The Long Road Ahead

Chapter 16

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

Xiao Ning thought this matter was a huge event to befall him, and never expected it would be resolved so quickly. "Let's go, Wang-ge. I'll treat you to dinner. Oh, by the way, how are sister-in-law and Yating doing?"

Shan Haiming closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, then when his eyes opened again he was already completely awake.

Xiao Ning was stunned by his response. "What did you just say?"

Looking at the slumbering man on the sofa, whose brows had finally relaxed, a sense of guilt welled within him as he called, "Hai...ming, isn't it time to get up? Time to to wake up."

Twenty-five thousand per ping, seventy pings.

Before Xiao Ning could say anything, Wang Hua continued, "What's more, if you really want to buy one of our homes, I can put in a word for you with Haiming so he can give you a discount. The highest estimation per ping is thirteen thousand. Thirteen thousand... for a place in the heart of the city... near a subway station...."

"It's not that..." Xiao Ning then added, "I just... I just feel like I'm taking advantage of you too much."

Wang Hua smiled embarrassedly. "Oh, look at me. It's been so long since I've been here, I even forgot how to get there."

"Huh? The rent..." Wang Hua hesitated for a moment, probably thinking it about it for a bit. "What price do you have in mind?"

After being called a few times, Shan Haiming responded by pulling the blanket over his head while grumbling indistinctly through the quilt. "Let me sleep a bit longer."

Xiao Ning couldn't help but find this confused appearance of Shan Haiming's far cuter than the man's usual overbearing manner. Xiao Ning then softly replied, "Almost seven."

Xiao Ning couldn't very well just pull away the blanket, so he patiently continued, "Haiming, you need to wake up. If you don't wake up right now it'll be too late."

This thought flashed in his mind, and Xiao Ning froze. Rubbing his brows, he turned his attention back to work, checking the report his team members had given to him the day before.

Xiao Ning's heart moved. "Wang-ge, how much does your houses cost?"

Wang Hua smiled embarrassedly. "Oh, look at me. It's been so long since I've been here, I even forgot how to get there."

He agreed, and Xiao Ning was left shocked.

Xiao Ning couldn't help but find this confused appearance of Shan Haiming's far cuter than the man's usual overbearing manner. Xiao Ning then softly replied, "Almost seven."

Xiao Ning couldn't very well just pull away the blanket, so he patiently continued, "Haiming, you need to wake up. If you don't wake up right now it'll be too late."

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

No reply was issued from the bundle before him. Then after a full minute had passed, Shan Haiming pulled down the blanket. His messy hair and still sleepy eyes now exposed, allowing his face to no carry a seldom seen trace of a youth.

Xiao Ning thought it was a bit strange, but Wang Hua had always been eccentric, so something like this happening occasionally wasn't surprising. As he walked, he noticed the greenery around the neighbourhood was pretty good as well, it was Chinese-styled too. It seemed as though the developers planned out the design well from the beginning. "This place wasn't cheap when it was originally bought it, was it?"

Upon opening the door, the smell of dust was in the air.

Xiao Ning held the keys to the apartment in his hand, clasping them tightly. "When can I sign the contract, then?"

It appeared as if Wang Hua cared little about this matter and the answer he gave was said with little concern. "Whenever it's convenient is fine with me."

Xiao Ning did the math. "Thanks, Wang-ge, I am actually planning to, maybe I'll even buy one this year. But I still want to look around, it doesn't need to be in the first ring."

His drifting gazing fell on a bewildered Xiao Ning. "What time is it?"

"No! Wang-ge, wouldn't it be better for you to discuss this with sister-in-law first?" Xiao Ning was full of questions. "I think fifteen hundred is too low. If you guys think it's not enough, I can add more."

"If I'm being honest, the idea of renting it out to others makes me feel uneasy, breaking this and that for me. Nobody has stayed in this place for a a while. You're the only one I can rent to and feel at ease." Wang Hua waved his hands. "So, say no more. I'll only ask this, do you want to rent it or not?"

Turning off the light, and locking the door, Xiao Ning then placed the keys into his pocket, but despite its light weight, the small object seemed to press heavily on his heart.

As Wang Hua looked all around, he casually replied, "I guess so."

"Yeah. Right now we're laying the groundwork for advertising, and after we get a sales license in a month we can put the units on the open market." Wang Hua scrolled trough several pictures of his daughter with great interest.

At noon, Wang Hua called, asking, "You're planning on moving?"

Xiao Ning couldn't help but find this confused appearance of Shan Haiming's far cuter than the man's usual overbearing manner. Xiao Ning then softly replied, "Almost seven."

A this price, forget renting an apartment in the central district, you can't even live anywhere near it.

"That's great. I'll see you there." Wang Hua told him the address, and the moment work was over, Xiao Ning went straight there. It was only one bus stop away from Rihua, and about twenty minutes away by foot. Not only was it close to the company, but going anywhere was convenient from such a golden location. The living facilities were complete, and so were the entertainment ones. In addition to all that, there was even an elevator. And all of it was only for fifteen hundred.

"Twenty-three thousand a ping (3.3 square metres), and it has units from seventy pings to a hundred and ten pings. It's not far from here either. It's right at the entrance to the subway station." Wang Hua then looked up. "Why do you ask? Are you planning to buy a house? Just let me tell you, the units there are really good. Both the quality, district and space between the buildings are much better than buildings built in the same period. It's already been built too and the units will be ready for in two years."

"Wang-ge..." Xiao Ning laughed. "Are you an assistant or a salesman?"

"Ah! I mean um... it was expensive. Oh, there's someone over there." Seeing the security guard, Wang Hua hurried over to ask for directions, then brought Xiao Ning to the sixth floor of Building C.

Xiao Ning couldn't very well just pull away the blanket, so he patiently continued, "Haiming, you need to wake up. If you don't wake up right now it'll be too late."

Shan Haiming closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, then when his eyes opened again he was already completely awake.

Xiao Ning stood in the entryway. Just as Wang Hua said before, there was no extra furniture and appliances, apart from a simple sofa and coffee table. In the kitchen, there were utensils, but no microwave or refrigerator.

康师傅三加二: Master Kang's 3 + 2: It's three biscuits/crackers stuffed with two layers of fillings. [] I think I mentioned this before, but first ring refers to stuff in the centre of the city divided by a cylindrical highway system going outwards (where stuff like property prices are obviously higher) while stuff gets cheaper the the further out you go.

The two ate the bird's nest and hashima stew along with the Master Kang's 3+2 sandwich biscuits and were soon able to finish there breakfast.

Xiao Ning had already washed up earlier, so right then he watched as Shan Haiming went off to the bathroom with slippers clacking, while he made his own way to the kitchen to heat up those two bowls of hashima stew in he microwave.

"Oohh, you're quite a sweet talker, aren't you?" Wang Hua chuckled, then immediately grew sad. "I've been so busy recently that I don't have any time to accompany them. Haiming is quite strict in how he utilises his employees."

Xiao Ning did the math. "Thanks, Wang-ge, I am actually planning to, maybe I'll even buy one this year. But I still want to look around, it doesn't need to be in the first ring."

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

"Ge is only doing it for your own good." Wang-ge then let out two 'tuts' before adding, "Now let's get a move and go eat."

"Don't forget to ask Wang Hua." Shan Haiming sat down, drinking the bird's nest and hashima stew with a gulp, his hair still wet.

"It's not that..." Xiao Ning then added, "I just... I just feel like I'm taking advantage of you too much."

Rent

Turning off the light, and locking the door, Xiao Ning then placed the keys into his pocket, but despite its light weight, the small object seemed to press heavily on his heart.

It took a while for him to understand what Shan Haiming was referring to, so while opening a pack of Master Kang's 3+2[1] and handing it to Shan Haiming, Xiao Ning replied, "Got it. I won't forget."

Xiao Ning patted his shoulder in understanding. "Is it your project?"

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

It appeared as if Wang Hua cared little about this matter and the answer he gave was said with little concern. "Whenever it's convenient is fine with me."

The two ate the bird's nest and hashima stew along with the Master Kang's 3+2 sandwich biscuits and were soon able to finish there breakfast.

Wang Hua turned on the lights, then rushed over to open the window with his nose pinched. "What do you think?"

After saying farewell to Shan Haiming, Xiao Ning sent Wang Hua a message a he walked. He explained the reasoning for it simply and arranged for a call at noon. Now at his desk, Xiao Ning sat, noticing the time was ten minutes to nine when he turned on his computer.

Really?

He agreed, and Xiao Ning was left shocked.

A place located in the heart of the city are not cheap. Even if Xiao Ning sets his own price, he would not set it low. But he could not pay too much either, after all, water, electricity and internet costs would need to be added too. So despite him giving needing a place closer to the company as his reason for moving to Lu Yan, it was only an excuse, for so long as he is able to move out, staying somewhere far away was not really an issue either.

Looking at the slumbering man on the sofa, whose brows had finally relaxed, a sense of guilt welled within him as he called, "Hai...ming, isn't it time to get up? Time to to wake up."

Shan Haiming driving him was much faster than taking a bus then the subway, so in just twenty minutes Xiao Ning was able to get to the office. Before he got out the car, Shan Haiming suddenly reminded him, "When your off this weekend, we'll go meet my parents."

Xiao Ning retreated a step, smiling again as he said, "Take care on the road."

"It's not that..." Xiao Ning then added, "I just... I just feel like I'm taking advantage of you too much."

They had already discussed this matter earlier so not only did Shan Haiming say it quite naturally, Xiao Ning also thought there was nothing to be embarrassed about. "I know. Just let me know which in advance, because I want to take a day to move out my stuff."

Lu Yan should be up, right?

A this price, forget renting an apartment in the central district, you can't even live anywhere near it.

Xiao Ning patted his shoulder in understanding. "Is it your project?"

Xiao Ning held the keys to the apartment in his hand, clasping them tightly. "When can I sign the contract, then?"

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

◈◇◈

"I need to move sooner or later anyhow, so the earlier I do the better, don't you think?" Xiao Ning the push open the door, smiling as he added, "Besides, it' not like you'll be there to drive me every morning."

As Wang Hua looked all around, he casually replied, "I guess so."

"Excellent! Look, Yating is growing up, and she's growing even more beautiful by the day." Talking about his daughter makes Wang Hua grin from ear to ear, as he then pulled out his phone to show Xiao Ning pictures.

He agreed, and Xiao Ning was left shocked.

Lu Yan should be up, right?

Xiao Ning couldn't help but find this confused appearance of Shan Haiming's far cuter than the man's usual overbearing manner. Xiao Ning then softly replied, "Almost seven."

Shan Haiming looked at him directly, but said nothing further. "I'm off."

Having walked though every room, Xiao Ning was very satisfied with the small apartment. "Wang-ge, is charging me only fifteen hundred for the rent really okay?"

Xiao Ning was stunned by his response. "What did you just say?"

Really?

Xiao Ning felt as though he was bullying Wang Hua.

Anyone who doesn't rent this place would be a an idiot. So feeling supremely grateful, Xiao Ning replied, "I do... thank you very much Wang-ge. I'll give you three month's rent in advance and sign a one year contract! Is that okay with you?"

Xiao Ning retreated a step, smiling again as he said, "Take care on the road."

Xiao Ning had no idea Wang Hua still had a house in the heart of the city.

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

Shan Haiming looked at him directly, but said nothing further. "I'm off."

◈◇◈

His drifting gazing fell on a bewildered Xiao Ning. "What time is it?"

This thought flashed in his mind, and Xiao Ning froze. Rubbing his brows, he turned his attention back to work, checking the report his team members had given to him the day before.

Lu Yan should be up, right?

Xiao Ning couldn't very well just pull away the blanket, so he patiently continued, "Haiming, you need to wake up. If you don't wake up right now it'll be too late."

This thought flashed in his mind, and Xiao Ning froze. Rubbing his brows, he turned his attention back to work, checking the report his team members had given to him the day before.

"All urban apartments cost about this much. Well, this is a place in a school district." Wang Hua looked at Xiao Ning who only smiled and so changed his line of reasoning to say, "But a house is a big thing at the end of the day, so looking around isn't a bad idea. Then you can see how good our Huating company is."

Xiao Ning took the phone and looked at the photos carefully. "She truly is a beautiful girl. I'm sure she'll be a beauty when she's all grown up too, just like sister-in-law."

"Don't forget to ask Wang Hua." Shan Haiming sat down, drinking the bird's nest and hashima stew with a gulp, his hair still wet.

Shan Haiming closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, then when his eyes opened again he was already completely awake.

At noon, Wang Hua called, asking, "You're planning on moving?"

Xiao Ning held the keys to the apartment in his hand, clasping them tightly. "When can I sign the contract, then?"

"Oh... I do. I actually know of one." Wang Hua then let out a laugh on the other end of the line. "I have a house not far from Rihua."

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

Noticing silence from the other end of the line, Wang Hua hummed for a few seconds before asking, "Is that no good... lower then?"

"Don't forget to ask Wang Hua." Shan Haiming sat down, drinking the bird's nest and hashima stew with a gulp, his hair still wet.

"Yeah. The place I'm staying at right no is too far, so I'm looking for one a bit closer." Xiao Ning felt a little embarrassed for asking someone to call around on his behalf. But Wang Hua has always been very enthusiastic when it came to doing something for others. "I don't usually pay much attention to information about stuff like this so Haiming told me you might know."

"It has two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom, and a small balcony. Originally, it was to be used as an investment, so only basic furnishings were bought. But, afterwards, I thought it was just too much of a headache, so I never rented it out."

Xiao Ning's heart moved. "Wang-ge, how much does your houses cost?"

"Oh... I do. I actually know of one." Wang Hua then let out a laugh on the other end of the line. "I have a house not far from Rihua."

Xiao Ning took the phone and looked at the photos carefully. "She truly is a beautiful girl. I'm sure she'll be a beauty when she's all grown up too, just like sister-in-law."

"Huh? The rent..." Wang Hua hesitated for a moment, probably thinking it about it for a bit. "What price do you have in mind?"

This thought flashed in his mind, and Xiao Ning froze. Rubbing his brows, he turned his attention back to work, checking the report his team members had given to him the day before.

Huh?

Xiao Ning did the math. "Thanks, Wang-ge, I am actually planning to, maybe I'll even buy one this year. But I still want to look around, it doesn't need to be in the first ring."

Xiao Ning had no idea Wang Hua still had a house in the heart of the city.

Anyhow, the design was quite nice, even though there wasn't much style.

Xiao Ning held the keys to the apartment in his hand, clasping them tightly. "When can I sign the contract, then?"

Having walked though every room, Xiao Ning was very satisfied with the small apartment. "Wang-ge, is charging me only fifteen hundred for the rent really okay?"

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

Xiao Ning took the phone and looked at the photos carefully. "She truly is a beautiful girl. I'm sure she'll be a beauty when she's all grown up too, just like sister-in-law."

"Hey, don't worry about it. Last time, you did me a huge—like seriously huge—favour." Wang Hua swiped the card for the gate, then took Xiao Ning around the gated community several times without finding Building C.

This thought flashed in his mind, and Xiao Ning froze. Rubbing his brows, he turned his attention back to work, checking the report his team members had given to him the day before.

It's in good condition, one person could live there comfortably and no one had ever lived there before... Xiao Ning was very excited. "How much is the rent?"

N/A

As Wang Hua looked all around, he casually replied, "I guess so."

"Huh? The rent..." Wang Hua hesitated for a moment, probably thinking it about it for a bit. "What price do you have in mind?"

Xiao Ning felt as though he was bullying Wang Hua.

Xiao Ning held the keys to the apartment in his hand, clasping them tightly. "When can I sign the contract, then?"

Shan Haiming frowned. "Why the rush?"

Xiao Ning did the math. "Thanks, Wang-ge, I am actually planning to, maybe I'll even buy one this year. But I still want to look around, it doesn't need to be in the first ring."

Xiao Ning's heart moved. "Wang-ge, how much does your houses cost?"

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

If his monthly salary is good, it can be as much as eight thousand yuan, and his year-end bonus is paid twice a year, amounting to at least eight thousand yuan each time. If he used it it wouldn't cause him to struggle financially, but in the past he had repaid the Lu family thousands for taking care of him during those years, and if he wants to save money to buy a house, he needed to save some.

Really?

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

Hearing him not say anything, Wang Hua signed then urged him, "Don't worry so much, we're friends, I won't scam you. Just tell me. How much do you think is appropriate?"

"No, no. You don;t need to do that. Your sister-in-law won't complain about it." Wang Hua, hearing him say that, finalised the deal. "That price is enough. Do you have some free time after work? I can take you to see the place if you do."

Shan Haiming looked at him directly, but said nothing further. "I'm off."

Xiao Ning hesitated, then replied, "To tell you the truth, Wang-ge, I can't accept anything past fifteen hundred a month."

Xiao Ning was stunned by his response. "What did you just say?"

A this price, forget renting an apartment in the central district, you can't even live anywhere near it.

"Ah! I mean um... it was expensive. Oh, there's someone over there." Seeing the security guard, Wang Hua hurried over to ask for directions, then brought Xiao Ning to the sixth floor of Building C.

"Oh... I do. I actually know of one." Wang Hua then let out a laugh on the other end of the line. "I have a house not far from Rihua."

He agreed, and Xiao Ning was left shocked.

But, in reply, Wang Hua happily said, "Okay. Fifteen hundred it is."

Xiao Ning felt as though he was bullying Wang Hua.

As Wang Hua looked all around, he casually replied, "I guess so."

He agreed, and Xiao Ning was left shocked.

Noticing silence from the other end of the line, Wang Hua hummed for a few seconds before asking, "Is that no good... lower then?"

"How can it not be okay?" Wang Hua stared him as he continued, "It really is strange. Other people think the rent is far too expensive, so why do you think the rent here is too cheap?"

Xiao Ning retreated a step, smiling again as he said, "Take care on the road."

Xiao Ning's heart moved. "Wang-ge, how much does your houses cost?"

Upon opening the door, the smell of dust was in the air.

Xiao Ning took the phone and looked at the photos carefully. "She truly is a beautiful girl. I'm sure she'll be a beauty when she's all grown up too, just like sister-in-law."

It appeared as if Wang Hua cared little about this matter and the answer he gave was said with little concern. "Whenever it's convenient is fine with me."

The two ate the bird's nest and hashima stew along with the Master Kang's 3+2 sandwich biscuits and were soon able to finish there breakfast.

Because of the experience he ha last time, Xiao Ning honestly never expected that... Shan Haiming would still lay sleeping at that hour.

It's in good condition, one person could live there comfortably and no one had ever lived there before... Xiao Ning was very excited. "How much is the rent?"

"It was bought as a finished house, with a unified design template." Wang Hua dragged his finger over the kitchen counter, which immediately left a trace. "So dirty. Make sure to get someone to come clean here before you move in, okay? Don't trouble yourself too much by doing it on your own."

Really?

Xiao Ning—shocked, and a little confused, replied, "I do."