Demons Beside You

“Of course.” Ethan looked at the woman. “Do you have an ID card? A driver’s license is okay too.”

“I have an ID card.” The Asian woman dug around in her pockets. Chen Zhao and Ethan could see that the woman’s pockets were filled with scraps of change. After a while, she finally found her ID. Just as she was about to hand it to Ethan, she shrunk back. “How much will it cost to stay here for a night?”

“Ten dollars,” Ethan said.

“Then I’ll stay for two nights for now.” The woman managed to find enough change to add up to 20 and gave it to Ethan.

“Qing Li? Li Qing?” Chen Zhao looked at the name on the ID. “Auntie, are you from China?”

The woman looked at him. “You’re Chinese too?”

“Yeah. How long have you been out here?” Since she had an ID card, she’d probably been in America for quite some time.

“Eight years… Oh, young man, what is your name?”

“I’m Chen Zhao. He’s my friend Ethan.”

“Hi,” Ethan greeted.

“Hello, hello.”

It was evident that even though the woman had been here for a while, she still wasn’t used to the customs and ways of Americans. She probably didn’t interact with people often.

“Auntie, are you on vacation here in LA?”

“Uh…No, I don’t have anywhere to stay, so…”

“Did something happen to you?”

“I immigrated with my son and daughter-in-law. Our lives were great, but a while ago, they died in a car accident. Now I’m all alone… The house was foreclosed too…” As she spoke, she began to wipe at her eyes.

“Chen, can you guys speak English?” Ethan muttered. “Leaving me alone like this is really impolite.”

“Auntie, if your son and daughter-in-law died in an accident, wouldn’t the insurance company pay you?”

The woman shook her head. “They didn’t buy a lot of insurance. It wasn’t even enough to compensate for the damages of the other party…”

So her son and daughter-in-law had been at fault. Chen Zhao sympathized with the woman. But sympathizing was one thing. He wouldn’t give her money for no reason. They weren’t familiar with each other, after all.

“So what do you do now?”

“I… I don’t have anything to do. I’m looking now.”

“Ethan, do you need servers or custodians?” Chen Zhao asked.

“You recommend her?”

“If you think she’s suitable,” Chen Zhao said.

They were countrymates, after all, and this was all Chen Zhao could do.

Ethan had a dozen rooms here, but he didn’t have any staff or custodians. This was why Chen Zhao thought it was necessary for Ethan to hire one. Of course, whether the woman was willing to do it was another matter.

“Okay, but I need to observe you. What’s your name?”

“I… Li Qing. ‘Qing’ meaning clear.”

“Auntie Li,” Chen Zhao said. “If you need a job, you can stay here for now and do some chores for Ethan. Of course, if you have other plans, then just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

“Sure, sure, I’ll do it. I just need a place to stay and food to eat.”

“The trial period is seven days. You won’t get paid for those seven days, but I can give you free board and meals. If I’m satisfied with you after the week, I’ll give you $30 per day during the off-season and $50 per day during the busy season. You only have to clean up the rooms for me at noon. After you’re done, you can do whatever you want with your time. You can find another part-time too.”

“Okay, I understand. Thank you, and you too, little brother.”

Chen Zhao roughly calculated the time. Li Qing was working an hourly job. With the occupancy rate of Ethan’s motel, she could clean up all the rooms in around two hours. Thirty dollars for two hours was good money. Many temporary jobs wouldn’t even have such a high wage.

Each state in America has different minimum wages. In LA, it was ten dollars per hour.

“Li, go rest today. You’ll start working tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

After Li Qing left, Ethan said, “Chen, I’m helping her because of you, but I need to check her background first.”

The so-called trial period was just time for Ethan to investigate her.

“But I’m confused why you would voluntarily help a woman.”

Chen Zhao looked at Li Qing who’d walked up the stairs. “If I didn’t help her, she might die in your motel.”

When people were in despair, the first thing they would think of was death.

Blackie had seen this woman’s death. Two days later, Li Qing would be at the end of her rope and she would choose to die in this motel. That was why Chen Zhao helped her. Because of this small gesture, she wouldn’t die anymore.

Ethan was superstitious. He also believed that Chen Zhao had supernatural abilities. Hearing Chen Zhao’s words, his expression changed.

Just then, Chen Zhao’s phone rang.

“Hello? Rasfa, what do you want? The second treatment isn’t this soon.”

“No, Chen. It’s not about the treatment. Remember how the party couldn’t be held because of Daniel? I hope you can come this time.”

Ever since Daniel’s legs grew back out, Rasfa’s impression of Chen Zhao had changed completely. Chen Zhao was someone who could determine his life or death, and even decide how long he lived.

Rasfa hoped he could maintain a close relationship with Chen Zhao and make up for his past mistakes.

“Uh, can I bring a friend with?”

“Of course. Your friend is my friend.”

“What time?”

“Tonight.”

“Then I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight.”

“Ethan, there’s a party. Let’s go together.”

“I’m not going. I don’t know them.”

“It’s in Beverly Hills. Maybe you can get with some actresses.”

“Actresses?” Ethan was already starting to drool.

Looking at Ethan’s face, Chen Zhao lost all hope on him getting an actress. Unless the actresses all went blind…

“Ethan, you need to rent a suit.”

“Huh? I have to rent a suit? That’s too annoying.”

“If you want to score anything at the party tonight.”

“Fine, fine…” Ethan’s features twitched.

Renting a nicer suit would cost one or two hundred dollars per day. It wasn’t a small price. However, if he really could get with an actress, this kind of sacrifice was worth it.

“Li, watch this place for tonight. I’ll give you $50.”

“Boss… I’m afraid I can’t do it well…”

“It’s okay. If they give you money, you give them a room. It’s simple…”

“I don’t know English.”

“It’s okay. They don’t need an ID either. They just need to pay.”

“Then, okay. I’ll call you if there’s anything I don’t understand.”