34: Buying clothes

Lin Chao followed the agent around for a while, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

The prices were either outrageous or the environment was concerning.

Some agents even tried to fool him into buying a house outright, seeing that he drove a decent SUV.

"Handsome, renting isn't as good as buying!"

"Look at this new development we have. The down payment is only a million, and the monthly mortgage is just over ten thousand. With your conditions, it's definitely no problem!"

Lin Chao sneered inwardly.

A million-dollar down payment for a place in the most remote suburbs of Linhai City, with a daily commute starting at three hours.

What would be the point?

Seeing the afternoon slip away like this, the sky gradually darkened.

Lin Chao lost interest. He found a small roadside restaurant, ordered a bowl of noodles, and finished dinner in no time.

After eating, he checked his phone.

When Xie Mengya took him to the club last time, it was around nine o'clock. It was still early now.

He felt the T-shirt and jeans he was wearing. Though clean, they were all cheap street-stall goods.

Going out with that Queen sister tonight dressed like this seemed a bit beneath him.

Thinking of this, Lin Chao simply strolled to a large nearby shopping mall.

He headed straight for the men's clothing section and, without much hesitation, picked a high-end-looking brand store and walked in.

The sales assistant was initially a bit indifferent, but seeing Lin Chao swipe his card without even blinking, her attitude immediately did a 180-degree turn.

A well-tailored casual jacket, paired with dark trousers, and a brand-new pair of white sneakers.

In the mirror, Lin Chao looked much more spirited.

His handsome features, which were already a seven or eight out of ten, were instantly elevated by several levels when set off by this outfit.

He was practically walking pheromones.

Not long after he left the mall satisfied...

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

The phone rang.

Caller ID — Sister Mengya.

The corner of Lin Chao's mouth curled up as he answered the call: "Hello, Sister Mengya."

Xie Mengya's voice, carrying a hint of lazy laughter, came from the other end.

"Little brother, where are you?"

Lin Chao gave her the address of the mall entrance.

"Good, wait for me there. I'm coming to pick you up." Xie Mengya was concise. She hung up immediately after speaking, crisp and decisive.

Lin Chao stood by the roadside, waiting for only a few minutes.

A blinding flash of red lightning roared through the traffic and came to a steady stop in front of him.

It was a flashy red maserati.

The window rolled down, revealing Xie Mengya's stunningly beautiful face that could captivate anyone.

She wore a pair of sunglasses, her red lips slightly parted, her Queen aura in full force.

"Get in."

Lin Chao pulled open the car door and sat inside.

The car was filled with a faint scent of the same perfume she wore.

Xie Mengya stepped on the gas, the maserati let out a roar, and merged into the traffic.

She took off her sunglasses, tossed them onto the passenger seat, and her soul-stirring phoenix eyes glanced over.

"Oh, changed into new clothes?"

"Not bad, quite handsome."

She looked Lin Chao up and down, making no secret of the admiration in her eyes.

Then, she asked somewhat curiously: "Little brother, why did you end up here?"

"This doesn't seem like your usual stomping ground."

Lin Chao scratched his head and answered honestly: "I came to look at houses. The real estate agencies are all in this area."

"Oh?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xie Mengya's beautiful eyes. "Looking at houses?"

The corner of her mouth curled into a playful arc: "What, did my little brother strike it rich and is getting ready to buy a house?"

Lin Chao quickly waved his hand with a bitter smile: "How could that be, Sister Mengya?"

"The little money I have is far from enough to buy a house in Linhai."

"Even if I could afford it, I'd only be able to buy a place in some remote corner, and I don't want that."

His gaze was serious: "If I'm going to buy, I have to buy a good one."

"For now... I'll just rent a comfortable place first."

Xie Mengya listened quietly without speaking.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled with an inexplicable light amidst the colorful city nightscape.

This kid was more composed than she had imagined.

He wasn't blinded by his sudden wealth and had a clear plan for his future.

She held the steering wheel with one hand while the fingers of her other hand tapped rhythmically on it.

After a moment of thought, she suddenly spoke.

"I happen to have a house that's been sitting empty."

Lin Chao was stunned.

Xie Mengya turned her head and gave him a sweet smile: "It's in the city center, a river-view apartment, fully renovated, and the appliances are all brand new."

"No one has ever lived there. Leaving it empty is just a waste."

She paused, her tone as casual as if she were talking about a trivial matter.

"If you don't mind, I can lend it to you to live in."

Lin Chao's heart skipped a beat.

A pleasant surprise!

This was definitely a huge surprise!

He was just worrying about not finding a suitable house, and Xie Mengya had just handed him a pillow!

And it was a gold-trimmed down pillow!

He was so excited his face turned a bit red, and he hurriedly said,

"I don't mind! Of course I don't mind!"

Then, he rubbed his hands together somewhat sheepishly, looking at Xie Mengya with a sincere gaze.

"That... Sister Mengya, I have to pay rent."

"If, if the rent is within three thousand..."

"I... I can afford it."

As soon as he said this, he felt a bit lacking in confidence.

After all, his current monthly base salary had only just risen to 8,500. Although he had over a million in his card, that was a windfall, not regular income.

And that was money he was saving to buy a house!

With house prices in Linhai City, even adding the two million Lan Yanran would give him later, it would only be enough for a down payment.

Though he currently had hundreds of thousands in commissions, massagers weren't fast-moving consumer goods; he couldn't sign so many orders every month.

Three thousand was the maximum sincerity he could offer without affecting his normal life.

"Within three thousand..."

Xie Mengya was taken aback at first.

Then, her sexy red lips curled into an expression that was somewhere between a smile and a sigh.

With a "pfft," she burst out laughing.

She laughed so hard her body shook, and the magnificent waves on her chest made Lin Chao feel a bit dizzy.

"Little brother, are you joking with me?"

Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly with a hint of playfulness.

"Three thousand yuan?"

"That might not even be enough to rent a single bathroom in that apartment of mine."

Lin Chao's face turned red with embarrassment.

He knew he was being a bit like a frog in a well.

City center, river view, high-end renovation... combining these terms in the Linhai City rental market, the monthly rent would likely be heading towards thirty thousand.

Seeing his embarrassment, Xie Mengya's smile grew even wider.

She waved her hand and said casually,

"Alright, I was just joking with you."

"That house is empty anyway. I never intended to rent it out before."

"No need for money."

She settled the matter: "Just live there with peace of mind. You just need to cover the utilities yourself."