Buying a House

Another day of sleeping soundly.

Early in the morning, Song Chen was awakened by the commotion outside the door.

"Xiuying, I heard your Song Chen struck it rich?"

"Is that true?"

"Oh my, I always said Song Chen had promise from the time he was little!"

"Xiuying, we're old sisters. You can't forget us when something good comes along..."

Song Chen lay in bed listening to the buzzing outside, his head swelling. His mother really had a big mouth. Couldn't she keep things a little tighter?

He rolled over, wanting to sleep a little longer, but the noise outside only grew louder, mixed with laughter, exclamations, and the bashful giggles of girls.

With a sigh, he sat up, got dressed, and pushed open the door.

The living room was packed black with people—truly packed. At least twenty people were crammed into the tiny room, men and women, old and young.

His mother, Li Xiuying, was surrounded in the middle, her eyes curved into slits from smiling as she gestured wildly about something.

Li Xiuying spread her arms wide. "You didn't see it—when Song Chen came back yesterday, he had such a huge bag on his back! When he opened it, it was full of supplements—Blood Vitality Pills, Yuan Nourishing Paste, one huge bag packed to the brim!"

Song Chen's second aunt slapped her thigh. "Those things are expensive! One Blood Vitality Pill costs several thousand!"

Another auntie curled her lip. "Several thousand? That's the ordinary stuff. The ones Song Chen brought back were all top-grade. One bottle costs at least ten thousand."

"Ten thousand? Wouldn't that whole bag cost hundreds of thousands?"

Li Xiuying raised her chin, her face brimming with pride. "Hundreds of thousands? You're underestimating Song Chen. Yesterday, he even showed his father his savings. He has more than ten million!"

The living room exploded.

"That much?!"

"Good heavens!"

"Xiuying, you're about to strike it rich!"

Song Chen stood in the bedroom doorway, not knowing whether he should step forward or retreat.

But he had already been spotted. One sharp-eyed relative saw him and shrieked, "Song Chen is out!"

In an instant, every gaze fell squarely on him. Those eyes were as scorching as Searchlights, sweeping him from head to toe, inside and out, as if they wanted to see straight through him.

Song Chen forced himself to walk over. "Hello, uncles and aunties..."

"Oh, Song Chen, you've grown so tall!"

"I always said Song Chen would definitely make something of himself!"

"His skin's gotten fairer too. He looks much better than the last time I saw him!"

Song Chen felt uncomfortable all over from the praise.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he realized the atmosphere today was different from last time. The last time, only a few aunties had come. This time, aside from the aunties and uncles, there was also a group of young people—more precisely, a group of girls.

Seven girls of seventeen or eighteen stood at the back of the crowd. Some lowered their heads and secretly peeked at him, some covered their mouths as they laughed, and some bolder ones stared straight at him without blinking.

Song Chen's scalp tingled.

His second aunt grabbed his hand and dragged him before the girls. "Song Chen, come, come, get acquainted. This is my niece, Xiao Fang. She's seventeen this year, with a Vitality Value of 0.8. Pretty, isn't she?"

The girl named Xiao Fang blushed and nodded at him. "Hello, Brother Song..."

"This is Old Li's daughter, Li Xue. She's eighteen, with a Vitality Value of 0.9. She attends Second Martial Arts High School and gets excellent grades!"

Li Xue was more outgoing than Xiao Fang. She walked right over, smiling as she extended her hand. "Song Chen, I've long heard of you."

Song Chen shook her hand, then quickly let go.

"And this one, Wang Xiao. Eighteen years old, Vitality Value 0.7. Isn't she fresh and lovely?"

"And this one, Zhao Xiaoqi, eighteen years old..."

One after another, the plump auntie pushed those girls before him like she was peddling merchandise.

Song Chen's head grew bigger and bigger. He wanted to find a chance to slip away, but his relatives gave him no opportunity at all.

His second aunt leaned in and lowered her voice. "Song Chen, look at these girls. Is there one you like? Xiao Fang is my own niece. If you take a fancy to her, we can settle the marriage today."

Another relative spoke up as well. "My niece is good too. Her Vitality Value may be a little lower, but she's hardworking and can cook. She'll definitely take good care of you in the future!"

"Old Li's daughter is the best. Her Vitality Value is 0.9, just right for Song Chen!"

"Xiao is the best! She's so pretty!"

Several aunties chimed in one after another, looking as though they were about to start arguing.

Song Chen's head was about to explode. He looked at his mother. Li Xiuying stood to the side, smiling so broadly she could barely close her mouth, with no intention of rescuing him whatsoever. In this era, where no one knew whether disaster would come tomorrow, she was more than happy for her son to marry early and leave her a grandchild.

He looked at his father. Song Zhengye sat on the sofa holding a teacup, wearing the expression of someone enjoying a good show.

Song Chen took a deep breath and raised his voice. "Uncles and aunties, I have something important to do outside. These girls are all very nice, but I'm not considering that right now. Let's talk about it after I've settled down, all right?"

"Something to do? What?" the plump auntie pressed.

"I'm... I'm going to look at houses. We're planning to move."

Move? The living room fell silent for a second, then became even more boisterous.

"Move? Where are you moving to?"

"Definitely the Inner City! A dump like the Poor District doesn't match Song Chen's status anymore!"

"Houses in the Inner City are so expensive. One costs several million, right?"

"With Song Chen's savings of more than ten million, buying a house in the Inner City is more than enough!"

"Xiuying, your family is about to prosper! You'll be Inner City residents from now on!"

Li Xiuying smiled until her eyes vanished, though she still spoke modestly. "Not at all, not at all. We're just moving somewhere else..."

Song Chen took advantage of the chaos to squeeze to the door, open it, and flee as if for his life.

Shouts still came from behind him. "Song Chen, remember to consider Xiao Fang!" "My niece is a better match!" "Song Chen, come back for dinner after you finish looking at houses!"

Without looking back, Song Chen raced downstairs. Only after he ran out of the alley did he stop, bracing himself against a wall and gasping for breath.

Too terrifying. Far more terrifying than killing exotic beasts.

At that moment, Song Zhengye strolled out slowly, stood beside him, and handed him a cigarette.

Song Chen waved it away. "I don't smoke."

Song Zhengye lit one for himself and took a drag. "Get used to it. This will be your normal from now on."

Song Chen looked at his father. "Were you like this back then too?"

Song Zhengye exhaled a cloud of smoke. A trace of a smile, and a trace of reminiscence, appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Back then, on your mother's side of the family, it was even more outrageous. Dozens of young girls surrounded your old man."

Song Chen was speechless. "Dad, you're bragging."

Song Zhengye: "..."

After a while, Li Xiuying came out too, still wearing a proud smile.

"Son, let's go. Time to look at houses."

Song Chen looked at his mother. "Mom, those girls..."

Li Xiuying waved a hand. "Don't worry about them. What kind of conditions does my son have now? What kind of girl won't you be able to find in the future? No rush. I only let them come over today so they could see for themselves, after all the cold looks they used to give our family."

Song Chen froze for a moment. Just now inside, his mother had not seemed to feel that way at all.

Li Xiuying saw his confusion and smiled as she patted him. "Silly child, Mom was just happy. After all these years, I can finally hold my head high for once. As for those girls, you decide for yourself. Mom won't force you."

Warmth filled Song Chen's heart. "Thank you, Mom."

The family of three left the Poor District, hailed a Hover Taxi, and headed straight for the Inner City.

The Inner City was the central district of Anning City and its most prosperous area. Skyscrapers stood in dense rows, the streets were broad, upscale malls and luxurious residences were everywhere, pedestrians were all well dressed, and there were far more hovercars than in the Poor District.

Song Chen watched the scenery outside through the window, feeling as though a lifetime had passed. For eighteen years, this was the first time he had looked at this city so seriously.

Before, he had no money, no time, and no mood. Every day was just school, cultivation, then home—a three-point line. Occasionally, he passed through the Inner City, but only caught a hurried glimpse. He had never imagined that one day he would be able to live here.

Now, he had come.

The hovercar stopped before a residential development called "Green Water Garden."

It was a famous upscale residential community in the Inner City, with beautiful surroundings and tight security. Its residents were all Martial Artist families or wealthy people.

Song Chen had checked online. Housing prices here started at three million, while the most expensive units cost nearly ten million.