As long as the world has not achieved complete equality, class differences will still exist. Many of Wen Ya’s thoughts could only remain thoughts.
Even though she had already flushed the overseas returnee down the toilet in her mind, when facing Lin Xuehe in reality, Wen Ya still remained respectful and diligent.
City H, as a second tier city, had seen its housing prices continue rising in recent years despite government regulation. They were becoming increasingly out of reach.
Wen Ya took notes with a serious expression and deeply realized how severe the situation was.
Based on current housing prices and the rate at which her salary increased, even after saving on daily expenses she could not afford to buy even a single bathroom.
If she left her parents’ home, survival would become difficult.
Ding.
Her WeChat notification lit up.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: It must have a terrace.
“……” Wen Ya rubbed her forehead with a headache. Why would someone living alone need a terrace!
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Within twenty minutes driving distance from the company, including traffic time.
Are you kidding me!
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Move in by the end of this month.
Today was already the fourteenth!
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Do you have any questions?
She had a sea of them!
Wen Ya gritted her teeth and hammered the keyboard.
Wen Zhaocai: May I ask if you have any requirements regarding the price? [smile]
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Money is not a problem.
Wen Zhaocai: Alright then [smile]
Wen Zhaocai: Would it be alright if I organize all the listings and send them to you this Friday?
Wen Zhaocai: [smile] [smile] [smile]
Looking at the screen full of little yellow smiley faces, Wen Ya stroked her chin in satisfaction. Her move this time was perfect, she had flawlessly given him a sarcastic “hehe.”
This time Lin Xuehe’s reply was slow to arrive. Wen Ya waited for quite a while but still received nothing.
Her confidence gradually turned into uneasiness.
Could this overseas returnee know the meaning of that meme?
No, no, that shouldn’t be the case. Although among people her age the smile emoji often meant “hehe,” the colleagues around her who were a few years older did not know that meaning at all and simply treated it as a polite friendly smile. Moreover, Lin Xuehe had been abroad all this time.
Another ten minutes passed, and Wen Ya started to feel restless.
Fine, fine. Even if he knew the meaning, as long as she pretended not to know, it would be fine. There was nothing to worry about.
It was just an emoji.
Another half hour passed. Wen Ya, eyes red, closed the chat window.
Forget it, forget it. Work helps people forget everything…
Ding.
As if he had precisely timed the moment she closed the page, the icon in the lower right corner flashed again.
Wen Ya quickly clicked it open. The chat window appeared again, and a certain yellow smiling emoji occupied… someone’s profile picture.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Tomorrow
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Give them
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: To me
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Thank you for the trouble
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Thanks
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Contact again
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: [goodbye]
Six messages filled the entire screen, a textbook example of a capitalized “hehe.”
A colleague passing by glanced at her. “What’s wrong, are you feeling unwell?”
Wen Ya’s expression was bleak, she gave an empty smile.
She. Had. Lost.
Still, she truly had not expected Lin Xuehe to be the kind of person who kept score over something so small…
After working overtime all night, calling sales offices until the lines practically exploded, even muttering in her dreams about places being too far, too close, too small, or too big, Wen Ya dragged herself into the company right on time and collapsed onto her desk.
Her colleague sighed. “Comrade Wen Ya, could you stop looking like you’re about to die?”
“Unnie, you simply don’t understand my suffering…”
“Isn’t it just finding a house? Since he has money, why not let an agent handle it?”
Wen Ya shook her head in despair. “I did ask agents to help, but you can’t trust everything agents say. I still have to verify each one myself…”
Her colleague patted her head. “Why are you always so serious? Sure he’s handsome, but in front of work, looks don’t fill your stomach.”
That was completely reasonable. But since the task had already been handed to Wen Ya, even if she could not exceed expectations, she at least wanted to complete it properly. Otherwise it would feel unfinished, and the thought alone would make her uneasy.
With that in mind, Wen Ya pulled herself together again. Since the workday had just begun and there was not much to do yet, she made two more phone calls.
She searched whenever she had a spare moment, organizing photos of the apartments, their prices, locations, sizes, and other details into a document. Finally, twenty minutes before the end of the workday, she sent it to Lin Xuehe.
Wen Zhaocai: [Housing_List.doc]
Wen Zhaocai: Please take a look first. Pick the ones you prefer, then I’ll visit them in person.
This time she did not dare include the little yellow smiling emoji. The other party’s tolerance was far smaller than his aloof appearance suggested. She could not compete with him.
To be honest, Lin Xuehe was a little surprised when he saw such a detailed document. Every key point was listed clearly. It must have taken considerable effort to organize all this in such a short time.
Since the other party had clearly put in the effort, Lin Xuehe did not take it lightly either. He read through it page by page, circling several apartments that were fairly close to his expectations.
Before he finished reading, a call from his cousin arrived.
“Xuehe, the factory in L Province had a serious accident. I need to go handle it. I’ll probably be there for a few days. If you need anything, go find Wen Ya. She’s a local and knows the area well.”
“Alright.”
“You’ve contacted her already, right? That girl isn’t bad, is she?” The voice on the other end sounded pleased. “Let me tell you, among all the secretaries I’ve had, she’s the one I’m most satisfied with.”
Looking at the detailed housing report, Lin Xuehe relaxed his brows slightly. “She’s quite good.”
“Oh my god, you actually nodded in approval!”
As if he were that harsh.
Lin Xuehe opened the chat window. “Don’t worry about me. What happened at the factory?”
The cheerful tone on the other end suddenly stopped, turning serious. “…They say an entire production line is ruined. More than ten workers are injured, and two are still being rescued.”
Lin Xuehe frowned. “A sudden accident?”
“You don’t believe it either, right? Something is off. That’s why I need to go investigate it myself.”
“Call me if you need help.”
“Hehehe, good brother! Alright, I’m hanging up.”
After putting down the phone, his long fingers rested on the keyboard and tapped lightly.
Ding.
Wen Ya glanced at the time, 4:56 PM.
She quickly opened the chat window. The document she had sent earlier had been returned, followed by a short, emotionless sentence.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Print the three apartments I marked and bring them.
Wen Zhaocai: ?
Wen Zhaocai: We’re going to view all three?
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Yes.
Wen Zhaocai: Alright.
While quickly printing the files, Wen Ya tossed her phone into her bag and prepared to leave work.
She planned to eat early and go to bed early today.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: I’ll arrive at your company in twenty minutes.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Contact them first to arrange the viewing.
The index finger resting on the mouse stiffened as she tapped into the chat box. The word “okay” simply refused to come out.
She had even planned to make the bathwater a little hotter tonight…
“Wen Ya, we’re getting off work.”
Her colleague called out cheerfully, then jumped in surprise at Wen Ya’s pale, lifeless face when she looked up.
“O-overtime!”
Her colleague looked puzzled. “What’s left to do?”
“H-house viewing!”
“Tsk.” Her colleague gave her a sympathetic glance. “You two probably have incompatible horoscopes… Hang in there, poor thing. Big sister is going home to feed the baby.”
The office quickly fell quiet and dim. Wen Ya took a deep breath, picked up the printed files, dug her phone out of her bag again, and dialed the number listed in the document.
“Hello, my surname is Wen. Yes, we contacted you earlier. We’re available now and would like to view the property immediately. On your side… alright, see you at six.”
Just as Wen Ya could not refuse Lin Xuehe, real estate salespeople could not refuse clients.
Since they were in the same commercial district, it took Lin Xuehe about fifteen minutes to drive over, even with rush hour traffic. By the time Wen Ya came downstairs, he had already arrived.
Alarm bells rang in her head. She hurried over in her high heels, jogging up to the driver’s side.
“Mr. Lin, I’ll drive…”
Lin Xuehe spoke first. “Get in.”
Wen Ya’s smile froze on her face. Inside she snorted coldly. Fine, I’ll get in. As if I even wanted to drive!
With a sour expression she reached for the rear door, but Lin Xuehe’s cold voice came again.
“Front passenger seat.”
“…”
After fastening her seatbelt, Wen Ya secretly glanced at the man beside her from the corner of her eye. It was still that incomparably handsome face, but…
In her mind, all she could see was the little yellow smiling emoji. The contrast was ridiculously jarring.
And a bit awkward.
“The first place is Langyuan on Xihai Road. Six o’clock.”
When he heard the time, Lin Xuehe gave her a long look. Wen Ya immediately grew uneasy for no reason, even starting to wonder if her lipstick had stuck to her teeth.
“I do not want to hear your stomach wailing a second time.”
Wen Ya’s face turned bright red, mortified.
Did she not want to eat dinner? But would she dare arrange a meal first on her own initiative? Were not people who returned from overseas all about efficiency? Was not every five minutes supposed to be golden time?
A thousand complaints surged in her heart, but when they reached her lips they turned into a weak sentence.
“I will try my best to keep it under control…”
Lin Xuehe’s eyes flickered. He slightly turned his head away and started the car.
“Do your best.”
Crunch. Wen Ya ground her back teeth.