Chapter 12

Gu Chen went to get the keys, looking dejected, then came back just as dejected. The two left the sales office to view the apartment, with Cao Yan still following behind. Zhongli Sui glanced at Cao Yan. "No need to trouble Manager Cao. Gu Chen can accompany me to view the apartment."

Cao Yan had yet to react. "Mr. Zhongli, rest assured. Who knows what this kid is scheming? I'll keep an eye on him and won't let him harass you."

Zhongli Sui was a little impatient. "I'm a grown man with all four limbs intact. What could he possibly do to me? I prefer peace and quiet. I don't like crowds or noise. Gu Chen alone is enough to accompany me."

Cao Yan looked at Zhongli Sui, then at Gu Chen. He grumbled inwardly, Gu Chen had been yapping away for ages just now, and you never thought he was noisy. I said one sentence and you already find me annoying!

Still, Cao Yan could see it. Whether Gu Chen had deliberately approached Zhongli Sui or not, Zhongli Sui simply did not care. He might even be enjoying it a little.

After all, a pretty boy who scored seven hundred on the college entrance exam admired him so much and had gone to such lengths to get close to him. If it were Cao Yan, he would feel pretty damn proud too.

It meant this bro's charm had nowhere to go!

Cao Yan silently sighed to himself. He secretly marveled at Gu Chen's incredible luck. He had caught the eye of a benefactor. If nothing else, this apartment was at least as good as sold today. Gu Chen had closed a deal on his very first day at work. Thinking of the show of authority he had nowhere to unleash, Cao Yan felt somewhat dejected.

Gu Chen drove the sightseeing cart specially provided by the sales office. He even carefully used a clean rag to wipe the dust off the back seat, then silently took Zhongli Sui to view the apartment. By the time they arrived below Building B, he had finally adjusted his mood.

"Mr. Zhongli, let's look at the parking spaces first—"

"Actually, I don't care," Zhongli Sui suddenly said.

"Huh?" Gu Chen did not understand and looked at Zhongli Sui in confusion.

Zhongli Sui patiently explained, "No matter where you found out about my personal preferences, or whether you knew I would come to view apartments today, you merely took the trouble to gather information you wanted to know. But whether I buy an apartment, whether I view you differently, or what kind of opinion I have of you as a person—that is entirely my own decision. You cannot influence that."

Gu Chen hesitated, staring blankly at Zhongli Sui.

"If today's meeting was an accident, that proves we have quite a bit of fate between us. If this meeting was carefully planned by you..." Zhongli Sui paused slightly, looking at Gu Chen with a profound smile. "Then I can tell you with certainty: it is my honor that such an outstanding young man as you would put so much thought into wanting to know me."

"I'm very happy." As Zhongli Sui spoke, he extended his right hand to Gu Chen and said solemnly, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Zhongli Sui."

It was as though the rain had cleared and the clouds had parted, revealing a bright sky. Gu Chen looked at Zhongli Sui's hand and could not help smiling foolishly. He reached out and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Gu Chen."

Zhongli Sui's hand tightened slightly, then released him. Gu Chen withdrew his arm and subconsciously clenched his fist. After a moment of silence, he said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Zhongli Sui looked toward the parking spaces beside the grass. "They seem pretty good."

"Mm!" Gu Chen nodded. He briefly introduced the terms and prices for purchasing parking spaces, then led Zhongli Sui upstairs to view the apartment.

Zhongli Sui lagged two steps behind. Looking at Gu Chen's tall, slender back, he nodded in satisfaction.

Sure enough, he looked better than an eggplant wilted by frost.

Chapter 12

The two took the elevator to the eighth floor. Building B had one apartment per floor. The elevator opened directly into the entryway, and past the front door lay a spacious living room and dining room. It was afternoon, when the sunlight was at its best. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the living room in beams and making it bright and airy. From the doorway, they could see the lush green golf course outside, as well as the landscaped grounds within the residential complex. The view was exceptionally open.

To the right of the entrance were a walk-in closet and storage room; to the left was the kitchen. Further inside were two guest bedrooms and a bathroom, one of the bedrooms convertible into a gym. Near the floor-to-ceiling windows, the master bedroom was on the right and the study on the left. The entire single-floor apartment covered three hundred and fifty square meters. The layout was excellent.

Amusement flickered in Zhongli Sui's eyes as he teased Gu Chen, "Not bad. You've even helped me plan how to renovate it."

"..." Gu Chen came back to himself and realized he seemed to have overdone it again, saying something he should not have said.

Just as Gu Chen was seriously reflecting on what he should and should not say, Zhongli Sui received a call.

Out of courtesy, Gu Chen immediately stepped aside, not wanting to eavesdrop on Zhongli Sui discussing business. But the living room was only so large, and Zhongli Sui did not deliberately lower his voice. Moreover, Gu Chen had meticulously studied every investment project Zhongli Sui had handled in his previous life and was intimately familiar with Tiansui Capital's development. All he needed were one or two keywords and the timeline to know exactly which project Zhongli Sui was discussing.

Once he figured that out, Gu Chen could no longer remain calm. He knew Zhongli Sui had suffered a loss on this project.

"...Before, they insisted on $8.4 billion, and we agreed. We renegotiated the contract terms and settled everything, but right when we were about to sign, they suddenly demanded that we add another $200 million, or they wouldn't sign." Jiang Mingfan, the person in charge of signing the deal, was so angry over the phone that he nearly cursed. "Are they just playing us for fools?"

Zhongli Sui frowned and asked in a low voice, "Did Haoyang Technology say why they wanted additional funds?"

"They did!" Jiang Mingfan grew even angrier at the mention of it. "That brat Pan Haoyang said eighty-six was an auspicious number. He thinks it sounds good!"

They might as well not have said anything.

"$8.6 billion." Zhongli Sui pondered briefly. Just as he was about to speak, a weak voice came from behind him. "$7.8 billion."

Zhongli Sui froze and turned to look at Gu Chen. "What did you say?"

"$7.8 billion." Gu Chen had initially been somewhat uneasy. He did not know how to explain himself, nor did he know whether Zhongli Sui would believe him. But the instant their eyes met, Gu Chen felt there was no need for his hesitation.