The System is Abstract, Luckily, So Am I

Chapter 183 : Things Remain, People Change, Everything Ends; Before Words Are Spoken, Tears Flow First

September 30th, this was absolutely not an ordinary day.

A fine drizzle fell from the sky, so even though it was already afternoon, it was still incredibly gloomy.

But for some, it was a brand new beginning, a brilliant future.

Xiling Detention Center.

Song Luping was receiving his final lecture.

"Now, you can go out. I don't want to see you here again. Behave..." Speeches in places like this are always boring and lengthy, and the detention center director's was no exception.

But it was finally over.

Song Luping stepped forward, received his certificate of release from detention, and the belongings and clothes that had been confiscated earlier.

Taking off the uniform that represented the establishment and an iron rice bowl, and changing into his own clothes, Song Luping arrived at the gate.

There was no one at the gate to pick him up.

This was very normal.

Song Luping's family wasn't in Xiling. Although the Demon Suppression Bureau had definitely called to contact them, this wasn't his first time being arrested. They were used to it, so naturally, they wouldn't travel all the way here to pick him up.

Under the gaze of the Demon Suppression Envoys, he walked straight out of the detention center, braving the continuous drizzle.

This is... the smell of freedom.

Heavens above, I'm finally out.

Song Luping spread his arms and looked up at the sky, completely ignoring the rain.

At this moment, his eyes actually welled up with tears.

He felt like Andy from The Shawshank Redemption.

"Some birds aren't meant to be caged!" he shouted the classic line from the movie.

"What a stupid bird," the Demon Suppression Envoy at the gate frowned deeply and couldn't help but mutter.

Song Luping: "..."

The atmosphere I worked so hard to build is completely gone.

Although he had been arrested several times, for Song Luping, this time was truly different.

This time, for some unknown reason, he was targeted.

Song Luping was very certain he had misjudged one thing: his most approved junior, Bai Bufan, his connection in the Demon Suppression Bureau was absolutely not that Yang Liang.

Not only that, but Yang Liang probably didn't get along with Bai Bufan's connection inside.

When he was arrested, after he said he knew Bai Bufan and saw Yang Liang react, he thought he was safe, but it turned out he was doomed.

Not only was he the first to be interrogated and sentenced, entering the detention center at lightspeed, but the "attention" he received in the detention center was several times more than the previous times.

Whenever there were spot checks on reciting legal provisions and codes of conduct, he was always picked!

During cleaning and recreational activities, the hardest and most tiring jobs always fell to him.

Is this right?

This can't be right!

Yang Liang was even the only person who came to visit him in prison. Every time he asked where it was hard and tiring, and Song Luping answered honestly, he found that those tasks were doubled the next day.

—If I had known, I wouldn't have answered. This Yang Liang is a pure villain, abusing his power!!

And if it weren't for the upcoming National Day holiday, his sentence might have even been extended, and he wouldn't be out now.

So this time, upon being liberated, Song Luping really wanted to cry.

After venting his emotions, Song Luping first found a place to take shelter from the rain, then turned on his phone.

Low battery.

"Fuck." After cursing, Song Luping had no choice but to return to his little nest, for which he had paid half a month's rent for nothing, and plug in his phone.

It finally turned on.

First, he told his boss that he would voluntarily work overtime during the National Day holiday. If he didn't make some money soon, not being able to pay rent was secondary; not having money to hire prostitutes meant his life was over.

Then, Song Luping opened the small box in his nightstand, took out the backup hidden energy source inside, and started rubbing his hands excitedly.

"Fifteen days, fifteen days. I've finally survived these fifteen days!"

He had abstained from sex for fifteen days.

This number was simply too terrifying; he had to release it.

As the former quasi-Prostitution King of Xiling, it was impossible for Song Luping to solve it himself.

This was a matter of dignity.

To celebrate the end of his detention, he was going to hire a prostitute!

At this moment, Song Luping was quite glad he knew Bai Bufan. Because he knew him, he had compiled a map of all the chicken farms (brothels) he knew in Xiling.

So now he didn't have to painstakingly search for cards and phone numbers; he just needed to pull up the document, and everything was clear at a glance.

"Who shall I favor today?" Song Luping was like an emperor preparing to flip a concubine's name tag.

"You're the one! River of Love!"

Song Luping picked up his phone and dialed the number.

[...]

[Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later.]

Not doing business today? Understandable, a regular day off.

Let's try another one.

"You'll do too!"

[...]

[Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later.]

Song Luping frowned slightly, then understood.

The National Day holiday was coming up. These places with visible storefronts were probably on holiday. He could look for independent workers without physical stores. Since it was him, they would be willing to do house calls anyway.

Song Luping opened WeChat and randomly selected a madam's WeChat.

[Song Luping: Sister, who can help me deliver a package today?]

After speaking in code, Song Luping waited expectantly again.

There was no reply for a long time.

Song Luping scratched his head; he was getting a bit irritable.

[Song Luping: Do you have any goods today?]

He tried another one, but still no reply.

Song Luping gritted his teeth and simply sent a mass message. He'd just pick one later and apologize to the other sisters.

—This actually violated his own Ladybug (Prostitute-Hiring) Code, but Song Luping really couldn't hold back anymore.

Then, countless messages seemed to sink into the ocean.

What is wrong with this world?

Song Luping fell into a panic.

[Hua'er: Brother Ping? You're out?]

When he saw that someone finally replied to him, Song Luping's hands almost trembled with excitement.

[Song Luping: Little Hua'er, yes, it's me! Do you have any appointments today? If not, come over to your brother's place to play?]

[Song Luping: Hua'er, let me tell you, it's fucking weird.]

[Song Luping: [Screenshot]]

[Song Luping: Do you see this? None of these people replied to me. I don't know why they're not doing business anymore.]

[Hua'er: ...]

[Hua'er: Brother Ping, I actually do have free time today, but I'm no longer in Xiling. When you come to Yangshun someday, I'll entertain you then.]

[Hua'er: As for why it looks like the picture you sent... Brother Ping, you might not know, but Xiling has changed.]

[Hua'er: It's not that they're not replying to you, it's that they've all been arrested. The earliest they'll probably be released is after the National Day holiday.]

Song Luping: "?"

[Song Luping: Are you kidding me? All arrested? I was only in there for fifteen days! How could so many be arrested?]

Song Luping couldn't believe it.

[Hua'er: It's true, Brother. Ten days ago, Xiling organized an unprecedented targeted cleanup. Without any warning, they wiped out basically all the chicken farms in Xiling.]

[Hua'er: I'm one of the few who luckily survived this cleanup. The rest of us sisters are either preparing to wash our hands of this business and find an honest man to marry, or like me, part of a collective industry outflow, going to work in other places. Anyway, we're absolutely not working in Xiling anymore.]

[Hua'er: Right now in Xiling, you won't find a single chicken farm that still dares to do business. They've either closed shop, gone into hiding, or run away.]

Clatter.

Song Luping's phone fell to the floor, but he didn't pick it up for a long time.

Don't open your eyes, I hope this is my hallucination.

How is this possible?

Was I really only arrested for fifteen days, not fifteen years?

No, impossible, this can't be true!

Unplugging his phone, which wasn't fully charged yet, Song Luping violently pushed open the door and sprinted into the rain.

How do you describe heavy rain without using the word rain?

Elevated highway, Maybach, Nibelungen. 

(Translator's Note: A reference to the novel Dragon Raja).

Late night, Song Luping, shared bicycle.

His electric scooter was out of battery, so Song Luping had to make do with a shared bicycle. Fearless of the rain, he finally arrived at the chicken farm closest to his home.

He sprinted upstairs.

Police seal.

"Haha," Song Luping let out a miserable laugh, got back on the shared bicycle, and headed to the next location.

Police seal.

Shop for transfer.

Temporarily closed.

Empty building.

The backlash of pedaling the bicycle with all his might for a long time appeared. Lactic acid filled Song Luping's legs, and he had no strength to go any further.

The rain was still falling.

Right next to him were eaves that could shelter him from the rain, but Song Luping just sat dejectedly on the shared bicycle, letting the rain blur his vision.

Perhaps it wasn't rain.

Things remain, people change, everything ends; before words are spoken, tears flow first.

"Haha."

"Haha."

"Hahahahaha—"

Song Luping looked up and laughed hysterically, breaking down.

"Gone! Gone! All gone!"

"My life's work! It's all gone!!!"

"My life's interpersonal relationships, they're all ruined!!!"

Song Luping's shouts were very loud, and it was already late at night.

In the surrounding residential buildings, some people curiously turned on their lights and poked their heads out, looking at Song Luping.

Some sighed with regret—

Whatever could make such a young man break down like this must be truly tragic. I hope he can pull through.

Some were gentle and refined—

"What the fuck are you yelling about?! Are you going to let people sleep in the middle of the night?! Fuck your mom! Stupid idiot!"

Being scolded, Song Luping shrank his neck and slinked away, pushing his bicycle.

He looked at his phone, which was covered in rainwater.

The face of his only soulmate in this life, Bai Bufan, flooded his mind.

Over the past half month, he must have suffered the most.

"Bufan, your brother is back," Song Luping whispered in a hoarse voice.

He recalled Bai Bufan's WeChat ID and sent a friend request.

...

The sleeping Lin Li groggily opened his eyes.

He rolled over, pulled his underwear out of his butt crack a little, and went back to sleep.

(End of Chapter)