Since you are already here, do you really think you can just leave?

With Cao Kun’s introduction, Bai Jing and Liu Yuling finally met properly.

After they shook hands, Bai Jing leaned toward Cao Kun and whispered, “Did you come to Haicheng recently to rent a place?”

Though still a bit confused about her current situation, Bai Jing was perceptive enough to catch important details. Moreover, Cao Kun’s words were hardly subtle—almost hitting her directly in the head. If she couldn’t grasp this piece of information, she’d have to question her own sanity.

“Yeah,” Cao Kun nodded calmly. “It was during the holidays, and I had nothing much to do, so I came to Haicheng for a while and rented a place near Haicheng University.”

“Mainly, I’ve never stayed in a dorm before. I worried I wouldn’t get along living with other guys. What if some conflict broke out, and I accidentally knocked them out cold? So I thought it’d be better to rent a place on my own.”

Hearing this, Bai Jing’s lips twitched awkwardly.

“Accidentally knock them out cold?”

Had Cao Kun said this before boarding that train, Bai Jing wouldn’t have believed it for a second. But after that train ride, she believed it one hundred and twenty percent.

That big muscular guy, felled by just two punches from him, turned limp. She didn’t think the freshmen at Haicheng University would be any tougher than that muscle-bound guy.

Who knew—he might truly knock someone out with a single punch.

Since Liu Yuling hadn’t witnessed Cao Kun in action, she naturally didn’t buy his excuse.

“What do you mean, not used to living with guys?” Liu Yuling teased. “I think you just don’t want to live in the dorm because it’d be inconvenient for dating the ladies.”

Cao Kun laughed heartily and gave Liu Yuling a playful slap on her pert rear.

“Maybe it’s the older sisters,” he said.

Liu Yuling blushed slightly and scolded affectionately, “Cut it out, you’re so disrespectful! Let’s go, we should get on the car.”

She took a suitcase from Cao Kun and walked ahead. Bai Jing’s gaze lingered meaningfully between Cao Kun and Liu Yuling several times.

“What’s wrong, Sister Bai?” Cao Kun asked seriously.

Bai Jing was taken aback, then chuckled. “What, just leaving my hometown and now I’ve gone from Aunt Bai to Sister Bai?”

“Ah, it’s got nothing to do with your hometown. I’ve wanted to call you Sister Bai for a long time,” Cao Kun said earnestly. “You look and carry yourself so young, even a hint of resemblance to my aunt would be fine, but you’re just too fresh-faced. I couldn’t bring myself to say it before.”

“Besides, this is Haicheng, a big city. If I called you Aunt Bai here, I’d probably get surrounded by people staring at me like I’m crazy.”

No matter the age, women are immune to compliments about their looks and figure.

Cao Kun’s words made Bai Jing a little embarrassed; her pretty face flushed.

So she quickly changed the subject.

“All right, enough teasing. I thought you were a straightforward guy, but now... Hey, what’s Liu Yuling’s story?”

“Story?” Cao Kun shrugged carelessly. “When I came, her husband was out, and I had time, so I got to know her a bit. All right, Sister Bai, let me take you to see the place I rented.”

With that, Cao Kun grabbed a suitcase in one hand, held Bai Jing’s hand with the other, and strode after Liu Yuling.

...

Six in the evening.

Cao Kun, Bai Jing, and Liu Yuling arrived at the apartment Cao Kun rented near Haicheng University.

Once inside, everyone except Cao Kun was stunned.

Wow!

So spacious!

And it was fully furnished!

TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioning—everything was there.

Since Liu Yuling worked in real estate, she was merely a bit surprised.

But Bai Jing’s mouth hung open in shock.

My goodness!

This place is so beautifully decorated!

The flooring, the chandelier, the wall murals, the built-in closets...

At a glance, it was far more upscale than her previous home.

As she toured the apartment, Bai Jing’s amazement grew.

Four bedrooms, two living rooms, two bathrooms, three sun-facing bedrooms, and one north-facing bedroom, which was turned into a study.

But that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that each of the three sun-facing bedrooms had its own air conditioner and wardrobe.

Beds and mattresses had already been purchased.

The mattresses were even high-end Simmons.

She’d heard the name Simmons for years but had never used one herself; her family’s mattress was just some off-brand costing eight or nine hundred yuan.

Renting out such a nice place was downright extravagant!

Thinking this, Bai Jing looked at Cao Kun.

“Xiao Kun, this place you rented—this must have cost a fortune, right?”

“Not too bad. Eight thousand yuan a month.”

“Eight thousand yuan?” Bai Jing’s eyes widened.

Compared to Bai Jing’s shock, Liu Yuling was much calmer.

She knew Cao Kun had money now.

In just two or three days, he was practically drowning in it.

The 23.8 million yuan investment property had quintupled in value since yesterday. Though the growth had slowed, since this morning, it surged rapidly again.

By the time Cao Kun and Bai Jing arrived in Haicheng, the price had nearly multiplied eightfold.

Twenty-three point eight million times eight is what?

One hundred ninety million!

And this upward trend showed no sign of stopping; it still had strong momentum.

She wouldn’t dare to guarantee anything else, but after tonight, surpassing her forecast of a ninefold increase was absolutely certain.

So, seven or eight thousand yuan a month was nothing to him!

Seeing Bai Jing’s stunned expression, Cao Kun smiled and said, “Well, this is a newlywed couple’s home. They spent 400,000 just on renovations. If the husband hadn’t been transferred out of town by his company, they wouldn’t even want to rent it out.”

“Besides, the place is huge—160 square meters. This price isn’t expensive.”

“If it were downtown, this place would easily cost over ten thousand a month, right, Manager Liu?”

Hearing Cao Kun call her Manager Liu again, Liu Yuling rolled her eyes lightly and smiled.

“Yeah, it’s not expensive. If this were downtown, with this size and decoration, forget ten thousand, twenty or thirty thousand a month would be cheap. After all, that’s downtown.”

Listening to Liu Yuling casually mention those figures, Bai Jing felt her head spinning.

Just this one apartment—two or three tens of thousands a month in rent—and that’s considered cheap?

Oh my goodness!

With her salary of just over three thousand yuan a month in Xia County, she could barely afford to rent for a single month all year long.

No way!

This big city isn’t a place for people like her. She’d better hurry back to Xihe City.

There, a good single apartment costs only 1,300 yuan a month. Compared to this, it was pure bliss!

With that thought, Bai Jing quickly changed the subject.

“Xiao Kun, remember, I’m only staying here one day. Tomorrow I have to head to Xihe City. The expenses in this big city are terrifying. If I play around for two days, I’ll lose all my capital to stay in Xihe afterward.”

Hearing this, Cao Kun laughed heartily.

“Sister Bai, what are you thinking? You’ve come all this way. You think I’m letting you leave? Don’t even think about it. You’re staying in Haicheng now!”