“Xiao Wen, what do you think? Which one do you like best?”
Yao Xiaojia had hurriedly shown Wen Ying three properties, and it was nearly noon. She explained the pros and cons of each property clearly, without brushing off Wen Ying just because she seemed young.
Wen Ying didn’t look like someone who could afford a house.
Yao Xiaojia didn’t dare believe she’d be so lucky.
She treated Wen Ying as practice.
Having someone like Wen Ying listen attentively as Yao Xiaojia described the properties would help her pitch more fluently when she met real clients.
And Wen Ying wasn’t just passively listening. After each explanation, she asked pointed questions about details.
These details were incisive, the kind of questions a genuine buyer would ask.
If this was a rehearsal, Yao Xiaojia felt it had gone very well.
Thinking this, before Wen Ying could answer, Yao Xiaojia couldn’t help but laugh, “What made you decide to look at houses? If I hadn’t been here today, other agents wouldn’t have bothered with you. Next time you do something like this, remember to dress more maturely!”
For girls, a bit of makeup, a dress, and high heels can blur age lines.
Especially for young women just entering the workforce, makeup and dressing up aren’t just about beauty—it’s like putting on armour, a form of protection.
Yao Xiaojia shared her experience with Wen Ying.
Wen Ying nodded with a smile, “Alright, next time I buy a house, I’ll make sure to dress more maturely! All three properties are nice. I personally like the one quoted at 900,000 best. As for which one to buy, Yao Jie, give me a moment—I need to make a call.”
Make a call for what?
Yao Xiaojia thought the rehearsal was over, but Wen Ying wasn’t ready to drop the act.
Wen Ying was so convincing, making a call to the side, that Yao Xiaojia’s curiosity was piqued: Could Xiao Wen actually be here to buy a house?
She might be young, but maybe her family was well-off.
Yao Xiaojia hadn’t spotted any designer shoes or clothes on Wen Ying, but her calm confidence left an impression. Even so, a house worth nearly a million—her parents must be bold to let a young girl handle this!
Yao Xiaojia had no expectations at first, but now she couldn’t help feeling both hopeful and anxious.
Wen Ying timed her call to Xie Qian during his lunch break at noon, when he’d likely be heading to the canteen.
When the call connected, Wen Ying got straight to the point, “I’ll take a few minutes. I need to discuss something. You asked me to bring gifts for Aunt Zou and Teacher Lin, right? I’m thinking of buying something for your uncle too. What do you think?”
On the other end, Xie Qian was a bit surprised.
But it wasn’t a big deal.
If she wanted to buy something, so be it.
Xie Qian could guess Wen Ying’s intention.
She was worried he’d feel isolated in the Xie family and wanted to help him win over his uncle. His uncle might not care much about gifts, but giving one was better than nothing. If Wen Ying didn’t care about him, she wouldn’t bother with these details.
“Sure, buy whatever you think is good. There should be enough money on the card.”
With this approval, Wen Ying felt like she’d been handed a royal decree.
“There’s enough money, but this gift isn’t something you just buy. I need your cooperation with some paperwork. Listen, if I say anything wrong, feel free to stop me. Doesn’t your uncle have a daughter in university? Here’s what I’m thinking…”
Wen Ying shared her plan.
Xie Qian, initially casual, grew serious as Wen Ying explained over the phone that she wanted to gift a house to his cousin.
Wen Ying’s idea wasn’t wrong.
Xie Yuping had secured 2% of shares for Xie Qian, worth more than ten houses in Shanghai combined. Gifting a house to his cousin? Xie Qian was more than willing.
But Xie Qian thought Wen Ying’s plan wasn’t bold or thorough enough.
Not only his uncle Xie Yuping had been good to him.
Apart from his father, Xie Jinghu, who didn’t take him seriously, his three uncles all cared for him.
“Wen Ying, I don’t just have a cousin. I have an older cousin and a younger cousin too. If we’re gifting a house, we can’t play favourites. You should buy three, not one!”
…Three houses?
You’re not Xie the Idol, you’re Xie the Tycoon.
Poor Lawyer Wen felt a sting.
“I did look at three houses today, but the money on your card isn’t enough!”
“No problem. Pay the deposits, and I’ll have someone in Shanghai handle the balance and paperwork.”
Xie Qian spoke about buying three houses as casually as asking Wen Ying to pick up three gaming consoles.
Two high school students—one daring to shop for houses, the other daring to buy. Anyone overhearing their conversation would be floored.
“Alright, I’ll negotiate the prices down.”
With Xie Qian’s permission, Wen Ying could confidently use the card to pay the deposits. A few tens of thousands more or less didn’t matter much to Xie Qian, but if she paid whatever the seller asked, wouldn’t that make her a sucker with his money?
After hanging up, Wen Ying asked Yao Xiaojia, “If I buy all three houses, how much can you negotiate off? I’m in a rush, and you have two hours to contact the owners.”
Yao Xiaojia’s breath caught in her throat, and Wen Ying’s words sent her into a coughing fit.
She coughed so hard her face turned red, gasping for air.
“X-Xiao Wen, don’t joke—”
Wen Ying patted Yao Xiaojia’s back, “Yao Jie, do I look like I’m joking?”
Of course you do!
Yao Xiaojia screamed internally but didn’t dare say it aloud.
What if it wasn’t a joke?
Her mind was a battlefield, two little voices arguing. One urged, “Yao Xiaojia, this is your chance! Sell those three houses!” The other warned, “Yao Xiaojia, you really believe this? If it’s fake, you’ll be a laughingstock…”
Wen Ying glanced at her watch.
The award ceremony was at three.
She needed to head back to the hotel by 2:30 at the latest.
If Yao Xiaojia trusted her, she’d buy through her. If not, Yao Xiaojia just didn’t have the luck.
As a client, Wen Ying didn’t need to wave cash to prove her credibility. Clients deserve service, not skepticism.
Seeing Wen Ying check her watch, Yao Xiaojia panicked.
That was a sign of impatience.
In that moment, the argument in her head resolved: she’d already spent all morning on this, and her colleagues would laugh either way. Why not take a gamble?
Either she’d be mocked by her colleagues.
Or she’d be the one laughing.
Yao Xiaojia steeled herself, flashing a professional smile, “Let’s head back to the agency. Within two hours, I’ll negotiate the prices with the owners, Miss Wen. How does that sound?”
Someone who could buy three houses at once, even if ten years younger than Wen Ying, was “Miss Wen.”
No more “Xiao Wen”—who calls a client that?
If Wen Ying didn’t look so youthful, Yao Xiaojia would be calling her “Wen Jie.”
Wen Ying nodded with a smile.
“For every ten thousand you get off the price, I’ll pay you an extra two hundred as a bonus.”
Back at the agency, Yao Xiaojia quickly ordered takeout from a nearby restaurant for Wen Ying, set up drinks, and arranged her lunch before contacting the three owners.
The other agents exchanged glances.
“What’s got into Xiaojia?”
Without closing deals, agents only got a base salary.
The base salary was low, and buying meals for clients out of pocket meant it had to be a big client.
Yao Xiaojia wouldn’t usually splurge on such food.
But this client didn’t look reliable. If Yao Xiaojia wasn’t crazy, her colleagues wouldn’t believe it.
With so many eyes on her, Wen Ying ate her lunch and called Chen Ru to remind her to eat.
“Mom, I’m out buying some stuff. I’ll be back at the hotel before three.”
“Do whatever!” Chen Ru’s tone was cold, still upset, and she didn’t ask what Wen Ying was buying.
Looking at the property listings on the agency’s walls, Wen Ying felt a strong urge to buy.
Buying a house just for herself wasn’t much of an achievement.
As a reborn person, failing to afford a house in a first-tier city would be too pathetic.
Once she saved enough, she’d buy one for Manager Chen.
That would give Manager Chen bragging rights among old classmates and colleagues for at least five years!
As for Old Wen… well, she’d see how he behaved. For now, he didn’t deserve a house. A belt or something would suit him fine.
No need to dwell on past-life grudges, but Old Wen wasn’t suited to being put on a pedestal, or he’d start acting like the patriarch and running the household like a dictator!
Time ticked by, and Yao Xiaojia was frantically negotiating prices.
Wen Ying’s biggest bargaining chip was “full payment.”
Pay the deposits today, and settle the balance during paperwork in a few days.
The keys to the three properties were at the agency, exclusive listings fully entrusted to them. Wen Ying could sign the purchase contracts with the agency.
Since no paperwork was happening today, the buyer didn’t need to be present—just paying the deposits to secure the properties was enough. On the way back to the agency, Wen Ying received three pieces of personal info from Xie Qian.
She now knew the names of Xie Qian’s older cousin, older brother, and younger cousin.
She’d bet even the fangirls on Tieba didn’t know this.
In her past life, Xie Qian was distant, but in this life, he was revealing his life to her bit by bit.
He didn’t dismiss her suggestion.
He trusted her to pick houses—and three at that.
While waiting for Yao Xiaojia to negotiate, Wen Ying had time to reflect, her face growing warm.
Why was the agency’s air conditioning so strong? The boss clearly didn’t care about costs!
At 1:50, Yao Xiaojia hung up the phone.
After talking to the three owners for over an hour, her mouth was dry.
But she didn’t even have time to drink, rushing to report to Wen Ying and secure the deals.
“Miss Wen, the final quotes are as follows…”
The 870,000 house was bargained down to 840,000.
The 900,000 one, Wen Ying’s favourite, the owner only budged by 15,000, so 885,000.
The 910,000 one, the owner insisted on 880,000.
Yao Xiaojia had shaved 75,000 off the total.
More anxious than Wen Ying, Yao Xiaojia was eager for the commission from the sales and the extra 200 per 10,000 discount. She was earning double, terrified of losing the deal, worried Wen Ying wasn’t satisfied, or worst of all, that Wen Ying was playing her.
