Song Xi was on the verge of a breakdown.
She had spent the entire day out, searching for a suitable apartment, and still hadn't found one.
Upon returning home, she was met with Yi Xiaoling's sarcastic remarks: "Still haven't found it? Your boyfriend is such a loser, a grown man without a place to call his own! Just a reminder, you only have three days until your new rent is due."
Song Xi shot her a cold glare.
Yi Xiaoling flinched, clearly intimidated, and quickly closed her bedroom door.
Song Xi collapsed onto the bed, exhausted both physically and mentally.
*Buzz—*
"[Link]"
"[Link]"
Ge Baitao: "Babe, what do you think of these apartments? They belong to a friend of mine! The price is negotiable!"
Song Xi opened them one by one, her jaw nearly dropping in surprise.
They were nestled by mountains and water, loft apartments, fully furnished, and conveniently located near the subway station.
Even with Ge Baitao's negotiation skills, the price wouldn't come down much. Besides, she couldn't always rely on her for favors!
Song Xi: "No need, Baitao. I've already found a place I like. I'm going to see it tomorrow."
Ge Baitao: "So fast!"
"[Sniffles] Did you see it today? Why didn't you call me qaq"
Song Xi: "[Pat pat] I took a look while I was out. You don't need to worry!"
Ge Baitao: "Alright, let me know when you move. I'll help you, and then we'll have a housewarming party together!"
Song Xi: "[Okay]"
A little while later, Lu Chenyu also sent her a WeChat message. He had likely heard from Ge Baitao and asked if she was looking for a place.
Song Xi confirmed that she was.
After that, Lu Chenyu had no more messages.
Song Xi didn't pay it much mind. After lying in bed for a bit, she rallied herself and started browsing various apartment-finding apps, scrolling through Xianyu, Douban, and Weibo.
It wasn't until one o'clock in the morning that she finally found hope in a Weibo super topic!
A one-bedroom, one-living-room apartment that met all her requirements. Crucially, the monthly rent was within her budget!
She immediately sent a private message to the poster. The person was clearly also a night owl.
They chatted happily and quickly added each other on WeChat.
Song Xi was tired of searching and didn't want to go through any more trouble. So, when the landlord mentioned a deposit, although she hesitated, she gritted her teeth and transferred five hundred yuan.
Landlord: "OK. I'm off on Saturday, and you can come view the apartment then."
The heavy stone that had been weighing on Song Xi's heart finally lifted. She let out a sigh of relief, tossed her phone aside, and soon fell asleep from exhaustion.
At five-thirty in the morning, Lu Chenyu sent a document.
It contained detailed information on various rental properties, presented in tables and explanations, spanning over ten thousand characters.
Lu Chenyu had stayed up all night compiling it.
...
Song Xi saw the document the following afternoon.
She was a little surprised and sent Lu Chenyu a message: "Wow, did you compile this yourself!"
At that moment, Lu Chenyu was dozing in his chair.
"Director Lu, we can start shooting!"
Lu Chenyu slowly opened his eyes, his irises filled with bloodshot veins.
A staff member asked, "Director Lu, didn't we wrap up pretty early yesterday? Were you up late?"
Lu Chenyu picked up his glasses and put them on: "It's nothing."
Seeing a message from his pinned contact, his usually stern expression softened slightly.
He typed his reply: "No, I found it online."
He didn't want her to feel burdened.
The staff member, seeing an unusual expression on his face, teased, "Girlfriend?"
Lu Chenyu put his phone in his pocket, put on his hat, and headed out: "Not yet."
...
Song Xi was indeed relieved by his words.
Although it was no longer useful, she still downloaded it onto her phone and sent Lu Chenyu a "thank you" sticker.
Song Xi's apartment was quickly secured.
It was the one she had paid a deposit for. She went to see it on Saturday and was very satisfied.
Coincidentally, there were a few other young women viewing the apartment. Song Xi, afraid of losing it to someone else, signed the contract on the spot and paid half a year's rent upfront.
The next step was moving.
Moving was a huge undertaking. Song Xi didn't want to bother Ge Baitao and decided to do it herself.
When Yi Xiaoling saw that she had found a place so quickly, she started complaining. First, she said the hairdryer was hers, then that she still owed several hundred yuan for the electricity bill. She kept finding fault with things, as if delaying the move.
Eventually, Song Xi didn't want to argue with her anymore. She transferred her five hundred yuan, and only then did Yi Xiaoling quiet down.
She then sat on the sofa and started her passive-aggressive remarks again: "Don't forget to call your boyfriend over later. I want to see him."
Song Xi couldn't be bothered to respond, letting her vent.
A cold sneer flashed in Yi Xiaoling's eyes. She then tipped off Qian Xiaoyu and relayed the matter to Zhang Qi.
Zhang Qi had been quite well-behaved recently.
Ever since the old lady had spoken to him last time, Gao Lin had instructed him to act obediently and try to please his grandmother.
Perhaps, by continually doting on her, the old lady would stop pressuring him to marry Song Xi.
During dinner, Gao Lin again took the opportunity to bring up the matter. Unexpectedly, the old lady said with a cold face, "There's no room for negotiation on this! The end of the month is just days away, you'd better hurry!"
"Grandma!"
Zhang Qi was furious, glaring at Gao Lin, blaming her for the strategy's ineffectiveness!
Gao Lin glanced at Lou Yuming, who was eating silently.
It was strange. This person, whom she rarely saw for months on end, had been coming home every day lately.
She cleared her throat and tentatively asked, "Yuming, this matter has something to do with you as well. Are you really okay with someone like Song Xi marrying into our Zhang family?"
She tried to appease him, even serving Lou Yuming a shrimp.
Zhang Qi, understanding better than Gao Lin, anxiously said, "Mom, little uncle has..."
Before he could utter the word "germophobia," Lou Yuming put down his chopsticks, his expression indifferent.
Gao Lin forced a smile: "I've... eaten my fill. How about I ask Butler Lu to prepare some dessert? It's just been air-freighted from France—"
"Mom!" Zhang Qi was on the verge of a breakdown. He covered his face and reminded her, "Little uncle doesn't like sweets!"
Well, it was rare for her to try and flatter him, and she missed the mark every time.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Zhang Qi gave up and buried his head in his phone. He happened to see a WeChat message from Yi Xiaoling.
"Song Xi seems to be moving in with her new boyfriend."
"[Photo]
"[Photo]"
Zhang Qi zoomed in on the packed luggage, his teeth clenched in anger.
She had made such a fuss over him barely touching her before, and now she was moving in with another man so quickly? That bitch!
"What about that guy!"
Yi Xiaoling: "Didn't see him. She packed everything herself, tired as a dog!"
Zhang Qi: "Heh, idiot!"
He tapped his phone screen, making a clicking sound. Lou Yuming sat beside him and, with a downward glance, took in the contents of the messages.
Zhang Qi angrily said, "Are you just going to let her leave so easily?"
Yi Xiaoling: "Don't worry, she won't be able to move out of this house smoothly!"
"What do you mean?"
"I've found someone to help. They should be here soon!"
Zhang Qi: "Good, that's just like you! Remember to send me a video later!"
"Yuming, your sister-in-law is talking to you!" Gao Lin frowned. Although she disliked being so subservient, she felt that no one besides him could sway the old lady.
"Tell me honestly, does that girl Song Xi deserve it?"
Lou Yuming subtly withdrew his gaze. He took a sip of water, his voice crisp: "She truly doesn't deserve it."
Gao Lin's face lit up: "See? You also think she doesn't deserve—"
"Sister-in-law seems to have misunderstood." He put down his water glass, stood up, his presence exuding an imposing aura: "I said that Zhang Qi doesn't deserve her."
Gao Lin's mouth twitched with anger.
Zhang Qi was still engrossed in his online surfing. It wasn't until Lou Yuming had left for half an hour that he looked up and asked, "Where did little uncle go?"
Gao Lin: "..."