Zhou City wasn’t actually small.
The entire city was roughly the size of a former prefecture-level city, and its population was quite large—around five to six million people.
But to Yuan Li, the current state of its development was simultaneously advanced and backward.
It was advanced because she noticed that some of the high-rise advertising screens used near-holographic systems. The characters and objects in the ads could be projected into the air or onto the ground.
There were even elevated traffic tracks for cars above the thirtieth floor.
It was backward because, in the corners, she also saw dilapidated houses squeezed between two buildings, where many people still lived.
An ad flashed right in front of her eyes, showing a small pouch of what looked like semi-solid jelly. Yuan Li was surprised. “Nutritional paste?”
“Yes. For ordinary people, one to two sticks are enough to fill the stomach. Evolvers usually need three to five sticks,” Liu Jiao explained to her. “Each stick costs only one yuan. It’s one of the cheapest foods.”
Two yuan could cover a meal.
Yuan Li was shocked. “That cheap?”
Liu Jiao shrugged. “Nutritional paste relies on high volume sales. You have to understand, the average wage now is only 800. If people spent too much on food, how could they survive?”
“Average wage 800?”
Yuan Li nearly misheard. “Then our current wages…”
“We are considered high-income people,” Liu Jiao said, a trace of mockery in her eyes.
Yuan Li didn’t quite understand, but Liu Jiao didn’t linger on the topic. Instead, she simply explained: “Zhou City is divided into three rings. Rents in the Outer Ring are mostly 100 yuan per month, Middle Ring 200, and Inner Ring 500 or more, with no upper limit.”
“Nutritional paste is the most common food. Fresh vegetables, fruits, or rice are comparatively expensive. That meal we had at the hotel today—around fifteen yuan.”
Yuan Li was stunned.
She was first shocked by the ratio between fifteen yuan per meal and an 800-yuan average wage, then by how cheap the Cleaning Department’s cafeteria prices were.
By comparison, those prices were almost a giveaway!
“Our wages are enough to rent a place in the safest Inner Ring and eat proper food every day instead of just nutritional paste.”
After all, nutritional paste was truly unappetizing.
Yuan Li suddenly thought of something and asked, “How much is a bottle of milk?”
“I saw one last time in a shopping center—300 milliliters, ten yuan,” Liu Jiao answered.
Yuan Li: “……”
Alright.
A salary of 2,500 yuan was enough for her to support herself and even eat decently.
But add ShuangTang, and her wallet would be heavily strained.
After all, with three meals a day and milk five or six times a day, that would be around fifty yuan daily, or 1,500 yuan a month.
Yuan Li quietly pressed her hand to her chest, deciding that if she moved out, she would stock up on milk from the cafeteria.
Or perhaps try feeding ShuangTang a simple, low-oil, low-salt version of cat food.
Doctor had said that these little animals now had strong stomachs and bodies; eating some real food should… be okay.
“I’m renting a place here. Want to come in and take a look?”
Liu Jiao suddenly spoke, breaking Yuan Li’s thoughts.
Yuan Li blinked and followed her inside.
It was a semi-new, semi-old building, eight stories tall—small and cramped.
Walking through the dark corridor and entrance hall, the interior suddenly became noisy.
“Are you looking for trouble? We already said we don’t guarantee safety! Yeah, if you die, you die! Call someone to collect the body yourself!”
“Dear, you have to choose carefully. Once you sign the contract, we’re not responsible!”
“We told you already, this is how the house is. We can’t babysit you all night! We might kill you, believe it or not!”
Voices with all kinds of accents filled the less-than-100-square-meter house, creating utter chaos.
The only ventilation came from small basketball-sized vents on the walls, and even with an exhaust fan running, the air inside was still stuffy.
Liu Jiao seemed accustomed to the environment. She scanned the room and quickly found who she was looking for.
“Aunt Shui, do you have time now?”
“Oh my, JiaoJiao girl, what brings you here?” Aunt Shui was in her early sixties, with short, curly hair like a typical landlady.
She fanned herself with a palm leaf fan. Following Liu Jiao’s signal, she turned her head and, upon seeing Yuan Li, exclaimed again.
“The one renting the place is this girl? JiaoJiao girl, are you going to rent together? No way! Two pretty girls renting alone might get bullied!” Aunt Shui shook her head repeatedly.
Yuan Li frowned. “But Inner Ring apartments should be very safe, right? I’m willing to pay more for a better location.”
Aunt Shui paused, then glanced at Liu Jiao’s helpless expression. She seemed to understand.
She smiled and shook her head. “Girl, this isn’t just about the house… Well, I happen to be free today. Since you’re JiaoJiao girl’s friend, I’ll take you to have a look.”
After greeting a few others, Aunt Shui waved her fan and led Yuan Li and Liu Jiao out of the room.
Once outside, Yuan Li felt the air was much easier to breathe.
Aunt Shui whispered to Liu Jiao briefly, then they set a target.
After about ten minutes, they stopped in front of a building.
It was thirty-five stories tall but occupied less than 200 square meters, looking like a thin toothpick.
It made one wonder if the foundation was unstable, if a strong wind could topple it.
Of course, Aunt Shui reassured her: “Don’t worry, the building is of good quality.”
Entering the building, Yuan Li was surprised to see security guards at the entrance.
Taking the elevator to the eighth floor, she listened as Aunt Shui said the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment—less than 20 square meters—would cost 1,300 yuan per month. Yuan Li’s first thought was: “I can do this.”
Aunt Shui, unbothered by her eager response, said, “Hey, little girl, be patient. Let me finish.”
“This apartment is entrusted to us for renting. The previous tenants, a very attractive couple, lived here for thirteen days. One went mad, the other died,” Aunt Shui said. “The apartment was only reclaimed two days ago. Aren’t you afraid?”
Of course Yuan Li was afraid!
Who wouldn’t be scared in a house where someone had died?
But she was more curious. “Why did they die?”
“Who knows? Maybe they made friends in the building or offended someone? You saw outside too—people can’t just wander in.”
So the cause of the incident was likely inside.
Even in the scorching heat, Yuan Li shivered.
ShuangTang in her backpack seemed to sense it. It reached out a paw, pressing against her back through the bag.
Surprisingly, Yuan Li could feel its comfort and reassurance.
“Is there somewhere more private, with fewer people?” Yuan Li asked with difficulty.
“Yes, one apartment per elevator, swipe card access,” Aunt Shui said, noticing Yuan Li’s eyes light up. She couldn’t help smiling. “Rent is about ten to twenty thousand per month.”
The small spark of hope in Yuan Li’s heart immediately died.
Aunt Shui patted her shoulder. “Girl, if someone’s willing to protect you, just stay put. In this world, nothing else matters—living is the most important thing.”
Yuan Li trudged out of the toothpick-shaped building, only to suddenly spot Ji Huan leaning against a streetlamp, smiling faintly at her.
In an instant, all her deflation vanished. Her heart was replaced by guilt.
As Yuan Li brainstormed ways to shut Ji Huan up, a flash of icy motion caught her peripheral vision, hurtling toward her.
ShuangTang in her backpack showed a glint of wild aggression. Ji Huan’s expression changed instantly as he leaned against the streetlamp.