Chapter 16 Li Wanyin (With thanks to Lord Huanggua Nougat)

The apartment complex was old, the stairways were old, and even the main door of the house exuded a sense of age. Much of the plaster on the exterior wall had faded and peeled, and remnants of Spring Festival couplets left by previous tenants still clung beside the doorway, not fully torn away. The door itself was a style popular twenty years ago—a swing-open security gate with iron bars, paired inside with a liver-colored wooden door. Nowadays, no one with a new renovation would match them this way; instead, they’d have a thick, solid entrance door, combining security, privacy, and aesthetics.

Chen Shian was surveying his surroundings when the sound of the handle turning came from inside. Soon, the inner door opened, and through the bars of the security gate, the image of a young woman appeared before his eyes.

The voice-activated light at the entrance flickered on with the gentle click of the door, casting warm yellow light onto her slippers. In her other hand, she held a cleaning rag; her pretty face was lightly damp with sweat, and wisps of hair stuck to her smooth forehead.

Her face was bare, without a trace of makeup, her jawline softly curved. Her moist almond-shaped eyes still carried a hint of haste. She barely noticed the little Taoist behind Principal Lin, and after opening the inner door, hurried to unlock the security gate.

“What a coincidence, I didn’t expect we’d meet again here,” Chen Shian smiled, greeting her as soon as he saw her face.

No wonder her voice sounded so familiar—this young woman in her early twenties was the same one he’d run into near the shopping mall that morning, handing out flyers when he came to register at school.

Chen Shian had an excellent memory; anyone he’d met, he could recall their appearance and voice for a long time, especially someone he’d seen just that morning.

“Huh?”

His words made the woman look up, her gaze passing over Principal Lin and landing on him. “You—you’re that little Taoist from the morning?”

“Yes, it’s me. I didn’t expect you’d remember.”

“It really is you!” The surprise on her face was unreserved. “I handed out flyers all day today and only met one Taoist, but I never thought we’d run into each other here—what a coincidence…”

After her astonishment, she realized, “So, you’re…”

“Uncle Lin arranged for me to stay here temporarily. I’ll be troubling you for a while.”

“Oh, you’re that sophomore student! But aren’t you a Taoist…”

“Yes, I am. I just started school today.”

“…”

The woman fell silent, her face thoughtful, clearly struggling to switch between the identities of [Taoist] and [student].

Listening to their conversation, Principal Lin was a little confused. “Shian, you know Xiao Li?”

“Not really. When I came to register this morning, I ran into this lady handing out flyers. We just met once.”

“Oh! That’s quite the coincidence!”

As the saying goes, ‘Those fated will always meet again.’ Though Chen Shian didn’t believe in destiny, he did believe in fate. The relationship between people is just a process of meeting, knowing, and understanding one another—but the initial encounter is beyond human control. Even with his cultivation, he couldn’t predict who he’d meet or become in the future.

To meet someone by chance among the crowd and then walk a stretch of road together was a rare thing.

It seemed like fate, but in truth, wasn’t it something that could be traced?

Thinking this way, Chen Shian recalled the talkative girl he’d met on the road. Judging by her school uniform, she was a student at Yunqi First High School. He wondered when and where he would see her again.

Chen Shian wouldn’t force it nor seek it out; he enjoyed the interesting unknowns of life.

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“Since you two aren’t acquainted yet, let me introduce you.” Principal Lin laughed heartily. “This is Xiao Li—Li Wanyin. She just graduated and started working this year. Xiao Li is twenty-two, right? Shian, you can call her ‘sister’ if you like.”

“This is Chen Shian, a sophomore at our school and a genuine Taoist. His character is excellent. Though co-ed renting can be awkward, Xiao Li, don’t worry—Shian knows his boundaries and won’t make things difficult for you.”

“It’s no problem. Thank you, Uncle Lin, for helping me find a roommate. Renting alone is really too much pressure…”

Li Wanyin knew that finding such a cheap apartment in this location was thanks to Lin Ming’s care. The same rent elsewhere wouldn’t get her anything better, and she was deeply grateful.

“Everyone goes through this after graduation. Work hard, and you’ll save up in time.”

“Yes. Uncle Lin, Shian, come inside—I’ll pour you some water.”

At Li Wanyin’s invitation, Chen Shian and Principal Lin entered the apartment.

“Xiao Li, you’re off work early today?” Principal Lin asked.

“Yes, my part-time job is flexible. I knew a new roommate was coming, so I got off early to clean up the place.”

“Still haven’t found a full-time job?”

“Not yet… I graduated from a vocational college and have no experience. I’ve interviewed at several places but haven’t heard back… So for now, I’m just working part-time. And about the rent—don’t worry, Uncle Lin, I’ll definitely pay you by the tenth!”

“Don’t hurry, take your time.”

While Li Wanyin and Lin Ming talked, Chen Shian listened quietly at the side. The girl brought over two cups, then poured cool boiled water from a kettle.

It was muggy. Only when guests arrived did she take out the remote and turn on the air conditioner; while cleaning alone, she’d sweated profusely but hadn’t wanted to use it.

Flyers she hadn’t finished handing out lay on the coffee table—she distributed them honestly to passersby, never thinking of tossing them in the trash when her boss wasn’t looking.

Chen Shian picked up a flyer to look—it was identical to the one he’d seen that morning, advertising a newly opened restaurant in the mall.

“Wanyin-sis, will you be handing out flyers again tomorrow?” Chen Shian asked.

That ‘Wanyin-sis’ made Li Wanyin pause, then nod. “Yes, it’s a week-long part-time job for the restaurant’s opening. The pay is decent—a hundred a day, with meals provided. I still have five more days.”

“I thought the restaurant was in the mall? Why aren’t you handing them out inside?”

“There are other part-timers inside the mall, but they only get eighty a day…”

Chen Shian nodded.

So, just a twenty-yuan difference meant a young woman, just graduated and short on money, would give up the comfort of air conditioning in the mall to work outside under the blazing sun.

As they chatted, the black cat crawled out of his bag, curiously surveying its new home.

“Wanyin-sis, I brought a cat with me. Is that okay?”

“No problem, I love cats too. I used to have one at home—it was great at catching mice.”

Seeing the black ball of fur, Li Wanyin’s eyes lit up and she reached out to pet it. The black cat didn’t scratch her, merely dodged nimbly, shot her a glance, then leapt away to continue exploring its new territory.

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Chen Shian and Principal Lin rose from the coffee table to take a look around the apartment.

Inside was just as old as outside, with outdated furnishings, but Li Wanyin was diligent, keeping everything spotless.

“The east room is yours, right, Xiao Li?” Principal Lin pointed at the closed door.

“Yes, I live in the east room. The one by the balcony used to be Xiao Rui’s, but she moved out, so it’s empty now. I just cleaned it up—you can take that one, Shian. The west room is also available, but it’s cluttered and hasn’t been tidied yet, plus it gets hot in the afternoon sun…”

“Thanks for cleaning up for me, Wanyin-sis. I’ll take the one by the balcony.”

Chen Shian didn’t care which room he got; as Li Wanyin said, the west room was hotter, and the two left were similar in size.

Shared apartments are like this—aside from private rooms, the rest are communal spaces, cared for by mutual effort. If you end up with a messy roommate, co-renting usually turns sour.

Clearly, Li Wanyin wasn’t that kind of person.

She’d lived here for some time, and kept the place cleaner than when she’d moved in. Even stubborn kitchen and bathroom stains left by the previous tenant had been scrubbed away.

Now, with a new roommate arriving, she’d even helped tidy the room.

“Shian, let me know if you’re missing anything or want something changed—I’ll sort it out for you in the next couple of days,” Principal Lin said.

“No need, Uncle Lin, everything’s fine here. Much better than conditions at our temple.”

“Haha, all right. If you need anything, just tell me—don’t be shy.”

Truthfully, aside from location and rent, the apartment’s facilities were quite old. Most landlords would have replaced everything with cheap, nice-looking furniture and appliances to rent at a higher price.

But Lin Ming wasn’t concerned about the rent; he just wanted to help young people within reason. If the apartment were too nice, it might attract tenants who didn’t need the help—like sand in porridge.

“I have a dinner appointment soon, so I won’t stay. Shian, Xiao Li, sort out your co-renting arrangements yourselves. I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care, Uncle Lin.”

After Principal Lin left, only Chen Shian and Li Wanyin remained.

“Shian, go settle your things in your room. I’ll finish tidying the living room.”

“No rush, I’ll help you, Wanyin-sis.”

Chen Shian picked up the rag Li Wanyin had left by the bucket and joined her in cleaning.

He didn’t count as a guest.

After all, for a good long while, this would be his nest…

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(Thanks to Huanggua Nougat for becoming a patron! Generous boss! Many thanks for supporting the new book~!)