After his workout, Lin Chu put a case of nutritional supplements in his car and went to Swan Castle again. Sister Tang, Li Haohong, and the real estate agent were also there.

On the way, Lin Chu mulled over a question.

When he arrived, he exchanged a few pleasantries with her. Then, Lin Chu casually said, "Since there are no problems with the house, I’m good on my end too. Can the price be lowered a little more, Sister Tang?"

’I still don’t even know her name.’

’But it doesn’t matter. I’ll just call her Sister Tang.’

’No need to remember the name of a woman I’m not that interested in.’

She looked a little troubled. After a moment’s thought, she offered a gentle smile. "How about I pay for the agent’s fee and the taxes?"

’That’s a concession, I guess.’

Lin Chu smiled and nodded. "Right, there’s one more thing. Uh, this might be a bit forward, but I have to ask. Have any elderly family members... lived here before? I’m a bit superstitious."

’This is the one downside of a pre-owned house.’

’I heard from that scoundrel of a lawyer that her husband died of a heart attack. If it happened in this house, then fuck... it’s an instant deal-breaker.’

Sister Tang instantly understood what Lin Chu meant and was visibly a little uncomfortable.

The question was, indeed, very forward.

But on second thought, she could understand. It was a worry she would have herself if she were in his shoes.

"No. Before, it was just me. I’d come and stay occasionally when I wanted some peace and quiet."

"I have other houses."

Lin Chu nodded. "Okay, then I have no other questions. We can handle the ownership transfer anytime. I’ll pay in full."

Hearing this, she also let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay. I have the property deed with me, and the lawyer and agent are both here. When do you want to draw up the contract?"

Lin Chu: "We can do it now. It’ll save another trip."

With a lawyer present, all of this was a piece of cake.

Having a partner-level lawyer like Li Haohong handle a simple home purchase contract for him felt like a waste of talent, Lin Chu thought.

Although, Li Haohong seemed to be quite enjoying it.

...

While waiting for the contract to be drawn up, Lin Chu stood there, making small talk with Sister Tang.

She seemed a bit dazed, perhaps reluctant to let go, like a cherished possession being given away.

"Sister Tang, you seem down?"

Lin Chu sensed the gloomy atmosphere and asked with a casual smile as he lit a cigarette.

She glanced over, quickly put on her social mask, and resumed her elegant smile. "Not at all. I’m in a great mood. The deal went through, after all."

"I’m just a little attached to this house."

Lin Chu smiled and nodded. "Sure, no problem. You can come over and be my guest whenever you’re free. I’m still thinking about that collection of yours."

"So, are you under financial pressure? Need to liquidate assets?"

Lin Chu was just making small talk. Waiting was waiting, after all.

Sister Tang pursed her lips slightly. "No, I’m just selling things off. I’ve been learning about a minimalist, decluttering lifestyle recently."

"Ha, then I’m the exact opposite of you. I’m all about addition."

"Sports cars, mansions, buying up everything in sight."

Lin Chu said, a bit mischievously. It seemed he now had a natural instinct when chatting with women to never go along with what they were saying.

’Go along with them and you’re a lapdog.’

’Oppose them and you’re a wolf.’

Sister Tang gave Lin Chu a long look and smiled. "Well, you’re still young. When I was your age, my desire for material things was very strong too."

Her tone was that of someone speaking from experience.

But Lin Chu just chuckled. "I wouldn’t say that. At your age, shouldn’t your ’desire’ be even stronger?"

Her: ?

Suddenly, it dawned on her.

’Was I just... teased?’

She could, of course, tell that the ’desire’ Lin Chu was talking about wasn’t the desire to shop.

Her gaze became a little unnatural. She looked away, responding with silence, and even felt a faint sense of humiliation.

’In the past, who would have dared to speak to me like that?’

’But now...’

Lin Chu wanted to laugh inwardly. ’This woman seems quite innocent. Decades of wealth and an air of nobility, and she’s probably never been teased so flippantly.’

That thought only spurred Lin Chu on. He stared at her with a burning gaze. "What? Am I wrong?"

She offered a polite smile. "I’m going to go check on the contract."

Watching her retreat, Lin Chu couldn’t help but shake his head and smile.

’Can’t even handle that?’

’An older woman’s body with a young girl’s heart.’

In the past, Lin Chu would have often felt his face flush with shame for his own audacity.

’But now... my heart is like iron, indestructible.’

...

One hundred million, minus thirty-six million. His nine-figure net worth was instantly knocked back down to eight figures.

But, he had gained a villa.

A house was, of course, a core asset.

Especially a property in a prime location in a first-tier city. Even if prices fell, they wouldn’t fall by much.

Besides, he was going to live in it himself and would most likely never sell it anyway.

After the entire process was complete, Lin Chu stood gazing at the brilliant sunset and its colorful clouds, holding the big, red property deed and feeling somewhat emotional.

How many people’s youth—or even their entire lives—were buried by one little red booklet?

Add another little red booklet to the mix, and in the eyes of the world, you were a success: house, car, wife, and kids. But as for the true taste of that life, it was like drinking water—only you know if it’s hot or cold.

"Brother Chu, congratulations! A new home calls for a celebration, don’t you think?"

Li Haohong said with a laugh, marveling once again, ’Brother Chu is so damn rich.’

’Thirty-six million.’

’Bought it just like that.’

Of course, the house itself was worth the price, but his extravagant wealth was still enviable.

"Sure, but I haven’t been going to nightclubs recently. Where should we celebrate?"

The shadow of the biochemical soldiers had yet to fade completely.

Li Haohong thought for a moment. "How about a barbecue? The house has no furniture, but the yard is perfect. I know a place; we can have them bring the ingredients and a chef right over. That can be the housewarming."

Lin Chu: "Sounds good. You handle the food, leave the rest to me."

In the group chat.

Lin Chu sent a message to the men’s fitness group: "Bought a villa today. Barbecue tonight, come hang out if you’re free."

He then sent the address.

All sorts of messages immediately flooded the chat.

This wasn’t even considered flexing anymore; this was just Brother Chu’s daily life.

Lin Chu then called Zhang Peng. "Go buy me twenty pounds of Maotai, and a big jar. I’m going to use it to infuse liquor. Oh, and grab two extra cases. We’ll need them for the barbecue tonight."

Zhang Peng: ?

He was a little thrown by that unit of measurement.

’Twenty... pounds?’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’It’s true that’s a precise way to measure for infusing liquor, but this is *Maotai*. I’ll have to convert that into bottles and cases.’

"Sure, I’ll go to Sam’s Club to get it. Need anything else?"

Lin Chu laughed. "Just buy whatever you think we’ll need. My house has nothing in it but a yard. It’s going to be a low-key get-together tonight, nothing fancy."

"Okay, got it."

"Should I call the two assistants? Have them come join the party? I can take them shopping first, then bring them over."

"After the party’s over, someone’s got to clean up the trash, right?"

Zhang Peng was very thorough.

Hearing this, Lin Chu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’You son of a bitch. One’s from Peking University and the other’s from Harbin Institute of Technology, and you want them to be the cleaning crew?’

’This is quite the obedience test.’

’But... it greatly pleases this emperor.’

"Call them..."

...

...