Chapter 7: Borrowing Money

As night fell, Chu Nan looked through the window at the vast expanse of low-slung, single-story houses not far away. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and a few words surfaced naturally in his mind: "Huanan Old District Redevelopment."

"Damn, isn't that exactly what this is?" he thought, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

If he remembered correctly, late August was when the official document for the Huanan Old District redevelopment would be issued. From that day on, property prices in the area would skyrocket. Anyone who could seize this opportunity could turn even a pig into a golden one. He knew that once the official decree was released, property prices in this area would increase several-fold, or even more than ten times over. Not to mention the appreciation in value, even the initial demolition and relocation compensation would transform some residents into millionaires overnight.

Millionaires were a rare sight in 2006.

"No, I have to find a way to get some money. Even buying just a few hundred square meters would be a massive windfall!"

If his memory served him, the average property price in Jiangcheng in 2006 was around 2,700 yuan per square meter. The prices in the Huanan Old District were relatively lower, though he wasn't sure of the exact figure. However, once the official document was issued, prices would soar to over 10,000 per square meter! With that kind of money, he could do so much during his university years.

But it was impossible for him to get that much money in such a short time.

"This Zhou Xiaonan seems to be a wealthy girl. Should I ask her to borrow some? But how do I bring it up?!"

"Chu Nan, Chu Nan! I didn't think you’d actually be here!" The voice of "Fatty" Yang interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Fatty Yang walking in, panting heavily, carrying a bulging backpack with beads of sweat visible on his forehead.

"You got here so fast?" Chu Nan asked in surprise.

"What are you talking about? My brother is in the hospital; of course I’d come! By the way, what was the point of making me carry all these textbooks? Who even uses textbooks to review anymore?"

"Everyone has different ways of reviewing. Thanks for the trouble."

"Old Chu, you’d better come clean. What exactly is your relationship with Zhou Xiaonan?" Yang Jingtian asked, looking suspicious. "Don't tell me she's your girlfriend?"

"Do you think that's even possible?"

"Well, definitely not!"

"Then there you have it!" Chu Nan said with a bitter smile. "She’s so rich and so beautiful—why would she ever look at me?"

"Phew, that’s true. Good, good."

Chu Nan raised an eyebrow. "You seem pretty happy that she’s not my girlfriend?"

"Duh! We agreed back then that if you couldn't land He Qianqian, we’d both stay single. If you suddenly showed up with a girlfriend now, I definitely couldn't handle it!"

Chu Nan sneered, "You really are a good brother, aren't you!"

"That’s right. We agreed to be single together, so we stay single together. You can’t get ahead of me."

"Got it, got it. I have no interest in getting a girlfriend right now. By the way, Old Yang, do you have any money?"

"Money? What are you planning?" Yang Jingtian stared at Chu Nan, eyes full of wariness.

Chu Nan gave a mysterious smile. "I’m planning to start a business. Want to join in?"

"Get lost! My pocket money is capital I’ve saved for dating in college; I can't let you squander it."

"You don't trust me?!"

"Then tell me, what exactly are you planning to do?"

"Buying property."

"Buying property? Even if I gave you tens of thousands, it wouldn't be enough, right?!" Yang Jingtian chuckled. "Forget it, forget it. I can't do this business. Stop changing the subject—what is your relationship with Zhou Xiaonan? Why is she helping you?"

Chu Nan recounted his experience. After listening, Yang Jingtian looked envious. "No way, how are you so lucky? You actually got to play the 'hero saving the beauty' trope."

"She’s the beauty; I’m not necessarily the hero."

"True. She’s probably just grateful to you, but she doesn't have any actual feelings for you. Zhou Xiaonan is way out of your league. Since you’re fine, I’m heading out."

"By the way, what is Zhou Xiaonan's background?"

"You don't know?!" Yang Jingtian looked shocked.

"I really don't."

"She’s the class beauty of the music specialty class and the school’s recognized 'school flower.' Which school gala hasn't she hosted?!"

"So that’s it. Alright, let's talk more about the property later..."

"I’ve got things to do, see ya!" Hearing that, Yang Jingtian ran faster than a rabbit. While he had money, he didn't intend to waste it. If his "brother" squandered it, he wouldn't know who to complain to.

"Will this kid regret it once he sees me making money?" Chu Nan smiled. Yang Jingtian’s family was indeed wealthy; otherwise, he wouldn't have spent over 100,000 on his girlfriend in college. Unfortunately, the girlfriend had spent his money and cheated on him, too. He was, in some ways, even more miserable than Chu Nan himself.

Of course, in this lifetime, Chu Nan didn't want that to happen...

The next day, Zhou Xiaonan arrived early with breakfast—simple preserved egg and lean meat porridge. As Chu Nan ate while looking through the notes, his expression was full of surprise.

"Wait, you actually went and asked Jiang Yuwei for her notebook?"

"Didn't you say you needed review materials? Why... are these notes not usable?"

"Of course they are. These notes are incredibly useful to me. How did you think to borrow them?" Chu Nan had only intended for her to go to a bookstore and pick up some random college entrance exam materials. He hadn't expected her to bring back the top student's personal notes.

The top student's notes weren't just neatly written; they were clear, logical, and extremely detailed—much better than any study guide.

"Isn't she the best student in your class? If you wanted review materials, I naturally wanted to give you the best. If you don't want them, I'll return them."

"No, no, these are very important to me." Chu Nan smiled. "Thank you, Zhou Xiaonan."

"You're welcome. I'm leaving now."

"Wait a second, I have one more thing I need your help with."

Zhou Xiaonan raised an eyebrow. "Something else? Alright, go ahead."

Chu Nan scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "It's just... could you lend me some money?"

"How much do you need?"

Chu Nan held up one finger.

"One thousand?" Zhou Xiaonan nodded. "That's fine."

Chu Nan hurriedly said, "Not one thousand."

"Ten thousand?!" Zhou Xiaonan frowned.

Chu Nan looked "shyly" at her. "One... one million."

"One million?" Zhou Xiaonan was so exasperated she laughed. "Are you kidding? Do you really think you can pay back a million? Are you borrowing... or are you begging?"

Chu Nan said with absolute seriousness, "Of course I'm borrowing. As long as you give me the money, I can pay you back the million within three months at the latest, plus 200,000 in interest."

"Where does this confidence come from?" Zhou Xiaonan chuckled.

"If you trust me, give me the money."

Zhou Xiaonan sneered, "You don't even trust me, so why should I give you the money?"

Chu Nan was silent for a moment. "Fine. I can tell you the truth, but you have to keep it a secret and not let anyone else know."

"No problem. Go ahead."

Chu Nan said, "Our city just had a change in leadership, right?"

"Yeah, I've heard." Zhou Xiaonan nodded. Her family’s business was large; as a merchant, she had to understand these things and had to interact with such officials. "But what does that have to do with borrowing money?"

"Listen to me. New officials always want to make a mark. Our city’s deputy mayor is in charge of the economy, and the economy naturally depends on construction. I think the land right next to our hospital will be redeveloped very soon, and it's highly likely to happen this year."

"You mean you want to buy property in the Huanan Old District?"

"Exactly."

Zhou Xiaonan looked out the window at the Huanan Old District. "I heard years ago that this place was going to be redeveloped, but there’s been no movement. How can you be so sure it will definitely happen this year?"