I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1072 Reencounter with Bai Ziling

Zhang Chen was stunned upon hearing this. Was the other party trying to kick him out?

Zhang Fang's family didn't know much about his relationship with Shi Yanan. They only knew that he and Shi Yanan had been dating for seven years and that he had been supporting Shi Yanan. Under normal circumstances, the two should have been living together long ago, so it wasn't surprising that Zhang Fang said such a thing.

Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Fang without explaining. He had stolen all of Zhang Fang's life savings, so why wouldn't he give up a room that was only worth a few hundred dollars?
So Zhang Chen didn't say much, just nodded and said "okay," then turned to go inside to pack his things. He didn't pack much, just the supplies he bought after returning to go to the northern frontier, and the books he had borrowed.

Zhang Chen packed a large package full and opened the door to leave, but Zhang Fang quickly said, "It's already dark today, you should leave tomorrow."

Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Fang without saying a word, then shouldered his bundle and walked away. Today was his birthday, and not only did Zhang Fang not celebrate it for him, he even kicked him out. Zhang Chen's disappointment was indescribable. From this day forward, his ties with his family of origin were completely severed.

Walking through the dimly lit streets, Zhang Chen's eyes swept over the shops, wanting to find a small hotel to stay in. However, since he was currently on parole, no hotel would accept him. As he looked over the brightly lit streets, Zhang Chen was momentarily lost in thought; he had nowhere to go.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Chen came up with a good option: prison.

He was only released on parole, which didn't necessarily mean he couldn't go back to live there. But the thought that Wang Biao had already left prison meant he might not have a comfortable life back home. In the end, he stopped in his tracks. He would rather sleep on a bridge than live that kind of dark and hopeless life.

"Forget it, I'll just find a random street stall for the night and rent a courtyard tomorrow." Zhang Chen carried his bundle to a streetlamp, took out his bedding and spread it out on the ground. Now that he was a Qi cultivator, he slept by cultivating, so it didn't matter where he slept. Using the light of the streetlamp, Zhang Chen picked up a book and began to read at a leisurely pace, showing a rather carefree attitude, without any sign of the embarrassment of living on the street.

Just as Zhang Chen lay down, a crisp bell rang, and a bicycle stopped under the streetlight, looking at Zhang Chen with a surprised expression: "Zhang Chen!"

Zhang Chen looked in the direction of the sound and was taken aback when he saw the figure under the streetlight: Could it be such a coincidence?

It was Bai Ziling!

The other person was riding a bicycle, standing there looking at him with disbelief in their eyes.

"What a coincidence!" Zhang Chen waved to Bai Ziling without any embarrassment.

"Why are you sleeping here?" Bai Ziling asked incredulously.

Upon hearing Bai Ziling's words, Zhang Chen helplessly shrugged: "I was kicked out by my family, and now I'm homeless."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ziling carefully examined Zhang Chen before saying, "How can you sleep on the street? The weather isn't warm now, and if you catch a chill at night, you'll likely fall seriously ill. Come with me, I'll find you a place to sleep!"

Zhang Chen did not refuse upon hearing this. Instead, he quickly packed his luggage and followed Bai Ziling. Who would want to sleep on the street if they could find a place to sleep?

"Go sleep in my staff dormitory. My dormitory is a single room. I'm going to go home to stay," Bai Ziling said to Zhang Chen.

"Thank you very much." Zhang Chen followed behind Bai Ziling and said thank you.

Bai Ziling pushed her bicycle, looking at Zhang Chen with a surprised expression: "You're not from Shanghai University?"

If Zhang Chen is a student at Shanghai University, he can sleep in the staff dormitory, so why would he be sleeping on the street?
"No! I already told you, I was just released because of feudal superstition, and I'll be sent to the Northeast in a while." Zhang Chen walked slowly behind the bicycle, the hundred-pound package in his hands as if it were nothing.

"I don't believe your nonsense! If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it!" Bai Ziling rolled her eyes and didn't press the matter further.

The two entered Shanghai University and arrived at Bai Ziling's dormitory, a small house filled with a warm and feminine atmosphere. The entire room was filled with light pink, even the mattress and quilt were pink, and there was a faint fragrance.

On the balcony, Zhang Chen even saw a few pink bras. Bai Ziling hurriedly put the hangers away and said to Zhang Chen, "This is my dormitory. You can stay here."

After finishing speaking, she busied herself changing the duvet cover and sheets.

Zhang Chen put down the package and didn't look around. Instead, he sat down properly to the side and said, "You're actually a pretty nice person. Back in school, everyone said you were an ice queen. I never expected you to be so kind. We haven't seen each other for seven or eight years. Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person? Or that I'm in some kind of trouble that might cause you some trouble?"

Bai Ziling glanced at Zhang Chen upon hearing this: "We're old classmates, how could I not know what you were like in school? A kind person when they were young, even if they grow up to be bad, how bad can they be?"

Bai Ziling blushed slightly as she said this, inwardly cursing herself: "I'm crazy! I'm really crazy! When did I become so kind-hearted?"

For some reason, when she saw Zhang Chen's pure, untainted eyes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to him.

Bai Ziling quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, how are things between you and Shi Yunan? I heard from a former classmate that you worked so hard to support Shi Yunan's education and living expenses. Why don't you go and live with her?" Zhang Chen replied with self-deprecation: "Don't even mention it. Shen Jianghe is back. My wife, who was almost mine, has flown away like a cooked duck."

Bai Ziling was stunned upon hearing this, then turned to look at Zhang Chen, whose face was full of self-deprecation, her expression filled with disbelief: "Really?"

“More real than real gold,” Zhang Chen said.

Bai Ziling looked Zhang Chen up and down after hearing this: "But you don't look disappointed or angry at all right now."

"What good is my anger and disappointment? It won't change the outcome! So I might as well accept it quietly." Zhang Chen's words were filled with a sense of detachment from life.

"Man proposes, God disposes."

After hearing Zhang Chen's words, Bai Ziling glanced at Zhang Chen and subtly changed the subject: "Don't worry, I'll introduce you to a teacher from Shanghai University in the future. I guarantee she'll be both beautiful and intelligent."

After finishing speaking and tidying up the room, she looked at Zhang Chen and asked, "Have you had dinner?"

"I've already eaten," Zhang Chen said.

"Then I'll go back. You can stay here as long as you like," Bai Ziling said, and then left.

"I'll take you home! I'm worried about you going home alone so late at night," Zhang Chen said, standing up.

"You still have a conscience, just as kind as you were in school." Bai Ziling didn't refuse, but walked out of the dormitory with Zhang Chen. They walked all the way out of Shanghai University, and Zhang Chen took Bai Ziling's bicycle and carried her through the night.

Bai Ziling gripped the bicycle seat, her eyes fixed on the receding streetlights, and asked, "How have you been these past few years?"

"It's still the same old routine, just going to work all day long. On the contrary, you've changed a lot; you seem to have a unique kind of charm." Zhang Chen asked curiously.

“People change as they grow up, don’t they?” Bai Ziling said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen shook his head. He felt that Bai Ziling's family background must be quite extraordinary, as ordinary women could not cultivate such a temperament in her.

Under Bai Ziling's direction, Zhang Chen rode his bicycle through the streets and finally stopped in front of the government compound. Seeing the heavily armed guards, Zhang Chen had no choice but to stop his bicycle.

Looking at the imposing compound, Zhang Chen looked at Bai Ziling with a teasing expression: "I didn't expect you to be a second-generation official. It seems that if I want to get ahead in the future, I'll have to get on your good side as soon as possible."

Bai Ziling carefully observed Zhang Chen's facial expression. She could tell that Zhang Chen was not nervous or restrained at all in the face of her family background. On the contrary, he casually joked with her as before, which made Bai Ziling think more highly of him.

"Your current attitude doesn't seem like you're trying to curry favor. If you want to curry favor, shouldn't you first say some nice things to me?" Bai Ziling was very pleased to see Zhang Chen's relaxed attitude.

Zhang Chen rolled his eyes upon hearing this, pushed the bicycle, and fell towards Bai Ziling: "Here's your bike back. Keep daydreaming."

"How are you going to get back?" Bai Ziling called out quickly as she watched Zhang Chen's retreating figure.

“Of course we’ll walk back,” Zhang Chen said without turning his head.

Bai Ziling pushed her bicycle over and said, "Here, you can borrow my bicycle. I have several other bicycles at home."

"Thanks! I'm really grateful for your kindness. If you give me a car, I'd gladly flatter you." After saying that, Zhang Chen got on his bicycle and disappeared into the night, leaving Bai Ziling staring at his back with a look of surprise in her eyes.

You have to understand that bicycles were a rare commodity in this era, and Zhang Chen would never have had the chance to come into contact with them. But judging from the other person's skill in riding a bicycle, it was clear that he was someone who rode one frequently.

"This kid's got some skills," Bai Ziling muttered to herself as she watched Zhang Chen's retreating figure, then turned and walked into the courtyard. "It's been a long time since anyone has been able to pique my interest."

Zhang Chen rode his bicycle all the way back to Shanghai University, and then entered Bai Ziling's dormitory. Lying on the bed, he could smell a faint fragrance lingering around his nose.

"I rarely meet such an interesting person," Zhang Chen muttered to himself, before falling into a deep sleep.

(End of this chapter)