The next day, Qian Fei shared her idea of renting out part of her house with Yao Jingjing and asked her to keep an eye out for suitable tenants. Yao Jingjing inquired about the rental terms and price. Qian Fei replied, “I’ll use the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The bedroom, study, and living room are all available for rent, with a shared kitchen. Do you think 3,500 yuan per month is too expensive?”
Yao Jingjing scoffed over the phone, “Any cheaper and you might as well go back to your hometown to grow cabbage! Can you muster the courage to ask for 4,000?”
Qian Fei said, “Never mind. 3,500 a month is enough for me. Who would rent from me for 4,000? They might as well rent a one-bedroom apartment directly.”
Yao Jingjing agreed after considering this point.
A few days later, while Qian Fei was on her way to work, she unexpectedly encountered Wang Ruohai at the subway station.
It had been nearly half a year since their breakup. During this time, Wang Ruohai had called her a few times, but only about the house deposit.
When Wang Ruohai saw her, he was momentarily stunned, then casually greeted her, adding unnecessarily, “Cars with certain license plates are restricted today.”
Qian Fei looked at his brand-new appearance and felt uneasy. His suit was from an expensive brand. It seemed his executive uncle’s daughter was willing to spend money on him, and he even had a car now. She thought the saying was quite true: clothes make the man. Wang Ruohai, all spruced up, exuded an indescribable vigor. He had always been good-looking, but now he appeared even more spirited. Qian Fei suddenly felt that she might have indeed wronged him during their five years together. She had dragged him into a life of frugality during their prime years, living like an old couple without a pension when they should have been thriving.
But the one she had wronged the most was herself.
Wang Ruohai looked at her and asked, “Did you buy the house yourself?”
Qian Fei snapped, “How is that any of your business?”
Wang Ruohai spread his hands and smiled, “Qian Fei, can we not act like enemies just because we broke up?”
Qian Fei sneered, “Then what should I consider you? My great benefactor? Should I thank you for falling in love with someone else?”
Wang Ruohai looked at her helplessly, “Qian Fei, can you change the way you talk? If you keep this up, no man will be able to stand you!”
Qian Fei glared at him and turned away. It was rush hour, and the crowd was overwhelming. She was pushed from behind by someone trying to get off, almost twisting her ankle as she stumbled.
Wang Ruohai squeezed over, shielding her from the front, sandwiching her between himself and the subway wall, creating a protective space around her.
Just like when they used to commute to work together every day.
Qian Fei suddenly couldn’t hold back anymore, her eyes stinging with tears. As soon as the train stopped and the doors opened, even though it wasn’t her station, she got off.
Standing outside the train, she heard Wang Ruohai say, “Why do you have to be like this?”
As the doors closed and the train departed with him, Qian Fei could no longer contain herself. Tears streamed down her face.
She had almost recovered, almost forgotten about him. Why did he have to come and stir up her emotions again? Who needed his pretense of remaining friends after breaking up? Who needed him to shield her from the crowd?
She stood in the bustling subway station, crying uncontrollably like a fool.
A few days later, Yao Jingjing called Qian Fei: “One of my friends, actually a former colleague who recently switched jobs to the building next door, told me that last month they got a new coworker, a girl. Oh right, I’ve met her once, she’s quite pretty. She works in finance and moved to the CBD for work, so she’s looking for a place nearby to live with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is in the same field as you, also working in investment banking. Originally, the young couple wanted to find a two-bedroom apartment for themselves, not sharing with anyone. But in this area, there are no cheap options. The girl is picky too. She doesn’t like old buildings, and the new ones are too expensive. They haven’t found a suitable place yet. I told them about your house, and after weighing the options, they feel that your price is reasonable and the extra space is within their acceptable range. But the girl had one request: except for when you’re cooking, could you just stay in your room and not come out often?”
Qian Fei made up her mind, “Fine! I’ll stay in my room practicing invisibility. I won’t emerge until I’ve perfected the skill and disturbed humanity! By the way, tomorrow is Saturday. Why don’t you bring them over to see the house?”
Yao Jingjing said, “Tomorrow won’t work. I have a blind date with a rich guy. I’ll give the address to my friend and let her tell that girl. They can take a taxi themselves. First City International is such a fancy place, they won’t have trouble finding it!”
The next day, Qian Fei woke up early and tidied up the house again, moving everything into her room. Around noon, she received a call. The girl coming to see the house had arrived at the community entrance but was confused by the many buildings. She asked if Qian Fei could come down to meet them.
She quickly grabbed her keys and went downstairs.
At the community entrance, she saw a man and a woman about her age, both very attractive and dressed fashionably.
The girl had a heart-shaped face with long, curly hair cascading down her back. She wore a short skirt, her legs long and slender like a model’s. The man was very tall and extremely handsome, almost like a celebrity. His slim figure made his clothes look particularly stylish.
Looking at them, Qian Fei felt like an old housekeeper.
The girl introduced herself as Gui Lili and said the man was her boyfriend. The man glanced at her and nodded slightly as a greeting. Seeing his somewhat aloof attitude, Qian Fei felt he probably wasn’t easy to get along with. She couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
She led them upstairs.
As Gui Lili looked around each room, she chatted with Qian Fei. The man just stood at the doorway, looking somewhat impatient.
Gui Lili tried to negotiate the price: “Is it possible to make this place a bit cheaper?”
Qian Fei was in a difficult position: “This is the lowest I can go. The apartment is new, and utilities and internet are included. I’m just looking for someone to help share the mortgage. I’m not trying to profit from this rental, so the initial price wasn’t high to begin with. I really can’t lower it any further!”
Gui Lili looked conflicted, “Can you please reconsider? We’re all struggling to make it in Beijing as outsiders. I’m an only child, and my family even sold their house to send me abroad for studies.” She turned to look at her boyfriend, who was still silently leaning against the doorway. “We had originally planned to buy our place after returning from studying abroad, but an unexpected situation came up. His family can’t help him anymore, and we have no one to rely on. We can only depend on ourselves now. You know, in a place like Beijing, it takes years of hard work to be able to afford a house!” She spoke with some agitation, grasping Qian Fei’s hand, “Can you please give us a bit more of a discount?”
Qian Fei suddenly thought of how she had struggled in Beijing for so many years, and her heart immediately overflowed with sympathy. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Indeed, it’s tough for everyone. How about this: let’s make it 3,000 yuan a month for now!”
Gui Lili immediately seized the opportunity: “Qian Fei, you’re such a good person! When do you think we can sign the contract?”
Qian Fei asked, “Did you both bring your ID cards? If so, we can sign now. After signing, I’ll give you the keys, and you can move in anytime!”
Gui Lili happily reached out to her boyfriend, “Li Yifei, ID card!”
Qian Fei’s ears perked up at the name.
Wow! He has the same name as that famous beautiful girl known nationwide.
She saw the man called Li Yifei slowly pull out his ID card from his wallet. As he handed it to Gui Lili, he glanced at Qian Fei.
That glance was rather complex, and Qian Fei didn’t quite understand its meaning.
As she copied their ID numbers onto the contract, she noticed that Gui Lili was the same age as her, while Li Yifei was a year older. She couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic.
At the same age, Gui Lili looked fresh and vibrant, dressed elegantly and beautifully. In contrast, she felt worn out like an old housewife, barely managing to apply some moisturizer after washing her face.
But she consoled herself with the fact that she owned an apartment. Although she had to pay a mortgage, her name, Qian Fei, was printed on the red property deed. In this aspect, she was better off than Gui Lili. Thinking about this made her feel much better.
Before returning their ID cards, she took another careful look at their photos to confirm their identities. When she glanced at Li Yifei’s ID, she noticed his registered address was in Beijing.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Li, are you a Beijing local?”
It seemed odd to her that someone with a local address would be renting.
Li Yifei looked up at her briefly, nodded, and asked in a flat tone, “Yes, is there a problem?”
Qian Fei suddenly felt an awkward atmosphere in the air.
She forced a smile to ease the tension, “No, nothing. I was just asking!”
She regretted opening her mouth. Perhaps the young couple just wanted to spend money to live together away from their families. It wasn’t her business. All she needed to do was collect the rent each month.
After signing the contract, Qian Fei gave the keys to Gui Lili and asked, “When are you moving in? Do you need any help?”
Gui Lili smiled and said, “We’ll move in next week. No need for help, we’ll hire a moving company!” She added, “I’ll transfer the first three months’ rent to the account on the contract. Please check if the money arrives!”
Qian Fei said there was no rush and saw the couple into the elevator.
After they left, she called Yao Jingjing to tell her she had rented out the place.
Yao Jingjing was sitting in a taxi, stuck in traffic on her way to dinner with the rich guy. When she heard that Qian Fei had rented the place for only 3,000 yuan a month, she immediately exploded, “Qian Fei, are you alright? Did water get into your brain? Did bubbles grow on your neural pathways? You rented it for just 3,000!”
Qian Fei felt somewhat guilty hearing her outburst and tried to defend herself: “We’re all outsiders trying to make it in Beijing. It’s tough for everyone. Isn’t it good to help each other out when we can?”
Yao Jingjing howled, “Sure, you helped her, but did she help you? You work in investment banking, your information should be more up-to-date than mine. Don’t you know that her company is preparing to go public? Don’t you know that her company’s benefits are much better than yours? Don’t you know that although her boyfriend is in the same field as you, his position is higher and he earns more? And you still have the heart to sympathize with them! I think you’re just being a sucker!”
Qian Fei felt dizzy from the scolding and focused on the wrong point, “If they’re doing that well, why don’t they buy their place instead of renting?”
Yao Jingjing was exasperated, “Do you think everyone is like you, saving money to the point of not eating, drinking, dressing up, or having any fun like you’re trying to become an immortal? They probably spend all their money on enjoying life instead of investing in bricks and tiles! You big fool, you’re so blind. It’s infuriating! Look at how smooth and delicate their skin is. Does a money-grubbing auntie like you, who’s almost turned into an old lady, need to overflow with sympathy? Forget it, I won’t talk to you anymore. You’re ruining my good mood for fishing for a rich guy! Saint Qian, I wonder how you’ll manage your daily life after paying your mortgage each month!”
Qian Fei also felt a bit of regret, but since she had already signed the contract, any price increase would have to wait until later.
She suddenly recalled Li Yifei’s expression when he was looking for his ID card.
Was he telling Gui Lili: Look, this fool is so easy to deceive?
As they walked out of the community, Gui Lili linked arms with Li Yifei, asking with a proud face, “Yifei, don’t you think I’m amazing? I managed to negotiate the rent down by 500 yuan in First City! Their apartment is worth at least 4,000 a month!”
Li Yifei snorted, “How much skill did you use? If the landlord had been a man, with your act of being cute and pitiful, we might have even gotten it for free.”
Gui Lili heard the displeasure in his words and let go of his arm, asking, “What do you mean?”
Li Yifei didn’t try to appease her: “I mean, I can’t stand how you always act cute and pitiful with people! Today it was a female landlord, so I tolerated it. But if you do this with other men in the future, we’ll need to have a serious talk!”
Gui Lili’s eyes instantly reddened, “It was just that one time when I changed jobs and said some soft words to the boss. You found out about it just that once, can’t you let it go?”
Li Yifei ignored her and walked ahead alone.
Gui Lili wiped away a tear and caught up with him from behind, trying to hold his hand, “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. I definitely won’t do it again. Let’s not argue about this anymore. Can we just be good to each other?”
Li Yifei glanced at her without saying a word.
“Yifei, let’s buy a car first. That way, you won’t have to squeeze onto Line 1 for work!” Gui Lili said, looking at the crowded subway.
Li Yifei sneered, “Renting a place and buying a car? Do you think that’s appropriate?”
Gui Lili lowered her head and said nothing more.