Chapter Thirty-Three: The Viewing

"Ring ring..." Zhang Wei was discussing dinner plans with Wang Jianfa when his phone suddenly rang on the table. He picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number. Pressing the answer button, he said, "Hello, who is this?"

"Hello, are you Mr. Zhang?" A woman's voice came from the other end, so soft and alluring that Zhang Wei felt a tingling sensation throughout his body. Though they had only met once and exchanged a few words, Zhang Wei had already guessed her identity.

"Miss Liu, this is Zhang Wei."

"Mr. Zhang, you already know who I am! I was afraid you might have forgotten me," Liu Yurou replied, surprise mingled with delight in her tone.

"How could I forget? If someone is a friend, I always remember them clearly," Zhang Wei replied, though inwardly he thought, "You little enchantress, with looks so seductive and a voice so charming—how could anyone forget you?"

"Miss Liu, is there something I can help you with?" Zhang Wei asked.

"You're in real estate, aren't you? I want to buy an apartment near Elegant Garden, and I was hoping you could help me find one," Liu Yurou explained.

"No problem. What kind of place are you looking for, and when would you like to view it? Give me a rough idea," Zhang Wei said.

"Prepare a standard two-bedroom apartment for me, and also find a luxurious villa—I'll take a look at both," Liu Yurou said after thinking for a moment. "As for timing, the sooner the better!"

Zhang Wei quickly matched her requirements with current listings and found that he happened to have two suitable properties. He asked, "I have just the right places—are you available this afternoon?"

"Yes, afternoon works," Liu Yurou replied, her voice tinged with excitement. "It's settled then. Goodbye."

"Zhang Wei, which client was that?" Wang Jianfa asked curiously as Zhang Wei hung up. "The way she spoke sounded just like a fox spirit!"

"Don't be impatient, you'll see which client it is this afternoon," Zhang Wei replied with a mysterious smile. "But first, I've got to find the properties."

"What kind of place is your client looking for? Maybe I have something suitable," Wang Jianfa offered.

"A standard two-bedroom and a luxury villa," Zhang Wei replied.

"What? That's quite a range—the two couldn't be more different, and the price gap is tens of millions," Wang Jianfa said, confused.

"Just find the properties, don't ask so many questions," Zhang Wei laughed.

While Wang Jianfa was puzzled, Zhang Wei had a good idea. In his mind, Liu Yurou was likely Zhou Pangzi's mistress. She probably had her eye on Zhou Pangzi’s wealth, hoping he would buy her a villa. If not, she’d settle for an apartment—making preparations for either outcome.

Xu Ming was off attending a district meeting, so Zhang Wei had to arrange the properties and viewing schedule himself. After confirming times with the owners, he called Liu Yurou again to finalize the afternoon viewing.

By the time Zhang Wei finished his tasks, it was already past eleven. He didn’t go out for lunch but ordered food to eat at the office. At twelve forty, he waited outside Serenity Pavilion for Zhou Pangzi and Liu Yurou to arrive.

Ten minutes later, a gleaming black S-Class Mercedes pulled up in front of Serenity Pavilion. Out stepped a man and a woman—one plump, one slender—Zhou Pangzi and Liu Yurou.

"Pangzi, Miss Liu, you’re right on time. If I’d come any later, I’d have kept you waiting," Zhang Wei greeted them with a smile.

"As it should be. In business, integrity is everything—you have to keep your word," Zhou Pangzi replied, patting Zhang Wei on the shoulder with a Buddha-like air.

"Mr. Zhang, have you prepared the properties?" Liu Yurou asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Everything’s ready, just waiting for you," Zhang Wei assured them. "Please, follow me—I’ll take you to our office first."

Zhou Pangzi nodded noncommittally, following Zhang Wei. He was curious about Zhang Wei, especially his relationship with Murong Xuan. At the banquet, they’d seemed close, but since Zhang Wei’s car was parked outside Serenity Pavilion and Murong Xuan didn’t know he was coming, she hadn’t come out to greet him.

Zhang Wei’s status was equally intriguing. At first, Murong Xuan had introduced him as being in real estate, so Zhou Pangzi assumed he was a wealthy second-generation developer. Later, he learned Zhang Wei was merely a regular real estate agent. Though not lowly, his status was worlds apart from Murong Xuan’s, and their lives should never have intersected.

Yet Zhou Pangzi, himself from humble beginnings, never looked down on Zhang Wei for his position. He spoke to him as an equal, which only increased Zhang Wei’s respect and brought them closer.

Serenity Pavilion was just a few minutes from the Zhongtong office. Zhang Wei led them to the storefront and gestured invitingly, saying, "Pangzi, Miss Liu, this is our company’s office—please, come in."

Their arrival startled Wen Fang, Guo Bin, and Wang Min. They hadn’t known Zhang Wei had scheduled clients for the afternoon, and the stark contrast between Zhou Pangzi and Liu Yurou’s physiques was a shock.

"Pangzi, Miss Liu, let me pour you some water so you can rest, then we’ll view the properties," Zhang Wei offered.

"We drove here, we’re not tired. Let’s look at the properties first," Liu Yurou replied, glancing around the office, eager to get started. "Zhou, are you tired?"

"Not at all," Zhou Pangzi answered, though his plumpness and tendency to sweat made even a short walk exhausting. Originally, Zhang Wei’s suggestion suited him, but since Liu Yurou declined to rest, he couldn’t very well admit fatigue.

"Alright, since neither of you is tired, let’s view the properties first," Zhang Wei said, noticing Zhou Pangzi wiping sweat from his brow. He knew Zhou Pangzi was putting on a brave face but didn’t point it out.

"Lin, Wang Jianfa and I are taking clients to view properties. If Xu comes back, let him know," Zhang Wei said, grabbing the shoe covers and viewing confirmation forms he’d prepared.

"Go ahead! If you need help, just call me," Lin replied, waving her hand with gusto.

With that, Zhang Wei and Wang Jianfa led the clients out, while the remaining staff in the office began whispering among themselves.

"Lin, when did Zhang Wei get this client? I had no idea," Guo Bin asked, leaning over his desk.

"I don’t know. Zhang Wei didn’t tell me," Lin replied. She only knew he was meeting clients in the afternoon, not how he found them.

"Lin, is this client renting or buying?" Wang Min asked, curious.

"Buying, I think. Zhang Wei asked me at lunch if I had any two-bedroom listings," Lin answered.

"Another buyer! Is Zhang Wei trying to close another deal before the end of the month? I have to see this," Wang Min said. Ever since Zhang Wei snapped up her homebuyer client, it had been like a thorn in her throat—neither easy to swallow nor remove. Hearing Zhang Wei had another buyer, she immediately felt restless.

After finishing her sentence, Wang Min dashed out, searching for Zhang Wei and his clients in the neighborhood. She intended to follow them to observe how Zhang Wei handled clients and see if he could close another deal, comparing it to his last one to determine whether it was skill or just luck.