“Buy, buy two?”
The worldly Wen Ying stuttered a bit.
Wen Ying had thought she would need to labour to persuade her mum. She never expected that on the matter of buying a house, her mum Chen Ru’s vision would surpass her own!
Chen Ru’s expression was earnest. “I keep in touch with your Aunt Wu. She is particularly keen for you to attend university in the magic city. I see you fancy aiming for it yourself too, right?”
Wen Ying nodded in admission.
Chen Ru raised her voice. “If you make it to university in the magic city, do you plan to come back? A great city like the magic city surely develops better than Rong City. Either do not go, or if you do, fight to stay! So buying a house in the magic city is inevitable sooner or later. Your Aunt Wu saw the magic city’s house prices rise with her own eyes. She says buying property should be done early rather than late. If no money now, we save for later. But with money in hand, buy early of course.”
Wu Chunqin was not only Chen Ru’s old classmate but also Wen Ying’s landlady in the magic city in her previous life, the “Aunt Wu” who helped her out a great deal back then.
In her previous life, Wen Ying knew Wu Chunqin owned several properties.
She was a strong woman who, after hitting a wall in academia, quit at once to start her own business. Without a rebirth halo, Wu Chunqin still did splendidly.
In her previous life, Wen Ying did not go to the magic city for the New Concept Composition Contest, so Chen Ru did not reconnect with Wu Chunqin so soon.
Even the deepest classmate bond fades without contact over years. Wu Chunqin was no fool; without a special event as hook, she would not randomly urge old classmate Chen Ru to buy in the magic city. For someone narrower of mind, it would not just fail to earn thanks but spark thoughts of Wu Chunqin flaunting her wealth. Magic city houses, after all, were not for ordinary families!
This life was utterly different.
Wen Ying went to the magic city for the contest, so Chen Ru rekindled ties early with old classmate Wu Chunqin. The Wu couple took a real shine to Wen Ying, and the two sides kept up regular contact.
Chen Ru kept inviting the Wu family to Rong City for a visit, but due to various reasons, it kept getting postponed. That did not hinder Wu Chunqin and Chen Ru from bonding over phone chats.
Wu Chunqin’s husband was a professor at a top university, Wu Chunqin a quit-to-entrepreneur boss lady. The pair were a power duo, flush with cash and status to boot.
Yet Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong were no slouches now either!
Wen Dongrong had shifted from a small locale to provincial city work. Pay was minor; the real gain was the career platform.
Chen Ru’s skills shone bright in Rong City’s system, lifting her income and outlook. Chatting with Wu Chunqin, she felt no inferiority, plus with daughter Wen Ying so outstanding, Chen Ru brimmed with confidence.
Wu Chunqin relished ties with the assured, capable Chen Ru, willing to share heartfelt advice, urging her more than once to seize the chance for a magic city buy.
Last year, magic city prices dipped under regulation, and Wu Chunqin pressed Chen Ru to act fast.
Chen Ru was tempted, but the family had just bought two flats in Rong City, draining savings dry. No funds to spare.
Wen Ying’s money… if Wen Ying did not bring it up, Chen Ru would never broach it.
Though no buy then, Chen Ru kept abreast of magic city trends via Wu Chunqin. Now hearing Wen Ying meant to put a million towards a house, Chen Ru’s pro instincts fired up. Funds must be maximised!
Wen Ying wanted it titled to Chen Ru, and Chen Ru did not object, not because she coveted the cash.
With Wen Ying the only child, whose name mattered little. Chen Ru’s was Wen Ying’s. Oh, not quite. Title it to that mutt Wen Dongrong, and who knew if the mutt one day lost his marbles and gifted it to kin.
Not to Shu Lu, no.
Nor to Wen Kai.
Chen Ru did not dislike Wen Kai, even quite liked the boy’s sense. But like or no, he was not her own flesh. No house to him now, none later!
Chen Ru’s inner path, Wen Ying knew not, hence her bafflement.
Wen Ying sought to title it to Chen Ru not from lack of full-cash means. A million-plus bought no river-view mansion, but a standard flat outright? No issue.
Wen Ying simply wanted to buy her mum a house.
The seed took root upon learning “Aunt Wu” was Chen Ru’s old classmate, realising the previous life’s aid stemmed from Chen Ru.
Wen Ying wanted to buy Chen Ru a house. Though Chen Ru was stubborn and overbearing, and the mother-daughter pair at daggers drawn in the prior life, that changed nothing of Chen Ru’s sacrifices for her.
No money then, fine. Now with tens of millions earned, what sting in sparing a tenth for Mum?
Unlike Old Wen, who in the prior life went mad, deeming Wen Ying wanting, to control and toy with her. First funnelled family resources to Shu Lu, then threatened disinheritance via adopted young cousin… Such a plastic dad, great change this life or no, no titling the house to him!
Mother and daughter’s thoughts raced on crossed tracks, yet wondrously converged upon Wen Dongrong, forging two accords:
First, buy the magic city house.
Second, do not title it to Wen Dongrong!
Consensus eased talk.
Learning Wen Ying had Mrs Wang scout properties, Chen Ru trusted Mrs Wang’s eye somewhat, but buying was grave. Rely wholly on others? No.
Must see personally to decide. Rise or fall, one’s own choice, no blame elsewhere.
Chen Ru decided on the spot. “I shall go to the magic city this weekend, view the houses first. Thus, I ask your little aunt if she joins, let her weigh in too.”
Chen Li once urged Chen Ru to buy in Rong City. Now Chen Ru urged Chen Li for the magic city. Good fortune must not leave kin sister behind.
Chen Ru’s thoughts clear, words ordered, had fully swept Wen Ying’s rhythm. To play the dutiful, sweet daughter now, whatever Manager Chen said, so be it.
Wen Dongrong tried chiming in several times, each glared back by Chen Ru’s eyes.
So, I leave?
Leave then. Earth spun sans anyone!
Wen Dongrong fumed to his study for a sulk.
So vexed.
Family rank plunged a thousand feet.
Utter shame and disgrace!
Wen Dongrong even handed over his pay. This time, not coveting the house, but such a weighty matter, Chen Ru and Wen Ying bypassing his say left him deeply miffed.
Was he, in this home, now dispensable?
Wen Dongrong flushed red with ire, fists clenched, yanked open the drawer hard.
Piled within, many documents, for an important file Wen Dongrong drafted of late.
He was a wordsmith, yet not the leader’s must-have quill. He must evolve to that!
A man turning ire to drive was fearsome, for endless fury bred endless fuel.
Wen Dongrong buckled down in the study. Black-hearted-cotton daughter and rouge-tiger wife spared no coax. Chen Ru now indulged him not. Hearing his door slam, she scarce batted an eye, sipped water, and charged Wen Ying:
“This I handle. You need not fret.”
Wen Ying nodded like a pestle. “I know. My task is to study well…”
The textbook-perfect reply drew Chen Ru’s laugh, half-bloomed then quashed. She feigned stern. “Good you know. A whole summer gallivanting, homework crammed the day before term. Senior year now, and still not focused! Buying in the magic city now, fail to make its uni next year, would that not draw mockery?”
