The call was dialed for more than ten seconds before it was finally answered.

A woman's voice came from the other end of the line, perhaps from an unknown number, her tone revealing a hint of annoyance: "Hello, who is this?"

“Hello, I’m looking to rent an apartment,” Chu Zhiye replied. “You want to rent your apartment in the Limin Lane neighborhood.”

He got straight to the point.

The other party's answer was straightforward: "No."

"You are posting a rental advertisement."

"Posting an advertisement doesn't mean I want to rent it."

Chu Zhiye: "... ..."

Just then, an elderly woman with white hair leaned over the phone and said, "Ms. Xu, the young man who came to see the house today seems nice and upright."

The woman surnamed Xu hesitated for less than a second before replying, "Okay, wait a moment, I'll be right there."

End the call.

Chu Zhi also waited for the homeowner to arrive.

The real estate agent rubbed his hands together and smiled sheepishly: "Sir, look, I've spent the whole day looking at houses with you. I've done my part, even if it wasn't hard work."

Chu Zhi also said, "Once the house is rented, I will pay you the corresponding agency fee."

The real estate agent drove him around the area on his electric scooter for most of the day, showing him all the houses. Naturally, he couldn't let the other party suffer a loss.

The real estate agent bowed and said, "Thank you, sir."

The two waited for the homeowner there. Through casual conversation, they learned that the white-haired old lady's surname was Bao. She had lived there for decades, but her children had immigrated and her husband had left, leaving her all alone.

“Young man, you’ve got a great deal.” Old Mrs. Bao’s wrinkles deepened as she laughed. “Ms. Xu is a great beauty, the goddess in the hearts of many young men. You live here, so as the saying goes, being close to the water tower gives you an advantage. You’ve got the first-mover advantage.”

"Don't underestimate this short distance of getting closer; it's already a huge step forward. Just like how my old man pursued me back then..."

Grandma Bao seemed to have been silent for a long time. As soon as she met someone, she seemed to open a floodgate of words and started talking about her past experiences.

Chu Zhi listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few trivial questions, which pleased Grandma Bao quite a bit.

Tap tap tap... ...

Suddenly, the crisp, loud sound of high heels echoed in my ears.

"Ms. Xu has arrived," said Old Mrs. Bao.

Following the sound, one sees a delicate oval face with smooth lines and skin that glows with health. The eyebrows are long and slender, like ink, and exude a heroic spirit, with slightly upturned ends that convey an innate decisiveness.

Wearing a tailored black suit that accentuated her slender yet powerful figure, the crisp jacket paired with a simple tie exuded a sharp and sophisticated air. The shoes, with their simple, streamlined design and subtle shimmer, perfectly complemented her long, straight legs.

Chu Zhi raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "Fate is truly wondrous, and now it seems that destiny is equally wondrous."

"One hundred yuan is even more mysterious and infinite."

That's right!

Chu Fang had met this woman named Xu before.

The moment he returned to China, he was squatting on the ground when this woman, Ms. Xu, mistook him for a beggar and gave him 100 yuan.

A faint smile appeared on Chu Zhiye's lips.

Ms. Xu crossed her arms and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Clearly, this Ms. Xu did not recognize Chu Zhiye.

He suppressed his smile and said slowly, "Miss..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ms. Xu frowned slightly: "Miss? I didn't expect there to still be such an old-fashioned way of addressing you these days."

Chu Zhi tentatively asked, "Beautiful lady?"

"People generally say that beautiful people are ugly."

"Miss?"

"I'm too old. People who don't know me would think I'm over forty."

Chu Zhiye: "Then how should I address you?"

"Baby."

Chu Zhiye: "... ..."

Seeing that Chu Zhi had also been thwarted, Xu's smile became unrestrained and her laughter was clear and cheerful, like silver bells swaying in the wind.

"Alright, I'm done teasing you." Ms. Xu's smile faded, and she asked, "So, you're the one who wants to rent a place?"

"Yes."

Ms. Xu sized Chu Zhiye up and down, muttering to herself, "Judging from his appearance, he's acceptable, a typical pretty boy; he seems honest and reliable, not bad..."

"Among so many tenants, they are the best."

"Fine, you're the one."

After looking everything over, he said, "I can rent the house to you, but you have to agree to a few conditions."

Chu Zhiye replied directly: "I won't agree."

"That's good." Ms. Xu seemed not to have heard.

Chu Zhiye repeated, "I won't agree."

This time, Ms. Xu finally heard his reply, and her lips parted slightly: "What?!"

Chu Zhiye remained unfazed: "I will not agree to your additional conditions."

"Why?"

"It's only right that I rent a place and pay you rent. As for other conditions, those are not my responsibility."

Ms. Xu craned her neck and stared at Chu Zhiye: "Do you know what the conditions are?"

"It shouldn't be a simple condition like prohibiting pets."

"You're very capable."

Chu Zhi also glanced at the other person.

How did you figure that out?

You just looked me up and down, muttering some nonsensical things.

Anyone with a normal sense can see it.

"You won't agree?" Ms. Xu crossed her arms. "If you don't agree, I won't rent the house."

"This is your choice."

Chu Zhiye immediately turned to the old lady and asked, "Grandma Bao, are there any houses still available for rent in Limin Lane?"

Grandma Bao shook her head: "No more, housing is tight here."

Chu Zhi nodded, bid farewell to Grandma Bao, and then left.

Xu watched Chu Zhiye's departing figure, remaining silent and showing no intention of trying to stop him.

Leave Limin Lane residential area.

Chu Zhiye said to the real estate agent, "Keep an eye out for neighborhoods like Limin Lane. If there are any vacant apartments, reserve one first."

"clear."

He then transferred 1,000 yuan to the real estate agent as payment for his errands that day.

After all, I spent the whole day with him and didn't get anything done, wasting his time.

Rich people are indeed generous... Upon seeing the transfer, the real estate agent's eyes almost squinted into slits as he smiled and said, "Sir, don't worry, I will do my best to find the house you want."

"Even if you want to live in a cemetery, I will dig up the dead people in the cemetery and let you live there."

"Your needs are our direction."

Chu Zhi stared intently at the real estate agent, who realized he had misspoke, slapped himself, and then rode away on his electric scooter.

As the sun sets, only its last rays remain.

Chu Zhi also felt a bit hungry, so she randomly found a noodle shop outside the community and ordered a two-ounce bowl of braised pork rib noodles.

We just sat by the roadside, eating dinner.

This is the kind of "stick noodles," which he doesn't like. He prefers "chive leaf noodles."

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the chive leaf noodles were more flavorful than the stick noodles.

Chu Zhiye was not one to waste food, so he found eating this bowl of noodles quite unpleasant.

He has to chew his noodles repeatedly before he can finish a bite.

Just then, a luxury car stopped in front of him, the window rolled down, revealing Ms. Xu's beautiful face: "I remember now, I gave you a hundred yuan when you were begging at the airport."

Chu Zhi didn't answer, and continued chewing his noodles.

Ms. Xu glanced at the bowl of noodles and smiled brightly: "Back then you were so poor you were begging for food, and it seems you're not much better off now."

"I was eating a bowl of awful noodles and they didn't even bother to add a fried egg."

Ms. Xu shouted, "Boss, give this man an extra fried egg, I'll pay."

Then, turning to Chu Zhiye, he said, "I gave you a hundred last time, so this time I'll treat you to a fried egg. Don't be shy, I'm a good person!"

Ms. Xu scanned a QR code to pay for a fried egg, then rolled up her car window and drove away.

Watching the luxury car drive away, Chu Zhi continued to slowly chew his noodles.