Chapter 3 Selling the Villa, Soaring Wealth
952 Words
Lin Lai chose a real estate agency reputed for its professionalism and reliability. After deducting fees, her final earnings amounted to a staggering two hundred million yuan.
Yes, you heard it right—two hundred million yuan!
Staring at the astronomical figure inked on the contract, Lin Lai couldn’t help but marvel once more, **“D*mn it, making money in this world is absurdly easy. If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up. With this fortune parked in a high-yield fund, how could I ever run out of money?”**
A few days prior, a bulk order of art books she had purchased online finally arrived. These weren’t light, flimsy paperbacks but substantial tomes, dozens of them stacked high. Lin Lai meticulously organized them on her bookshelves, taking great satisfaction in seeing the neatly arranged rows. The sight filled her with a sense of accomplishment.
With brimming confidence, Lin Lai sat down at her desk to dive into her comic creation. Over the past month, she had diligently maintained a one-update-per-day streak. Her account had begun to attract a modest but growing following. Each day, as she sketched her comics and exchanged lighthearted banter with her small yet enthusiastic fanbase, life felt almost too good to be true.
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Meanwhile, in a cozy lounge bar...
Zhong Yu took a leisurely sip of his whiskey before teasing his friend. “Jiang Yuan, are you strapped for cash lately?”
The protagonist of the conversation lifted his head. His ash-blond hair gleamed under the bar lights, strikingly beautiful. His deep, captivating European-style double-lidded eyes were unforgettable at a glance, complemented by a straight, aristocratic nose and thin, shapely lips. It was a face so flawless it could only be described as one of Nvwa’s masterpieces.
Jiang Yuan picked up his own whiskey glass and replied in a measured tone, “What do you mean by that?”
“You seriously don’t know? That villa of yours in Xiyu—it’s been sold!”
“What? Jiang Yuan, was your house robbed?” one of their friends blurted out in astonishment.
Jiang Yuan’s perfectly arched brows furrowed slightly. This outcome was unexpected. “I gave that villa away. Whatever the recipient did with it, I have no idea.”
“What the—Jiang Yuan, you’re unbelievably rich. You just gave away a property worth over two hundred million?” Zhong Yu shook his head in disbelief.
“Who did you give it to?” Yuan Ziqi asked, incredulous. “Did this person save your life? Two hundred million—it’s not exactly pocket change!”
“A true martyr to generosity,” Meng Fan interjected, summing it up.
Indeed, Jiang Yuan, the so-called “Martyr of Generosity,” dared not admit that the value he had casually handed over far exceeded two hundred million. He feared the ridicule that would inevitably follow.
“My ex-girlfriend,” he confessed.
“What?” All three companions gawked in unison.
“When were you even in a relationship? Why didn’t we know about it?” Yuan Ziqi voiced his confusion.
“It was a while back,” Jiang Yuan explained calmly. “But don’t get the wrong idea. I only dated her as a way to forget Jiayun. I never planned on introducing her to you all.”
“Man, you’re living the plot of a romance novel, playing the ‘stand-in lover’ trope! Honestly, if a story didn’t have a character like you, I wouldn’t bother reading it,” Zhong Yu quipped, shaking his head.
Yuan Ziqi, looking utterly aghast, exclaimed, “Jiang Yuan, I always saw you as a role model! But this? This is so irresponsible—textbook scumbag behavior!”
“Calm down. It wasn’t like that,” Jiang Yuan quickly clarified. “Ours was a Platonic relationship, nothing as beastly as you’re imagining.”
“That still doesn’t make it okay! Didn’t it hurt the other girl?” Yuan Ziqi, ever kind-hearted, frowned in disapproval.
“We had an agreement. I promised to compensate her when we parted ways,” Jiang Yuan responded matter-of-factly.
For once, Meng Fan, the usually reserved eldest among them, spoke up. “So, why did it end now? Jiayun’s divorced, isn’t she? Don’t tell me you’re planning to be her rebound.”
Meng Fan, who had known Jiang Yuan the longest, had initially thought his friend’s feelings for Jiayun would fade after her marriage. But now, it seemed Jiang Yuan was still deeply entangled.
“No, I just didn’t want to continue the arrangement anymore. It felt... time to let it go,” Jiang Yuan said, his voice soft.
“Well, only you know the real reason,” Meng Fan remarked, though his tone remained serious. “But as someone who’s known you since we were kids, let me give you some advice. Jiayun’s character isn’t exactly spotless. Think about her family—do you really believe someone raised in that kind of environment could be any better?”
“Big Brother has a point,” Zhong Yu chimed in. “Don’t let love blind you, Jiang Yuan. Jiayun only married Lu Cheng back then because of his family’s wealth and status. Now that the Lu family has fallen from grace, she wasted no time kicking him to the curb. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes.”
“Exactly, exactly. Second Brother, you’re too pure-hearted—don’t let yourself be deceived,” Yuan Ziqi added earnestly, his face full of worry.
Both Meng Fan and Zhong Yu exchanged a glance: Pure-hearted? Him?
Jiang Yuan: **First time anyone’s called me that.**
Yuan Ziqi: **What other way could I describe you, my pure-hearted Second Brother?**
- Writer
