strictlysupreme Chapter 015. Next up is the paid section.
Chapter 015. Next up is the paid section.
It's the same "water shop" as yesterday.
It's still the same long table on both sides.
This time, however, it was Lu Chen who sat in Yu's seat yesterday.
Across from him, the young man gulped down a glass of water and then coughed lightly a few times.
Although he could barely make a sound, it was hoarse, like that of an old man on his deathbed.
Lu Chen frowned slightly.
He raised his hand slightly, about to say something, when the waiter, as if knowing what was going on, brought him another glass of water.
Lu Chen suddenly realized: This shop really does only have water.
Moreover, being located opposite the "recovery point," it's highly likely that it's targeting those recovering from the pandemic.
After drinking the second glass of water and deliberately coughing for a while, the young man's voice finally returned to normal.
"Thank you."
This was the first thing the young man said after his voice was fully restored.
Lu Chen shook his head and smiled, looking at the waiter holding the card reader beside the long table.
"Let him pay for it himself."
The waiter, expressionless, handed the card reader to the young man.
The young man looked at Lu Chen blankly.
"Left arm with wrist pointing downwards, close to the groove."
The young man looked hesitantly at the card reader, hesitated for a moment, and then did as instructed.
Seeing the timer on his left arm deduct 12 hours in a short time, the young man's eyes widened suddenly.
"Twelve hours?!"
"—It takes six hours to make a cup of water!!"
The waiter, unfazed, silently walked away.
The scene before him left Lu Chen both amused and exasperated.
"Your reaction is exactly the same as mine back then."
"The only difference is that I only drank one glass."
"When I saw that it would take 6 hours for a glass of water to be ready, I even spit out a little bit."
"After realizing it, I felt incredibly sorry for her."
As he spoke, Lu Chen shook his head with a wry smile, overwhelmed with emotion.
It's only been one day.
From last night to tonight, only one day has passed.
Lu Chen felt as if he had lived in the City of Time for a very, very long time.
It's not just Lu Chen.
Even the young man on the other side of the long table concluded in his heart that "this is a senior figure".
Thinking to himself, the young man forced himself to calm down.
While pondering, her gaze unconsciously fell on Lu Chen, but she didn't see the water glass.
He tentatively asked, "Aren't you going to drink?"
...
"How about... I treat you?"
Lu Chen shook his head slightly: "No need."
"Apart from those who have just emerged from hibernation, there is basically no need for others to drink water."
"And very few people can afford it."
Upon hearing this, the young man was slightly surprised and seemed to be deep in thought.
Seeing that the young man was lost in thought again, Lu Chen did not disturb him and just sat there quietly.
He subtly lowered his head and looked at the timer on his left arm.
【00:64:19:32:03】
After leaving the mine, receiving his wages, and buying black bread, Lu Chen still had [00:64:21:14:00].
It was around 19:20 PM.
Now, the timer has naturally passed 1 hour and 52 minutes.
At that moment, it was around 21:10 PM.
There are still nearly two hours until curfew.
Lu Chen, there is still time.
"Thank you for helping me earlier."
After a long silence, the young man finally spoke again.
He thanked Lu Chen and extended his hand, forcing a smile as he said, "Revived person number 9528, Zhao Jie."
Lu Chen smiled and extended his hand: "Number 9527, Chen."
Just like a knee-jerk reflex, almost entirely subconsciously, he concealed his surname.
Realizing what was happening, Lu Chen belatedly realized that in his subconscious, the name "Yu" didn't seem like his real name.
Since Yu did this, it means that concealing one's name is necessary in the City of Time.
Zhao Jie did not show any surprise at this.
She simply nodded politely, sat down again, and asked with a hint of confusion, "Why did you ask me to give him the 'Private Debt Repayment Agreement' just now?"
"Is this really necessary?"
Lu Chen nodded heavily: "It has to be done this way."
"Those two years were his reward for finding your hibernation pod and bringing it back to the City of Time."
"This private debt is recognized and protected by the laws of the City of Time."
...
"Didn't the robot tell you?"
Zhao Jie just shook his head with a wry smile.
"I said so."
"I just... don't quite believe it."
"—I can't believe I'm about to be burdened with 8 years of debt right after I've just ended my hibernation."
"I wonder how long it will take to earn [8 years] in the City of Time."
"When will I be able to save enough money...and enough time to pay off my debts?"
After this self-pity, Zhao Jie shook his head with a bitter smile, revealing a look of bewilderment once again.
Incidentally, it also stirred up Lu Chen's heavy emotions about that huge debt.
"You also have cancer?"
Zhao Jie nodded: "Stage IV lymphoma."
Lu Chen fell silent.
The debt is 8 years, the bank has 6 years, and the scavenger has 2 years.
Bank debt has priority.
As for the scavengers—if they felt there was still a chance to recover the [2 years] of personal debt, they wouldn't have abandoned Zhao Jie.
Just like jade.
They felt that Lu Chen had the potential to pay off his bank debts and personal debts, so they provided assistance to varying degrees.
At least, it showed Lu Chen the way.
From this perspective, what Lu Chen had just witnessed made him feel even more grateful to Yu.
—Both cases involve cancer, and both involve 6 years of bank debt.
Yu could have simply abandoned Lu Chen at the recovery point, just as the scavenger had done with Zhao Jie.
But Yu did not do that.
Regardless of Yu's motives, Lu Chen felt indebted to her.
As for the present situation...
"Aren't you going to ask me why I should help you?"
A few words from Youyou snapped Zhao Jie out of his reverie, and he cast a puzzled look at Lu Chen.
Then Lu Chen smiled slightly, leaned back, and placed his hands flat on the back of the sofa.
"I came here today specifically for you."
"—As someone who has also recovered, I know you might be in trouble, so I'm here to lend you a hand."
"However, in the City of Time, nothing is free or free of time."
"You could say I came for your [time]."
His words, spoken casually yet with a strangely aloof tone, caused Zhao Jie to frown slightly.
The way they looked at Lu Chen also instinctively carried a hint of wariness.
"How much...do you want?"
"I only have a little over 300 days left, and at the end of the month, I still have to use those 300 days to pay the bank interest..."
Seeing Zhao Jie's wariness, Lu Chen shook his head and smiled again.
"take it easy."
"Considering that we are all survivors, everything we just experienced is a complimentary service."
"Next comes the payment part."
...
"Being abandoned by the scavengers means that you have lost your only guide in the City of Time."
"We have also lost the only channel in the City of Time through which we could obtain real information."
"—And I can sell you the information you want to know at a reasonable price."
"Each question, [10 minutes]."
After saying that, seeing that Zhao Jie still looked wary, Lu Chen pursed his lips slightly.
After a moment's thought, he said again, "I can give you a message first."
"You can judge whether the information I'm selling to you is worth [10 minutes] based on the value of this information."
...
"In the City of Time, a curfew is in effect after 23 PM every night."
"Anyone who remains in open areas after curfew will be arrested."
"The consequences of being arrested and detained are very likely to be..."
"die."