Chapter 116: Intent Deposit

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After Zhang Wei and his two companions finished dinner, they drove A-Ben’s red Porsche sports car to view properties. Zhang Wei sat in the passenger seat, while Chen Sixuan sat in the back, keeping company with a Hello Kitty doll half her size.

"Little piggy, how have you been lately? Have you missed your big sister?" Chen Sixuan picked up the Hello Kitty, placed it on her shapely, fleshy legs, pursed her red lips to give it a kiss, and giggled coquettishly.

"Oh my, Little Xuan, you're so mean! Every time you come over, you bully my little baby. If you keep doing that, I'm not going to talk to you anymore!" A-Ben pouted, stomped his small feet against the car floor, and wiggled his body in a display of feigned annoyance.

*Good grief, this is a 3.8L Porsche sports car. If he slammed his foot on the accelerator like that, we’d end up in a car accident!* Zhang Wei, hearing the thumping of A-Ben’s feet, felt as if a hammer were striking his own chest. He quietly fastened his seatbelt, keeping a neutral expression.

"Little Ben, you really have no conscience. This was a birthday gift I bought for you in Europe. Now that you have the little piggy to keep you company, you've forgotten all about your good friend!" Chen Sixuan said, pretending to be angry.

"Little Xuan, how can you say that? You're the one who only thinks about work all day. I don't even see a shadow of you for months. If I hadn't volunteered to help you look for an apartment this time, I bet you wouldn't have even had the time to spend with me," A-Ben said, his voice choking with a hint of a sob.

"Alright, alright, Ben-Ben. Once the concert is over, I’ll take a good long break. I promise I’ll go shopping with you at Wangfujing and buy you a limited-edition LV bag. How does that sound?" Chen Sixuan, as expected of a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, immediately turned her anger into joy upon seeing A-Ben’s pitiful state, comforting him.

"Oh my, it's not like I want some bag! I just want to spend more time with my good sisters. You’re all either busy with your careers or too preoccupied with your boyfriends; no one remembers A-Ben at all," A-Ben said, looking deeply resentful.

"Okay, okay, Ben-Ben. Little Xuan promises that I will make more time to spend with you from now on, alright?" Chen Sixuan said.

"Sigh..." Zhang Wei suddenly felt as if he were listening to a private conversation between two women and was completely superfluous in the car. He decided that next time he went to show properties, he would definitely drive his own car.

Fortunately, the two residential complexes were not far apart. Within ten minutes, they arrived at the first one, Huayue International. The security there was extremely strict; strangers were only allowed in after the owners had notified the gate.

Zhang Wei had found two apartments in Huayue International. One was still occupied, and the other had its keys left with the property management office. It was precisely for this reason that Zhang Wei hadn't brought any colleagues along to assist with the viewing. Otherwise, if the keys had been held by a real estate agency, Zhang Wei would have been forced to have a colleague pick them up first, rather than taking the client to the agency office to get them—that would be like handing the client over to a rival firm!

Huayue International was a high-end residential complex consisting of eight buildings. They were all low-rise slab-style buildings, with wide spacing between them, ensuring no obstruction of light even in the afternoon. The environment and facilities were excellent, and there was even a kindergarten in the vicinity, making school drop-offs and pick-ups very convenient and safe.

These types of low-rise slab buildings generally featured large floor plans. Even a two-bedroom unit was over 100 square meters, and they all had a north-south layout, allowing for excellent cross-ventilation. While the floor plans were relatively uniform compared to high-rise towers, they were significantly more expensive.

Slab buildings and high-rise towers represent two different architectural structures. Generally speaking, slab buildings are low-rise, usually not exceeding 12 stories. They are well-ventilated and ideal for living, with only two or three households per unit, making them relatively quiet. They also have a smaller share of common space, making them a favorite among the elderly.

High-rise towers refer to taller buildings with complex layouts and orientations. They feature elevators in the center surrounded by apartments, sometimes housing over a dozen units per floor, but they are generally more affordable than slab buildings.

After Zhang Wei showed them both apartments, Chen Sixuan didn't give a clear indication of her preference, only remarking that they were "not bad" when asked. Zhang Wei didn't rush to probe her thoughts further and instead took them to see the third property.

The third apartment was not far from Huayue International. It was called Le Cheng Mansion, another very high-end residential complex. Its biggest selling point was its proximity to Oasis Park; from the higher floors, one could enjoy an unobstructed view of the park scenery.

Another feature of this complex was that the high-rise towers were more expensive than the slab buildings. The reason was simple: while the living environment in the towers might not be as comfortable as in the slab buildings, they were high-rise structures that offered a bird's-eye view of the entire Oasis Park. This single advantage was enough to overlook all other shortcomings.

The tower at Le Cheng Mansion was 38 stories high. The unit Zhang Wei found was around the 10th floor—a two-bedroom apartment facing southeast, spanning about 108 square meters. The most striking feature of this unit, however, was its bathroom.

When Zhang Wei led Chen Sixuan and A-Ben into the apartment, they weren't particularly impressed at first, appearing even less satisfied than they had been with the previous two units. However, the moment Zhang Wei took them into the bathroom, both were immediately captivated by the view.

The bathroom faced Oasis Park and featured a massive floor-to-ceiling window, allowing one to enjoy the scenery while bathing—truly the ultimate luxury. Even Zhang Wei felt his heart skip a beat; being able to soak in a tub while taking in such a view was a delightful experience. The only downside was the high rent, which even he found a bit burdensome.

"Little Wei, you’re amazing! You’re so professional to have found such a great place. I love you to death!" Seeing the bathroom, A-Ben jumped up and down like a child, grabbing Zhang Wei’s arm and squealing with excitement.

"Oh... this bathroom is so beautiful! It even has a high-end massage bathtub, and you can see the park's forest and lake while soaking—it’s just perfect!" Chen Sixuan’s mouth hung open as she pressed her hands against the window, gazing at the beautiful view of Oasis Park.

Most beautiful women enjoy bathing; it not only relieves stress but also nourishes the skin, making it one of their favorite pastimes. Chen Sixuan didn't have many specific hobbies, but she would soak in the tub for half an hour every day, sipping red wine while reading a magazine.

As for A-Ben... Zhang Wei naturally categorized him in the same group as the women.

"Zhang Wei, if I can see the beautiful view outside while bathing, won't people outside be able to sneak photos of me?" Chen Sixuan suddenly thought of this and asked with a hint of disappointment, like a child worried about losing a favorite toy.

"You don't need to worry about that. The glass is covered with a reflective film; you can see the view from the inside, but people outside cannot see into the bathroom," Zhang Wei explained with a smile.

"That’s amazing! That’s amazing! Little Xuan, you have to rent this place. I can come over and soak in the tub when I’m free; it would be such a treat!" A-Ben waved his small fists, screaming with excitement.

"Zhang Wei, I really like the layout of this apartment, but is there a higher floor available? I want to see the entire park. The 10th floor seems a bit low; I can't take in the whole view," Chen Sixuan said with a touch of regret.

"Well, units above the 10th floor in this layout are in high demand and there are no vacancies at the moment. In fact, the rent for floors around the 30th is fifty percent higher," Zhang Wei replied.

"Price is not an issue. If you can find a higher floor, I will sign for it immediately," Chen Sixuan said without hesitation. A few tens of thousands of yuan was indeed not a problem for her.

"Little Wei, if you can, find two units. I want to rent one here too!" A-Ben said, gesturing with his fingers and swaying his slender waist in a coquettish manner.

"Alright, I will do my best to find a listing, but even if one becomes available, it will likely be snapped up within half a day. I’m not sure if Miss Chen will have the time to come view it," Zhang Wei asked.

He was being sincere. Despite the high rent for this type of apartment, there was no shortage of wealthy people in the capital. Quality listings were grabbed as soon as they hit the market. Some clients who were familiar with the complex didn't even bother viewing the property; they would put down a deposit just based on hearing the details.

"What should I do? I have a concert coming up and really don't have much time," Chen Sixuan asked, her brow furrowed, her voice soft and delicate.

"Le Cheng Mansion is a high-end complex with standard luxury finishes; the amenities in every unit are quite good. The units around the 30th floor feature even higher-end renovations. You could pay a contract intent deposit first; if the landlord's apartment is up to standard, I can convert it into a formal deposit for them," Zhang Wei suggested.