LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 11: Chapter 11 - My female acquaintance has become a famous celebrity
Finally, Ernest reached the Central Business District, clutching his stomach.
Since he walked and stopped often to eat, it took him about three hours to arrive.
Maybe because he hadn't tasted Earth's food in so long, he spent a lot of money on various dishes—from street food to meals at small restaurants. Amazingly, his stomach could handle all that food.
Without realizing it, the money Olivia had given him was almost gone. Ernest now decided to save what was left for emergencies only.
Since it was already evening, he planned to find a place to sleep first. While he couldn't afford a hotel, he also wasn't about to sleep on the streets.
Even though spring was approaching, the weather outside was still freezing. He had to hug himself just to keep warm—not because he was single (though that was also true), but because of his shabby clothes, which made the cold air hit his skin freely without hindrance.
The place he was looking for was a homeless shelter.
It wasn't hard to find a homeless shelter, as such buildings were scattered all over the place.
There aren't many people living in homeless shelters now, but back in the day when the world was in catastrophe, this kind of building was always full.
The moment he walked into the building that looked like an abandoned gymnasium, he received strange looks because he was the youngest person. Most homeless people were elderly people who were unable to work.
"Here, use this to block out some of the cold," one of the homeless offered him a few sheets of newspaper.
Ernest took the newspapers and used them as makeshift blankets.
Although Ernest appreciated their kindness, he remained cautious. To prevent anyone from trying to steal his sling bag, he turned it upside down, letting all its contents fall to the floor, ensuring everyone in the shelter could see he had no valuable items.
When the items in his sling bag, which were actually not many, had all fallen out, he suddenly found a small piece of paper. The paper contained a note that looked freshly made.
It was not hard to guess that this was a note left by Olivia.
What he did not expect was the content of the note, which turned out to contain words of warning.
[Use the money to stay in a hotel. At least you will be safe during the lunar eclipse tomorrow. That's all."]
Ernest read the warning while scratching his head lightly.
'Lunar eclipse, I see. Uhh. I don't remember that.'
He slightly regretted having spent all that money. He had gotten too carried away that he had forgotten about the lunar eclipse.
***
When it was morning, Ernest left to look for a job.
The reason he chose the Central Business District was because he thought that it would be easier to find a job.
Two years ago, after he escaped from China, he actually didn't immediately fall into a miserable state of debt, depression, and suicidal thoughts, but he had worked to earn money here in Orlando.
So he had memorized the streets here, especially in the state of Florida.
Even though he couldn't work at the same place from two years ago, he was optimistic about finding a job.
But reality did not match her expectations.
"Despite your attractive face, we don't accept beggar employees like you!"
"What do you want to do? Do you want to steal something from our store?! Get out now!"
"...Ah! We're not looking for employees anymore. If I may be frank, please stay away from our business, I'm afraid that the customers will run away if they see someone like you."
There were people who, upon seeing Ernest's appearance, would drive him away without giving him a chance to explain his purpose. On the other hand, there were also insolent people who assumed Ernest was a thief.
However, among all these types of people, what he despised the most were those who pretended to be kind but were actually hypocrites. They spoke gently and kindly, yet their words were deeply hurtful. He would rather be rudely cast out than face their hypocrisy.
Ernest grumbled inwardly.
On the flip side, if the people who had once dealt with Ernest could hear his grumbling, they would surely rise from their graves and call him ungrateful. After all, Ernest himself was the type to greet even his enemies with a smile before thoroughly defeating them.
As nightfall approached, Ernest stopped his job hunt and entered a narrow alley. There, he noticed a restaurant employee preparing to discard various leftovers. He approached and asked for the food.
Though viewed with disdain and pity, he didn't care.
Why should he feel ashamed when he could enjoy good food for free?
There had once been a study suggesting that if someone lived in a dirty environment long enough, they would adapt to it and become less susceptible to illness. Was that the human ability to adapt or the hygiene hypothesis? He couldn't recall.
While he focused on eating beside the trash bin like a wild animal, he suddenly furrowed his brow—not because the food tasted bad, but because he noticed something outside the alley.
Instinctively, he grabbed the leftovers he hadn't finished, stood up, and ran out of the alley with his mouth still full of food. He nearly choked but was fortunate to find a bottle of water, mostly full, lying at the top of the trash heap.
Despite having sauce smeared on his cheeks, he kept running. He looked as though he was possessed, entirely ignoring his appearance.
When he emerged from the alley, he crossed the street and stopped in front of a massive billboard screen. Initially, many people had gathered around the screen, but they all instinctively moved away, holding their noses at the sight of Ernest.
Ernest paid no attention to the disgusted people around him, as his gaze remained fixed on the billboard screen from start to finish. He even rubbed his eyes a few times as if questioning whether he was hallucinating.
His reaction was understandable because he saw a familiar figure on the screen.
Several things convinced him that the person on the billboard was someone he knew: a young girl with golden hair, around his age, and her facial structure… Although it had been a long time since he had last seen her and her features might have changed, Ernest was confident he wasn't mistaken.
Especially since her name, written on the billboard, closely resembled someone he knew.
[Actress and rising star singer, Stella L. D'Estra.]
Though the family name was an addition, the girl's first name matched that of someone he knew.
As memories of her flooded his mind, he began to smile.
"So, at this time, you've already become a famous celebrity, huh."
After indulging in nostalgia, he returned to reality when he noticed a male celebrity beside her.
Ernest's face turned gloomy.
The billboard image showed the two holding hands and bowing slightly, giving the impression of expressing gratitude, with a backdrop of a grand stage.
A few seconds later, bold text filled the screen, making Stella's image the background.
[Get your tickets ready! This summer, the grand concert begins!]
He sighed, dismissing the useless emotions that had momentarily surged.
'How pathetic.'
He realized all those feelings had made him seem like a jealous child.
Was it so strange if she had become someone else's girlfriend or even started a family? No, all of that is normal if it has truly happened.
Even in his previous life, he never had the chance to meet her because he had been enslaved by an underground organization.
"Hahaha."
This time, he laughed, lifting the corners of his lips as usual.
Ernest gently touched the billboard screen. He was genuinely grateful because, based on what he knew, she would continue to thrive as a famous celebrity for years to come.
Unfortunately, his moment of contemplation couldn't last long. A sudden disturbance arose.