Chapter 100: Wu You Missed the Welcome Party, Death Approaches Him
Whether this agreement offering 10,000 yuan per day was real or fake, Wu You couldn't afford to hesitate. He desperately needed money right now - he'd even sell his own ass if someone would pay him!
So when that middle-aged man approached him with this seemingly heaven-sent agreement, Wu You didn't even stop to consider whether there might be hidden dangers or traps before signing it. He needed the money too badly. This agreement was his lifeline, preventing him from drowning in the whirlpool of financial desperation.
Leaving Alice Apartment, Wu You swiped his bus card to board the bus. Using the bus card saved money - a 1 yuan fare became just 0.8 yuan. Though it was only 0.2 yuan saved, every little bit counted.
The bus took him to the hospital stop. After getting off, he entered the hospital and navigated the familiar route to his father's ward. The shared ward was noisy with other patients. Though he'd seen his father's emaciated condition many times before, Wu You's eyes still reddened each time at the sight.
"Xiao You, you're here? I'll go to work then." A middle-aged woman with graying hair and a weathered face spoke hurriedly before leaving. That was his mother.
Their ordinary family of four had been devastated by his father's illness. With medical bills piling up, his mother couldn't afford to quit her job to care for his father full-time - she worked days and cared for him at night. That left daytime caregiving to Wu You, who had taken extended leave from vocational college without complaint, praying only for his father's recovery. His younger sister, facing middle school entrance exams, couldn't be pulled from her studies.
"I'm sorry, Xiao You... It's all my fault for getting sick, burdening you all..." His father's weak voice came from the bed as he looked at his exhausted son.
Wu You forced strength into his voice: "Don't say that. We're family - there's no such thing as a burden." As he struggled to hold back tears, a white-coated figure entered.
The doctor approached Wu You and opened his mouth to speak, but Wu You quickly stood up, pulling the doctor outside before he could say anything in front of his father.
"Is there something, doctor?" Wu You asked. The doctor replied coldly: "It's about the money again. You've been behind on payments for several days. If you can't settle the balance soon, we'll have to stop treatment and discharge your father."
Wu You had known this was coming - exactly why he'd pulled the doctor outside. His father suffered enough without this additional worry.
"Understood. I'll make the payment soon," Wu You said weakly.
The white-coated doctor walked away. Watching him go, Wu You's gaze swept over the other white-coated figures moving through the hallway. These supposedly life-saving doctors and nurses now seemed like demons to him, their white coats the skins of money-hungry monsters. The hospital itself felt like a demon's lair.
But where could he get money? Their savings were gone, relatives all tapped out... Wu You's chest tightened painfully as if he couldn't breathe.
His phone buzzed. Checking it, he saw a message from the Alice Apartment residents' group chat he'd recently joined. Manager Xiao Zhang had @'ed all members, including him and several others:
"Welcome party tonight at 7pm in the first-floor activity room. All new residents who were @'ed MUST attend. Old residents may come if they wish."
Wu You sighed deeply at the message. He'd go if he had time, skip it if not.
Time passed quickly. Before he knew it, 7pm arrived - the welcome party's scheduled start time.
Jiang Ran normally finished work at 4:30pm, but because of the welcome party, he was working overtime for the first time since starting here. Manager Xiao Zhang had promised 50 yuan per extra hour - compensation Jiang Ran was happy to accept.
This was his third welcome party. The first time he'd attended as a new resident, the second as an old resident coming for fun. Now he stood at the side of the activity room as apartment staff, assisting Manager Xiao Zhang.
Manager Xiao Zhang stood at the front of the room now, wearing a warm smile as he addressed the mix of new and old residents: "Welcome everyone to tonight's welcome party! We have four new residents joining us - let's give them a warm round of applause!"
The crowd clapped enthusiastically, though no one knew who had started the applause.
"Now, as per tradition, our new residents will introduce themselves first. Let's welcome our first new resident!"
Manager Xiao Zhang gestured toward a muscular man in a black tank top sitting in the chairs. All eyes turned toward the fitness instructor as he stood confidently.
"Hello everyone, I'm Sun Yijie, a fitness trainer. Feel free to come to me for any training needs." After his brief introduction, Sun Yijie sat back down.
Murmurs rose from the old residents: "Wow, a muscular guy - we don't often get that type of new resident." "Yeah, look at those muscles! So buff!" Sun Yijie ignored the comments - he'd heard such things too often to care.
"Next, let's have our second new resident introduce themselves," Manager Xiao Zhang said. But unlike his decisive gesture toward Sun Yijie earlier, now his hand waved uncertainly through the air as if searching for someone.
"Wait... where's Wu You?" Manager Xiao Zhang's eyes darted around the room like radar, scanning every face but failing to find that particular weary expression. He called Wu You's name several times, but got no response.
Jiang Ran, standing nearby, suggested: "Maybe he's not coming? Or running late?"
Manager Xiao Zhang kept smiling: "Let's hope he's just late, not skipping it entirely. Well then, let's move to our next new resident!"
His finger pointed toward Wang Anjian, who stood up to introduce himself: "Hello everyone, I'm Wang Anjian, currently unemployed. I used to be a volunteer teacher."