Wang Qiqi and Shi Man headed straight for the real estate agency, their demands clearly itemized. Once the list was done, the two of them stared at the agent, hoping to hear good news. Previously, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man had already visited two or three agencies, but the listings were scarce, and the conditions weren't great. This had led Shi Man to brag all the way over that if she hadn't pulled Qiqi out early, Qiqi likely wouldn't have heard any news today. Annoyed, Wang Qiqi had declared before entering this agency that regardless of whether they had anything today, she wasn't looking anymore; otherwise, they wouldn't have time to go home and cook, especially having to prepare that bubble tea, and they weren't even sure if the ingredients were available nearby.

After jotting down the requirements of the two young women, who clearly looked like students, the agent began to calculate internally. Were they truly looking to buy a house, or were they just scouting for other agencies? It wasn't that she was overly suspicious; it was because too many people came just to inquire about listings before.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man weren't novices. They noticed the agent madam’s smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she appraised them, making them uncomfortable. Shi Man tugged at Wang Qiqi’s sleeve and murmured in their local dialect, "Should we switch agencies? This auntie is too scary." If it hadn't been for the real estate sign hanging outside, and the fact that it was street-facing and relatively clean, Shi Man would have thought she and Wang Qiqi had stumbled into a front for something illicit, perhaps human trafficking, especially targeting seemingly gullible female university students like themselves.

Wang Qiqi thought the same. "Let's try another one. We're not the only ones with houses for sale. Ugh, buying a house isn't easy."

Shi Man nodded. "Maybe call your man over? I feel like having a guy show up would be better." At least for a sense of security.

The agent madam listened as the two young girls chatted in a dialect she vaguely recognized. Though she couldn't make out every word, she caught enough to understand they were serious about buying property. "Are you truly looking to buy a house?"

Just as Wang Qiqi and Shi Man turned to leave, they heard the agent madam ask this question. Their steps halted, but they exchanged glances, feeling that this woman was odd for staying silent until they were already walking away. This only made them more certain the place was fishy; otherwise, why wait until the last minute to speak up? If there wasn't a problem, that would be the real problem.

"I thought you were scouts from another agency checking out listings..." Seeing the two actually about to leave, the madam immediately stood up and stopped Wang Qiqi and Shi Man. If she closed this deal, it would cover her entire month's commission. Introducing rental clients brought in far less, and the agency fees were often negotiated down, sometimes even leading clients to bypass the agent entirely—it wasn't unheard of.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man hadn't expected her line of thinking. Though slightly annoyed, they paused their retreat when the madam quickly described several properties. Turning back to her, Wang Qiqi said, "If you haven't given us false information, then today is too late. We'll come back tomorrow morning to view the properties." Wang Qiqi thought to herself: even if she used deceitful tactics to lure them in, so what? Viewing the property would be tomorrow anyway, and she would bring Han Tao along. With three people looking in broad daylight, they certainly wouldn't be in danger.

Seeing Wang Qiqi and Shi Man relax slightly and ask that follow-up question, the madam felt a weight lift from her chest. Regarding Wang Qiqi’s suspicion, she thumped her chest emphatically. "Relax, everyone in this area knows Madam Cui's reputation! I promise you, any house I mention to you definitely exists. I wouldn't engage in the shady business of pilfering false listings from others to tell you about."

Wang Qiqi noticed how the madam had completely changed from her initial taciturn demeanor upon their entry; she was suddenly quite talkative. Wang Qiqi figured this must be her true way of dealing with clients. Listening to what the other woman had said, she could understand the agent’s perspective, but comprehension didn't entirely erase the lingering discomfort. Shi Man felt the same way, and their expressions remained less than cheerful.

"Little girls, rest assured, the listings I have are absolutely excellent. My husband works at the Housing Bureau…" Madam Cui knew the two young women still held doubts but were unwilling to let go of the properties she held. This made her quite smug; how else would her business be so good?

So, they had connections. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man exchanged a look. Having connections certainly made everything easier, even running a small real estate agency. "Then, Madam Cui, can we come tomorrow morning to see the houses?" They decided to view the properties first; if they were satisfied, then they would haggle over the price.

Madam Cui nodded cheerfully. "No problem, no problem. By the way, how many houses are you interested in? I'll let the homeowners know." For example, they might need to tidy up, making sure the place wasn't too shabby to turn off potential buyers before a deal could even be struck.

Wang Qiqi was actually quite pleased with the properties mentioned earlier, but she worried if the agent would be willing to escort two young women all over the neighborhood. There weren't that many agencies around then, and service attitudes weren't guaranteed to be good. Whether the agent would bother showing them around the nearby complexes was questionable, especially since she was alone. If she left the shop, the agency would effectively shut down. If no business resulted, she'd lose a day's income, and potentially even scare off future clients.

"If possible, we'd like to see all of them, as each of us needs to buy one apartment," Wang Qiqi said with a sweet smile, reasoning that you couldn't hit someone who was smiling. "And if your listings are good, Madam, we have friends who will also be looking to buy." Business owners always appreciated growth; this way, whether her hope was realized or not, the agent would at least treat them seriously.

Madam Cui smiled for a moment. "Don't worry, you must be students. Auntie will definitely give you a discount." In her head, she wondered where these nouveau riche kids came from, wanting to buy property at such a young age. But their demeanor and tone didn't scream 'nouveau riche offspring.' Maybe their parents were officials? That was possible, but none of it really concerned her. As long as she got her commission from the sale, the source of the money was irrelevant.

Wang Qiqi shot Shi Man a look that said, See how capable I am? Then, amidst Shi Man’s surprised gaze, she said goodbye to Madam Cui, and the two headed toward the market. "Qiqi, are we really planning to look at houses with her?" Shi Man still felt uneasy; the way the agent looked at people was just too strange, not like a good person.

Wang Qiqi yawned, feeling more tired the more she slept. "I must be getting old; I need a nap." Wang Qiqi rubbed the corners of her eyes. "Hurry up and buy the groceries so I can go home and sleep."

Shi Man panicked when she heard this, grabbing Wang Qiqi’s arm. "You're not planning to sort the vegetables?" Sorting vegetables was tedious work, but she hadn't expected Qiqi to just drop the task entirely. This made Shi Man deeply regretful; she knew this was Qiqi’s retaliation for not letting her nap earlier. "If you keep sleeping like this, you’ll turn into a pig sooner or later. Let's see if your man will still want you then."

Wang Qiqi completely ignored the jealousy in her friend's voice. "I won't gain weight no matter how much I eat, and besides, I use my brain." People who used their brains carried significant pressure, especially for Wang Qiqi. Every manuscript she received required deep contemplation. Several times, Wang Qiqi woke up terrified from dreams where she was constantly translating, as if there were an endless supply of manuscripts needing translation.

Wang Qiqi’s casual remark greatly provoked Shi Man. She shrieked several times. "Qiqi, Wang Qiqi, you are absolutely infuriating! Don't you know you're bullying me? Fine, fine, sorting vegetables it is!" Shi Man thought that if she didn't agree, she didn't know what else the girl would say.

Han Tao and the others walked toward Wang Qiqi and Shi Man's location while discussing matters. Although having the gathering at their place would have been more convenient—it required less consideration for decoration, and even bones could be tossed on the floor—they lacked sufficient kitchen equipment. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were also tired of hauling cooking utensils back and forth for every meal. Thus, they agreed to host at their place. Of course, the men were responsible for the aftermath once the meal was done, handling all the cleaning, like washing dishes. Gong Junyu and the others had voiced objections to this arrangement, but the thought of home-cooked meals, a rarity they seldom enjoyed, made them quiet down. Especially since getting together occasionally to chat and share interesting stories was a form of relaxation for these computer-savvy, homebody men.

"Han Tao, are you really planning to go to the US during the winter break?" Although Gong Junyu and the others had heard Han Tao mention it many times, it still felt surreal to them. In their eyes, Han Tao was incredibly lucky. On his first trip abroad, he encountered a master in computer science who invited him to the US. Even though the trip was just for study with no pay, Gong Junyu and the others felt they would have paid out of pocket for such an opportunity, but they simply hadn't encountered it. Opportunity was truly everything.

Dai Lijun pushed up his glasses and looked at Han Tao, who was walking alongside them, constantly speaking with modesty. His feelings were complicated. Seeing his former junior brother land such a great opportunity, Dai Lijun couldn't say he wasn't jealous. "Han Tao, when you get to the US, learn as much as you can. And buy back plenty of materials. You can’t always rely on people to bring things back for you. Don't be shy when you go."

"Right, right." Everyone agreed with Dai Lijun's suggestion. (To be continued)