Chapter 34 Please Hug the Trash Can
The two had their last dinner in Tianjin and then set off for Beijing.
Jiang Ranxu escorted Meng Weishen back to his rental apartment. Having experienced the haunted incident, which was riddled with loopholes, Meng Weishen wasn't at all wary and even invited the male ghost upstairs. He'd wanted to stay with him for a while, but the thought of that damned, big-eared, barking dog upstairs made his temples throb with pain, and he politely declined.
Jiang Ranxu returned home alone.
He hadn't gone to see the Emperor today, but the memory of that penetrating dog bark still tormented his nerves. He had a bleak premonition that this was the last peaceful time.
He took out a small bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet (this sinful corner was about to be destroyed) and pulled up a mind map on his tablet with the title "MWS".
Among the densely packed to-do list, he checked off the "Short-term trip" column. Scrolling down, he found a to-do item highlighted in red:
Living together.
This major event spawned many sub-events: shopping in home furnishing stores, making dinner together, preparing a home theater, popularizing homosexuality/sexual/behavior, sleeping together, and so on.
But he needs to resolve one obstacle first, also marked as important in blood red on the mind map:
Beagle.
Jiang Ranxu drank a glass of pure drink and, under the influence of alcohol, started brainstorming, listing the solutions one by one on the mind map:
1. Go to a psychiatrist, receive treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, and desensitize yourself to animals as soon as possible.
2. Find a long-term place to stay with your dog near home, and consider pet school/renting a separate house.
3. Persuade MWS to give the dog to a friend. There is a high probability of quarrels and preparations for divorce.
...Jiang Ranxu immediately deleted the last item.
After the holiday, Jiang Ranxu asked Director Tan for half a day off and went to the obsessive-compulsive outpatient clinic for treatment.
Over the years, treatment for OCD hasn't changed much. As with his previous experiences, the psychiatrist recommended systematic desensitization, which involves gradually exposing him to various pollutants, starting with a higher level of fear, to help him overcome his compulsive behavior.
Jiang Ranxu deftly filled out a series of obsessive-compulsive scales. The doctor glanced at his results and expressed confidence in him, claiming he had treated countless patients with far more severe mental illnesses than his. He claimed that cases like his didn't require hospitalization; with regular exposure therapy, they would surely be able to gradually return to normal life.
In such a positive and optimistic atmosphere, Jiang Ranxu weighed the payment slip issued by the other party and set out to pay the bill.
The scene outside the clinic made him pause.
I saw three or five patients in blue and white hospital gowns squatting in the corridor, each holding a black trash can. From a distance, they looked like a few clusters of strange-shaped mushrooms.
Although the trash can is empty, the caked dust and sticky syrup on the walls of the can are proof that it has been in close contact with all kinds of filth - people with obsessive-compulsive disorder are always particularly sensitive to such dirty details.
All the patients' facial muscles were misaligned, clearly undergoing a torture session. But they couldn't escape. Two nurses were supervising them, ruthlessly reminding them that they had eight minutes left before this round of exposure therapy ended.
The nurse caught Jiang Ranxu and said, "Hey, patient, have you paid the fee? If you have, come over and help carry the trash can."
Jiang Ranxu was sweating profusely from the back of his neck, his throat aching. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "...isn't desensitization done from low to high levels? Why do I have to hold a trash can for the first treatment?"
"If you really can't bear it, just touch the trash can today. You can hug me later."
Jiang Ranxu's heart and stomach tightened simultaneously, stomach acid rising up his throat. He couldn't move forward any further; any further would put him too close to the trash can. Just imagining the sticky, grainy texture on the can's walls and the damp, fishy stench within was driving him crazy.
He turned and fled towards the elevator going downstairs.
——
Beijing landlords, a group that should be responsible for guarding the cells in feudal society.
This statement is somewhat insulting to feudal society. The idea of adding a bed next to the toilet to pretend it was a second bedroom and then charging 2,500 yuan a month for rent is something Qin Shi Huang himself, let alone his unfortunate son Qin Er Shi, would never have come up with.
Jiang Ranxu had thought he'd have peace of mind after buying a house, but he hadn't expected to have to deal with Beijing landlords again just to accommodate Qin Shi Huang. The situation was even more challenging than when he'd just graduated. When the landlords heard he wanted to keep a beagle in his rental apartment, almost no one was willing to look him in the eye.
He wandered around Xiaodigu, Mouban, and various rental agencies, and finally a landlord was willing to see him.
But the other party said something unpleasant upfront (and there will be no good words in the future), the monthly rent for bringing a dog will increase by at least 1,000 yuan.
Located in the North Fifth Ring Road, it was a resettlement house with a monthly rent of nearly 6,000 yuan. Fortunately, the house was in a suitable location, just one street away from his residential complex, so Meng Weishen could come and visit the dog at any time.
Jiang Ranxu decided to investigate the situation on the spot first.
There was no elevator in the old residential complex, so Jiang Ranxu climbed six flights of stairs and finally reached this small one-bedroom apartment on the top floor.
The agent and the landlord greeted him together, one of them confused and the other unhappy.
Real estate agents, matchmakers, and beauty filters are the most deceptive scams in modern society. This agent started with a boast: "Mr. Jiang, you're so lucky! This house is in a fantastic location, with north-south ventilation and excellent light! It also has all the necessary accessories, including a refrigerator, air conditioner, and washing machine! The landlord said they'll live in this house for their retirement after sending their children to college. Just imagine how great this house must be!"
Jiang Ranxu looked at the wall-mounted air conditioner. Its outer shell had turned yellow and patinaed, and its energy efficiency label displayed a blood-red, top-tier rating. He could almost imagine the smell of mold growing wildly inside.
Jiang Ranxu asked, "Can this air conditioner be replaced? It looks older than my dad."
The landlord was very unhappy, his face falling further and further: "I can't replace it. I guarantee it works. If it doesn't, I'll fix it for you."
The agent quickly tried to smooth things over: "Hey, Mr. Jiang, this is the rental market right now. Many houses don't even have air conditioning or heating. It's already great to have one."
"But air conditioning is a necessity. If it breaks down in the summer, the dog will get heatstroke." Jiang Ranxu looked around the furnishings in the house. "But the dog can't use these coffee tables, TVs, and sofas. They might even get damaged if they're left at home. The landlord should move them all out."
"Is your house for people or dogs?" the landlord snorted. "I can contact a moving company for you, but you have to pay for it yourself."
The agent quickly smoothed things over: "How about half the fee? It's a small amount, we can negotiate."
"Also, I have something to say! All my furniture is made of solid wood, and the renovation cost hundreds of thousands of dollars." The landlord glared at the agent, signaling him to shut up. "The previous tenant's dog damaged a lot of furniture. If your dog is just as destructive, don't blame me for withholding your security deposit!"
Jiang Ranxu didn't bother to waste time talking to the other party. He had already put on a double layer of plastic gloves and began to examine the details of the room.
As he lifted the cushions from the fabric sofa, a massive hole was revealed. The spongy tissue inside was covered in pits and teeth marks, clearly the work of the previous tenant's dog.
Jiang Ranxu said coldly, "So your house is already a battle-damaged one, and you still dare to charge me 6,000 yuan in rent? Just leave the house for your retirement."
——
Chenglan Meiyuan Owners Group
[R Jiang] Hello everyone, I'm looking for a ground-floor apartment with a small courtyard in our community. I'm not particular about decor, furniture, or amenities; the simpler the better. One-year lease minimum. I'm moving in soon. I'll be bringing a well-trained, well-behaved, and adorable dog. If interested, please contact me privately.
[Taotao’s mom] I will definitely oppose renting the house to outsiders... especially outsiders who keep dogs. Outsiders and people who keep dogs are the two most uncultured groups, and they will only make the community a mess!
[Haidian Liu Yifei] Taotao's mom, that's enough. Your son plays basketball in the living room every night and even pees in the elevator. He's much more annoying than a dog.
[Taotao’s mom] @Haidian Liu Yifei hehe… Booked it!
[R Jiang] Sister, I'm from Beijing. My brother lives in the house, and he's also from Beijing. And my dog, although of British descent, was also born in Beijing. (Bow)
[Xiao Liu wants to save money] Hello, I have a house that meets the requirements. It's next to an artificial stream in the community. But it's unfinished and the walls haven't been painted yet. Is it okay?
[R Jiang] The unfinished house is perfect. Please apply as a friend.
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