The Shen family’s old house was a single-story flat located in the suburbs. It had a small yard enclosed by an iron fence, filled with various cluttered items that gave it a desolate appearance.
[There is nowhere to even step in this place.] 0377 remarked.
Xie Yizhou, however, felt that once the yard was cleared, it would be quite nice.
He quickly found a key hidden under a stone by the entrance. Upon entering, he found a living room, two bedrooms, and a kitchen located behind the living room. Although the interior decor and furniture were old-fashioned, the entire place had been kept impeccably clean.
Xie Yizhou’s attention was drawn to a family portrait hanging in the living room. It was a photo of a family of five, with Grandpa Shen sitting in the center.
0377 let out a sigh. [The Shen family originally owned a house in the city. But because of the car accident seven years ago, you were seriously injured, and they had to sell the house to save your life. Between the follow-up treatments and Grandpa Shen’s serious illness a few years ago, the money from the house was completely exhausted.]
Xie Yizhou’s eyes were full of curiosity, and a slight smile played on his lips. His mood was entirely different from that of the system.
“At least there is no debt. It is not too tragic.”
Although he could not hear or speak, his limbs were functional. He was only lacking money, and that was something he could earn.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a small, somewhat worn-out object on the table.
“What is this?”
[A hearing aid. A tool that allows you to hear sounds.]
Hearing this, Xie Yizhou felt a surge of joy. He picked it up to examine it and habitually placed it in his right ear; however, there was only silence. He paused, momentarily stunned.
[It is likely out of power.] 0377 noted. The device was covered in dust, suggesting it had been sitting there for quite some time.
Xie Yizhou removed the hearing aid and, with the help of the system, purchased replacement batteries. He discovered they were quite expensive—one yuan each, which was the same price as the bun he had just bought. It made him momentarily miss the taste of that free milk.
After installing the battery, Xie Yizhou put the hearing aid back on. For the first time in a long while, he heard the outside world. It was not clear; it was mostly a chaotic mix of noise, humming, and the sound of static, like an electric current passing through.
However, he could finally hear other people. Though the voices were faint and muffled, requiring intense concentration to understand, Xie Yizhou was overjoyed to have his hearing restored even to this degree.
Taking advantage of the good weather, he set about clearing the clutter from the yard.
Once finished, he went back inside to rest. By the bedside, he discovered an old mobile phone. The plastic casing had faded from its original color, but the buttons were perfectly intact, showing that the previous owner had cherished it.
It would not turn on because the battery was dead. After charging it, Xie Yizhou found there was no signal.
[The account is likely overdue. You must pay the phone bill before it can be used normally.]
By the time Xie Yizhou paid the bill, his original 120 yuan had dwindled to just 90 yuan. While he found this world fascinating, he realized that the cost of living was not cheap. To survive here, he needed to understand how everything worked.
“What is the next part of the plot?” Xie Yizhou asked.
[Under the urging of his friend Luo Yu, Gu Yulan reluctantly agreed to the plan and met with the 18th-tier starlet named Chen Yufei.]
[They made an appointment to meet at a restaurant. Chen Yufei was ecstatic when he got the news; he never expected Gu Yulan would actually meet him! Gu Yulan is a top-tier “rich second generation” in City A. If Chen Yufei could land him, there would be no resource in the entertainment industry he could not get.]
[Especially after learning that Gu Yulan had been abandoned by the person he loved, Chen Yufei put 100 percent effort into this meeting. He obtained a photo of Su Jianyang from Luo Yu in advance and dressed up specifically to mimic him.]
[Gu Yulan, however, did not care much about the meeting. His mind was entirely occupied with how to make Su Jianyang regret his choices. At this moment, he does not realize how much trouble this meeting will cause him. It will not only further fracture his relationship with Su Jianyang but also lead him into a difficult predicament.]
After listening, Xie Yizhou narrowed his eyes and said to the system, “Hasn’t our opportunity arrived?”
“When does this happen?”
[The night after tomorrow.]
There was no rush. There was plenty of time to prepare.
The day soon arrived.
As night fell, Xie Yizhou sat on the busiest street in City A, right next to a high-end restaurant. Even in the evening, the area was as bright as day, bustling with people coming and going.
Many street vendors were nearby, peddling small goods. As he walked forward, a figure blocked his path. A very cute little girl approached him. Assuming he was waiting for someone, she said loudly in a bell-like voice, “Brother, it is Valentine’s Day. Buy a flower for your girlfriend! She will be very happy.”
Xie Yizhou was startled by the rose thrust in front of him. The color was vibrant and beautiful. However, it was expensive: ten yuan for a single flower. He shook his head at the little girl.
A look of disappointment crossed her face, but she quickly hurried off to find her next target. Xie Yizhou breathed a sigh of relief once she left; he was not used to dealing with children.
He sat there quietly, waiting for his “prey.”
Before long, a man and a woman began to argue loudly at the entrance of the restaurant, attracting the attention of many bystanders. Because the shouting was so loud, Xie Yizhou watched with curiosity, finding the scene quite interesting.
“Lili, do not leave! I really love you!” the man in the business suit pleaded.
“You love me, yet you cheated? If I had not found out today, would you have kept it from me forever? Do you think buying some flowers can make up for what you did to me?”
The woman named Lili threw the large bouquet of roses she was holding directly onto a nearby trash can. “Take these flowers back and give them to your mistress!”
With that, the woman turned and left. The man hurriedly chased after her. This dramatic scene caught the attention of many diners in the restaurant, who watched the Valentine’s Day breakup through the glass with amusement.
Chen Yufei had just arrived. When he saw Gu Yulan’s handsome face, his eyes lit up. He had not expected this top-tier heir to be gay; today, he was determined to win him over.
“Young Master Gu, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Chen Yufei.” Chen Yufei reached out his hand.
When Gu Yulan noticed Chen Yufei’s deliberately mimicked attire, his brow furrowed and his expression turned cold. He directly ignored the outstretched hand. The situation became quite awkward.
“It is okay, let’s sit down first. We can talk slowly,” Luo Yu said quickly. “This is the Chen Yufei I told you about. He is a member of the MX group. Their songs have been quite popular lately.”
Gu Yulan had no interest in what they were saying. His attention was completely captured by a familiar figure outside the restaurant: that exceptionally quiet youth sitting on a bench.
Gu Yulan frowned. The first thought that popped into his head was that the boy was stalking him.
“Since we just met, you two can chat…”
Before Luo Yu could finish his sentence, he realized Gu Yulan’s seat was already empty. “Hey, where are you going?” He looked up immediately.
After the arguing couple had left, Xie Yizhou stood up from the bench.
[Dear, what are you doing?] 0377 asked in surprise.
Xie Yizhou did not answer. He walked straight to the trash can and picked up the discarded roses. The bouquet was almost perfectly intact; it would be a waste to leave it. Based on the price the little girl was charging, ten yuan per flower, he estimated there were about 99 roses. This bouquet was worth roughly a thousand yuan: a fortune if he could sell it.
Just as Xie Yizhou was celebrating his find, a shadow fell over him.
Simultaneously, 0377’s voice rang in his head: [Host, the task target has appeared!]
He froze and looked up, meeting a pair of dark eyes. Gu Yulan looked down at the youth crouching on the ground, his gaze probing.
“Little cheat… it really is you. You are not at home recovering? What are you doing here?”
Was this an accident this time as well?
Xie Yizhou was stunned. This was the first time he had heard the man’s voice clearly. It was magnetic, carrying a hint of coldness within its lazy, low tone. It sounded quite nice.
However, he quickly snapped out of it. He pointed to his throat and then looked pointedly at Gu Yulan’s pocket.
Gu Yulan paused, then understood. He handed over his phone. After unlocking it and typing for a moment, Xie Yizhou handed it back.
When Gu Yulan saw the line of text on the screen, he froze.
[Picking up trash.]
He glanced at the trash can and the roses the youth had just retrieved. It was, indeed, picking up trash. Gu Yulan breathed a sigh of relief, though his expression shifted. He also noticed the youth was wearing a faded, old shirt. He was genuinely surprised.
Is he so destitute that he has to survive by picking through trash?
Gu Yulan felt a strange discomfort in his heart.
Seeing that Gu Yulan was silent, Xie Yizhou’s eyes flickered, and he typed again: [Did you think I was following you?]
The youth looked up with an innocent expression, his clear eyes practically shouting: Why are you so full of yourself?
Without saying a word, the sarcasm was palpable. Those two sentences caused Gu Yulan’s face to turn black instantly. The tiny bit of pity he had felt vanished, and his breathing sharpened. He repeatedly told himself not to get physical; he could not bully a disabled person!
He was so angry he prepared to turn and leave. However, before he could, the youth blocked his path.
“What else do you want?” Gu Yulan snapped, frowning.
Xie Yizhou held up the phone: You forgot this.
Gu Yulan took a deep breath, having completely lost his appetite.
Luo Yu, who had chased after him from the restaurant, was surprised to see the youth with the roses. He recognized him as the little mute from the villa. “Brother Lan, what happened?”
Chen Yufei had also followed them out. When his gaze swept over the youth, a sense of vigilance rose in his heart. He had seen Su Jianyang’s photo. This youth looked significantly more like Su Jianyang than he did.
Gu Yulan walked away. Luo Yu, not knowing exactly what had happened but sensing the plan was ruined, turned to Chen Yufei. “Just act like this never happened.” He then rushed to catch up with Gu Yulan.
Chen Yufei’s face turned green. He could not accept that such a golden opportunity had been lost. With Gu Yulan and Luo Yu gone, there was no reason for him to stay. He put on his sunglasses and left.
Xie Yizhou stood quietly, watching them leave. He pulled out his own battered phone and said to the system, “Today’s task is complete.”
0377 was stunned by the maneuver. [That was brilliant!] It had not expected Xie Yizhou to finish the task with just two sentences. The ultimate goal felt within reach!
Xie Yizhou did not share 0377’s excitement. He shook his head slightly, only hoping that Gu Yulan would soon discover the “gift” he had left him.
He began to take apart the bouquet, planning to sell the roses one by one. Suddenly, he found stacks of cash tucked inside the arrangement. He counted them, and his eyes sparkled.
There were two thousand yuan!
Tonight, was a massive success for both 0377 and Xie Yizhou.