The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

On her way home, Xu Nian kept an eye on the job postings on both sides of the street.

Better jobs will check identity information online, and Xu Nian's fake ID will be exposed as soon as it is checked.

He can only find part-time or temporary jobs that don't require strict registration of identity information.

Unfortunately, there were no job postings for laborers today.

As Xu Nian passed a street corner, she suddenly saw a familiar figure reflected in the glass.

That girl named Xu Xi is still with me!

He turned around abruptly and saw the small, thin figure in the distance quickly disappear into the alleyway beside him.

Xu Nian was so angry she laughed. She had made herself so clear, yet the woman still relentlessly followed her.

Fine, I'll just follow her. Once we get home and close the door, she'll leave on her own.

Thinking of this, Xu Nian quickened her pace.

Seeing Xu Nian quicken her pace, Xu Xi, who was in the distance, quickly jogged to catch up.

She kept a distance of several dozen steps from Xu Nian, and whenever Xu Nian turned around, she would hide in a nearby alley.

"Roasted chicken legs, fragrant roasted chicken legs~"

Smoke billowed from the roadside food carts, and sizzling, oily roasted chicken legs sat in the ovens. The vendors fanned the air and cheerfully called out their wares.

The aroma wafted into Xu Nian's nose, and her stomach rumbled.

After a day of fussing and not having a drop of water, Xu Nian also felt a bit hungry.

He rummaged in his pocket, remembered his meager savings, gritted his teeth, and continued walking forward.

Go home early, you won't be hungry once you're asleep.

"I won! Pay up!"

"Just this one, drink it now! Are you trying to embarrass me?"

"Come on, a pretty girl just came to the hair salon on the corner. I'll show you some fun today."

As Xu Nian entered the shantytown, the sounds around her began to become noisy.

The gamblers' revelry, the drunkards' roars, and the migrant workers' arguments were incessant.

Several idle youths set their sights on the disheveled Xu Xi, making suggestive noises at her from time to time.

Xu Xi was a little startled and quickly lowered her head even further.

"Hey bro, I'm on a really good streak today. Can you lend me some money? I'll pay you back if I win at the table."

A drunken man stopped Xu Nian, his eyes fixed on his pockets with ill intent.

Seeing that Xu Nian remained unmoved, he reached out and directly reached into Xu Nian's pocket.

Passersby stopped in their tracks upon seeing this, watching the two with amusement.

"What? You've forgotten your place after drinking some horse piss?"

Xu Nian glared angrily, grabbed the man's hand, and pulled hard.

The man felt the pain and regained some of his senses.

Upon seeing that it was Xu Nian, he immediately begged for mercy.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, I'm sorry, Nian-ge, I didn't see it was you..."

"roll!"

Xu Nian kicked him in the leg, causing him to fall heavily to the ground.

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

Xu Nian gave them a cold look and strode forward.

If it were them who had just been defeated, they would still laugh at them without any mercy.

In such a chaotic place, there is no normal social order, only the law of the jungle.

If you don't want to be bullied, the only way is to have a strong enough fist.

Xu Xi carefully bypassed the drunk man lying on the ground, and followed Xu Nian with her head down amidst the chattering of the people around her.

Xu Nian's home is located in the center of this shantytown.

He pushed open the creaking iron gate, and a musty smell quickly filled his nostrils.

In the dimly lit room, the small light bulb flickered, and water stains hung on the dirty walls.

Xu Nian closed the door and lay down on the messy bed.

The bed frame made a sharp creaking sound, as if protesting the injustice of having to bear the weight of someone who should have retired at that age.

Xu Nian was in a state of confusion, not only worrying about how to pay for food in the next few days, but also having a headache about the rent that was due in less than two weeks.

Although the rent in this shantytown is the lowest in the entire Yuncheng, it is still a considerable sum for Xu Nian.

Through the low, simple window, the sky outside began to darken with clouds.

The weather in Yuncheng can change in an instant; just a few minutes ago, the sky was clear and the sun was blazing.

In the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, the sky began to darken.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of pattering rain could be heard outside.

That little girl should have left by now; she probably wouldn't even dare to step into this chaotic shantytown.

As Xu Nian thought this, her heavy eyelids began to droop, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

The rain grew heavier, and the distant rumble of thunder could be heard.

A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, followed by a deafening roar that tore the heavens apart. The simple windows of the rented room began to shake, as if they were about to shatter at any moment.

Xu Nian was startled awake by the loud noise, and large beads of sweat dripped from her forehead.

His body trembled uncontrollably. He swayed as he sat up, took a sip of water, and gradually calmed down.

The booming thunder reminded him of some unpleasant memories, making it difficult for Xu Nian to fall asleep again.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock."

She heard the sound of dripping water beside her ear. She turned her head and saw a small puddle on the floor next to the bed, with raindrops leaking from the dilapidated roof.

Xu Nian quickly grabbed a basin and placed it over the leak to catch the water, then used a rag to absorb the water and wring it into the basin.

In no time, the basin was filled.

Xu Nian opened the door and splashed a full basin of water outside.

The rain was heavy, with dense raindrops falling like a waterfall.

The already low-lying shantytown was now filled with water, forming a river.

Litter and tree trunks floated across the street, and the murky water was bottomless.

This place is usually very lively at this time of day.

Migrant workers, having just finished their day's work and received their wages, would gather at gambling tables and drinking parties, forgetting the day's troubles amidst cheers and the numbing effects of alcohol.

The shantytown was eerily quiet today; apart from the cacophony of rain and occasional thunder, there was no other sound.

Just as Xu Nian was about to close the door, she saw a small figure huddled in the corner by the door.

"Are you crazy! Why are you still here?"

Xu Xi raised her head, her pale face completely wet, with an indistinguishable mixture of tears and rain.

Her hair was soaked with rainwater and clung tightly to the back of her clothes.

"Uncle... Uncle, I really have nowhere else to go, please let me sit here... I won't bother you..."

Xu Nian pulled Xu Xi into the house and slammed the door shut.

"Didn't I tell you to go to the police station? If you're in trouble, go to the police. Why are you coming to me?"

He growled in a low voice, his hoarse tone laced with anger.

Xu Xi lowered her head and remained silent.

Xu Nian looked out the window at the rushing water and torrential rain, and sighed helplessly.

If we kick her out now, this frail girl might not make it through the night.

He tossed Xu Xi a towel, gesturing for her to dry herself.

"Thank... thank you, Uncle."

"Don't call me uncle!"

Hearing those two words made Xu Nian angry.

He took a picture of his real ID card in front of Xu Xi.

"I'm not that much older than you! I can't be your uncle, and I can't be your father!"