The flat Chen Li recommended to Chen Ru and her husband was actually one Mr. Wang had suggested to Deng Shangwei.
The sales office was nicely done up, and the development was nearly complete, with just a few minor bits left to finish. If all went to plan, it’d be ready for handover in a month.
In 2004, pre-sale flats were catching on in Rongcheng. Most units here were sold, leaving two types: those with poor floor levels or lighting, picked over by others, and prime units the developer had held back.
Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong liked the estate’s vibe. The sales lady showed them around a model flat, and Chen Ru was already seventy or eighty percent sold.
Her remaining doubts centred on flat size and floor.
One unit ticked all the boxes—good floor, square layout, great light—but it was a big one: 156 square metres, four bedrooms, two reception rooms. Though still a shell, it felt bright and comfy the moment you stepped in.
Everything about it was spot on, except the price. At 4,300 yuan per square metre, it totalled 670,000 yuan, with a 200,000-yuan deposit!
Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong had some savings, but coughing up 200,000 in one go was a stretch.
Even if they scraped together the deposit and managed the mortgage, Chen Ru wanted to renovate quickly and put it to use. For a place this size, decorating could easily cost over 100,000—300,000 all in!
Back home in their small city, 300,000 could buy a fully furnished flat of the same size outright. Outside the provincial capital, Chen Ru hadn’t felt “poor.”
“Too pricey, let’s see the next one!”
The sales lady promptly showed Chen Ru a lower-floor option per her request.
105 square metres, three bedrooms, two reception rooms, on the fourth floor. It was 200 yuan cheaper per square metre than the 156m² one—4,100 yuan/m². A thirty percent deposit came to 129,000 yuan. With this one, deposit plus reno could be sorted for around 200,000.
But the floor was too low, blocked from afternoon sun by another building. The sales lady rambled on about how it’d stay cool in summer, saving on electricity.
Chen Li shook her head inwardly.
Rongcheng summers were fine, but winters rarely saw sun—good light was a must for a flat.
“Sis, why not go for the 156m² one? Great light, an extra room—perfect for a study for you and Wen Ying.”
Chen Ru thought so too, but the cash wasn’t there!
Chen Li offered to lend money, but Wen Dongrong refused, “Wear shoes that fit your feet. Buying a home’s about your needs and means—how can we borrow for it?”
Borrowing from Chen Li and Deng Shangwei would leave them beholden, and on this, Wen Dongrong and Chen Ru were in full agreement.
Chen Li was stumped, so she asked the sales lady to find a middle ground between floor and size.
The sales lady spoke prettily, but on real issues, it was all “sorry”—three-bedroom units sold best, and good floors were long gone.
“Fine, if there’s nothing, Rongcheng’s got other developments. Let’s look elsewhere.”
Chen Li actually fancied the 156m² unit, but with Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong unable to afford it, her buying it now would feel like showing off.
As the trio turned to leave, a few others walked into the sales office.
What a coincidence—Mr. Wang was flat-hunting today too, with Wang Shuang in tow.
Mr. Wang saw Rongcheng’s property prices soaring, far from peaking. At around 4,000 yuan per square metre, buying a few to sit on could double in two or three years—no effort, just pure profit!
Chen Ru’s group had just a sales lady, but for a big fish like Mr. Wang, the sales manager came out personally.
The sales lady had told Chen Ru no high floors were left for the 105m² unit, yet for Mr. Wang, any floor was available, any layout his pick. Several sales staff buzzed around the Wangs—Mr. Wang liked a unit, and they slapped a red flag on it straight away.
Chen Ru fumed, “This is blatant favouritism!”
The sales lady smiled apologetically, “So sorry, that’s a friend of our boss. He reserved quotas for them to choose from.”
The favouritism was real, no lie there—the boss had set aside units for mates, and the sales lady had no say.
Back home, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong had a bit of clout. Wen Dongrong guarded his reputation and rarely used it, but they, their friends, and family all knew perks were there if they wanted them. In the provincial capital, though, who cared about their face? Their small-town privileges meant squat here.
No one knew what Wen Dongrong was thinking just then. He stayed calm, ever reasonable, “Can’t stop a developer boss from looking after his pals, can you? Let’s not make it awkward for the sales lady—we’ll check elsewhere.”
Chen Ru, still cross, called Chen Li to leave, only to see her staring at the newcomers.
“What’re you gawping at? Do you know this developer’s boss or something?”
“No, sis—”
Chen Li didn’t know the developer, nor had she met Wang Jun, but she recognised Wang Shuang!
Just days ago, Wang Shuang had eaten at her place.
Chen Ru should’ve clocked Wang Shuang too, but last night, her focus was all on Wen Ying and Xie Qian, overlooking Wang Shuang’s face.
Wang Shuang was watching his dad pick flats like cabbages when he looked up and spotted Chen Li.
—Eh, isn’t that Wen Ying’s auntie?
Noticing Chen Ru’s resemblance to Chen Li, Wang Shuang perked up, “Dad, I’ll be right over there.”
He jogged over, “Auntie Chen, what a coincidence—you’re here flat-hunting too?”
Chen Li nodded, “I’m with my sister and brother-in-law to check out the layouts. Sis, this is Wang Shuang, one of Wen Ying’s stall mates.”
Wang Shuang politely greeted them.
He’d guessed right—Chen Li’s companions were indeed Wen Ying’s parents.
Chen Ru responded to Wang Shuang, her mood tangled. She’d rather he hadn’t come over—the flats she and Wen Dongrong couldn’t afford, Wang Shuang’s family picked like it was nothing. With such a gulf between their families, how could Wang Shuang see Wen Ying as a real friend?
With Wang Shuang approaching, Mr. Wang couldn’t sit still either. He came over, introductions were made, and learning Wen Ying’s parents wanted a flat here, Mr. Wang was chuffed!
He’d recommended this development over dinner, and Wen Ying had backed him up.
Now her parents were here to buy, proving Wen Ying wasn’t just flattering him—she genuinely rated his tip.
Mr. Wang felt the thrill of a successful pitch. Plus, with Wen Ying saving Wang Shuang at Changtan Lake, he’d been itching to repay her. Now, he poured that enthusiasm onto Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong, eagerly asking how their flat hunt was going.
Unsure of Mr. Wang’s angle, Wen Dongrong mumbled about not finding the right one.
Mr. Wang was all bravado, “Come on, you two, pick with me. Once we’re done, we’ll slap down deposits together—the property firm’s bound to give us a discount!”
Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong exchanged a glance.
So, what was happening here?!
