24: Chapter 24 Have you made an appointment?

Hu Tian nodded faintly, his expression calm and unruffled, as if the people standing before him were not his former harsh and stingy boss, but merely a few total strangers.

He had long anticipated that in such a high-end, expensive location where every inch of land was worth gold, it would be inevitable to run into old "acquaintances."

After all, the circle of the wealthy in this city was neither large nor small, and since enemies often cross paths, bumping into them was unavoidable.

"Hu Tian, long time no see, right? Heh, I thought you couldn't find a job and were just holed up in your dilapidated rental apartment eating dirt every day."

Wang Jianjun's small, mung bean-sized eyes sized up Hu Tian, his gaze like two rusty iron brushes scraping back and forth over Hu Tian's ordinary casual wear. A hint of intense mockery and disdain flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a mocking arc.

"What's up? Are you here to work today? Are you working as a security guard or a cleaner now? Looking at your build, you're quite sturdy, so being a little security guard is actually quite suitable. Standing by that door, you might even be able to spruce up the place, haha..."

Beside him, Liu Mei covered her mouth and giggled, her laughter sharp and grating, like nails scratching against glass, making one's teeth ache.

Her nails, encrusted with "fake crushed diamonds," sparkled under the lights, making one's eyes dizzy. "Oh my, Brother Wang, you're so bad. How can you be so blunt? You're not even leaving the guy any face. But then again..."

She glanced up and down at Hu Tian, her gaze frivolous. "Hu Tian is indeed quite suited to be a security guard. He looks decent enough, and standing at the door, he's actually quite intimidating. Maybe if you work hard for a few years, you could even become a security captain, haha...!"

The sycophant Liu Hao also joined in the teasing, stretching his neck out long, looking at Hu Tian with his triangular eyes, his head tilted so high his nostrils were almost pointing at the sky.

"Right, right, right! Brother-in-law is right, and sister has a sharp eye! Hu Tian, you're really something. You can't even find a decent job now, and you still dare to run to Cloud Top Manor? Any random house here costs millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions. You probably couldn't afford one even if you worked for ten lifetimes, right? Forget about a house, I'm afraid you can't even afford a toilet! Right, haha..."

After speaking, he deliberately took a step forward to lean in close to Hu Tian, and the scent of cheap cologne mixed with the smell of sweat wafted over.

Hu Tian recoiled, repulsed. Damn, that really stank.

Liu Hao, self-righteously, extended a finger and poked Hu Tian's shoulder with a hint of provocation, adopting an overbearing and condescending attitude, as if he were the king of this world at this moment, while Hu Tian was merely an ant beneath his feet.

"You've misunderstood. I'm here to look at houses."

Hu Tian replied in a calm tone, his words devoid of any anger, his eyes as clear as water, calm and profound enough that one could not see through them.

With his current state of mind, he was no longer the unemployed youth who worried about his livelihood and acted timidly.

Now, the mockery from a small fry like Liu Hao was like a gentle breeze to him, unable to stir the slightest ripple in his heart, and even made him feel somewhat ridiculous—how could a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan?

"You! Looking at houses? Hahahaha! Is today April Fool's Day?"

Beside him, Wang Jianjun also acted as if he had heard the biggest joke of the century, throwing his head back and laughing, his round, chubby belly shaking violently up and down, waves of flesh on his round face rippling one after another.

"Hu Tian, oh Hu Tian, you really know how to joke. You're killing me! You worked at my company for five months, earning only five thousand yuan a month. Even if you saved every penny without eating or drinking after graduation for a year, you'd only have sixty or seventy thousand. The cheapest house in Cloud Top Manor starts at a million, and private villas easily cost twenty or thirty million. What are you going to look with? Your dreams? Or your daydreams? Haha..."

The flashy Liu Mei also laughed until she shook, the strong scent of her perfume wafting over and making one want to sneeze. "Oh, Brother Wang, stop giving him a hard time. Maybe he's just here to take a look, broaden his horizons, and go back to brag to his friends, saying 'I went to Cloud Top Manor today.' See how much face he'd have then, haha! This is also a form of Ah Q's spiritual victory, right? Haha..."

Standing to the side, Liu Hao was obviously even more fired up. He even reached out and patted Hu Tian's shoulder, the force neither light nor heavy, but clearly insulting, lecturing Hu Tian with the tone of an experienced person: "Hu Tian, in life, you still need to be down-to-earth. Don't always think about reaching the sky in one step; that's just wishful thinking! Look at me. Although I've only been in the company for half a year, I'm willing to work hard and learn well from my brother-in-law. Now my monthly salary is almost ten thousand, and I'll soon be able to afford a down payment here. You, you should find a proper job first. Don't be embarrassing yourself here, lest people laugh their heads off! Ah, listen to your brother. Haha..."

Hu Tian gently brushed away Liu Hao's "dirty" hand as it tried to pat his shoulder again, his movements elegant and composed, as if he were dusting off a speck of dirt from his sleeve.

His gaze remained calm as water, and the corners of his mouth even curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, as if he were watching a few clowns perform a clumsy circus act before him.

"I am indeed here to look at houses."

Hu Tian confirmed again, his voice not loud, but every word was clear.

"Buy a house? Hahahaha!"

Wang Jianjun laughed so hard he leaned back and forth, one hand clutching his belly, the other pointing at Hu Tian, his fingertips trembling. "I'm telling you, Hu Tian, isn't this bragging a bit too much? The houses in Cloud Top Manor, even the cheapest apartments, cost over a million, and villas start at tens of millions. You, an unemployed poor kid, what are you buying with? By showing your face? Do you think the sales office will let you in just by showing your face?"

Liu Mei also giggled, her eyes full of disdain and contempt. "Oh my, I think he's truly gone crazy. Brother Wang, do you think he won five million on the lottery and got carried away? If he really won, why is he still dressed like this?"

Liu Hao slapped his thigh exaggeratedly, spittle flying from his mouth. "Brother-in-law, sister, I don't think he can even scrape together five hundred yuan! Let me tell you, when I was interning at the company, Hu Tian ate ten-yuan rice bowls for lunch every day. I often saw him squeezing onto the bus after work, not even willing to buy a bottle of water. Someone like that wants to buy a house in Cloud Top Manor? Keep dreaming! You can have anything in your dreams!"

The trio's raucous laughter echoed through the spacious and bright sales hall, sounding exceptionally grating, attracting the attention of many prospective buyers nearby, who cast glances and whispered.

Several real estate agents who were busy attending to other clients also looked over, following the sound of the laughter.

Their suspicious gazes quickly scanned Hu Tian—ordinary casual attire, no designer watch on his wrist, no luxury car keys in his pocket, not even a decent briefcase.

At this moment, a male sales agent in his thirties, sporting a slicked-back hairstyle and wearing a crisp suit, put down the documents in his hand, stepped in his polished leather shoes, and walked toward Hu Tian with a measured gait.

He wore a professional, fake smile, but his eyes revealed undisguised scrutiny and aloofness, as if he were looking at a potential trouble.

"Sir, may I ask if you have an appointment?"

The male sales agent's voice was polite but revealed a coldness.

"No appointment."

Hu Tian answered truthfully, his tone still very calm.

The male sales agent's smile instantly faded, and he nodded slightly, his tone carrying a sense of cold indifference that kept people at a distance: "Then I'm sorry, but it is the rule at Cloud Top Manor that viewing properties requires an appointment in advance, as well as proof of assets or bank statements. You should go back and prepare your documents, and another day..."

Before the male sales agent could finish his sentence, a young female sales agent was already swaying her waist, stepping in high heels, and walking quickly to the side of Wang Jianjun, her face instantly filled with a fawning smile.

"Mr. Wang! You've arrived!"

The female sales agent's voice was syrupy, as if coated in honey. "I'm Xiao Zhang, I assisted you last time. Are you here to look at the garden villa area today? We've recently launched a few lake-view garden villas. The layouts are particularly good, and the lighting is great, absolutely fitting for your noble status!"

While speaking, she deliberately glanced at Hu Tian, her eyes full of contempt and impatience, as if saying: Where did this poor wretch come from? Don't block my big client.

Wang Jianjun proudly puffed out his beer belly, his nostrils slightly pointing to the sky, enjoying the feeling of being pampered: "Yes, I brought my girlfriend and brother-in-law here today specifically to take a look, preparing to buy a wedding house for my brother-in-law. The budget is around eight million. I can't look at anything too cheap, after all, it wouldn't match my status."

"Oh my, Mr. Wang, you are truly so generous! So bold!"

The female sales agent was all smiles, bowing even lower, wishing she could bow to the ground. "Please, this way, I'll take you to the VIP reception room. The environment is better there, and there are special refreshments and fruits served."

Before leaving, Wang Jianjun didn't forget to look back at Hu Tian, his eyes full of triumph and mockery, as if showing off a trophy: "Hu Tian, just keep having your daydreams! I'm going to see what an eight-million-yuan garden villa looks like, and I'll tell you later so you can broaden your horizons and know what the life of a rich person is like!"

Liu Mei clung coquettishly to Wang Jianjun's arm, the diamond ring on her nail dazzling under the lights, and said in a sweet voice: "Brother Wang, you're so bad, but I like it~ Mwah~"

Liu Hao also followed behind, and when leaving, he deliberately poked Hu Tian's shoulder again, the force neither light nor heavy, just enough to carry a bit of humiliation: "Buddy, watch and learn well. This is what a real successful person is. Don't end up not even knowing which way the door opens."

After saying this, the three of them, led by the female sales agent, walked arrogantly toward the VIP reception room, their backs filled with arrogance.

Seeing this, the other sales agents also turned and returned to their respective workstations, no one paying any more attention to Hu Tian, as if he were just air.

The male sales agent even waved his hand directly, his tone carrying an unmistakable dismissal: "Sir, if you don't have an appointment or proof of assets, please leave. Don't stand here, it affects our business and blocks the way for other clients."

After speaking, he also turned and walked away, leaving only a cold and snobbish back.

Hu Tian stood in place, watching the busy yet snobbish sales agents around him, a sense of absurdity welling up in his heart.

In his pocket lay cash flow worth nearly a hundred million, yet because he was dressed plainly, didn't drive a luxury car, and didn't wear a gold watch, he couldn't even get basic service.

This is what they call judging a book by its cover; the coldness of the world.

Hu Tian shook his head and was just about to turn and leave this place filled with the stench of money when a timid voice came from behind him.

"Sir... hello."

Hu Tian turned back and saw a young girl who looked to be in her early twenties standing not far away.

She was wearing a slightly oversized, ill-fitting professional suit, with no makeup on her face, her hair tied in a simple, unadorned ponytail, and she was nervously clutching a brochure, her knuckles white from the force.

Her eyes held a hint of trepidation and anticipation, like a startled little deer.

"Sir, my name is Lin Xiao, and I am an intern sales agent here."

The young girl took a deep breath, as if summoning the courage of a lifetime, and walked up quickly.

Although her voice was soft, it held a note of determination: "If you really want to learn about the properties, I can introduce them to you. Whether you buy or not, I am willing to serve you."

"Okay." Hu Tian looked at the young girl and nodded.

The young girl led Hu Tian to the huge sand table in the center of the sales hall.

Although she was still nervous and her palms were sweating, she still tried her best to be professional.

"Sir, Cloud Top Manor is divided into three areas: the high-rise residential area, the garden villa area, and the detached villa area."

She pointed them out one by one on the sand table with a pointer, her fingertips trembling slightly, but her tone was clear: "The villa area is further divided into three types: mountain-view villas, lake-view villas, and the king-of-villas. Look here..."

Her pointer stopped at the very center of the sand table, and a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes. "This is our king-of-villas. It is located at the highest point of the entire park and has the best view."

Hu Tian looked in the direction her finger was pointing.

It was a model of an independent three-story villa, surrounded by green trees, with a footprint significantly larger than the other villas, as if surrounded by stars.

"This king-of-villas has a building area of 1800 square meters, comes with a 300-square-meter private garden, and also includes a basement of nearly 2000 square meters."

The poem says: In the past, among the weeds, I sighed at the dead ends of the road; today, in golden armor, my spirit is like a rainbow. Do not resent the cold eyes of old acquaintances; just watch as a crouching dragon rises to the peak of the clouds.