A flat that you have to pay rent on is not a provided flat. It is no more than any dodgy training centre 'provides' I have never worked in the state system and have had to pay my own rent.

First off, not a newbie been in China on and off for 7 years. You are really tiresome.

I choose to rent a cheap apartment here because the school provided one is terrible. And actually they do pay for it, so......