He was just too curious. Ya Xiao was actually a lesbian, and even the Boss of the Rose Society was gay.
With a flushed face, Ya Xiao nodded and said, "I’m bisexual; I make no distinction between men and women. Do you despise me for that in your heart?"
Chu Hao chuckled awkwardly. "Not at all. I was just curious."
Ya Xiao looked a bit melancholic. "Ah-Hao, I really am leaving. I’ve already transferred my little building away."
Chu Hao felt helpless and asked, "Alright then. Ya Xiao, where do you plan to go next?"
Ya Xiao gazed upstairs, at the room where Zi Gui stayed, and said with sadness, "I haven’t decided yet, maybe to a strange city."
This was Ya Xiao’s decision. There was actually a way to keep Xiao Yi away from Ya Xiao, but a person’s decision cannot be changed.
"I know it’s not easy for you," Ya Xiao said. "Take this card. If you don’t like staying here, then leave and find a new place."
Chu Hao felt somewhat sentimental. Ya Xiao had been very good to him. When he owed three months of rent, Ya Xiao had only chided him verbally, without any real intention of kicking him out.
"No need, I have money," Chu Hao said, shaking his head. He indeed had money now.
Ya Xiao glared at him. "As if I don’t know you! You’re in your senior year now, right? It costs money for food and drink at school. You better take the college entrance exam seriously. If you go back to Daqiao Mountain to do fortune-telling, see if I don’t beat you up."
Chu Hao was touched; he truly regarded Ya Xiao as a brother.
Chu Hao looked up and said, "Sister, I can drive Xiao Yi away for you, so he’ll never dare to come looking for you again."
With a bitter smile, Ya Xiao said, "Really, there’s no need. I’ve stayed in one city for too long and want to go somewhere else. Perhaps this is an opportunity."
Chu Hao deflated like a balloon.
"Alright, don’t make it seem like I’m going to die or something," said Ya Xiao, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I’ve had no family since I was young. Having you guys by my side felt really good. Now that you’re suddenly leaving, I don’t feel right about it," Chu Hao said sadly.
"Little boy, you have to grow up eventually. Remember what your sister said: be yourself."
Ya Xiao really did leave, and Zi Gui didn’t even know she was going. After haphazardly packing her belongings from the old building, she left.
That day, when Chu Hao saw Ya Xiao off, he gave her a piece of An Ping Jade. Ya Xiao chuckled, called him a little swindler, but still took the Peaceful Jade and carefully put it away.
When Ya Xiao left, his heart felt empty, as if he had lost something. He took a deep breath. Perhaps that’s just the way life is. Everyone has their own decisions to make. Who knows what might happen next moment?
When he returned to the little building, Chu Hao looked at his long-time dwelling. It’s time to say goodbye, he thought.
The room was bare, not even a TV, and nothing else significant. He did, however, take the Stone Dagger from under the bed and slip it into his backpack.
Just as he closed the door and was about to leave, a man arrived at the little building. He looked rather disheveled and was carrying a bag. When he saw Chu Hao, he approached and asked, "Young brother, does Ya Xiao live here?"
Chu Hao asked, "Who are you?"
The man smiled. "I’m Ya Xiao’s brother."
I was just thinking about finding you, and here you are, walking right into it? Chu Hao thought. Well, don’t blame Brother Hao then.
"Go to hell!" Chu Hao kicked him fiercely.
Xiao Yi clutched his stomach, curling up like a shrimp. In pain, he pointed at Chu Hao and stammered, "You... why are you hitting people?"
Chu Hao was livid. It was this scumbag who drove Ya Xiao away. He landed another kick, yelling, "I’m hitting you, damn it!"
"This kick is for what you did to Sister Ya Xiao!"
"This kick is for how you’ve hit Sister Ya Xiao since she was a child!"
"This kick is for bullying Sister Ya Xiao!"
In pain, Xiao Yi pleaded, "Bro, enough already! Who’s that kick for?"
"I kicked you because I find you annoying, got a problem with that?"
After a fierce beating, Xiao Yi probably couldn’t even get up. He writhed in pain, clutching his body, and said, "Hit me all you want. I’ll make Ya Xiao pay later."
Chu Hao was furious. He grabbed him by the collar, lifting him entirely off the ground. "If you bother Sister Ya Xiao again, do you really think I won’t kill you?"
"This... this is a society governed by law." Xiao Yi wasn’t intimidated by Chu Hao’s threats.
"Sadako, give him a good scare," Chu Hao sneered.
From the System, Sadako was released. She crouched behind Chu Hao, her eyes, in a face covered in blood, fixed on Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi was completely petrified. He was unable to move, as if controlled by some force. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and then darkness enveloped his vision as he passed out.
"What the hell? Can’t even take a little scare?" Chu Hao muttered.
He splashed a bottle of water on Xiao Yi to wake him up.
Xiao Yi trembled all over, stuttering, "Wh-what was that?"
Chu Hao replied icily, "A ghost."
Xiao Yi was so frightened he was already trembling too much to stand properly.
Chu Hao said coldly, "If you keep pestering Sister Ya Xiao, I’ll have her follow you when you sleep, when you eat, even when you go to the bathroom. Whatever you do, she’ll be with you."
With that said, he ignored Xiao Yi and walked away.
After such a fright, Xiao Yi won’t dare to bother Ya Xiao again, Chu Hao guessed.
Skyscrapers towered, people bustled, and vehicles crisscrossed. This was a bustling city.
Chu Hao felt empty inside. Where am I supposed to go? he wondered.
He had grown up in the mountains. His only relative, the grandmother who had adopted him, passed away when he was eight years old. Afterward, he was taken in by an orphanage in the city. He stayed there until he left and had lived at school ever since. He only rented a place outside because the school needed to be rebuilt, and his landlord happened to be Sister Ya Xiao.
At that time, he had hardly any money. He went to Daqiao Mountain to tell fortunes to make ends meet and sometimes went a day or two without eating. Despite such hardships, he had made it through all these years.
What Chu Hao truly wanted was a home, a lively, bustling home. Compared to his days at school, he preferred this old city district.
But now that Sister Ya Xiao has left, where am I to go?
Home... where is my home? Chu Hao’s heart ached. What use is having one hundred million yuan? I don’t even have a home. Is a place without a home somewhere I’m meant to stay?
In this city, he strived to survive. Being chased by city code enforcement officers five or six times a day was routine. He had once fantasized about having his own place, his own house.
A house, Chu Hao thought with a self-deprecating laugh. Even with a house, I’d still be living alone. Perhaps I fear loneliness. I’m lost. I don’t know where to go.
Chu Hao wandered aimlessly down the street, without a destination, no place to go, feeling alone and forlorn.
His phone rang. He picked it up; it was Old Mo calling.
An image of Old Mo’s face involuntarily surfaced in his mind: a simple, honest, farmer-like man who had helped Chu Hao through his toughest times.
On the other end, Old Mo said, "Kid, where are you at?"
"Uh... out on the street. What’s up, Old Mo?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to ask you, is the old city district being demolished?" Old Mo inquired.
"Yeah, I’ve already moved out," Chu Hao replied.