Chapter 19: Long Junhao, I Don’t Want Us to Lose Even Our Friendship

“Have you finished the paperwork?” Huang Qi arrived at the hospital early in the morning. The two of them planned to visit the homeowner selling the house together today.

“All done.”

“Shall we head out then? Coincidentally, an elderly gentleman I know wants to sell a house—over 200 square meters.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Huang Qi asked, “How much are you willing to offer? I spoke with him today, and he said it needs to be at least 2,700 yuan per square meter.”

Chu Nan paused briefly before replying, “2,800 yuan. For the subsequent sellers, I intend to offer 2,800.”

Huang Qi was puzzled. “What? 2,800? Houses here usually don’t go above 2,700. Why would you willingly pay them extra?”

Chu Nan suddenly stopped walking. “Huang Qi, don’t you think if I offer too little, they might regret it?”

Huang Qi hesitated, then burst out laughing. “I thought you were paying too much! How could they possibly regret it?”

Chu Nan smiled faintly. “Sometimes, a person’s greed is endless.”

“What do you mean by that, brother Chu?”

“Have you ever thought about how much the housing prices in the old district of South China might rise in the next few years? They could multiply several times, even tenfold!”

Huang Qi was taken aback, disbelief written all over his face. “Impossible! Who would want this rundown area?”

After realizing his own words might sound harsh, Huang Qi hurried to clarify, “Brother Chu, I’m not criticizing you. I just mean that if the prices were going to rise, they would have done so already. They haven’t, so you don’t need to worry. Besides, with everything in black and white, what’s there to fear? I can’t speak for others, but our family won’t go back on our word. Even if we wanted to, it wouldn’t matter!”

“Alright, I trust you. But please find me straightforward people who can make decisions.”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me,” Huang Qi said confidently, patting his chest. “By the way, why don’t you stay at my place for the next few days?”

After spending two days together, Huang Qi had come to understand Chu Nan better. He knew that Chu Nan’s family wasn’t from Jiangcheng, and that Chu Nan was actually a boarding student.

Huang Qi simply thought that wealthy families liked to do this—sending their children to school to gain experience while giving them a few million yuan to try their hand at business outside. Even if the venture failed, to rich kids, losing a few million was just like water off a duck’s back. Chu Nan’s family wouldn’t care about the losses, so why should Huang Qi?

“I’ll just stay at a hotel.”

“What hotel? That’s such a waste of money. Is my sister’s bed uncomfortable? Well, it’s true my sister’s bed isn’t exactly plush,” Huang Qi sighed.

Chu Nan hurried to respond, “Brother Huang, what are you saying? The bed in the hospital is hard too. It’s just that I don’t want to trouble you all the time.”

He wanted to stay there but felt awkward about it.

“Brother Chu, you’re being too polite. You said we have over a month to move out, and with the college entrance exam just over twenty days away, it’s perfect for you to stay here.”

“Well…”

“No need to be shy. I’m not bragging, but my sister’s grades are top of the class. You could chat with her about studies while you’re here,” Huang Qi winked at Chu Nan, giving him a knowing look.

Chu Nan gave an awkward smile. Huang Qi didn’t know that the two had already agreed to study together.

“Alright, I’ll bother you then. But don’t make me sleep in my sister’s bed—just give me an empty room.”

“Is my sister’s bed really that uncomfortable?”

“Brother Huang, come on. I can’t make Jingjing sleep on the sofa all the time.”

“Fine, actually my mom already cleaned and prepared that room last night, just waiting for you to move in,” Huang Qi laughed.

Chu Nan and Huang Qi had spent much of the day viewing houses, covering more than 500 square meters. By this point, Chu Nan began to doubt whether the words he’d overheard from Jiang Yuwei earlier that day had caused a misunderstanding.

Perhaps Jiang Yuwei’s father never intended to buy property here at all. Chu Nan had even asked some local residents, and no one else had heard of anyone buying a house recently except that man. This realization eased Chu Nan’s mind.

Still, he didn’t plan to buy too much—just enough to spend five million yuan before stopping.

After all, official notices would come down around August. If he made a big move now, it would only attract unnecessary trouble. Buying just over 1,000 square meters for more than five million yuan was just right. When the time came, others would only think he’d been lucky and wouldn’t suspect anything else.

Moreover, Chu Nan chose scattered locations, making it less likely for officials to suspect him.

Inside a karaoke room, Zhou Xiaonan’s face was dark as she stared at Long Junhao.

“What do you mean by looking at me like that, Zhou Xiaonan?” Long Junhao asked, feeling a surge of anger.

Zhou Xiaonan was angry at him because of another guy, making Long Junhao feel deeply uncomfortable.

“I’ve made myself clear—I owe my life to Chu Nan. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here singing with you today.”

Zhou Xiaonan spoke softly, “But you and Luo Xiang plan to take action against him. Not only that, you threatened him. Now you’re deliberately making things difficult for him just to keep him from seeing me. Long Junhao, I don’t want us to lose even the chance to be friends.”

Long Junhao’s expression darkened. “I admit he saved you, but I never laid a hand on him. As for Luo Xiang, that was their own idea.”

Luo Xiang, sweating profusely beside him, quickly nodded, “Yeah, big sister, this has nothing to do with boss. It was all our own idea!”

“Shut up!” Zhou Xiaonan shot him a cold glance. “Would Luo Xiang have acted without your orders, Long Junhao?”

Long Junhao sneered coldly. “Fine, fine. Even if this was my idea, I never intended to hurt him. As for the bet, that was his idea, not mine!”

“Don’t lie!” Zhou Xiaonan had long abandoned any pretense of propriety. Thinking about Long Junhao secretly meeting Chu Nan behind her back and even threatening her, she felt overwhelming guilt. “I’m telling you, Long Junhao, your bet is invalid!”

Long Junhao sneered. “Luo Xiang, play that recording!”

“Alright, alright, boss!” Luo Xiang pulled out his phone and turned the volume to the maximum.

“I’m not one for violence or fighting. When I’m discharged, how about we settle this with a singing contest?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Zhou Xiaonan’s pupils contracted sharply.

“... At the garden square near our school, next Saturday after school... Remember what you said today—if you lose, you’ll leave Zhou Xiaonan alone. If you dare show up again, you know the consequences.

“Long Junhao, listen carefully. If I win, besides you not being able to interfere with me and Zhou Xiaonan, when you see me, either call me Brother Chu or get out of my way...”

The recording stopped there. Long Junhao looked at Zhou Xiaonan’s pale face with growing fury but held back his anger and spoke.

“Well? Zhou Xiaonan, didn’t I tell you the truth? He proposed the bet himself; I just agreed to it. But here’s a warning for you—if I win and he dares approach you again, you know what I’ll do...”

Zhou Xiaonan gave Long Junhao a cold glance, grabbed her handbag, and turned to leave...