Chapter 110 The Neighbors Are Coming
"Didn't Meilin drink too?" Yun Zijin asked as she glanced at her mechanical assistant.
"I can drink a lot, so I'm not drunk," Meilin replied, her tone devoid of emotion.
Wang Minli looked back and forth between Yun Zijin and Meilin several times, eventually choosing to compromise. "Okay, then I'll go back and rest. But, Miss, if anything happens, please call me immediately. I have a light sleep and will wake up right away if you need me."
"I know, I know. Don't worry, I'll call you if there's anything," Yun Zijin reassured her, nodding.
After Wang Minli left, Yun Zijin returned to her room to wash up. Meilin, meanwhile, waited patiently in the living room. Once the sounds from Yun Zijin's room quieted down, Meilin returned to her own room.
The next morning, the familiar system alert chimed in:
[Consumption Task: Please spend 3,000,000.00 before midnight tonight. Task Reward: To be unlocked.]
Hearing Suibianhua's punctual wake-up call, Yun Zijin groggily opened her eyes.
Before she could fully wake up, there was a knock at her bedroom door.
"Knock, knock, knock…"
Yun Zijin frowned. Who would come knocking so early? She got out of bed, rubbed her face to wake herself up, and opened the door to find Aunt Wang standing there.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Miss, we have visitors," Aunt Wang informed her.
"Visitors? Who? At this hour?"
"They claim to be residents of Villa 2. I've seen them around the community, but I can't be sure if they really live there. Since you weren't awake yet and it would have been rude to leave them outside, I invited them into the living room."
"The neighbors from Villa 2?" Yun Zijin raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Were they here to build a neighborly rapport?
"Please entertain them for now. I'll come down after I've washed up," she said, deciding to maintain her usual pace rather than rush for strangers.
"Of course, Miss. Take your time; there's no need to hurry," Aunt Wang replied, leaving to greet the guests.
Twenty minutes later, Yun Zijin descended the stairs, dressed and refreshed. From the landing, she could see the guests in the living room—a family of three, smiling as if they had no care in the world.
The middle-aged woman was the first to speak, her voice warm and affable. "This must be Miss Yun. We've heard so much about the mysterious owner of Villa 1. Unfortunately, we were abroad for quite some time and only just returned. Forgive us for visiting you so late."
Yun Zijin reached the first floor, her expression polite but reserved. She greeted them briefly: "Hello."
After the greeting, silence filled the room. Yun Zijin didn't know them and wasn't interested in making small talk.
"Miss Yun, do you live here alone?" the middle-aged man asked abruptly, delving into personal matters without hesitation.
Yun Zijin's expression tightened slightly. What business was it of his?
"No. This house is full of bodyguards and servants," she replied coolly.
The man's smile stiffened momentarily. Clearly, that wasn't the answer he had expected. "What I meant was, you seem to be the only one in charge here. We've been waiting for twenty minutes, but no one else came to greet us."
Yun Zijin inwardly rolled her eyes. So Aunt Wang isn't human now?
"Everyone in the Imperial Capital knows I grew up in an orphanage. Oh, but you mentioned you were abroad recently, so it makes sense that you wouldn't know. By the way, what brings you here so early in the morning? You're the first neighbors to visit me," she said bluntly.
The middle-aged woman plastered on a flattering smile. "Miss Yun is truly young and accomplished—living in such a villa at your age!"
"It was a gift from my elders," Yun Zijin replied curtly, shutting down further discussion.
The young man sitting with the couple, clearly impatient, interjected. "Let's get straight to the point. We came to discuss something important with Miss Yun."
"Go on," Yun Zijin said, her tone still polite but her patience waning.
"We heard that Miss Yun is the landlord of Dingsi Building!" the man said, his eyes lighting up.
Yun Zijin raised an eyebrow. How well-informed. They'd been acting clueless moments ago, yet here they were, dropping insider knowledge.
"Yes, Dingsi Building is under my name. But what does that have to do with your visit today?" she asked, puzzled.
"I happen to run a small company, and we've rented office space in Dingsi Building," the man replied, trying to sound casual.
"Really? What a coincidence," she said dryly. So?
"Well…" The man's tone shifted to one of ingratiation. "Our company is currently facing some financial difficulties, and it'll take at least three months for our cash flow to stabilize. Since we're neighbors, I was wondering if Miss Yun might consider offering us a 'neighborly rate' for the rent."
"Neighborly rate?" she echoed, incredulous. Where did these people get such audacity?
"Yes! As neighbors, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to charge such high rent. We're only asking for a small discount—let's say 50% off. In return, we'll sign a long-term contract and pay rent quarterly."
Yun Zijin stared at him in disbelief. Was this a joke? Or had she just met the most shameless person in the world?
"Excuse me, but do I know you?" she asked, her voice frosty.
The man bristled. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you refusing? We're neighbors—why can't you show a little generosity? How selfish can you be?"
Yun Zijin smirked. "Oh yes, I'm so selfish. Please go tell everyone. After all, I wouldn't want my mood ruined by neighbors like you."
She stood up abruptly, her tone final. "There will be no discounts. The rent for this quarter has already been paid, so I won't trouble you further. But please ensure next quarter's rent is paid on time. Otherwise, I'll terminate the lease. I haven't had breakfast yet, so I won't be seeing you out. Please leave."
Without waiting for their reaction, she strode toward the dining room, leaving the stunned family sitting in awkward silence.
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