Chapter 473: Pressure and Promises

Because Director Liu had just handed over several projects, Lu Xin was incredibly busy now.

Just before closing time, he briskly and efficiently reviewed the files on his desk.

Actually, all these projects were already underway. There wasn’t much left for him to decide, but since the projects were in his hands, he still needed to read through them carefully, understand them, and keep track of progress…

Meanwhile, Han Bing sat quietly on a small stool nearby, pulling out a compact handheld game to play a match of ‘Eliminate’.

Vice President Xiao, seated in Director Liu’s adjacent office, listened for a moment before smirking and said:

“So quiet…”

“…”

Then he began scanning the office, pondering how to carve out two larger offices.

One for Lu Xin and one for himself.

No, not just two—others needed space as well…

For instance, Gao Yan needed a secure spot too, as he was feeling increasingly insecure.

…

When it was time to leave, Lu Xin looked up right on schedule, gathered his files, and cheerfully said to Han Bing, “Let’s go!”

As they left the office one after the other, everyone was already tidying up their belongings.

Ever since Vice President Xiao had earnestly discussed the perils of ‘overtime’ before his hospitalization, the office atmosphere had grown noticeably serious—most people now left on time to avoid ruffling the vice president’s feathers.

However, when they saw Lu Xin walking out with that beautiful girl, everyone instinctively slowed their pace.

Let them leave first.

“Shall we grab a bite or do something else?”

“I’ve already arranged with the agent. Let’s check out the house first so they don’t have to wait too long.”

“Alright, whose car are we taking?”

“When we get to Mr. Lone Soldier’s, of course we’ll ride in your car…”

“…”

Since Han Bing had helped him out so much, Lu Xin wouldn’t turn down her request.

So he wheeled out the pink electric bike he’d borrowed from the female officer in the corridor, giving the back seat a gentle pat.

The past few days had been so busy that he hadn’t picked up his motorcycle yet, so he hadn’t returned the bike either.

“Huh?”

Han Bing examined the pink electric bike with mild surprise as she circled Lu Xin, her tone reflective:

“Mr. Lone Soldier, you really went and got an electric bike, huh…”

“…”

“Borrowing someone else’s, and if it’s not great, we can always…”

A bit embarrassed, Lu Xin tentatively asked, “Carpool?”

“No need. It’s perfect, and it’s not far anyway.”

Han Bing smiled as she agreed, shifting to sit on the back seat. “Let’s roll!”

As a group of company colleagues were just leaving the building—and even Vice President Xiao, peeking down from upstairs—watched in astonishment as the pink electric bike, carrying Lu Xin and the beautiful girl, cruised conspicuously through traffic.

Expressions turned thoughtful and mixed.

Some compared their own fates deeply with Lu Xin’s, while others grumbled with indignation or sighed in regret.

Vice President Xiao mused, “Little Brother Lu really is something. His game is surprisingly high level…”

“Riding a pink electric bike with a girl…”

“In his interactions with little girls, he’s reached an almost raw, unfiltered state…”

“…”

“…”

“Mr. Lone Soldier, I really put in the effort for your sake on this one,”

“Based on your requirements, I meticulously reviewed every qualifying listing in the Second Satellite City and narrowed them down to a few—all primarily located on the east side. Let me explain…”

Seated on the back seat of the electric bike, Han Bing, her voice clear as crystal, detailed each option to Lu Xin as if recounting treasured secrets:

“There are three listings: one in Qingwan, one in Bai Island, and one in Gaochi.”

“The Qingwan property has two floors, about 472 square meters, with stable utilities that haven’t failed in at least three years. It comes with an outdoor yard and a swimming pool at the back, though maintaining both the pool and the garden is costly. The location and road conditions are the best among these options, roughly worth four million.”

“The Bai Island listing is a small three-story building with its own courtyard, complete with dedicated property management service—though the management fee is high…”

“The Gaochi property is in a rather desolate area with few residents…”

“…”

Lu Xin gripped the handlebars steadily, the bike buzzing along as he listened intently to Han Bing’s detailed descriptions of the three properties.

He was pleasantly surprised at how thoroughly this little girl had researched to help him choose a house.

Suddenly, however, a sense of uncertainty crept in.

Hundreds of square meters at such high prices—it all sounded incredibly intimidating.

Choosing the right house from these quality options was like trying to pick a girlfriend from a street full of beautiful girls.

Mentally, it was like choosing a concubine, though deep down he felt any of them could work…

Sadly, reality often tells a different story…

“…”

After explaining the pros and cons of each listing, Han Bing smiled and said:

“I have no idea how Mr. Lone Soldier will choose, but I did compare them carefully myself.”

“Although all three properties have similar overall scores, each has its distinct strengths and weaknesses.”

“The Qingwan property looks the best, but its yard is a bit small and its growth potential is limited.”

“So what do you think?”

Lu Xin looked back at Han Bing with a slight air of confusion.

Han Bing smiled, “I prefer the Bai Island listing over Qingwan. It’s a bit smaller and older, but I still recommend it.”

“Why?”

“Because I have some insider info…”

With a touch of smugness, Han Bing lowered her voice, “It won’t take long for this area to develop.”

“What?”

Lu Xin was taken aback; he hadn’t considered that.

Seeing Lu Xin’s reaction, Han Bing grinned happily and said, “I really put my heart into helping you, Mr. Lone Soldier. I firmly recommend you go for the Bai Island property—it’ll appreciate in value dramatically in just a few years.”

Lu Xin listened, still a bit puzzled. He had never really considered such factors before.

He always believed money didn’t fall from the sky, so all these considerations seemed rather abstract.

Almost instinctively, he lowered his voice and asked, “Where did you get this insider info?”

“Over dinner—my uncle mentioned it.”

Han Bing added, “He’s even involved in the development of the Second Satellite City.”

“Hiss…”

Lu Xin drew a sharp breath, his spirits momentarily dampened.

“Anyway, let’s go and take a look. Ultimately, you’ll be the one to decide.”

Han Bing smiled, “No matter which one you choose, I’ll help you streamline the process from the inside to save you a bit more.”

Suddenly, Lu Xin’s respect for Han Bing shot up several notches.

“…”

“…”

That morning, Han Bing had called ahead to the agent and arranged the viewing schedule. As Lu Xin’s pink electric bike buzzed up, a real estate agent leaning against a sleek black SUV was already waiting.

The fact that the agent handled villa properties meant he wasn’t exactly low on means—the very SUV he drove looked quite impressive.

But when the agent saw Lu Xin’s pink electric bike, his expression turned to one of utter surprise.

After repeatedly confirming identities, he realized that the stylish girl he’d been in touch with was indeed the one riding with Lu Xin.

And that the casually dressed, unassuming man was actually the one looking to buy the house.

His demeanor instantly brightened as he bustled around eagerly, leaving no room for laziness.

Even when racing off to the next property, his SUV obediently trailed behind the electric bike.

After all, viewing houses was merely a formality.

Han Bing knew the property details better than the agent himself—she was well-versed in price-performance ratios, discounts, and policies, to the point where she could practically draft a spreadsheet.

In theory, Lu Xin only needed to glance over them and then follow her advice.

Yet Lu Xin still made it a point to view all three properties.

Han Bing remained considerate throughout, prepared to explain everything—from building materials and design to the history of each structure.

But she soon realized that Lu Xin wasn’t really interested in those details.

He scrutinized each property carefully, lost in thought.

However, when it came to the key factors for selecting a house, he hardly voiced any preferences.

In the end, after viewing all three, it was only when they reached the Baichi villa that a smile appeared on Lu Xin’s face.

“I like it here,” he said.

He turned to Han Bing and grinned, “Why?”

Han Bing feigned surprise. Of the three, by every measure, this one was somewhat less cost-effective.

It was expensive, its facilities sparse, and the space wasn’t used efficiently.

“It’s fun,” Lu Xin replied with a beaming smile as he walked around with Han Bing. “Though it’s only two floors, it has an elevator so you won’t have to haul a wheelchair up and down. There are plenty of rooms that could be converted into dorms or a gaming lounge.”

“The spacious yard even has an open area where you could set up swings or seesaws.”

“And the flowerbed on the west side could be redone to plant vegetables and a few trees…”

“For trees, think apricot, jujube, or pomegranate—ones that bear fruit you can eat…”

“The high courtyard wall makes climbing difficult, and even if someone did, the thick grass below would cushion any fall…”

“…”

“?”

Han Bing grew increasingly puzzled, “Mr. Lone Soldier, your criteria for picking a house seem rather odd…”

“They do, don’t they…”

Lu Xin laughed sheepishly, glancing back.

In his mind, he saw his sister along with Little Nineteen and Little Eighteen—three little ones in oversized white hospital patient gowns—playing by the swing set. Other children gathered together, either gaming or climbing trees to pick fruit.

He also recalled seeing a few substitute teachers tearing up a neatly arranged flowerbed as they discussed the recent scarcity of supplies and what to plant to boost the kids’ nutrition.

Then there was the Old Director, stooped over, chasing after a flock of chickens. After catching one, he wiped the mud off his face and furiously bellowed, “I can ace any experiment, so why can’t you lay an egg?”

“Tell me, why aren’t you laying eggs?”

“If you don’t lay eggs, I’ll put you in a pan—do you believe me?”

“…”

“…”

“In the eyes of adults, this might not be the best place,”

but looking at the lively courtyard scene, his pupils widened and his gaze unfocused.

After a moment, he murmured, “But children will definitely love it.”