Chapter 004
Nangong Iren
Nangong Iren was a middle-aged man. He was 171 centimeters tall and weighed 68 kilograms. He was older than Shinnshiow but younger than Jenqyih. In contrast to Shannchyuan and Yihshyong, whose hair was straight and limp, Iren's hair was slightly curly.
Iren had known Shannchyuan for a long time. Twenty-two years ago, Iren met Shannchyuan for the first time. At that time, Iren and his co-workers visited the city where Shannchyuan lived. They were there for only two weeks. On the eighth day, a problem arose. One of Iren's friends lost his wallet. They suspected a pickpocket had occurred.
When they reported to the nearest police station, they met Shannchyuan. It turned out Shannchyuan was accompanying one of his students who found the wallet. Since then, Iren became friends with Shannchyuan. Almost every year, Iren visited the city to meet him. Ten years later, Iren moved to the city Shannchyuan lived because he got a job there.
For ten years, Iren had worked in that city. Two years ago, when Shannchyuan decided to resign from his job because he wanted to explore some interesting places, Iren was among the people who advised Shannchyuan to abandon his crazy plans. But he could not convince Shannchyuan. Iren even did the same thing six months later. Namely explored places he had only seen in books and television. Six months after he began the journey, he joined Shannchyuan and other friends to live together in the house they were about to leave.
There were many exciting things that Iren experienced in this city. This includes meeting Mingju Tsaehorng. He was a young man who came from a wealthy family. Tsaehorng was involved in a gang of delinquents based in the city's northern part six months ago. Not long after joining the group, Tsaehorng, who felt that he was not suitable, intended to leave.
The group members didn't like that. They caught and tied Tsaerhorng. They brought Tsaerhorng to a small cabin in a remote forest on this city's northern border. The group of delinquents then left Tsaehorng there in a bound state. Fortunately, Shannchyuan and his friends explored that remote forest. They were there as participants in a mystery game designed by Songfei.
After that, Iren never saw Tsaehorng again until yesterday when Iren went to visit a new apartment. The apartment was practically empty. Very few people live in the units there. Because the apartment building was luxurious and modern, the rent was so expensive that Iren did not dare to ask further questions.
Incidentally, a painting exhibition was being held next to the building. Iren really liked to see paintings, so he might as well attend the exhibition. There he met Tsaehorng. After a bit of chatting, Tsaehorng wanted to help them. He offered to help in the form of a locker facility. Iren and his friends only have to pay two percent of the regular price. Of course, without consulting his housemates, Iren immediately agreed to that generous offer.
After that, Tsaehorng invited Iren to have lunch together. Iren could not refuse the lunch offer. He was already hungry. They both then walked to a small nearby restaurant and continued their conversation.
"How is Mr. Gongyang?" asked Tsaehorng on that occasion.
"Ah, about Songfei. The last time we met him was about two months ago. After that, there is no news yet," said Iren.
Iren knew Tsaehorng remembered Songfei very well. If only on that occasion Songfei did not insist on holding a game in that forest, maybe Tsaehorng wouldn't be here right now.
After being discharged from the hospital, Tsaehorng had met with Iren and his friends. But he did not get to meet Songfei and the people from the detective and mystery club. They held the mystery game in another place as a substitute for the mystery game, which had to stop after finding Tsaehorng. Soon after that, Tsaehorng moved out of this city. He didn't have a chance to meet anyone, neither Iren and his friends nor people from the detective and mystery club.
After that, Iren told quite a lot. He eagerly shared his experiences while living in this city. Tsaehorng listened with a smile on his face. Every now and then, he asked when Iren's words may not be clear in context.
Tsaehorng also talked about himself. He doesn't just sit idly by in the city he now lives in. This young man had set up his own company, which was completely separate from his family's. He even used this opportunity to expand his business to this city.
"So painting is not your primary job?" Iren asked excitedly.
"Of course not, Uncle. This is just a hobby. I paint to relieve stress when I'm tired after work. There are even other advantages. When exhibiting paintings, I met a lot of important people. This is something that is very useful for advancing the company that I recently founded."
Iren nodded. This young man was extraordinary. When Iren was this kid's age, he didn't think that far at all.
After lunch, Iren followed Tsaehorng went back to the exhibition venue to chat with the other painters. Iren really enjoyed the opportunity. He spent time there for hours. He got back from that place when the sun nearly slipped over behind the horizon.
This morning, he rushed to the station to take care of administrative matters. It turned out he had resolved it smoothly, without requiring much time. Right now, Iren was standing in front of the lockers they had just rented. He looked at the lockers happily. The size of the locker was enormous. Maybe in an emergency, people could sleep there. Of course, this violates the rules because, in the rental agreement, there were rules that prohibited the tenant from storing living objects in the locker he was renting. But Iren sure that rule was based on the assumption that living things could die if there was no food. Then also based on the assumption that a dead living thing would smell, causing inconvenience for other locker users. It could also cause the spread of disease.
In this imaginary case, the tenant store himself in the locker. A human was the living thing who had free will and could come out whenever they wanted. A living thing that couldn't possibly sit still and starved to death. Iren didn't know if Shindongchaang would also have considered that action breaking the rules. Iren also didn't know whether anyone had tried a sleepover or even stayed in the locker. But he better not try that crazy idea. Many things were at stake here. If Shindongchaang deemed this violated the rules and canceled the agreement, this action would affect his friends.
Talking about his friends, Iren was thrilled to have the opportunity to live with them. Previously, except for Duanmuh Shannchyuan, those people were strangers to Iren. Before that, he didn't know them at all. People could say that Duanmuh Shannchyuan was the one who brought them all together. This past year, they all lived side by side and shoulder to shoulder in joy and sorrow. Currently, Iren already considers all of them as members of his family. Indeed, sometimes disagreements or even disputes arise. But all families must experience such things.
When Chioujen, the youngest resident, had to leave the house because the company had moved her to another city, everyone was sad. Chioujen said that it was only temporary. The company where he worked opened a new branch office. The company needed a trustworthy person to start running the branch, and Chioujen was one of the few selected. When the branch office can operate normally, maybe a year or two later, the company will pull Chioujen back to the head office, which is to this city. Iren didn't know whether Chioujen's words were true or he just wanted to entertain his friends.
Iren looked around. He hoped his friends would show up soon. Luckily, everything went exactly as Iren wanted. Not long after, his four friends came to the place. They brought some of the items with them, which they would gradually move to the lockers. Everyone had bright, vibrant faces. It didn't take long before they finished putting all their belongings in the lockers.
"Everything is in order!" Shinnshiow looked thrilled to see the results of their work.
"Fortunately everything went well." Shannchyuan smiled in satisfaction. "It's a lot faster than I expected."
"Now what should we do?" Jenqyih looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Maybe he already had other plans.
I'm sure before we found out that we managed to find a place to store things, we must all have certain plans for today." Shannchyuan looked at them one by one. His face was so bright. "Because there's still a lot of time, so we should just do the things we have planned."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Iren and his friends then exited the Tsaehorng family's storage facility. They happily went up to the next floor. Floor after floor, they passed until they finally arrived at the exit. Everyone looked at each other with cheerful faces. It was still early in the morning when they left the station to scatter and continue their hunt for shelter.
Iren was walking casually when he saw Shannchyuan walking in front of him. Iren was a bit surprised because it seemed that Shannchyuan was heading in a different direction earlier. His friend suddenly stopped walking and looked at the big mall across the street. The distance between Iren and Shannchyuan was about fifteen meters, so Iren could clearly see what Shannchyuan was doing. As usual, even this time, Shannchyuan seemed to be so absent-minded that he didn't notice Iren's presence about fifteen meters from him. Iren followed Shannchyuan's gaze across the street. His eyes were fixed on a girl who was standing in front of the mall entrance. Even though the distance was quite far, Iren could still clearly see the girl's figure.
It took little time for Iren to realize something. Iren remembered that he saw Shannchyuan having a conversation with a girl on his way home yesterday. He did not approach them because he did not want to disturb them. Besides, Iren was exhausted and needed a warm bath. After catching a glimpse, he immediately went home and took a shower. Iren had forgotten entirely what happened. Now, he remembered when he saw Shannchyuan was staring at the girl across the street.
It turned out Shannchyuan then crossed the street and followed the girl into the mall. Iren thought they agreed to meet each other today. Iren smiled. No wonder Shannchyuan seemed to want to leave quickly. After that, Iren went on his way to settle his own business.
Yesterday, before meeting Tsaehorng, Iren actually had a plan about what he wanted to do today. The meeting with Tsaehorng made Iren have to change a little the plan he had made. He was going to meet one of his friends very early in the morning, just before his friend left for work. But because he had to go to the station, he had to meet his friend at the place where he worked after finishing his business at the station. Fortunately, this morning Iren had the chance to call his friend about the change of plans. Because previously, Iren also didn't know how long it would take him to finish his business at the station, so he couldn't decide exactly when he would come to his friend's place. Before leaving the station, Iren called his friend again to inform him that he was ready to go to his friend's place of work. His friend's place of work was a bit far. Iren had to change buses twice to get there.
Iren's friend was Iren's co-worker before they were both laid off about ten weeks ago. Iren's friend immediately got a new job, while Iren was still unlucky. Even though they didn't work in the same place anymore, Iren was still in touch with his friend. In fact, it wasn't just the two of them who were dismissed weeks ago. Several others have suffered the same fate. But from the start, Iren was not very close to the other people. So he did not know the news and where they were now.
The place where his friend worked was a fairly well-known bakery. Iren's friend was not a baker. He worked as an administrative staff there. It was not lunchtime yet, so Iren's friend had a little trouble asking to leave for a while. Luckily, he finally got permission. Iren didn't know what his friend said to his boss. Iren didn't really care. The important thing was that now he could talk to him.
They both then entered a coffee shop located not far from Iren's friend's office. At home, Iren rarely drank coffee. Shannchyuan didn't drink coffee at all, so the other residents also avoided drinking coffee over time. Even outside the house, Iren rarely drinks coffee. Except for times like this, when someone asked him to drink coffee.
"You can't wait to hear about that empty apartment, huh?" Asked Iren's friend.
"That's right. Next week we have to leave the house," said Iren.
"I'm afraid I have to give you some unpleasant news."
"Eh?" Iren bowed languidly.
Surely the place was not empty anymore. Maybe that place has not become our sustenance. I get the feeling perhaps we are not matched with that apartment.
Iren took a deep breath. It was time to find another way. Iren realized he should not give up. Precisely in critical moments like this, usually, a person's hidden potential would appear on the surface. He was sure that they would soon find a way out.
Iren's friend looked at him with pitying eyes. He slowly explained. "The owner of the apartment has canceled his intention to rent out the apartment."
"Does he want to raise the price?" Iren hoped that if the asking price was a little higher than before, maybe he and his friends would consider accepting the new price.
"It’s not about money. Not at all. He wants his nephew to live in the apartment."
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Look. A few months ago, the nephew had an accident. After that, he was a little dazed. The doctor said that the nephew should rest completely. So he gave the apartment for the nephew to live in."
"Didn't he have a home before?"
"Of course I have."
"Then what is the real reason?"
"The landlord didn't want to elaborate. But then I managed to get the apartment owner's private driver to talk more."
"It must be something that actually happened was not that simple."
"You're right. The driver said that the accident was actually terrible. The nephew fell into a coma. Almost all the joints in his body were broken."
"What was the accident?"
"The driver said it was a parachuting accident."
"Oh! That's dreadful. Then, how is his condition now?"
"That's strange. With such a severe condition, even if he was conscious, it would take a very long time to recover his physical condition. But after he realized, suddenly the nephew was able to walk. The broken bones seemed to heal by themselves. He just didn't remember anything. "
"That's so weird!" Iren gawked at the strange narrative that came out of his friend's mouth.
"That's right. What's even stranger is that anyone is forbidden to meet or talk to the nephew."
"So what is the connection between that incident and the cancellation of the apartment rental?" Iren still didn't understand.
"The driver said that the nephew used to spend his childhood in the apartment. There were about ten years he lived there. So they hope that by living there, little by little his memory will come back."
"It's uncertain," said Iren.
"Of course it's uncertain. But they decided to try everything. If in three months there is no progress, then they will send the nephew to Tianjing. There, the health facilities are more sophisticated."
Tianjing was a gigantic city that was the center of everything in this new world. Political, economic, cultural, and other centers. There, the Son of Heaven reigned.
"So there's hope for another three months?"
"I can't promise. I only heard that from the driver. So, I don't know what's really going on in the owner's head."
"Well then. Maybe that place hasn't been our fortune. Maybe next time we'll have better luck."
"I will continue to look for information about houses or apartments for rent at low prices," said Iren's friend.
"Thank you."
They couldn't stay there long. Iren's friend had to go back to work. He hadn't worked there for three months yet, so it's best not to make a fatal mistake.
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