Chapter 53: Arrangements for Bai Jing

"Is that so? It has already quintupled?" Cao Kun asked with a hint of surprise in his voice. "Not bad, not bad. It seems I am really going to make a fortune this time."

Hearing Cao Kun's perfunctory tone of surprise, Liu Yuling fell silent for about two seconds on the other end of the phone before speaking up.

"So, you didn't call to ask about the housing prices?"

Liu Yuling had assumed that Cao Kun was calling specifically to inquire about the property market, which was why she blurted out the good news that prices had already multiplied fivefold as soon as she answered.

However, hearing his indifferent reaction made her realize that property values weren't the real reason for his call.

There was simply no emotional fluctuation in his voice regarding a fivefold increase.

Clearly, he didn't care whether the prices had multiplied by five or not.

Thus, checking on the market was definitely not why he was calling.

"Oh, I do have a few other things on my mind," Cao Kun said, taking a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it. He continued, "When you called me this morning, what was your highest prediction for how many times the prices could multiply?"

"Nine times!" Liu Yuling replied. "My prediction is that the properties you bought can appreciate up to nine times at most."

"However, that's not something that can happen in a short time. You'll have to wait a year or two."

Property values multiplying nine times, and having to wait a year or two for it?

Cao Kun chuckled and exhaled a puff of smoke.

It seemed Liu Yuling's years in the real estate industry hadn't amounted to much.

If someone truly professional in the real estate sector had been in her shoes, they would have realized long ago just how central that location really was.

"Nine times, huh?" Cao Kun said. "How about this? I'll guarantee you a baseline of ten times. In other words, no matter what price my properties eventually sell for, your commission will be at least ten times higher than the previous standard. If it falls short, I'll make up the difference out of my own pocket."

Hearing this guaranteed promise from Cao Kun, Liu Yuling on the other end of the line was completely stunned.

What the hell?

What kind of move was this?

The highest price she had predicted was a ninefold increase, yet Cao Kun was guaranteeing her a tenfold baseline.

This was practically shoving money directly into her hands!

Why would he do something like this?

Did his conscience suddenly prick him, making him feel that he had been too rough with her a few days ago, so he wanted to compensate her?

That couldn't be it!

Although it certainly had been rough, she loved every bit of it, and Cao Kun knew she enjoyed that kind of dynamic. It was a case of willingly taking a beating because she was willing to endure it—both sides were completely consenting.

Bringing up compensation would only make things awkward for them both.

Yet, if it wasn't compensation, why was he guaranteeing her a tenfold return?

Unable to figure out Cao Kun's reasoning, Liu Yuling simply asked him directly.

"What's going on? Guaranteeing me a ten-time baseline is basically handing cash straight to me. Do you have a favor to ask? Spit it out, stop playing games."

Cao Kun let out a soft laugh and said, "As expected, nothing gets past the clever and sharp Manager Liu. You're right, there is indeed something I'd like to ask of you."

Liu Yuling chuckled lightly on the other end. "I knew it. I've already learned just how hard it is to earn your money; you'd never just hand out cash out of the goodness of your heart. Go ahead, what is it you want me to do?"

"You're working independently, right?" Cao Kun asked. "Well, I want to add a partner for you."

"I have a friend whose family recently went through a major upheaval and wants to live in a different city. I want her to go to Haicheng, but I don't have many friends there myself, so I thought of you."

"Let her work with you at first. Of course, that's only temporary; the main thing is for you to help her get familiar with Haicheng."

"Once all my properties are sold, I'll arrange a new job for her."

"As for how the other properties are sold and how the commission is split, you can decide. For my properties, I'll guarantee you a tenfold commission baseline—if it falls short of ten times, I'll make up the difference for you. But for anything exceeding ten times, you need to give that excess portion to my friend. Is that acceptable?"

After listening to all of this, Liu Yuling wanted to say: did she even dare to say no?

Cao Kun was the owner of those properties; she was merely an agent. If Cao Kun refused to authorize her to sell them, she wouldn't earn a single cent.

So... she had no leverage to negotiate with Cao Kun whatsoever. Whatever he said went.

"Listen to you, talking about ten-time baselines and nonsense—forget about it! Just tell her to come straight to me. As it happens, I've been a bit lonely on my own anyway. The two of us can work together, and whatever we earn, we will split fifty-fifty, absolute equality."

Liu Yuling wasn't a fool. Anyone Cao Kun arranged like this must have an extraordinary relationship with him.

If she actually accepted Cao Kun's initial arrangement, her relationship with him would ultimately remain nothing more than a standard business partnership.

Once the properties in his hands were sold, whenever another moneymaking opportunity arose in the future, Cao Kun certainly wouldn't include her.

Therefore, she must not focus too heavily on immediate gains at this moment; she had to seize the opportunity to get on good terms with Cao Kun.

Wasn't he just trying to place a friend of his?

If she took good care of her, split the earnings evenly, and handled matters impeccably, wouldn't he bring her along the next time a lucrative opportunity came up?

Besides, in a sense, Cao Kun could be considered her benefactor.

Take the property purchase from a few days ago, for instance—Liu Yuling had netted a hefty 350,000 in commissions from it.

Without Cao Kun, where would she have made that 350,000?

Though she had paid a certain price for it, she had enjoyed it immensely, experiencing a level of supreme pleasure she had never known before.

In fact, she had always felt that she was the one taking advantage of Cao Kun.

So, facing her benefactor, how could she fixate solely on money?

A person must know how to show gratitude and repay kindness!

Hearing Liu Yuling say this, Cao Kun chuckled while smoking his cigarette and asked, "A fifty-fifty split? Is that appropriate?"

"Appropriate, why wouldn't it be?" Liu Yuling said. "Your friend is my friend. Since we're all friends, there's no reason not to split earnings evenly. Don't worry, I'll take care of her properly and leave nothing to worry about."

"By the way, let me ask, what is your relationship with this friend?"

"Well..." Cao Kun murmured softly, "A relationship that makes me very comfortable. Much like you and me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuling on the other end of the phone burst into a giggle.

"Got it, understood! In that case, you can rest even easier. We're sisters-in-arms who have fought on the same battlefield—she's practically one of us now. Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of my dear sister."

With Liu Yuling's assurance, Cao Kun didn't drag the conversation out any further. After giving her a few final reminders regarding precautions, he ended the call.

***

Seven o'clock in the evening!

At the Garden Residential Area, inside the apartment that still temporarily belonged to Bai Jing and Wang Yifu, Cao Kun opened the door carrying take-out food.

By this time, the room had already been tidied up, and Bai Jing was sitting on the sofa watching television.

Two large suitcases sat right beside the sofa.

Clearly, Bai Jing had already packed all of her belongings.

She was fully prepared to leave this small county town.