Land of Exiles, District 9, 333 Lost Street.
Xu Ye stood below the building, looking up at its fifty stories. This was the place known as the Coffin House.
The elevator wasn't broken, because there was no elevator in the first place.
Fortunately, oppressive as it was, the floors were at least clean. The corridors didn't smell of mold, and the garbage stayed neatly in the bins.
Xu Ye led Li Yunyao upstairs.
The corridors were filled with all sorts of blaring music, the smell of cooking fumes, and the sounds of couples arguing or even having sex.
Alice wanted to put on the Red Veil and peek through the walls, but Xu Ye grabbed her by the neck and hauled her back.
Xu Ye lived on the twentieth floor.
He opened the door, then closed it.
The soundproofing was terrible. A young man next door was blasting frenzied rap music. Like an electric drill, it bored through the wall and into Xu Ye's ears, making the entire room buzz.
Xu Ye frowned.
The apartment was only thirty square meters, yet it was already one of the best in the building. Though modest, it had all the necessities, and the monthly rent was 1,000 in Federation Currency.
Xu Ye had Alice take the unconscious Li Yunyao into the bedroom while he tidied up the living room, planning to sleep on the couch from now on.
He pushed open the window. The sky was gloomy, and sunlight could barely reach this place, because a hundred-story tower stood in front of the building.
Xu Ye took a tea set out of his storage ring and began brewing tea, imitating Meng Chengfei. Moments later, the scent of chrysanthemum filled the room, lending it a touch of homely charm.
Amid the blaring rap music,