OBS Chapter 31 The kind that's easy to foul.
Chapter 31 The kind that's easy to foul.
The next morning, Geng Zhi didn't go to the Jiaotong University library. Instead, he stayed in his hotel room and reviewed all the key points of the postgraduate entrance exam in mathematics.
The more he talked, the more his lips curled up in a smile—it felt like a middle school student going back to do elementary school math problems, a feeling of overwhelming superiority.
He studied until 10 o'clock sharp, then went out on time to meet the rental agent he had arranged to meet the day before.
The real estate agent looked very young, with the naivety of someone just starting out in the workforce still lingering on his face. Honestly, I judged him to be a newcomer.
Last night on the phone, Geng Zhi clearly explained his needs to him: a one-bedroom apartment with good soundproofing, a quiet neighborhood with no construction, and a maximum monthly rent of 1,500 yuan.
The real estate agent was quite honest; he filtered out seven or eight properties that met the price criteria, all of which were old, dilapidated, and small.
Geng Zhi looked around and spent no more than thirty seconds on each set before decisively passing them off.
"Dude," the real estate agent wiped his sweat, his tone tinged with helplessness, "If we really screened according to your criteria, the few people in the neighborhood with a budget of 1,500 or less all had these same conditions." He shrugged, eager to close the deal but powerless to change anything.
"Does the Nordic Doctor Garden next to Siyuan Gate have any suitable rooms?" Geng Zhi asked.
"The environment there is certainly good, it's a fully furnished apartment with an elevator, and the community is quite respectable." The real estate agent shook his head, "But there are no one-bedroom apartments, the smallest is a two-bedroom. If you want to get one for under 1,500, you can only rent a single room by sharing."
"Are there... those two-bedroom apartments that have been listed for a long time but haven't been rented out?" Geng Zhi stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "I could snag a bargain, rent just one room, but nominally own both?"
The real estate agent was speechless for a moment, looking a little bewildered.
"They're all students, they're poor, please understand," Geng Zhi added with a smile.
"I understand, of course I understand," the real estate agent replied, but inwardly he couldn't help but think: So picky even when poor, always trying to get the best deals...
He frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! Now that you mention it... it seems that 'Dr. Nordic' does have a two-bedroom apartment listed for quite a while without any activity. But I'll have to go back to the store and check the system for specific details."
Fifteen minutes later, inside the Lianjia store.
"Geng, that two-bedroom apartment in Building 18 of the Nordic Doctor Garden has indeed been listed for a long time," the real estate agent said, looking slightly embarrassed as he looked at the computer screen. "But the landlord has made it clear... that it can only be rented to females."
"Only renting to girls?" Geng Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Do you know why?"
"I'm not too sure about that. The landlord is a woman, so she might be picky, or maybe she just wants to avoid any hassle," the real estate agent guessed.
"How long has this house been listed?"
"Wait a moment while I take a look." The real estate agent clicked the mouse a few more times. "It's been listed for nine months, and we haven't found a suitable tenant yet."
After a moment's hesitation, Geng Zhi nodded decisively and said, "Take me to see the room first."
"But your gender... doesn't quite fit," the young man hesitated.
"Let's go. Rules are rules, but people are flexible. Everything is negotiable." Geng Zhi smiled and gestured for him to lead the way.
The door opened, and a bright and clear view suddenly appeared before Geng Zhi's eyes.
The house is spacious and bright, decorated in a simple and modern Nordic style, and meticulously maintained. The north-south facing layout allows sunlight to flood the living room. Standing by the window, the view is expansive, with a distant view of the green campus.
Geng Zhi took a liking to it at first sight.
"How much is the monthly rent for this apartment?"
"Two thousand seven hundred a month."
How much would it cost to rent just the master bedroom?
"This apartment is a bit special. The landlord has made it clear that the entire apartment must be rented out and does not accept shared rentals." The young man shook his head.
Geng Zhi glanced at the bedroom door lock and key again, then said to the real estate agent, "Could you ask for me if it's okay to rent only the master bedroom for 1,500 a month? She can lock up the second bedroom; I absolutely won't go in."
"Oh, this..."
The young agent was clearly unfamiliar with this negotiation style; he hesitated for a few seconds before nodding, "I...I'll give it a try."
"Hey buddy, if it's convenient, could you tell me more about the landlord's background, like his occupation, age, personality, and so on?" Geng Zhi asked casually.
The real estate agent hesitated noticeably.
"I don't mean anything by it, I just want to learn more so that we can address the issues more effectively during the negotiations and increase our chances of signing a contract." He spoke frankly and sincerely.
The young man hesitated, but finally, encouraged by his honest gaze, he said, "Around 30 years old, seems to be a lawyer."
"Anything else?" Geng Zhi asked, pondering for a moment.
"She seems quite busy with work. I tried to schedule a signing with her several times, but she didn't have time. She's based in the city center, so she probably owns property there. Also... I think she has relatives or friends at Jiaotong University."
Geng Zhi quickly sketched a vague picture in his mind: an elite woman who values quality over quantity and may care more about convenience and compliance.
"You should emphasize to the landlord that I'm a student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, currently starting my own business. I don't come to the apartment very often, and I'm a bit of a clean freak. I didn't like any other apartments, but I did like hers," Geng Zhi added.
"Okay, I'll give it a try," the real estate agent said as he dialed the landlord's number.
Three minutes later, he hung up the phone, his face beaming with incredible excitement:
"I only want to rent the master bedroom, but the landlord didn't agree to the price; it's too low. But she relented! She said she happens to be nearby today and can come over in ten minutes to discuss it! Strangely, she didn't immediately reject the idea that you're a guy!"
"This shows that what she cares about most isn't gender," Geng Zhi smiled knowingly, "but rather qualities like 'cleanliness' and 'ease of care.' There's potential."
Ten minutes later, the door was pushed open precisely on time.
The woman who entered seemed to brighten the room.
She stood tall and straight, wearing a well-tailored light gray suit that accentuated her fair complexion. Her long hair was neatly styled in a bun at the back of her head, and a pair of exquisite gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. Her eyes were clear and sharp, and she exuded a capable and intellectual aura that inexplicably matched the rational and simple style of the room.
What's worse is that if she were to play women's billiards, she would be very likely to commit fouls.
"Hello, Ms. Gu!" The real estate agent quickly stepped forward to greet the landlady, Gu Wanning.
"Hello landlord, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come over." Geng Zhi spoke first, his attitude polite and considerate.
"Hello." Gu Wanning nodded slightly, her gaze quickly sweeping over Geng Zhi.
"I've seen many fully furnished apartments, but yours is the only one that's been maintained without any signs of wear and tear, and the decor is rational and restrained, with attention to detail everywhere."
He got straight to the point, offering sincere praise first, and then systematically listing his "advantages" such as being a student at National Chiao Tung University, having entrepreneurial projects, and having a personal obsession with cleanliness.
"Did you bring your student ID?" Gu Wanning asked, her tone calm and even.