Chapter 15 (1/2)

Translator: Lonelytree  Editor: Millman97

Chen Ge’s first impression of Wang Qi was ‘weary, torpid, and weak’. As they brushed past each other, Chen Ge handed the other man back the notice he had picked up earlier, and Wang Qi thanked him with a wavering voice. This was the first time Chen Ge had heard the man speak. It sounded gravelly, which gave Chen Ge some trouble in understanding him.

“You’re welcome,” Chen Ge responded with a smile before he turned to follow the limping man up the stairs.

The second floor was even more dilapidated than the first floor. The place was dark and humid, the corners were filled with uncleaned spider webs, and the walls looked like they had been slashed with knives. The limping man led Chen Ge to the very end of the long corridor. He opened the last room before coming out with a long chain of keys. “One night is fifty dollars, take a pick of any room you like on this floor.”

“50 dollars? That’s too expensive!”

“My apartment is the only place to stay within several kilometers; you should be thankful I only charge you fifty.” When the man was talking, his eyes kept unconsciously moving to look behind him like he was checking out something.

“Fine, but why must I stay on the second floor, is the room on first or third floor not available?”

“Why do you have no many damn questions? They’re off the limits, that’s why!” The limping man grabbed the fifty away from Chen Ge and shoved a random key in his hand. “The room number is written on the key, go look for it yourself.”

Then, he rushed back into the room. The moment the door closed, Chen Ge could hear the muffled croak of an old man coming from inside the room, like the sound one would make when one had food stuck in one’s throat. Frowning with suspicion, Chen Ge placed his palm on the door, saying, “Wait a minute.”

“What now‽” the limping man asked with annoyance.

Chen Ge glanced through the slight opening of the door. The space within looked small. Other than the limping man that stood at the door, there was an old man reclining in a wheelchair that was facing away from the door. He was probably the source of the noise Chen Ge heard earlier.

“I’m rather thirsty, does your establishment provide a vending machine or things like that?”

“No!”

“Man, is this how you treat your customer…”

The door slammed in his face, leaving Chen Ge in the corridor with a heavier suspicion brewing in his heart.

For a normal apartment building, the reception is normally at the front door, but for this building, the reception is not only on the second floor but at the very end of the second-floor corridor. Looking at the key in his hand, many questions appeared in his mind. Why are the first and third floors off limits? And who is the old man living with the landlord?

The number 208 was written on the key, and coincidentally enough, the room was just next to the landlord’s.

Regardless, let me go put down my stuff first. After two hours of travelling, Chen Ge was indeed more than a bit tired. As he opened the door, the smell of mildew hit him in the nose. The room had probably been vacant for a long time because the place was covered with dust, and the bed was overgrown with some mysterious looking fungus. It felt strange under Chen Ge’s touch.