Chapter 3

Amidst the bustling streets of Xinyuan, where it connects to the metropolitan cities, stands the weathered building of Daniyan Associates, a small consultancy firm where I managed to secure employment. As I gaze upon the building, I realize that I may have overestimated my workplace, feeling a pang of regret for the five minutes I wasted contemplating what to wear.

"Good morning," I greet a middle-aged woman with a prominent mole on her cheek as she passes by me in the corridor. She responds with a shallow nod and an almost inaudible morning wish.

Heading towards my cubicle—a mere four square feet in size, shared with four others and adjacent to a separate cabin for the chief—I can't help but notice the mediocrity of the working conditions. But what bothers me more than anything is the demeanor of my sluggish colleagues.

A young boy with curly hair is engrossed in typing on his computer, nodding off intermittently. I wonder how they can be so tired when the day has just begun.

A woman in her thirties, with a unibrow extending to her hairline, lounges with her legs resting on her table, engrossed in something decidedly unprofessional on her mobile phone.

To my left sits an elderly man who appears to be around sixty years old, examining a few colorful files. As he catches my gaze, I can sense a hint of disdain in his eyes. It's clear he doesn't like me.

I don't believe their fatigue stems from excess work; it seems they're simply counting down the hours until they can leave.

Initially, I was excited to start anew, but their lackluster attitudes have dampened my spirits.

No one pays me any mind as I stand there, observing their lethargic faces, until finally, the chief walks in and notices me.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen. It seems I'm late, and you've been waiting for me," he apologizes.

"No, I just arrived," I respond.

"Alright, let me introduce you to our hardworking and enthusiastic staff," he says, gesturing towards them to pay attention. "This is Alex Chen, our new legal consultant specializing in family law, all the way from Shanghai. Let's all support him in achieving our common organizational goals."

They all respond with a half-hearted "Yes, sir" before returning to their tasks.

"The curly-haired guy on the computer is Zhang Bo, our data manager who also handles our website. The woman in the middle is Wang Yu Ra, she has a degree in Business law but also manages our accounts due to the economic situation. I hope you understand," the chief explains. "And this is our senior advisor, Mr. Lu, an experienced practitioner of labor laws."

"I hope to be of help to everyone," I say, only to be ignored. "Anyway, where should I begin, sir?" I inquire.

"Um, yes. Your first task would be... let me see, where should we begin?"

Suddenly, a shrill voice pierces the air, causing me to turn and look. It's the same woman I passed in the corridor, her round face adorned with a prominent mole. She holds a stack of files as she addresses the chief, "How about we assign these files to Mr. Alex?"

"That's a good idea," the chief agrees. "I want you to verify these tenants and store occupants and assist our real-estate advisor, Mrs. Laura."

I hadn't expected to be relegated to such menial tasks, and I hope it's a misunderstanding. My specialization is family law, after all. But I have no choice but to accept the files handed to me by Mrs. Laura.

"I hope to have this completed by today, Mr. Alex," she says.

She must be joking or trying really hard to be intimidating because no one in their right mind would think a person could verify the identity of nineteen tenants in a day.

"I'll make sure to finish it by evening, ma'am," my subconscious responds involuntarily.

Sitting at my desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, each file represents a person wanting to rent a home. But before they can move in, I have to ensure they are who they claim to be.

I pick up the first file, for someone named John Smith. Dialing the number listed, I ask, "Hi, is this John Smith?"

"Yeah, that's me," he replies.

Taking notes, I inquire about his address and date of birth. Then, I request documents like a driver's license or passport for verification. He promises to send them.

Moving on to the next file for Xiao Wei, I repeat the process: call, ask questions, and wait for documents.

Hours pass, and I've checked nineteen files. My head spins from all the names and numbers. Just as I start to relax, Mrs. Laura hands me another file.

"This one's urgent," she says. "The landlord doubts the tenant's history."

I freeze as I open the file—it's me staring back. My heart races as I realize I'm being checked.

Suddenly, this job feels deeply personal.