Ms Chen Ru had spent two consecutive weeks rushing to the Magic City to view properties. Referencing suggestions from Mrs Wang and the agent Yao Xiaojia, and with help from her old classmate Wu Chunqin, she ultimately selected two flats in a new development in Xuhui District.
The flats were priced at 12,000 yuan per square metre, available in two layouts: a 97-square-metre two-bedroom and a 157-square-metre three-bedroom. Chen Ru bought one large and one small, and according to the budget provided by Wen Ying, she paid a 40% down payment on the total price for both. The down payments alone exceeded 1.2 million yuan!
The 97-square-metre flat was designed as just two bedrooms, which would seem utterly luxurious in a first-tier city a decade or so later.
Not to mention 97 square metres; even 87 square metres would typically be made into three bedrooms for better marketability, as three-bedroom flats better meet a family’s living needs!
The 157-square-metre flat was even more so; making it into four bedrooms would be entirely normal. Not only in the Magic City, where housing prices were outrageously high as a first-tier metropolis, but in any location across the country, a 157-square-metre commodity flat could hardly be called small. It was ample for a family to live comfortably.
Turning a flat that could be three bedrooms into two, and one that could be four into merely three, meant sacrificing the number of rooms for brighter, more spacious interiors and a far more comfortable living experience!
From viewing properties to deciding on the purchase, Chen Ru had been cautious in her thinking but swift in her actions. She had not troubled Wen Ying in the slightest, nor consulted Wen Dongrong. She had made the decision entirely on her own.
Upon her triumphant return, Manager Chen summoned her husband Wen Dongrong and daughter Wen Ying and announced the results of her two expeditions to the Magic City.
Those qualified to attend Manager Chen’s victory report conference also included her younger sister and deputy in the house-hunting mission, Chen Li, as well as Deng Shangwei, who lately got on so well with his brother-in-law Wen Dongrong that they might as well have shared the same trousers.
Chen Li felt that her elder sister had a sharp eye and decisive action. She gazed at Chen Ru with eyes full of adoring stars.
As for Deng Shangwei… he was merely qualified to attend the victory report conference. How could he dare voice any opinions? Years of experience had long taught Deng Shangwei the rules of survival.
First, do not anger his wife Chen Li.
Second, do not anger his wife’s elder sister.
The latter was a top priority in execution!
Only Wen Dongrong was thick-headed, repeatedly defeated yet still challenging Manager Chen’s authority. He raised an objection to the 12,000 yuan per square metre price. Chen Ru chuckled, “Do you think the Magic City is Rong City? Chunqin says buying property is all about location. Securing flats at this unit price in this spot is already a great deal. If Chunqin had not called in a favour from a friend, I would not have snagged these two!”
The location in Xujiahui was, of course, excellent.
Wen Ying recognised the development’s name as soon as she heard it; it sounded familiar.
“Does Auntie Wu have a flat in this development too?”
Chen Ru nodded, “Yes, a 157-square-metre one. So not only did I buy, but your little aunt bought two as well.”
Chen Ru thought Wen Ying might have an objection too. She lifted her chin, her gaze carrying a hint of menace.
Wen Ying nodded emphatically, “Mum, you are truly brilliant. I think these two flats are an excellent buy. We can just sit back and wait for them to appreciate!”
Flattery could pierce any armour, and Wen Ying’s tone was sincere. Chen Ru felt that her two weeks of relentless travel had been worth it.
Then, thinking of Wen Ying’s 92nd place in the year in her latest monthly exam, Chen Ru’s mood soared.
Little did she know that Wen Ying’s attention had already shifted from the flats themselves.
In her previous life, Wu Chunqin had bought quite a few properties. Apart from the one rented to Wen Ying, Wu Chunqin had never specifically told her where the others were located.
Why, then, did Wen Ying know distinctly that Wu Chunqin had property in this development?
Because Wu Chunqin and Professor Shen’s only son, Shen Huan, was a utter wastrel. In 2018, he secretly sold off his parents’ flat in the development. By the next year, when Wu Chunqin discovered it, the over ten million yuan from the sale had been squandered entirely by Shen Huan.
This incident caused a massive uproar in the Wu family.
Shen Huan was not short of money at ordinary times. For a young man in his twenties to blow through over ten million yuan in less than a year, and then refuse to account for where it went, was shocking enough. When the matter came to light, his face twisted in rage as he screamed at his parents. This struck Wu Chunqin and Professor Shen a heavy blow.
One a successful businesswoman, the other a highly educated professor: how could the son they raised turn out like this?
The couple simply could not accept the reality.
Especially Professor Shen, who had devoted his life to teaching and nurturing talent, producing many outstanding students, yet failed to raise his own son properly.
Shen Huan’s tantrums at home were loud and furious. The university staff housing area was small, and the neighbours were long-time colleagues who knew each other inside out. With such a commotion in the Shen household, how could they not hear something? Though the colleagues did not pry openly, Professor Shen felt too ashamed to face anyone.
In just a few days, the couple had visibly withered.
By then, Wen Ying had been living with the Wu couple for several years, evolving from a mere tenant to a close junior. She would occasionally bring gifts when visiting. She happened to witness the wreckage after Shen Huan had smashed things up at home.
The room was littered with shattered porcelain. Wu Chunqin’s hand was cut, and Professor Shen fumbled hurriedly for the medicine box to bandage his wife’s wound. Wen Ying thought burglars had broken in and nearly called the police, but Wu Chunqin stopped her, saying family scandals should not be aired publicly.
Wen Ying had stumbled upon the Wu couple in their disarray. Wu Chunqin, who had bottled up her distress for days, found an outlet in Wen Ying and poured out a few words. That was how Wen Ying learned just how much of a wastrel Shen Huan was.
Wu Chunqin murmured to herself in self-reflection for a long time, pinpointing the sole suspect cause: she should not have sent Shen Huan abroad so early.
Most people study abroad after high school. Wu Chunqin and Professor Shen were enlightened parents who respected Shen Huan’s wishes. They had sent him abroad right after junior high graduation.
The outcome had evidently not been good.
Too young, with his values not yet fully formed, Shen Huan had transformed from a sweet, obedient child into a monster.
Later, Wen Ying had discussed the matter with He Zhen. He Zhen had met Shen Huan twice but never commented on him. Only when Wen Ying brought up Shen Huan’s villainy did He Zhen reveal a secret: Shen Huan was addicted to drugs!
Wen Ying was stunned.
Shen Huan had a drug addiction?
He Zhen said he had not known on the first meeting, but realised it on the second. That time, he had encountered Shen Huan in the men’s restroom, where the smell on him was unmistakable.
The scent of drug use: He Zhen knew it well. During his studies in Britain, people in his circle had used drugs. No amount of cologne could mask that odour.
In the mainland, with strict anti-drug enforcement, users hid away to consume in secret. Few would dare use in the restroom of a high-end restaurant.
This revealed at least two things: first, Shen Huan carried drugs on him at all times; second, his addiction was severe enough that even the short time dining with Wen Ying and He Zhen was too much to bear. He had to sneak off to the restroom to use!
But how had Shen Huan gotten into drugs?
He Zhen was unfazed.
Overseas students, free from parental oversight, alone in a foreign land, faced far too many temptations.
It might have started with mere curiosity, seeing others use and wanting to try. At first for fun, then impossible to quit.
Or perhaps he had not wanted to, but someone slipped him a laced cigarette or the like, deliberately leading him astray.
He Zhen did not know which it was for Shen Huan, but he always kept his distance from drug users. After discovering Shen Huan’s habit, He Zhen never met him again and even subtly discouraged Wen Ying from seeing him.
Wen Ying drew in a sharp breath.
She thought He Zhen was right not to expose Shen Huan on the spot, but he should at least have warned her, to prepare her mentally!
He Zhen countered, “And then what? You would go and tell the Shen family? Professor Shen and his wife are both respectable people. A son with a drug addiction is a massive scandal. If you broke that open, your relationship with the Shens would be over too.”
He Zhen had spotted Shen Huan’s drug use after just a second meeting.
Wu Chunqin and Professor Shen were his parents, with far more chances to be together as a family. Why had the couple not noticed?
Was it a lack of care for Shen Huan, or had they discovered it but kept it quiet? Both possibilities existed.
Wen Ying was close to Wu Chunqin, but not that close. On what grounds could she meddle in their family affairs?
Wen Ying thought of the property Shen Huan had secretly sold, and her eyelids twitched.
At that time, Wen Ying had not yet known Wu Chunqin was Chen Ru’s classmate. But ever since Wen Ying went to the Magic City to make her way, Wu Chunqin had always looked after her. As for Shen Huan’s drug use, if Wen Ying had not known, fine; but since she did, she could not pretend ignorance.
He Zhen thought that exposing it would ruin Wen Ying’s relationship with the Wu couple. Wen Ying, however, figured that if it ended, so be it. Even if the couple distanced themselves from her because of it, she only sought a clear conscience!
In the end, before Wen Ying could tell the Wu couple, she had blinked and found herself back in the middle school entrance exam hall.
