“Don’t; it’s pointless to act seriously! Because being on camera is different from usual, don’t mess with me; it’ll disrupt my plans.”
“I’ve already said it’s not easy to convince.”
“But I have to go to school.”
“But it’s just a short ad; it shouldn’t be a big issue, right?”
“Wait… huh? Did you say an ad?”
Xu Lin suddenly breathed a sigh of relief; if it’s just an advertisement lasting a dozen seconds or so, he could give it a try.
After all, he was just an ordinary person. The only time he appeared on screen in his past life was during a trip, when an outdoor show host found him handsome and had him chat for a bit.
“Yeah, a public service ad. Since I recently withdrew from the entertainment circle and won’t participate in any activities, I promised to do this ad before leaving.”
“When are we shooting?”
“In a month. I’ll let you know, and we’ll go to Jinling together.”“Okay, it won’t take much effort, right?”
“In just 2 days, your parents will surely approve your leave. This public service ad will be broadcast on the central station, which is quite beneficial for you.”
“But I don’t want to be a star or anything.”
“When you become popular, your perspective will change. Being recognized by others feels better than making money. Now, let’s go check out some houses.”
Having informed his parents, Xu Lin and Chu Qingchan headed towards Building 9. He had checked the information earlier; Ji Yun had already left.
He had come to terms with it. If things worked out, Chu Qingchan and Ji Yun would be neighbours sooner or later. Since he wasn’t in a romantic relationship with either, maybe they could become friends.
However, as he walked, he started pondering. Leading a quiet life is fine, but what would he do if he became a widely recognised figure?
Honestly, he was quite lazy by nature. Even going out with a beauty like Chu Qingchan didn’t spark much interest in him.
So, he always felt he wasn’t suited to be a public figure. Even if he became a content creator, like a YouTuber, he might end up being inactive.
But if you think again, being a content creator isn’t bad. The future prospects are excellent! No, no, Xu Lin, you’re a bit of a slacker; you shouldn’t entertain such scary thoughts about fame and money.
Arriving at Building 9, he called his ‘father-in-law’. In less than a minute, Ji Yun’s father, not very tall but with a large belly, rushed over.
“No need to hurry; we’re not in a rush.”
“How can I let you wait? Come on, I was just talking to our neighbours.”
“Sure.”
Going upstairs, Xu Lin realised Ji Yun’s family lived in 602, just like his family. Across the hall was 601. As he knocked on the door, it swung open.
A middle-aged couple, slightly older than his parents but in their forties, greeted them. Their hands were covered in flour, and the air carried the scent of chives, indicating they were making dumplings or buns.
“Old Ji, and two more guests, come in quickly.”
The woman was very welcoming, while the man seemed a bit reserved and silently returned inside.
Once inside, Chu Qingchan, as the interested party, naturally began looking around. The hostess also approached, understanding that in house-buying, the woman takes charge.
“This layout is good. Despite being 103 square metres, it has two bathrooms. The only downside is that the living and dining areas are together, but the natural light is excellent. Take a look at the living room’s lighting; the bedroom also has good light.”
The hostess led them to the bedroom, and Xu Lin glanced inside. The lighting was indeed good, and the space was ample. However, this meant the second bedroom would inevitably be smaller.
Fortunately, Chu Qingchan didn’t need to inspect the second bedroom. It was entirely suitable for her to live in; she only needed a comfortable master bedroom.
“The second bedroom is not large; it can be used for a future child or transformed into a study instead of a children’s room.”
“Are you satisfied?” Xu Lin asked, and Chu Qingchan nodded.
In reality, she had already started thinking about how to decorate. Choosing this neighbourhood was a decision she had made; it had a it had a good location and a decent environment.
After inspecting the house, 100 square metres were more than enough for her. Mainly because, as the owner mentioned, the natural light was indeed good.
“Yeah, not bad, but the price…”
“We can negotiate the price. Since you’re recommended by Old Ji, I won’t ask for an unreasonable amount. We need cash urgently, so we can talk, but settling it as soon as possible would be ideal.”
“No problem. Your offer is 700,000 RMB.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not too expensive.”
Chu Qingchan commented, but Xu Lin immediately pulled her aside. She was about to flaunt her wealthy traits again. Money shouldn’t be spent so casually.
“It’s indeed not too expensive, considering the prime location. But you know, the new developments by Linshui are around 5,000 to 6,000 RMB per square metre.”
“A 100-square-metre house, including transaction costs, comes down to about 650,000 RMB. Your house, from 8 or 9 years ago, asking for 700,000, might be a bit”
“I’ve said, if genuinely interested, we can lower the price a bit. We want to buy a new house, and this is too little. We won’t go any higher. I’ll be honest with you, 650,000, and you don’t need to pay me back.”
“650,000, huh…”
“All transaction costs; you can cover that; what do you think?” The other party considered it for a few seconds and proposed another offer.
“Okay.”
Xu Lin nodded slightly and thought for a moment, saving a bit this way, but it wasn’t enough. He continued,
“In our neighbourhood, being an old campus, there are no garages, only parking spaces. Let’s consider the parking space a gift.”
“We actually paid for the parking space.”
“Consider it a gift; keeping a parking space is not very useful.” But at this moment, the previously silent male host spoke up.
“Both of you, we’ve been living here for 7 or 8 years; to be honest, we don’t want to sell.”
The man looked around, his eyes slightly reddened, evidently having genuine affection for the home.
“Our child is getting married and needs a new house. We have to accommodate that. The price is acceptable; let’s compromise.”
“Mr. Xu?”
Chu Qingchan glanced at him. She actually thought the price was quite reasonable; she had prepared around $1 million for buying a house.
“Alright, let’s check the documents and prepare the paperwork. When can we move in?”
“We’ve already contacted the moving company. After signing the contract, it will take 2 to 3 days to complete.”
“Okay, let’s go then. Try to sign the contract today. We won’t delay, so you can get the money sooner.”
“Sure.”
Meanwhile, Ji Datong, not far away, was a bit bewildered. Many people have looked at houses, and he has assisted others, but it was never this fast.
Deciding to buy within ten minutes of entering and processing the paperwork on the same day was unusual. But then again, considering the girl’s wealth, giving tens of thousands as a gift upon the first visit makes sense.
Observing the young man’s demeanour, he didn’t seem like someone in their early twenties. Perhaps not a gold digger; maybe he’s from a wealthy family that is used to such lifestyles.
But his daughter is also good-looking; finding a handsome guy with this appearance wouldn’t be a problem. However, as a father, he values her happiness more than looks or wealth.
At this moment, Xu Lin approached on his own, leaving Ji Datong a bit surprised.
“Young man, what’s up?”
“Thanks, Uncle, for helping us find the house.”
“No problem. I heard you talking about it, so I just lent a hand.”
“But you helped, so please accept this little token of appreciation. Buy yourself a pack of cigarettes.” Xu Lin took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it over.
“No, no, this would upset me, young man.”
“As a real estate agent, they charge fees.”
“I can’t accept; we’ll be neighbours in the future. No need for such formalities!”
“It’s not much.”
“I still can’t take it.”
“Alright, Uncle. By the way, is Ji Yun at home?”
“No… Wait, do you know my daughter?” Ji Datong instantly became cautious, but Xu Lin continued to smile.
“We’re classmates. I remember she lives in Building 9. Getting off the car, I thought of you, and coincidentally, your last name is Ji, right? My sister is going to live here. Please take care of her.”
“Sister…”
Ji Datong only realised this now, misunderstanding the situation and even mentioning to the old couple that they were a married couple!
Seeing Ji Datong’s change in expression, Xu Lin’s smile became even more genuine. This resolved a misunderstanding. If Ji Yun had believed the misunderstanding, it would have been challenging to raise her favorability; they might not be a couple, but their feelings were developing.
However, if she found out he had a girlfriend and they were living together, it might not lower her favorability, but it wouldn’t be easy to increase it. After all, it’s not enough to rely on the power of friendship.
But he felt like he was slightly heading towards the scoundrel route. Nevertheless, he needed to ensure, as his grandmother said, that he treats people sincerely and genuinely; that way, he couldn’t go wrong!
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