"Ahem, you’re too kind. Let’s do it. I’ll consider it making a new friend."

"A total price of 12 million. We’ll each cover our own brokerage fees and taxes. What do you think?"

Song Jingjiang was indeed desperately short on cash. He didn’t have time to wait for property values to slowly creep up.

Besides, Chengdu wasn’t Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen. There was a clear ceiling on how high property values could go.

"Deal."

Qi Sheng smiled and shook Song Jingjiang’s hand.

’12 million... that’s a pretty good deal.’

Qi Sheng estimated that given Yitai Tianjiao’s location and luxury status, it was still possible for the price to rise to 50,000 per square meter in the future.

Not that he cared whether the value increased or not.

The two of them signed their names and pressed their thumbprints on the sales contract drafted by the real estate agent.

After each keeping a copy of the contract, they left the agency to handle the legwork for all the necessary paperwork.

For the names on the title, Qi Sheng added Tan Hua’s name in addition to his own.

He had even specifically snuck away with Tan Hua’s ID card to do it.

By the afternoon, Qi Sheng already had the brand-new red property deed in his hands.

This 12-million-yuan luxury apartment was now officially registered under his name, becoming the first one he had ever owned.

The taxes and fees added up to about 400,000 yuan.

As for parking, Song Jingjiang had bought one space and included it with the apartment as a bonus.

But for Qi Sheng, a single parking space was far from enough.

’Now that we’re moving to Yitai Tianjiao, I have to get Tan Hua a car, right?’

Yitai Tianjiao was only three kilometers from the International Gold Center, but still.

’He’d already gotten her the watch, so what was a car?’

’And I can’t just drive my RS6 all the time. I need to switch things up a bit.’

Yitai Tianjiao had a parking-space-to-apartment ratio of 1:3.

The price wasn’t considered expensive, at 300,000 yuan each.

That was about average for a luxury residential complex in Chengdu.

Over in the Tongzilin area, a single parking space at Zitan District cost 450,000 yuan.

It was a figure that would truly make the average worker want to cry.

The cozy little home they’d worked their entire lives to afford was worth nothing more than a few of a rich person’s parking spaces.

Qi Sheng bought two more spaces without a second thought.

Including the one that came with the apartment, he now had a total of three, which was barely enough for his needs.

’When I get more cars, I’ll just buy more spaces.’

’My budget is still a little tight for now.’

’Otherwise, I would’ve gone straight for a villa worth over a hundred million.’

’Holding my own private car show wouldn’t even be an issue.’

...

Qi Sheng drove Zong Rui, who had been completely stunned by the day’s events, home.

She lived in the Europe City District in the Tongzilin area, which was also a well-known affluent neighborhood in Chengdu.

Zong Rui was renting the master bedroom in a shared apartment, and her monthly rent alone was over 3,000 yuan.

The amenities, the complex’s environment, and the security were all a significant step up from a typical residential area.

Given her income, it was perfectly normal for her to live here.

"You worked hard today. Go home and get some rest. I’m giving you the day off tomorrow."

After he spoke, Qi Sheng stepped on the gas and stylishly vanished from Zong Rui’s line of sight.

After a long moment, Zong Rui finally retracted her gaze and silently walked home.

Back at her apartment, Zong Rui entered the passcode and opened the door.

It was a two-bedroom apartment of over seventy square meters, with warm-toned wood flooring and a cozy, comfortable decor.

Her master bedroom cost 3,500 a month, and after adding in utilities and internet, it came to nearly 4,000.

"Ruirui, you’re back?"

Hearing the noise, a tall, beautiful woman emerged from her bedroom and saw Zong Rui listlessly changing her shoes.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

"No... It’s just that my world was turned upside down today, and now I’m a little lost."

Zong Rui sat down at the dining table, poured herself a glass of water, and began to pour out her heart to her best friend.

"Tell me about it."

The tall beauty was named Qu Man. She and Zong Rui had been roommates for several years and were very close.

She was only ending their roommate arrangement now because of a work transfer to Shanghai.

"You know how I told you about that super-rich heir who hired me as his personal trainer for a year? Well, today he..."

Zong Rui and Qu Man told each other everything, and they even had similar body types.

Whenever something was on her mind, her first instinct was always to confide in her best friend.

"From the sound of it, this guy is a remarkably straightforward player. Now it all comes down to whether you’re strong-willed enough."

After hearing her out, Qu Man cut straight to the point.

"I... Of course my willpower is strong. He even said he’d buy me a luxury apartment worth tens of millions. I think he’s just all talk."

Zong Rui was truly envious of Qi Sheng’s girlfriend.

Not only did she have a tall, rich, and handsome boyfriend, but he was also willing to put her name on the deed of a multimillion-yuan home.

"But have you thought about it? If he really did give you a multimillion-yuan mansion, would you actually agree to be his girlfriend?"

Qu Man had known Zong Rui for years, so of course, she knew her personality well.

Judging by the girl’s strange behavior since she’d returned, she had undoubtedly developed strong feelings for her client.

"I... I don’t know."

Zong Rui didn’t dare to meet Qu Man’s gaze.

’If Qi Sheng really did something like that, she’d most likely just go with the flow and agree.’

"So you already have an answer in your heart. But I still urge you to be cautious."

"There isn’t a man alive who doesn’t care about a girl’s precious ’first time’."

Qu Man was a year older than Zong Rui and had watched her grow from a naive, innocent girl into a confident and poised woman.

But no matter how mature a woman becomes, she will always long for a safe harbor to shelter her from life’s storms.

As her best friend, this was as much as she could say.

"I know, Manman."

On her way home, Zong Rui had been wondering if she could truly accept a boyfriend who was a player.

But the examples all around her, and the voices online, all seemed to point to one truth.

Rather than marrying an average man and then spending the marriage arguing over bills and groceries...

...it was better to find a rich, handsome man. Even if they only dated for a few years, at least she wouldn’t come out on the losing end.

The prerequisite, however, was that she had to be a good judge of his character.

He couldn’t be the type of scumbag who would just use her and toss her aside.

’Although Qi Sheng acted like a complete player, he was willing to back it up with cold, hard cash.’

’Adding his girlfriend’s name to the property deed... How many men would be willing to do that?’

Of course, Qi Sheng was only being so generous because he knew his girlfriend was deeply in love and would never leave him.

If it were someone he’d met on a blind date, he’d have to be an idiot to agree to add her name to the deed.

"I’m leaving tomorrow. Aunt Chen is pretty easygoing; she should be able to give you a few extra days."

Qu Man took Zong Rui’s hand, and they sat on the sofa, making small talk.

The journey from Chengdu to Shanghai was thousands of kilometers long. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Even though they were both high-earners, they couldn’t afford the luxury of flying to see each other every few days.

"I’ve found a place. I’ll be moving in a few days."

Zong Rui didn’t dare mention she’d be staying at the place Qi Sheng was providing, fearing her best friend would get the wrong idea about their relationship.

Qu Man finally breathed a sigh of relief, the guilt she felt easing slightly.

"That’s good. I was worried about you."

"Ruirui, you should really reconsider developing your career in Shanghai."

"There are more young people over there, the fitness industry is much more mature, and it would be a huge boost for your career."

Qu Man really hoped Zong Rui would join her in Shanghai.

But Zong Rui had grown accustomed to the local climate and cuisine and had no desire to live the fast-paced Shanghai lifestyle.

"I’m a grown woman. I’ll be fine. Speaking of which, when are you going to get a boyfriend? You have several times more guys pursuing you than I do."

Zong Rui gave her best friend a gossipy look, admiring her devastatingly beautiful face.

Even after knowing her for years, she was still stunned by her beauty.

"I haven’t really thought about it. The pressure of just surviving in Shanghai is immense; who has the mental energy for a relationship?"

"Besides, this is a crucial time for me to get promoted to Housekeeping Manager. I’m not about to let romance derail my career."

As Qu Man mentioned her promotion, a gratified smile lit up her stunningly beautiful face.

She had been working at the Regent Hotel ever since she graduated from college.

Now, all her hard work had paid off, and she was being transferred to the Shanghai Regent Hotel to serve as the Housekeeping Manager.

"That’s amazing! I hope you get promoted to General Manager soon. Then I can stay at the Regent for free."

Zong Rui hooked her arm through Qu Man’s, grinning happily for her best friend.

"Even the General Manager has to pay out of her own pocket."

"But the pay raise is real. I’ll be taking home around 30,000 a month after taxes."

"But I’m still nowhere near being able to buy a house."

Qu Man sighed. She wasn’t ambitious enough to dream of buying a large house in Shanghai.

Even back in Chengdu, a decent upgrade to a better home would cost three or four million.

"Ruirui, if he really does buy you that multimillion-yuan mansion, maybe you really should consider accepting his offer."

"You could save for twenty years on your own salary and still not be able to afford it."

Qu Man could tell Zong Rui was quite fond of the Qi Sheng she was always mentioning, and she wanted to see her dear friend avoid taking the long, hard road in life.

For someone like her, who had to fight for everything on her own, there were grievances you suffered that you could never explain to anyone else.

Since there was a shortcut available, and since Zong Rui wasn’t repulsed by him, why insist on taking the long, difficult path that led in the opposite direction?