Marcus stood still in the alleyway, he heaved a resignation sigh.
"What a hassle" he whispered exasperatedly.
Then he saw a figure pass by, it was an old monk with a grey moustache and beard that was so long that it almost touched his knees, he wore a white robe.
Marcus scoffed as he looked at the figure passed by, he wasn't a religious person, believing in some sort of god was also out of the equation.
He then turned and left for home, 'I have had my share of trouble for today'
****
After some time, Marcus reached Mei Ling's apartment.
"I should start finding an apartment to rent"
Marcus walked to the door and gazed at the spare key Mei Ling gave him then he started smelling something.
"Mei Ling is probably around"
Marcus nodded and placed his hands on his hand in exasperation as the scent of cup noodles filled his nostrils.
'She gives me a headache any time she is around, I have never seen any girl as high-spirited and boyish as her'
Marcus opened the door and entered, there she was, pouring some stuff into a steaming cup noodles, she sat on the other edge of the bed.
'Such an amount of hot sauce!!'
Marcus' brain screamed.
Mei Ling looked back.
"Oh, you are back, how did it go"
She used the chopsticks to slurp the noodles into her mouth and beam.
Marcus' eyes widened.
'How was she able to eat that, she obviously poured the whole of the hot sauce into it right' he blinked blankly.
"Why are you spacing out, or did something happen again?"
Mei Ling gave Marcus a questioning look.
"Uhm, no" Marcus reasoned he wouldn't want to tell her about Zhiyuan and Yu Yan, and that made him think that he should leave her quickly and get an apartment, he didn't want to drag her into his mess.
He then sat on the opposite edge of the bed and composed himself.
"That gem cost more than the price you called it"
"Well, I'm not an appraisal, it was just an estimate" Mei Ling shrugged. "How much did you sell it, judging by what you said, you obviously sold it more than that price"
"12 million" Marcus smirked.
"Whoa!, You are one cunning guy, how did you manage to do that, or didn't you go to Wang Bao's shop?"
Mei Ling was surprised, she slurped the noodles finished at once and gazed at Marcus.
Marcus didn't think it was anything special, perhaps it was because it was what he did almost all the time since the time he had been living alone.
There was no way one could outsmart him during a matter of money.
"Forget that, I just brought out the true worth of the gem, that is all"
Thinking back, Marcus recalled that Wang Bao had actually reached his limit but he was someone who wouldn't let go of something that has value.
'Perhaps the gem value could increase over time' Marcus furrowed while thinking. 'I knew it! I should have kept it for a while before selling'
"You are right, if you hadn't used your brain, Wang Bao would have swindled you," Mei Ling said in agreement. "Even if you went to other jewelry merchants, they would have reached their limit before you said 10 million, you are lucky because Wang Bao is a rich jewelry merchant"
Marcus nodded in agreement, even if other jewelry merchants knew the true value of the gem they might not be able to pay that amount due to their budget.
'It was like an auction, although other merchants didn't participate' Marcus reasoned.
"So, Mei Ling, send me your account details, thank you for your kindness," Marcus said and brought out his phone, he had planned to get an apartment before the day ended so he could move in the next day.
"And what gave you the idea that I want a repayment" Mei Ling gazed at him.
'What is with that look?'
Marcus heaved a sigh of resignation, actually, he had been thinking about it that Mei Ling might not accept anything, but the feeling of owing someone didn't sit right with Marcus, however, he needed to know why she did it without thinking of being repaid.
"But why? Why did you help me even if we aren't acquainted, you have no reason to do that"
Marcus looked into Mei Ling's eyes, he couldn't seem to understand because it was something he would never do.
"It is based on pity, an emotion you lack," Mei Ling said solemnly. "It's a sorrow felt for the sufferings of others and you can only feel it when you understand what it truly means to be in someone's shoes"
"I don't get it though, but I will keep that in mind" Marcus looked sideways and said apathetically.
UPPERCUT!!
Before Marcus could turn to see the reason for the sudden shout, he felt a sharp blow on his chin.
ARGH!!
Marcus then looked at Mei Ling frustratedly.
"Put it in action, not in mind" Mei Ling was grinning like a mischievous brat.
"What was that for!!"
Marcus licked his lips which were now bleeding, the second time a girl would wound him on his lips today.
He sighed exasperatedly.
Mei Ling blinked her eyes and made a puppy-like face when she saw Marcus's bleeding lips.
"I'm sorry"
Marcus gritted his teeth and heaved a sigh of resignation.
"I'm going to my mum's hospital to clear her bills and tomorrow, I'm leaving, thanks for your kindness"
"Huh?"
Mei Ling pouted, "you want to leave me here alone, I would be bored to death"
"Well..."
Marcus was short of words, what did she mean by 'leave her here alone', she was probably living alone before she met him.
'What a pain'
"So what is in it for me?"
Marcus turned and asked her while rubbing his right thumb and index finger together. "I meant money"
Mei Ling furrowed her brow, she then smiled mischievously.
"That is your repayment"
"How is that logical?!"
"Ah," Marcus sighed "Well, I don't mind, but..."
Mei Ling suddenly beamed.
"Shouldn't we rent a more comfortable apartment? Or buy a house?"
It wasn't that the room wasn't spacious but Marcus would prefer having his own room.
"Hmmm... You are right" Mei Ling agreed. No matter how boyish she was there was a limit to how long a girl could share a room with a boy who isn't her boyfriend, sibling, or relation.
Marcus looked at her and felt relief, but he didn't even know what it meant to have any of those aforementioned three.
Marcus didn't have a friend, sibling, or relation, at least, as long as he could remember, no relation had ever visited him.
'Fuck them! Fuck pity!'
And here was this girl, a few months older than him, who helped him in an alleyway close to a numbered area.
'Perhaps she is crazy'
Marcus looked at her strangely.
"What is with that look, did I look weird?" Mei Ling asked.
"Nothing"
Mei Ling stood and walked towards the matress which was against the wall and carried it up.
"What is the matter?"
It was the mattress she slept on at night while Marcus slept on the bed.
"It has a few oothecae at the edges, perhaps it was because I was placing it on the floor, I will buy a box spring tomorrow, I want to spray it with insecticide and put it outside till tomorrow"
"I see"
Marcus felt relief that the room was spacious, how would he cope if they were actually sleeping on the same bed
'Wait! Where will she sleep tonight?!'
The thought rang in Marcus' head.
'Well, I'm sleeping on the floor then, we should hurry up and buy a house, we could get one around 5 million'
Marcus heaved a sigh of relief, when he looked up at her, Mei Ling was giving him a cold stare.
"No one is sleeping on the floor"
'Her boyish behavior is scary!!'