New Rental

Chapter 35 - New Apartment

Police Officer Xiao Wang found a suitable apartment through his childhood friend, Xiao Jiangnan, the general manager of Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center.

Together with Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center, which occupied the second and third floors and half of the first floor, the entire eighteenth and nineteenth floors belonged to Xiao Jiangnan and Xiao Wei's father, Xiao Wenhai. Xiao Jiangnan was currently using them.

Most of the eighteenth and nineteenth floors were used as dormitories for Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center employees, with a small portion rented out.

A tenant had just moved out on the nineteenth floor, leaving an apartment vacant. Police Officer Xiao Wang recommended it to Li Bai, returning a favor for helping the special investigations unit break through their interrogation deadlock.

"This unit is the east-facing one. It has a building area of seventy-five square meters, with two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom. Both bedrooms face south, there's an open balcony, the entire layout is well-lit, and it comes with complete utilities – water, electricity, and gas, each with its own meter. I won't charge extra; it's the standard rate. Central air conditioning is charged by usage time. The internet is a shared gigabit connection provided by Yongling, free of charge. The entire floor has Wi-Fi, and each room has network and telephone ports. You can install your own equipment to enhance the signal. If you want to run a separate line, you can apply at the fitness center on the first floor, and we can help arrange the wiring."

Since he was introduced by his childhood friend, Xiao Jiangnan personally showed Li Bai around the apartment. Outside the door, the unit number 1901, bearing Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center's unified logo, and a blank resident information card were displayed.

After the previous tenant moved out, the apartment was completely empty. There was nothing in the living room. The two bedrooms only had built-in wardrobes. The bathroom and kitchen were more complete, with a gas stove, range hood, and gas water heater, but no refrigerator or washing machine. The kitchen cabinets were also empty, waiting for the next tenant to fill them.

The walls were clean and free of mold, the laminate flooring was not damp or warped, all outlets were present, the water and electricity switches were responsive, and there were no leaks. Li Bai walked around and was quite satisfied. It was much better than Yang Fa's old, rundown apartment, and the space and lighting were vastly superior.

The fact that utilities were charged at the standard rate without extra fees was a mark of integrity. Many landlords paid for utilities at residential rates but charged tenants at commercial rates, charging two, or even three, yuan per kilowatt-hour, and similarly doubling the water and gas rates, making a hefty profit.

"It's great! Really great!"

Listening to Xiao Jiangnan's introduction, Li Bai nodded repeatedly. While he was satisfied, his only concern was the rent.

He estimated that a place like this would be at least twice as expensive as his current apartment, easily starting at four thousand yuan.

He couldn't understand why Officer Xiao Wang would recommend such an expensive place to him. He hadn't been working at the Seventh People's Hospital for long and hadn't received a promotion or raise yet. Where would he get the money to rent such a nice place?

Just as he was contemplating making an excuse to refuse, Xiao Jiangnan seemed to notice Li Bai's hesitation and chuckled, saying, "You were introduced by Xiao Wang. If you weren't close friends, he wouldn't have recommended you to me. We'll give you a friendly price: eight hundred yuan. Utilities and air conditioning are separate!"

Eight hundred?

Li Bai's eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief, "What? Eight hundred?"

Eight hundred yuan was barely enough for a single bedroom, right?

"Heh, that's right, eight hundred!"

Xiao Jiangnan made an 'eight' gesture with his fingers, confirming the price again.

"Mr. Xiao is too kind."

Li Bai knew that for a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment with a complete kitchen and bathroom, eight hundred yuan a month was practically free.

He figured half of this price was due to his friend Wang Xuan's influence, and the other half was due to the recent unexpected events.

"Most of the eighteenth and nineteenth floors are employee dormitories for Yongling. For me, whether there's rent or not doesn't make much of a difference."

Xiao Jiangnan shrugged, indicating that it was just an insignificant amount of money.

"Okay, I'll rent it. How much do you need upfront?"

Since the other party was being so accommodating, Li Bai readily accepted the offer, not wanting to offend him by refusing.

"Whatever you can manage. If you're short on cash right now, a few months later is fine. And there's no deposit required."

Xiao Jiangnan truly didn't care about the rent. Even if he charged the market rate, it wouldn't be much, not even enough for a single meal when he treated friends.

"Then let's sign the contract!"

Li Bai wasn't one to take advantage of others. He wouldn't do anything as classless as owing rent.

The two returned to the general manager's office on the third floor of Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center. Xiao Wei, Xiao Jiangnan's sister, had a standard rental contract ready for Li Bai.

Having recently received a generous red envelope from the Yao Family, Li Bai's finances were much better. He decided to pay the entire year's rent upfront, which used up most of the money.

He would get paid in a few days, so he didn't have to worry about not having money for food.

After signing the contract and transferring the money, Li Bai breathed a sigh of relief. He could finally get rid of Brother Yang, his stingy and money-grubbing landlord.

"This gym membership card is a welcome gift from me. Feel free to come down and exercise when you have time. Let me know when you're moving, and I'll arrange for someone to help you."

Xiao Jiangnan also gave Li Bai an unexpected surprise.

At some point, he had arranged a membership card for Li Bai at Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center. It appeared to be a Gold membership, above the Black Iron, Bronze, and Silver tiers.

Although there was a top-tier Diamond membership, a Gold membership card that allowed access to most of the gym's facilities was more than enough for Li Bai.

"I can teach you how to box too! Wing Chun, Piguazhang, pick whatever you like!"

Like her brother Xiao Jiangnan, Xiao Wei also considered Li Bai a close friend. She waved her fair fists, showing off her martial arts skills.

Her approval was won by Li Bai's decisiveness in paying a full year's rent when signing the contract.

"I'd be honored. I'll definitely try it out when I have time."

A membership card was a win-win for Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center, and Li Bai graciously accepted it.

He cultivated both Daoist arts and martial arts, so this card would indeed be useful.

If nothing else, some of the strength training equipment would help him build muscle and temper his physique.

After signing the new rental contract, Li Bai returned home and immediately began packing. He packed clothes, bedding, shoes, socks, and other miscellaneous items into boxes and stored them in the Demoness's Storage Dragon Scale.

Storage Dragon Scale was Qingyao's Natal Magic Tool. Storing and retrieving items did not consume Spiritual Power; it only required a thought to store or release them. Since these items were not urgently needed, he didn't need to use the Storage Ring he had on hand.

The old, rundown apartment that the unscrupulous and greedy landlord Yang Fa had rented to Li Bai was originally completely empty. Besides whitewashed walls and bare concrete floors, there wasn't even the cheapest ceiling light. There was only an empty E27 screw socket light fixture, with three exposed wires in the open junction box on the wall.

As for appliances and furniture like the gas stove, range hood, ventilation fan, gas water heater, refrigerator, television, and washing machine, Li Bai had purchased them himself later. They had nothing to do with the landlord.

Who would have thought that after he sincerely rented a place to live, the unscrupulous landlord would keep finding ways to raise the rent over the past year? Li Bai, busy with work, didn't have the energy to argue with the guy. Now that he'd found a better place, he could finally say goodbye to him.

Li Bai took the Demoness to the newly rented apartment and moved most of his packed belongings and large items there.

The Public Security Bureau had already gotten a lead from Yao Donghu, and the entire case would likely be closed soon. The Santana 2000 he'd picked up from the smuggler could be taken back at any time, so he might as well use it to its fullest while he still could.

With the Demoness's Storage Dragon Scale, Li Bai didn't even need to hire a moving company or movers. He cleaned the reinforced flooring, tiles, and all countertops in the apartment and easily set up his new home.

The neighbors on the same floor, the nineteenth, were quite straightforward. Most of them were employees of the Yongling Martial Arts Fitness Center, and some were even coaches. Their muscular physiques alone were intimidating, and any thief with a shred of common sense wouldn't dare commit a crime here.

Coupled with the strictly managed property security, the living environment of the new home was even more secure. Things wouldn't mysteriously disappear. These days, thieves even steal underwear; they don't spare anything.