Chapter 119: Touring the Mansion, I Am Your Elder (Bonus for Accumulated Tips 2)

Sophie, a name that sounds a bit bashful.

Returning to the back office of the BMW dealership at the auto show, Zhang Long kept his appointment. He felt being a good friend to Liu Yurong was worth it; he wanted to pull some investment for her. Anyone who could pay in full for a top-trim 740 without blinking an eye must certainly have substantial means.

...

"An art studio?" Zhang Long asked, puzzled.

"Yes." Sophie nodded, sighing with a helpless tone. "Yurong’s studio actually has a very good net income every year; it brings in over a million. It’s just that some things happened, and she ran into a major crisis. Recently, she’s been looking to sell it off."

"Why ask me?"

Sophie was blunt. "Seeing you step forward to stand up for Yurong today, at least you count as a good person. Besides, the way you look at Yurong is very clear—at the very least, much cleaner than that Lin Yuan."

Zhang Long broke into a cold sweat; he’d just been handed a "good guy" card.

"An investment really wouldn't be a loss." Sophie pursed her lips. "It’s just that the payback period will be longer—three or five years, perhaps."

*Ah, in that case, why are you even bringing it up?*

Besides, if she were saying three or five years, it was certainly longer than that. No matter what, Liu Yurong had some foundation; she shouldn't be unable to bear the pressure of three or five million. If she were selling both her house and her studio, it was clear that a simple mortgage loan wasn't enough.

"What about Sister Liu’s husband?"

"Dead."

Hearing that, Sophie’s temper flared, and she became quite indignant. "Yurong’s marriage and life were originally perfect. She was our department’s goddess and belle back in school; she is an incredibly kind person. Her husband was actually quite decent too. Although he wasn't in our department, he was a talented and prominent figure in school at the time, and he treated Yurong very well."

"But who would have thought he’d get carried away."

Zhang Long listened quietly. Sophie didn't elaborate further, simply stating, "Anyway, he didn't have the ability, and in the end, he ruined everything. With a net worth of tens of millions, he got arrogant, couldn't handle it, and jumped off a building."

*Ugh, that’s a real headache.*

To have squandered tens of millions and reach a point where one couldn't face family or reality and had to jump—just how big was the hole? Could it be over a hundred million?

"It’s not as much as you think." Sophie shrugged and curled her lip. "Although I’m speaking ill of the dead, he truly deserved it. After selling off all the assets, the hole wasn't actually that big. It was mainly that he couldn't handle the transition from being a 'favorite of the heavens' to having nothing; his pride was too strong. Jumping off to avoid reality was irresponsible to his family. Dead is dead."

...

In truth, it wasn't as simple as Sophie described.

Whether it was the Bund property, Liu Yurong’s art studio, or even their own luxury home, everything had been secretly mortgaged by Liu’s husband. Strictly speaking, she was more than just penniless—she was drowning in debt and couldn't accept it.

With him dead, the loan sharks wouldn't let Liu Yurong pay back the debt slowly over ten or eight years. Because of that, they kept pressing for payment, and she had no choice but to sell her assets. This was only after Liu Yurong’s parents sold their own property to fill part of the void, giving her a moment to breathe; otherwise, she would have been crushed.

One reason Sophie approached Zhang Long was that he hadn't squeezed the price too hard when buying Liu Yurong’s property. Though he did shave off 200,000, if she had waited to sell it off slowly, not to mention the time cost, it would likely have capped out at 5 million. He had actually been quite generous.

"Did the buyers drive the price down?"

Sophie nodded with a sigh. "The studio property is certainly valuable. The current buyers are all trying to shave off hundreds of thousands. It’s normal for urgent assets to be undervalued, but shaving off 200,000 or 300,000 is one thing—shaving off a million is excessive. It’s infuriating."

"It’s not that simple, is it?" Zhang Long’s instincts were sharp. Sophie admitted as much with a nod. "The loan sharks are pulling strings behind the scenes."

Of course, that was just a guess. But it didn't need guessing; if several buyers were simultaneously driving the price down hard, it would be strange if there wasn't something fishy going on. By acquiring Liu Yurong’s property at a low price, the difference would still have to be paid by her later. One round trip, and that was two million gone. They were calculating quite craftily.

"I’ll consider it."

Zhang Long didn't agree immediately. Even though he wasn't short on cash in his bank account, and while he’d help someone in an emergency, he wasn't about to help the permanently destitute. Strictly speaking, he had no relationship with Liu Yurong—she was just a tenant or a property seller. An investment that took at least five years to break even—what was the point?

"Okay, thank you." Sophie knew she couldn't force it. An investment that wouldn't pay back for three to five years—unless one was absolutely flush with cash or had designs on Liu Yurong, no one would invest.

After interacting today, Zhang Long seemed like a good person—young, handsome, and wealthy. If it could actually work out...?

"Do car models make good money?"

Suddenly, Zhang Long asked. Sophie responded noncommittally, "Average ones don't make much, and it’s not tied to vehicle sales. I only pulled her in to do a three-day part-time gig to help her out; she might earn 100,000. You saw the results yourself; her figure, looks, and temperament were very eye-catching and boosted sales. The other colleagues who were responsible with me just turned a blind eye."

...

"Sis, where’s brother-in-law?"

In a room in an old residential complex in the northern suburbs of Shanghai, Luo Xin couldn't help but ask her older sister. Lately, her sister had been spending less time at home on her days off, and she was always immersed in her phone with a dreamy expression. It would be strange if she weren't in love.

Most importantly, she had recently splurged on new clothes and upgraded her medication.

"Busy making money." Luo Man didn't explain much. Although she really wanted to bring Zhang Long home to meet her relatives, she didn't want him to see the bleakness of her home life. It was a contradiction. In a word, she still lacked the confidence that she could fully walk the path with Zhang Long; their relationship felt tenuous.

"You should still bring him home to see us." Luo Xin couldn't help but urge her. "You have to be clear with him about our family’s situation. You can’t just blindly spend his money, you know? You’ll lose yourself. Also, my health is much better; my congenital condition isn't at the point of being terminal yet."

"Pah, pah, pah! What are you saying?" Luo Man quickly spat to ward off the bad luck, then flicked her sister’s forehead—not too hard. "It’s fine if you don't want to have the heart transplant, but you have to upgrade the medication when it’s time. I can afford it for now. Don't worry about the financial side."

"Mm, I know." Luo Xin nodded silently.

However, she had more free time at university and could make money too, but she hadn't told her family yet. Her family wouldn't let her do part-time work.

"Sis, is brother-in-law handsome?"

"Quite handsome." Luo Man knew what her sister wanted to see, so she didn't hide it anymore and took out her phone to share. "Look, this is him. His name is Zhang Long. He’s my classmate from university and works in finance. Handsome, right?"

"Wow, so handsome!" Luo Xin saw some photos of Zhang Long and her sister on outings and her eyes lit up. Her brother-in-law had a great build and was very handsome—sunny and refined.

"Let Mom see later." Luo Xin said in surprise, but Luo Man shook her head. "Don't say anything yet."

"Uh, why?" Luo Xin tilted her head, confused. Luo Man didn't explain further, just telling Luo Xin to keep it quiet for now. If anyone asked during the Lunar New Year, they would talk then.

...

"Tell me, what’s wrong?"

In Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, at the Broken Bridge on West Lake, which was crowded with people, Qin Miaotong asked Liang Xue, who was quiet and serene beside her. Emotional setbacks? It would have been better to sleep for three days in Shanghai over the New Year holiday, but she had to insist on visiting this crappy West Lake. Xu Xian and the White Snake were fake, anyway.

"Uh, what’s wrong with what?" Liang Xue played dumb. Neither West Lake nor the myths were what attracted her; she only came because this was the city where Zhang Long grew up. She wanted to walk through the traces of his upbringing, so she had come inexplicably. Besides, what was the point of hiding in Shanghai during the holidays? Aside from eating, drinking, and sleeping, it was boring.

"Hmph, go ahead and bottle it up." Qin Miaotong saw through her and called her out. "Aside from your family asking for money from time to time, the only thing that would make you act like this is emotional trouble. You can't hide that. We’re so close, we share a bed once or twice a month, you think you can fool me?"

"Tch, I can't be bothered with you." Liang Xue was noncommittal. She didn't need to tell anyone about her emotional troubles; she could bear them herself. What good would it do to tell her best friend? It wouldn't solve the problem.

"You’re just too passive." Qin Miaotong was actually very clever. Her eyes flashed as she said indignantly, "You have to be proactive when you need to be. I believe there aren't many men who wouldn't be tempted by you. Your looks and figure are all there—even if you are a bit thin and lack curves. But boney is sexy. Plus, your cooking is excellent. To catch a man, you have to catch his stomach—that’s a no-brainer. Unless he already has someone."

Liang Xue’s body trembled slightly. Qin Miaotong naturally noticed; anyone not a fool could guess. "If it’s not your client, it must be a colleague at work, hmph. It’s only natural that a genius like me could guess it. But so what if he has someone? As long as they aren't married, you can snatch him."

Qin Miaotong spoke with passion, but Liang Xue didn't want to hear it anymore and interrupted, "Alright, don't worry about my affairs. You should worry about your own family. Aren't they making you go back home to get married? Do you dare to go home for the New Year?"

The target turned back on her. Qin Miaotong’s passion instantly stalled. She said unhappily, "Getting married is just for the dowry. I’m well aware of that. Forget it, every family has its own difficult scripture to recite. We’ll see about going home for the New Year. Aren't you in the same boat?"

With that, both women sighed silently and said no more.

...

"Brother, goodnight."

That night, Zhang Long hung up on the video call from Lin Yuan with a dark expression; the kid did it on purpose. He had just gotten back, got a haircut, and was home playing games. He’d gone out for dinner and spent the rest of the time racing—it was great.

Then Lin Yuan’s video call came in. The kid was with two female companions from the auto show tonight. That’s right, Lily was there too. The three of them had just showered at the hotel and were about to start doing "indescribable" things. Lin Yuan had called to let Zhang Long watch, and Lily even made faces at him, as if to say, *If you don't eat, someone else will.*

Infuriating. He really wanted to beat Lin Yuan up.

Today, having shown a certain level of financial strength in front of Lin Yuan, the guy’s attitude had become more casual and intimate. He wouldn't have done this before. He considered Zhang Long a friend, which was why he was teasing him.

"Where are you? Want to come out for a drink?"

Suddenly, a WeChat message popped up. Zhang Long looked down and saw Qian Caiying had sent a location for a bar. He was already frustrated and someone was inviting him out, so he closed his computer and left.

He arrived shortly after. The location was right along the Bund; Qian Caiying never invited him too far away.

"Hm? So fast?" Qian Caiying was alone, silently enjoying the singer on stage in a small booth. Suddenly, someone sat next to her and picked up a glass to pour wine. She turned to see it was Zhang Long and couldn't help but giggle. "Not happy? You have 'frustrated' written all over your face."

"Every month, there are a few days when things are normal."

Gulping down a mouthful of champagne, Zhang Long responded noncommittally to Qian Caiying. "Speak, what is it? Don't tell me you just wanted to see me. Boring."

"Tch, you’re quite full of yourself." Qian Caiying curled her lip. "Liang Xue went to Hangzhou for a trip. Do you want to go and give her a surprise?"

Zhang Long paused, then poured more wine. *Tonight, let’s get drunk. Cheers!*

...

"Phew, it’s noon?"

Morning came, and Zhang Long woke up naturally. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no one else in bed next to him. He had forgotten how he even got home last night.

Shaking his dizzy, throbbing head, he stopped thinking about troublesome, headache-inducing problems and got up to wash.

It was better to make money on trading days. Once busy, there were no worries, and making money was very happy. *Hurry up, I want to make money.* If an ordinary wage earner or a second-generation heir without talent like Lin Yuan heard this, they would probably want to kill Zhang Long—it was too infuriating.

But even if it was infuriating, one had to admit that making money was indeed satisfying. Once addicted, one only wanted to make more. Just like Chen Youwei, who was very rich but still played with stocks or other investments despite losing money—he still played. The result was important, but the process was even more so.

"A flat or a villa?"

In the afternoon, Zhang Long looked at some boutique luxury homes in the Bund or Lujiazui area. The price per square meter was basically between 70,000 and 80,000. Of course, he could buy a large flat and a villa together; there were mixed communities with villa areas on the east side and high-rises on the west.

Of course, separate ones were better.

During the New Year holiday, major real estate projects had certain discounts, but Zhang Long didn't pay much attention. His card had sufficient funds; he didn't need to worry about small discounts. As long as the property and location were high quality, price wasn't a problem. Luxury homes weren't like the ordinary residential complex he lived in now; he couldn't just buy one for a few million without thinking. He had to carefully select and compare many places before deciding.

So, Zhang Long’s plan was to focus on looking and comparing for the time being. Buying would depend on what caught his eye. A pile of money sitting in a bank card—why not spend it? Whatever should be bought, buy, buy!

He had his luxury car; now he needed a luxury home to match.

The afternoon of the 2nd and the day of the 3rd flew by. The New Year holiday was coming to an end. Zhang Long thought it would pass without incident, but he didn't expect to suddenly receive a WeChat message from Sophie on the night of the 3rd: *Help! I can't hold out anymore, come save Liu Yurong!*

"Miss Liu, are you raising fish?"

In a private room at a restaurant, the round table was filled with people. The atmosphere was quite heated, with everyone pushing cups and changing topics to urge others to drink. Among them were Sophie and Liu Yurong, whom Zhang Long knew, but both women were already a bit drunk.

They were swaying, barely able to stand.

At the head of the table, a bespectacled, refined-looking young man kept his gaze on Liu Yurong. His heart was burning with excitement—what a masterpiece. It was a pity someone didn't know their place; if Sophie hadn't blocked many of the drinks, he would have already achieved his goal. *Once she’s drunk, I’ll just help her upstairs and get to work!*

"Bang!" Suddenly, the door opened.

The refined young man and the others who were somewhat sober turned their heads to the door of the private room. They saw a tall, well-built, and handsome young man walk in with an indifferent expression. His eyes swept the room, and he stepped toward Liu Yurong.

Clearly, things had gone wrong; an unexpected turn of events.

"Who the hell are you?"

Someone tried to block Zhang Long, but he shoved the person aside, his voice booming. "I’m your grandfather! Good dogs don't block the path. I’m here to take my girlfriend home!"