Chapter 3 (1/2)

Translator: Larbre Studio  Editor: Larbre Studio

“That’s enough.” Nanrong Wanqing gently frowned and said, “He’s just a peasant, why are you so bothered by him? The most important thing right now is Grandpa’s health.”

“Hmph!”

Looking at Ling Chen, who was swaggering his way out, Su Lin hatefully grit her teeth, and darkly cursed in her heart, “You better watch out.”

Returning to the courier company, Ling Chen handed over the payment for the delivery and then lugged the ancient clock directly to the nearby pawn shop for five hundred dollars.

His monthly salary was barely two thousand dollars, so the five hundred dollars could be said to be a timely boon to his finances.

With his pockets lined with cash, Ling Chen was feeling magnanimous and bought a carton of cold beer, plus a few braised dishes, and went straight home.

He lived in an old city district of Dong Hai, with all buildings there being extremely old, almost 40 to 50 years in age. Due to the environment being somewhat rundown, the rent there was relatively cheap, being only three hundred dollars a month.

As he entered his apartment, he felt a sweltering heat blasting towards his body. This kind of cheap rental apartment had no air conditioning, and only an old rundown fan was installed.

Ling Chen took off his sweat-drenched shirt, and sat on the balcony shirtless, enjoying the cool evening breeze, while drinking cold beer and eating his braised dish. Satisfaction was written all over his face.

After downing a few bottles of beer, Ling Chen crossed his legs. Under the intoxication of alcohol, he started humming a popular tune from a few years ago.

“You are the wind…”

“I am sand, lingering… on the horizon.”

At this moment, a melodious voice, that was as clear as water flowing in a stream, continued the latter half of the lyrics.

Ling Chen turned his head and saw a beautiful girl walking out on the adjacent balcony. She looked to be seventeen or eighteen years old and seemed like a natural white lotus, full of elegance and charm.

Seeing the beauty, Ling Chen instantly broke into a wide grin.

This was the child of his neighbouring family, Tang Shiyun. She had a cute and bubbly personality, earning the adoration of everyone around her.

When he had just moved in, he had coincidentally come upon Tang Shiyun being harassed by a few ruffians and decided to lend her a helping hand. From then on, the two were acquainted with each other, and when he was feeling bored, he would often go pull pranks on the lass.

“Lass, if you keep hanging around me, your mother would be angered to death.”

Tang Shiyun smiled shyly and leaned on the railing. She cupped her cheeks with her two dainty hands and grinned at him, “Big Brother Ling, every day you behave like such a hoodlum! Anyone who is not familiar with you will definitely think of you as such!”

Ling Chen glared at her: “What would a lass like you know? This is called being cool, okay?”

“Who are you calling a lass.” Tang Shiyun said, unconvinced: “I am already eighteen.”

Ling Chen eyed her and emotionally lamented: “Eighteen, huh. Hmm, really you’re not that young anymore.”

“Big Brother Ling, you are also getting on in age, how come you still cannot find a girlfriend?”

“Do you think I don’t want one? The three major requirements to marry are: house, car and savings, I do not possess any of them. You say, which woman will blindly fall in love with me anyway.” Ling Chen took another swig of his beer and said helplessly.

“But you look pretty handsome, though.” Tang Shiyun naively said.

“Can handsomeness buy me a meal? Alright lass, don’t worry about my business. Come, sing a song to cheer up your big bro.”

“Okay!”

Tang Shiyun moistened her throat and resumed singing in her sweet melodious voice.

The road of life is filled with bittersweet joy and sorrow.

I wish to share everything with you.

Inevitably I fell and waited

I must have the courage to stand up again.

Who is willing to always hide in a sheltered port?