Although the glasses-wearing girl appeared somewhat naive, she was quite knowledgeable and did not need to look up much information about the commercial properties.
"According to your request, there is a large duplex available near Beicheng Park, with 538 square meters, spanning two floors. It is very suitable for high-end dining. The owner is in urgent need of money, so it is available for both rent and sale. This location is 100 meters from the park's parking lot, with green landscaping in between, offering a quiet retreat from the bustling city. The only downside is the high price, comparable to some commercial properties."
The glasses-wearing girl was straightforward, stating the high price bluntly without any attempt at euphemism, which left the manager nearby feeling a bit awkward.
"Let's go, this is it. Let's take a look."
Xü Zhengyang was not interested in hearing more. No matter the price, this location was indeed the most suitable.
Beicheng Park, known as the "green lung of San Tai City," is rich in vegetation and experiences a high volume of foot traffic. The surrounding shops are nestled in greenery, which, while not as prominent as bustling commercial areas, aligns perfectly with Cheng Baola's focus on healthy dining.
What could be healthier than dining next to a green lung?
The glasses-wearing girl immediately called the owner, who happened to be nearby. Xü Zhengyang and the others wasted no time and drove straight to the location.
As they approached Beicheng Park, the air noticeably became fresher and cleaner. The sounds of birds chirping, children playing, and elderly people playing chess, occasionally accompanied by the sound of a fitness enthusiast snapping a whip, created a tranquil atmosphere that seemed to block out industrial noise.
Their mood lifted considerably.
They parked directly in front of the target property. The street here was narrow, with a single lane in each direction, serving only park traffic, so there were few vehicles and low speeds.
Upon getting out of the car, they saw a middle-aged man standing in front of the property, wearing a coat and holding a cigarette, looking troubled and lost in thought.
"Hello, are you Mr. Zhao?"
The glasses-wearing girl approached and asked.
"Are you here to view the property? Please come in."
The man forced a smile, stubbed out his cigarette, and greeted them politely.
The property had a front hall and a spacious open area inside, with two support columns and a thick corridor forming a second floor around the ceiling. It was a large duplex structure.
"I've never rented it since buying it. I originally planned to use it myself, but due to some family issues and urgent financial needs, I have to put it up for rent. If you're interested, the price is definitely fair! It's also available for sale!"
The man spoke sincerely.
Xü Zhengyang and Cheng Baola exchanged glances, both agreeing that this was an excellent location and probably didn't need further viewing.
However, for safety's sake, they decided to check both the upstairs and downstairs.
During their conversation with the owner, they learned that his two children were suffering from severe illnesses, including muscle atrophy. A special medication had been developed in the country, but each vial cost more than ten thousand yuan, and at least four vials were needed for treatment. This was in addition to the exorbitant hospital fees. The thick stack of test results he carried made Xü Zhengyang and the others feel a pang of sympathy.
A once well-off family was nearly ruined but still short on funds.
Xü Zhengyang nodded, deciding to proceed with the decision.
Just then, a blue Maserati pulled up to the property. A man in his thirties, with slicked-back hair and black gloves, and a woman, who turned out to be Xiaoya from the agency, got out of the car. Xiaoya, holding documents, walked directly toward them with the man.
As Xü Zhengyang and his group had just left the agency, this man arrived at the same time, seeking to rent the same property. The glasses-wearing girl had confirmed the owner was there, so they didn't need to greet him and went straight to the property.
Xü Zhengyang frowned. Although he wasn't familiar with agency practices, it seemed rude to interfere with someone else's clients.
The man's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Cheng Baola, clearly astonished by her beauty. He was visibly appreciative of her figure.
Cheng Baola furrowed her brow under his unrelenting gaze.
"And you are?"
Mr. Zhao asked, puzzled.
"We're also here to view the property. It's for rent or sale, and my client would like to see it. He just returned from doing business in the UK!"
Xiaoya emphasized the client's recent return from the UK and gave a meaningful glance at Xü Zhengyang.
Seeing Xü Zhengyang looking at her, Xiaoya quickly turned her gaze away, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Xü Zhengyang, however, only smiled coldly in his heart.
It seemed Xiaoya believed that being sophisticated meant doing such things.
Indeed, the man wore an expensive bespoke suit, gloves, had slicked-back hair, and was polite but also had a scruffy beard.
"Hello!"
He greeted Mr. Zhao with a nod and a confident smile.
"Uh... if you wouldn't mind waiting a moment, they were here first. If they decide they don't want it, you can look afterward."
Mr. Zhao, being considerate, spoke hesitantly to the man.
"Oh, that's fine!"
The man waved his hand dismissively, then turned to Cheng Baola with a smile:
"This beautiful lady, it's a pleasure to meet you. May I have the honor of knowing you? To be honest, I've spent over a decade in the UK and have never seen a lady as beautiful as you!"
He said, removing his gloves in a gentlemanly manner, bowing slightly, and extending his hand towards Cheng Baola.
It was clear he intended to perform the aristocratic hand-kissing gesture.
Cheng Baola simply waved her hand politely and said "Hi," rejecting the gesture.
This left the man slightly awkward. He responded:
"It's alright."
Xü Zhengyang and his group were stunned. What was "alright"? It sounded as if someone had wronged him, and now he was being apologized to.
Xiaoya, however, said with a cold expression:
"Mr. Peter is offering you a hand-kissing gesture. If you had any manners, you would extend your hand to cooperate, rather than showing such a lack of etiquette."
Xü Zhengyang casually replied:
"I suggest you read more. Hand-kissing is reserved for married women and is forbidden for young women. If the lady does not extend her hand, there's no need for the gesture. Understood?"
Xiaoya's face reddened with frustration. Her intuition told her that Xü Zhengyang's words might not be true and were meant to embarrass her, but she couldn't be sure.
The "fake foreigner" didn't refute it, so could it be true?
The glasses-wearing girl stifled a laugh, her lips pursed.
Xiaoya's face grew hotter.
Peter, meanwhile, remained a gentleman, smiling and repeatedly saying:
"It's alright, it's alright. Have you two ladies decided on this property?
I've taken a quick look and really like it. I don't think I need to see any other properties; this one is perfect."
"Sorry, we... have already decided."
Cheng Baola looked at Xü Zhengyang, who nodded, before smiling and confirming.
"Oh, in that case, I'll let it go to you. Competing with such a beautiful lady is indeed beneath my dignity."
Peter said with a grin.
Xü Zhengyang and Cheng Baola were baffled.
It seemed like they were the ones who came first, and the owner, Mr. Zhao, had mentioned first-come-first-served.
Why was it as if they had stolen it from him?