Chapter 1 (2/2)

“Do I really want to live like that?”

“Do I really want to squeeze my family dry just so that I can become a citizen of this city and buy a house in this god-forsaken place?”

Lu Li began to ask himself such questions.

It was true that most residents who moved to Shanghai started off like this. In fact, it often took the accumulated wealth of at least two generations to exchange for an apartment in this city.

“After deducting my taxes, I’m left with about $16,000. If I throw in a housing loan on top of my current expenses…”

Lu Li made a quick mental calculation. The final result of that calculation flung him into despair.

This world was a very cruel place. Nobody could promise you good returns just because you worked hard.

“I don’t want to live like this,” said Lu Li resolutely after he spat angrily on the ground.

KABOOM! KABOOM!

All of a sudden, a flash of lightning cut through the sky, followed by the ominous sounds of repeating thunder.

A heavy rain came pouring down after that.

And raindrops as large as beans pelted down on Lu Li, drenching him almost immediately.

He quickly sought shelter next to the entrance of a shop by the side and from there, he watched the rain along with the frantic pedestrians running for cover.

The rain continued to pour down.

Just then, something strange happened to Lu Li without anyone noticing and without any prior warning.

A round clock face vaguely appeared in each of Lu Li’s eyes.

And the clock faces were moving at different speeds.

Tick…tock…tick…

Several incomprehensible pieces of information started to appear in his mind.

Several minutes later, Lu Li’s brain had downloaded and understood all the information he received and snapped out of his daze.

Those clock faces that reflected in his eyes earlier had also disappeared.

Lu Li was rather shocked by what just happened.

He lifted his head to look at the person next to him. It was a middle-aged man with a briefcase who had also chosen this spot to seek shelter from the rain.

Lu Li saw a few simple lines of information above this man’s head:

Lu Li gulped and turned to look at a young lady beside him, who seemed to be around his age.

In other words, did this mean that this fairly pleasant looking young lady was only going to live till she was 35?

Lu Li didn’t know what to think anymore.

He continued to look towards another person. And he saw an honest looking and slightly pudgy middle-aged man who stood some distance away from him.

As he saw that, Lu Li’s eyes instantly widened.