Chapter 9
944 Words
That night, Chen Nuo moved into Su Cheng's hotel room while negotiating the lease with his landlord. When he mentioned terminating the lease, the landlord began to curse and rant in voice messages: "You said you wanted a long-term lease, right? Took forever to sign the contract, and now look how short a time you've stayed!"
"Let me tell you, I won't return your deposit or any rent you've already paid. It's clearly stated in the contract!"
Chen Nuo didn't expect to get everything back. "Could you at least refund part of it? I need to return home due to a medical issue..."
"Not my problem! We'll stick to the contract. We'll see if you get a refund!"
The landlord's stance was firm. Regarding the lease, Chen Nuo knew he wouldn't win. No one forced him to sign the contract, and no one made him commit to a long-term lease. But paying six months' rent upfront was a significant amount for him.
Chen Nuo sat on the couch, staring at the TV, though his mind wasn't on the show.
Su Cheng, eating in the kitchen, had overheard part of the conversation. Seeing Chen Nuo's mood, he approached. "Can't get out of the lease?"
Chen Nuo moved aside to make room for him, also creating some distance. He nodded. "I shouldn't have paid six months' rent upfront. Now he won't refund it, and the contract says no refunds if I terminate early..."
"Hmm..." Su Cheng asked, "How much is the rent?"
Chen Nuo replied, a bit embarrassed, "Fourteen thousand."
"Do you still have the contract?"
"It's in the room, not with me."
Su Cheng reassured him, "Bring it with you when you pack tomorrow. I'll take a look." A struggling student managing to pay fourteen thousand at once suggested some inaccuracies in his background check; most students wouldn't have that kind of money.
Chen Nuo then revealed, "That money was my last savings. I planned to work part-time and paint to earn extra, so I paid the rent upfront."
Su Cheng didn't press further. "Don't worry, it's probably a sublease, which is easier to handle."
Chen Nuo was puzzled. "But the place was newly renovated. The agent said it wasn't a sublease. I even asked specifically."
"They're speculators," Su Cheng explained. "You'll see landlords with multiple units in new developments, all similarly decorated for rental. They buy unfinished units, renovate them, and rent them out. They call themselves landlords, but there's usually a big boss behind them."
"Also, new places aren't good for your health," Su Cheng added, glancing at Chen Nuo's stomach. Though too early to show, it would become an issue later. "You need to take care of yourself."
Chen Nuo nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Su."
Chen Nuo's polite distance didn't bother Su Cheng. They had shared one intimate moment, but they weren't close. However, Chen Nuo's agreeable nature made interactions comfortable.
Since Chen Nuo decided to keep the baby, Su Cheng would ensure everything was handled, including school matters.
Initially, Su Cheng planned to have his secretary deal with the school, but Chen Nuo insisted on handling it himself.
Chen Nuo went to the school to handle his withdrawal and explain the situation to the dean.
The dean showed no expression as he read the application. Before leaving, Chen Nuo wondered if his awards would earn some consideration, but he was wrong. Not only was there no retention effort, he saw a hint of relief in the teacher's eyes.
"Qingjiang Art Institute was my dream, and I was proud to be admitted with top marks. But the attitude of my peers and teachers is disappointing. Without evidence, everyone throws dirt on me, and the school does nothing but use teachers to remind me. I've been wondering if liking men is wrong. What happened to the century-old principles of Qingjiang Art Institute?"
Chen Nuo admired the institute not only for its top ranking but also for an incident eight years ago. When a student faced ostracism for being gay, the then-principal publicly reprimanded those students and encouraged acceptance, making headlines. But now, facing even worse treatment, no one listened to him, and the principal had changed.
"Maybe Qingjiang Art Institute is no longer my dream." Instead of opting for a leave of absence, he chose to withdraw.
Chen Nuo knew the consequences of his decision, but staying seemed meaningless.
He stood for a long time by the century-old monument before turning and seeing a man across the road. Hurrying over, he was surprised when Su Cheng spoke first. "It's hard to leave, isn't it?"
Chen Nuo gritted his teeth and nodded. "I'm not in a position to abandon things easily. It hurts to leave."
Su Cheng moved beside him, his words filled with trust. "You deserve better."
This trust warmed Chen Nuo. He straightened and looked at Su Cheng, the setting sun casting a soft glow on his face. Chen Nuo turned to watch the sunset and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Su."
"By the way, I managed to get your rent back. Not the full amount, but one thousand."
Chen Nuo's phone beeped with messages. He opened the red packets on WeChat, totaling one thousand. "I thought I'd never see that money again."
"I just helped a bit." Su Cheng opened the car door for him with gentlemanly grace. But Chen Nuo wasn't a bashful heiress; Su Cheng's considerate actions left him feeling flustered.
"Mr. Su, aren't you busy recently?"
Su Cheng, driving, asked, "Why?"
"Well... you've been with me these past days, treating me so well..." Chen Nuo looked out the window, hiding his nervousness. "No one's ever treated me like this."
- Writer
