57: Chapter 57: Transfer Completed

Signing the contract took only ten minutes.

As black ink met white paper and red thumbprints were pressed down, the real estate that carried half of Boss Chen's life's work and his family's hardships officially changed hands.

Jiang Chen put down his pen, folded the contract, and looked up at Boss Chen.

Boss Chen remained in the posture he had when pressing his thumbprint, his finger hovering over the paper, his gaze fixed on the red ink as if he hadn't realized it was over.

"Boss Chen," Jiang Chen called out to him.

"Ah."

Boss Chen snapped out of it, pulled his hand back, rubbed it on his pants, and looked down at his signature. He then glanced at the figure '3.6 million' on the contract, his lips moving, but no words came out.

"Are all the materials ready?" Jiang Chen asked. "The property deed, land certificate, and ID cards?"

"Ready, ready. They're all in this bag."

Boss Chen patted the document bag in his hand. "I was planning to go to the registration center to list it online today anyway, so I have everything with me."

"Then let's go to the Real Estate Registration Center now and transfer the title directly."

Boss Chen looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and nodded.

He put the contract and materials back into the document bag, held it in his arms, and followed Jiang Chen into the car.

As the car started, he suddenly spoke up: "Mr. Jiang, that... when will the money arrive?"

"The payment will be processed as soon as the transfer is complete. I have my bank card with me. Once we're at the registration center and confirm the materials are in order, I'll transfer it to you on the spot."

Boss Chen was silent for a while, then let out a long breath, as if spitting out a bit of the stone that had been weighing on his chest.

At the Real Estate Registration Center, the two of them took a number and sat down in the waiting area.

There weren't many people in the hall. Every few minutes, a number was announced over the speakers, the sound echoing through the empty space.

Boss Chen sat with his back very straight, the document bag clutched in his arms, his knuckles turning white.

He looked at the calling screen from time to time, then down at the materials in his hands, as if confirming they were still there.

"Mr. Jiang," Boss Chen suddenly said, "are you really buying this row of shops to open a coffee shop?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just..."

He paused. "I've been on this street for twenty-three years. I've seen batch after batch of young people open and close shops. There have been two coffee shops, and neither lasted a year. There are many students on this street, but they can't afford expensive things."

Jiang Chen glanced at him. "Are you worried for me?"

Boss Chen smiled, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. "It's a habit. I've rented out this row of shops for twenty-three years. Whenever a new tenant comes in, I talk to them and help them figure out what kind of business would be suitable."

"Then why didn't you advise me against opening a coffee shop?"

Boss Chen thought for a moment and shook his head. "You're different from them. You..." He paused, seemingly searching for the right words. "You don't look like someone who would lose money."

Jiang Chen didn't respond.

Their number was called over the speakers, and the two of them stood up and walked to the window.

The staff member at the window took the materials, checking, entering, and scanning them one by one.

Boss Chen sat on the chair in front of the window. When the staff told him to press his thumbprint, he did; when told to sign, he signed. Not a single extra word was said.

He was like a wound-up machine, complying with every instruction, though his eyes seemed a bit distant.

Jiang Chen stood by his side and handed over his ID card. The staff member took it to verify, glanced at Boss Chen, and continued the operation after confirming everything was correct.

After the last document was signed, the staff member handed out the receipt and the Real Estate Ownership Certificate.

Jiang Chen took it and flipped it open. In the column for the rights holder, his name was written.

Ten shops, from No. 127 to No. 136, opposite the North Gate of Xuefu Road, 423 square meters in total, were all now under his name.

He closed the certificate, placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket along with the contract.

Walking out of the registration center, the two of them stood on the steps. The October sun felt warm on their bodies.

"I'll transfer the remaining balance to you now."

Jiang Chen took out his phone, opened the banking app, and operated it right in front of Boss Chen.

Entered the amount, confirmed, facial recognition, submitted.

In less than a minute, Boss Chen's phone rang.

Boss Chen pulled out his phone and looked at the screen, his fingers trembling slightly.

He stared at the arrival notification for a long time, as if confirming those digits weren't a dream.

Three point six million, not a penny less, was sitting quietly in his account.

"Received." He looked up, his voice so raspy it was almost inaudible. "I've received it all."

He stood up slowly, leaning against the counter, his knees buckling slightly before he found his footing.

"Thank you," he said, though it was unclear if he was speaking to Jiang Chen or to fate.

"I'll drive you back," Jiang Chen said.

"No need."

Boss Chen shook his head. "I want to walk by myself. It's been twenty-three years; I've walked this road countless times. I want to take one last look today."

He said nothing more, folded the empty document bag, tucked it into the inner pocket of his jacket, and turned to walk slowly along the sidewalk.

Jiang Chen stood on the steps, watching his back disappear around the corner.

He got into the car and started the engine, but didn't drive away immediately.

Sitting in the driver's seat, his gaze drifted past the steering wheel to that row of old storefronts.

The rust on the rolling shutters, the cracks in the corners of the walls, the faded billboards—twenty-three years of time were written all over them.

Now, all he had to do was wait.

One month.

These ten storefronts would turn into over twenty million in cash.

The return on investment was very high.

Boss Chen didn't know about this.

The debt hole his son had dug was accruing interest every day; delaying for even a month would cost tens of thousands.

He needed cash, cash in hand right away.

So the price Jiang Chen offered wasn't high, but it wasn't cruel either.

3.6 million was the normal market price for this area.

He hadn't lowballed him or taken advantage of his desperation; he was simply one step faster than everyone else.

...

One forty.

There was still over an hour before Lin Wan's Moot Court began.

He didn't want to arrive too early.

He drove the car to the parking lot opposite the main gate of Jiangcheng University, turned off the engine, lowered the seat, and lay there with his eyes closed for a while.

The car window was cracked open slightly, and the October breeze drifted in with the scent of osmanthus, faint and ethereal.

He thought about how Lin Wan looked this morning, checking her materials by the hotel window.

The sunlight fell on her knees, her head was bowed, and her eyelashes cast a small shadow on her cheeks.

He then thought about that kiss in the car.

It was quick and light, but when her lips touched his, they carried a hint of warmth, as if she were reluctant to leave but too shy to stay for long.

She was always like that.

When she was outside, she wrapped herself up tightly, her words and actions always carrying a perfectly measured sense of propriety.

Only when the two of them were alone would she reveal that inadvertent softness.

With his eyes closed, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.