A Chinese student managed to avoid paying rent for six months by secretly living under the stairs of a mall in Shanghai, according to reports. The student, whose identity remains undisclosed, transformed the hidden space into a living area complete with an ergonomic chair, tent, mattress, table, and computer. He even used an inverter to generate electricity for his computer, cellphone, and kettle. The student would occasionally leave his dwelling to charge his devices using mall outlets. Initially, a security guard discovered him but allowed him to stay after the student explained that he needed a quiet place to study for the Gaokao exams, the national undergraduate admission exams in China. However, another security guard discovered his hideout and reported him. The student was eventually arrested on October 30. Shanghai is known as the second-most-expensive city in the world for “living well,” according to a ranking by the Swiss banking group Julius Baer. Mercer, an American consulting firm, also ranked Shanghai as one of the most expensive cities to live in globally.
Report: Chinese Student Arrested for Living Secretly Under Mall Staircase for Over Half a Year
