When I finished all the preparations before setting off, it was just 7:15. So, wanting to make the most of every second and sleep a little longer, I set my alarm for 7:45.
Unexpectedly, just as I lay down, my phone, which was on the bedside table, vibrated.
I really didn't expect who would call me at this hour. I picked up the phone and saw that it was Cao Xue calling, which surprised me even more... Knowing him as I do, he's the kind of person who has to sleep until the afternoon before getting up, so there must be something important he wants to talk to me about.
I answered the phone, and he asked me, "Where are you? I'm coming to find you."
"Now?"
"Yes, right now."
"Is it inconvenient to talk on the phone?... I really can't spare the time; I have to leave for my hometown at eight o'clock."
"Let's talk about this face to face... It won't make a difference if you go home for a little while, it will only take half an hour at most."
"Okay... I'm in the mountains and rivers, so come over here right away."
"It's not far. I'm in Zhonghefang, it'll only take ten minutes."
After Cao Xue finished speaking, he hung up the phone, and I already had a vague idea of why he called. While waiting, I made myself a second cup of instant coffee to keep myself more alert and avoid making any wrong decisions.
After sitting there for a while, I heard the sound of a toilet flushing upstairs. Without even thinking, I knew it was Cao Xiaobei.
To be honest, fate is a strange thing. I never imagined I'd be Cao Xiaobei's neighbor, living in the same building. And it's really unreliable. If Yang Sisi is really as close to him as he claims, why doesn't she live with him? So this must be a lie.
I wasn't wrong about Yang Sisi. Although she is willful, she loves herself.
I was a little bored, so I took a coin out of my pocket and threw it at the ceiling. After it fell, I threw it several times to make a rhythmic sound, and also to let Cao Xiaobei know that there was someone downstairs and not to get up too early to "pee," because I am a light sleeper and the sound of the toilet flushing would annoy me a lot.
A moment later, there was a response from upstairs—a sound like a hammer pounding on the floor…
Time is a wonderful thing. Cao Xiaobei, who had previously come to borrow a hammer, got one today. So now he is a hammer, no, a slip of the tongue, a person with a hammer.
...
Ten minutes later, Cao Xue knocked on my door right on time. After I opened the door, he didn't even give himself a moment to catch his breath before saying to me, "Michael, I know you're in a hurry, so I won't say anything more. I came to talk to you about the Cangshan Villa project."
I gestured for him to sit down, then offered him a cigarette before replying, "Your uncle's opponent is Ye Zhi. What's the point of you coming to talk to me?"
"You should try to persuade her; they're all on our side."
“Anyone can persuade her, but I can’t… Cao Xue, we’ve known each other for quite a while now, you should know what kind of person I am. In my understanding, a romantic relationship should not be mixed with interests… Even if it comes at a price, this is a principle I cannot change.”
"It's precisely because of your relationship with her that I'm asking you to advise her; no one else has the right to advise her... Isn't that the logic?"
I shook my head, indicating that this matter was not open for discussion.
Cao Xue was a little unhappy, but he still smiled and said to me, "Since we can't talk about personal relationships, let's talk about conditions... My uncle said that regarding the Cangshan Villa project, he doesn't want to fight your girlfriend to the death; he only wants 30% of the profits... If you can negotiate this, you can take any of the shops in Jiulongju and use them for as many years as you want... If you feel that's not enough sincerity, my uncle has something else for you... Once you sign the contract with your girlfriend, this matter will be completely settled... He can give you one of the shops in Jiulongju as a commission for your matchmaking... Think about it, even if Jiulongju isn't doing well right now, a shop there isn't something you can just buy for a few million... Isn't that sincere enough?"
I didn't say anything.
Cao Xue continued, "Michael, I know you're a man of ambition. Can you help me out this time? I've been driving for my uncle for so many years, it's been incredibly frustrating! Just these past couple of days, he finally relented, saying he'd work on the Jiulongju project under your guidance, and he'd give me three of those shops, all under my name… Honestly, I've never accomplished anything in my life, and I'm counting on this to turn things around. Give me a chance to start over, okay?" (To chat with more like-minded people about "My Tenant Miss," follow "or" on WeChat to discuss your favorite books.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
