang Jing turned around and reminded him: "Don't make a sound!"

Yang Qicheng put on a slightly damp black T-shirt and instructed Yang Jing: "Close the door properly"

It was truly not an illusion; Yang Qicheng turned around to meet a pair of wide-open eyes staring at him.

Yang Jing stood for a moment and walked to the concrete wall opposite the bed

Yang Jing remained silent, slowly taking out the money and smoothing it out sheet by sheet

Oh

The room was dim and lifeless, lacking any semblance of vitality. A rough male voice waved his hand and said, "Let's go, take a look at 408."

Yang Qicheng broke apart the disposable chopsticks and asked, "How much pocket money do you have?"

Yang Jing lowered her eyes and said, "I no longer wish to study"

Yang Jing took out a stack of small bills from her pocket, counted out four yuan, and handed it to Boss Zhao

Yang Jing fell silent

Yang Jing nodded silently

Yang Qicheng did not speak, but glanced at her.

Yang Jing pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent

Yang Qicheng was annoyed, "I don't have money to buy a new one"

She dragged the large bag and slowly walked to the door, turning back to glance at Yang Qicheng with hesitation.

Yang Jing raised her voice and shouted once more

Yang Qicheng yawned and woke up

Yang Qicheng let out a sound of acknowledgment and tossed the remote control over

She realized that Yang Qicheng was truly angry this time

She went to the balcony to collect all the clothes, sorting and folding them neatly. After that, she put away the mat, sat at the table, and found herself with nothing more to do, merely straining her ears to listen to the sounds outside

Yang Jing was puzzled, "Thirteen."

He ate several jin of small shrimp outside with a barrel, feeling full and satisfied after the meal. Upon returning to the tube building, the young girl was still squatting at the door

She walked out with her head down, standing under the awning of the convenience store

Yang Qicheng smiled, "Oh, quite a temper you have."

Everything is the same as what I heard when I woke up at midnight before, yet it seems somewhat different

He patiently tried to reason with her: "Crying to me is of no use. We are not related, and while you are living in my house, it is also inconvenient for me."

Good, Cheng Ge!

Yang Qicheng glanced at her, took the cloth bag, weighed it in his hand, and said, "Where did this come from?"

Yang Jing took two steps, stopped, turned around to look at him, and asked in confusion: "Cheng Ge?"

Yang Jing was anxious and pushed him hard inside, but she only managed to push him behind the curtain just as the knocking on the door began.

Yang Jing, unwilling to accept defeat, dialed again, but still received no response

Yang Qicheng slept until the evening, opened the door to go out for dinner, and saw a little girl squatting at the door

After finishing, Yang Jing picked up a small piece of red brick from under the chair leg and wiped off the marks on the wall a few times

She is always heavily made up, dressed in gaudy clothing, often returning home in a drunken stupor, and when she fumbles for her keys to open the door, a string of curses escapes her lips

Yang Qicheng took a few steps to the window in the corridor and glanced down; the four individuals had already entered the building

Yang Qicheng bought three fried dough sticks at the stall, eating them while walking into the mouth of the greyhound

Yang Jing was taken aback

As April arrives in Dan City, the rain falls incessantly. The tube buildings in the rain resemble a gray dog afflicted with mange, lying in the hazy mist.

Yang Jing couldn't help but break into a smile

Yang Qicheng caught sight of her expression, snorted through his nose, "The work at night is not just the kind your mother does."

Have you all washed up

Yang Qicheng leapt out of bed when it was nearly midnight

Yang Jing was taken aback

Yang Qicheng could no longer hold back and burst into laughter, "I ask, how old are you this year?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt that they might be somewhat disrespectful, after all, the deceased should be held in high regard. I then rephrased, saying: "What I mean is, why so suddenly?"

Yang Qicheng quickly finished his meal and lay down on the wire bed, saying, "I am going to take a nap. If you make even the slightest sound, get out immediately."

What are you doing

"Oh, you little girl, how can you be so unreasonable? You all died in my house, and I haven't asked you for compensation! I have elderly and young ones at home, with seven or eight mouths waiting for the rent to eat. I am not heartless; here’s the deal: I will give you three days to quickly find a relative to take you away..." After the landlord finished speaking, he wiggled his plump backside and walked away, snorting as he passed by Yang Qicheng. "I am not heartless; here’s the deal: I will give you three days to quickly find a relative to take you away..." After the landlord finished speaking, he wiggled his plump backside and walked away, snorting as he passed by Yang Qicheng.

What about when not attending school

The sound of footsteps, the sharp cries of an infant, the rumbling of construction machinery working through the night in the distance

Will the landlord not speak

Yang Jing then probed, "Brother Cheng?"

She did not know how she fell asleep, but she slept exceptionally soundly, without having that dream

He remembers Yang Jing's mother

The footsteps downstairs grew closer, and Yang Jing, feeling anxious, stamped her feet. Without saying a word, she rushed over and grabbed Yang Qicheng's arm.

Bring back that pile of junk of yours

Yang Qicheng leaned against the window, silently smoking.

However, until noon, no one had knocked on the door across the way

Yang Jing was taken aback

Yang Jinghuo suddenly sat up from the ground, the knocking on the door was deafening, and dust fell from the ceiling. She hurriedly got up, not even having time to put on her shoes, and quickly ran over to open the door

Yang Jing hurriedly followed behind Yang Qicheng to explain, "I didn't touch your things, I only swept..."

Yang Jing: "Once the door is closed, I cannot come in."

Yang Qicheng shivered

Yang Jing paused for a moment, nodded, and said, "Yes, they will definitely come."

Yang Jing opened her mouth wide, momentarily overwhelmed by her emotions and at a loss for words; however, in the end, she said nothing and ran away in a flash

A house where someone has died, haunted at night, is certainly one that needs to be vacated

Yang Jing held her stomach and slowly walked to the public restroom

The four individuals were discussing for a while, just about to leave, when someone suddenly asked, "Is it definitely at 409?"

After buying cigarettes, Yang Jing returned to room 409, where Yang Qicheng had not yet woken up

She threw a brick, clapped her hands, and said, "Let's go"

Yang Qicheng has finally no objections

The afternoon sunlight streams in, and golden dust floats in the air

After more than ten minutes, Yang Jing returned, wiped the sweat from her forehead, placed the lunch box on the table, and called out: "Brother Cheng."

Yang Jing took a deep breath, opened the door slowly, looked up and frowned, saying: "My mother is not here, please come back another day"

Yang Qicheng returned the cloth bag to her, saying, "You keep the money for yourself, focus on your studies—how many days have you not gone to school?"

The little girl blinked, her shoulders drooping again, "... ... My mother is dead"

Yang Qicheng glared at her and said, "Then just stay inside the house properly"

A round red sun rose in the east, and the sounds of vendors calling out filled the alley. She bought two large meat buns from the bun shop, finished eating them while standing by the roadside, and then walked to the convenience store

Yang Jing stood still

The young girl lifted her eyelids and said, "None of your business." She entered the room and slammed the door with a "bang."

Forget about it

I am only twenty-three years old

Yang Qicheng glanced at her and said, "Come on, if I were to flirt with you, I would still have to consider whether it would be worth the trouble."

Yang Qicheng scratched his head, and only then did he remember what happened last night, feeling a moment of regret for his past decisions

Yang Qicheng glanced at her, understanding in his heart that this "friend" was likely a certain guest

Did you have a meal yesterday

Yang Qicheng ran his fingers through his hair and suddenly had a strong desire to smoke. For some reason, he thought of the pack of "Hongmei" on his desk

Yang Jing shuddered her shoulders again, cried out a few times, walked to the corner, and picked up those few bags of "rags"

Still not finished laughing, Yang Qicheng said: "Did I let you waste my money?"

Yang Jing smiled at him, "Cheng Ge, you are back?"

Yang Qicheng gazed at her silhouette and muttered, "She wouldn't be running away with the money, would she?"

The little girl did not answer, only asking him: "Is it okay, just for two days? I will leave as soon as my grandfather arrives"

Yang Jing swallowed the food in her mouth, observing his expression, "... ... Uncle Yang."

Yang Qicheng glanced at Yang Jing, then looked around the room

Yang Jing fell silent, bowed her head, covered her mouth with her hand, and cried softly.

A sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Yang Qicheng turned around to see Yang Jing holding a cloth, her clothing soaked with water

The aunt scolded a few words and slammed the door as she left

Yang Qicheng glanced at her and said, "Why are you still here?"

As the door closed, a sudden burst of intense crying erupted from outside

After a while, Yang Qicheng took out his phone from his pants pocket and called Gangzi

I have no time to deal with you, just leave quickly. Yang Qicheng touched his pants pocket, took out the last cigarette, crushed the cigarette box, and tossed it aside.

Yang Qicheng returned to his house, where Yang Jing was counting money with her head down. She was startled by the noise and quickly stuffed the money back into her pocket.

Yang Qicheng lit a cigarette and took a puff, "What do you mean? Are you planning to stay here with me?"

What the hell, what should I wear after taking a shower

She had no choice but to open the door and slowly drag the bag outside

A person leaned in to take a look and said, "It has all been cleared out."

In the blink of an eye, a person is gone forever. Sometimes, life is such a fragile thing, like the wings of a cicada, shattering at the slightest touch

Have you eaten

Yang Jing quickly stood up and said, "Brother Cheng, are you hungry? I will go buy a lunch box"

Yang Qicheng smiled again. He thought to himself that this little girl was somewhat precocious; when he was thirteen, he was still climbing trees to gather eggs and wading into rivers to catch fish. Yang Jing was certainly much more capable than he was.

Soon, the footsteps of four individuals were close at hand. Someone kicked the door opposite and shouted, "Yang Qicheng! Get out here!"

1 minute and 50 seconds

Boss Zhao then slowly shifted his gaze over, "You can do it yourself, do you still need my help?"

Yang Jing

409, that's right.

Yang Jing glanced up at him and said, "You really meddle a lot"

Yang Jing extended her hands to catch it, looking at him with confusion

Yang Qicheng did not expect her grip to be so strong, and she stumbled slightly, "What are you doing?"

Yang Jing was taken aback and hurriedly said: "... I bought it for you with my own pocket money."

Yang Qicheng cursed again, draped a towel around his neck, and went to the public bath in the corridor to take a shower. After finishing, he came out wearing only a pair of underwear. Just then, a middle-aged woman opened the door and, startled, shouted: "Rogue!"

Yang Qicheng looked her up and down, chuckling to himself, "What does it have to do with me!"

Yang Qicheng returned from the public restroom at the end of the corridor, and the little girl had already gathered the pile of tattered rags, which were difficult to discern, into a heap, leaning her body sideways against it

Yang Qicheng ignored her, took off his clothes, and lay down on the bed.