A few minutes later.

Xu Tong returned.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Ye!"

"So, how is it? Can it be done?" Ye Chen asked.

Xu Tong replied, "Mr. Ye, I spoke with the boss about your request. The response is that the deposit agreement can be transferred. However, regarding the issue of rising property prices... Well, we have our policies. If property prices rise due to certain factors, the excess amount will be halved. Of course, we wouldn't raise property prices for no reason—that would violate laws and regulations. But the boss also said the deposit requires a payment of 100,000 yuan, and you must pay the full amount or down payment within seven days. Otherwise, the deposit agreement will be void and non-refundable."

"Only half off for the excess?"

Ye Chen felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this.

Still, he understood. The other party couldn't possibly set no boundaries. Even though no one, including real estate developers, expected property prices to skyrocket soon, rules and limits still had to be in place.

"Fine, half off it is. When the deposit subscription is transferred later, it might not fetch 2 million, but 1 million should still be doable."

"Alright, that works!"

Ye Chen straightforwardly poured the contents of the kraft paper bag onto the table.

He then began signing a series of subscription agreements with the other party, ensuring all promises were explicitly included in the documentation.

"Mr. Ye, remember to pay the down payment or full amount within seven days!"

Xu Tong stood up, smiling as he shook hands with Ye Chen.

Just as Ye Chen was about to leave, someone who had been itching to act, Zhang Jingshan, finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Driven by impulse, he said, "I'll take two units as well! Just follow what Mr. Ye said. Is that alright?"

The saleswoman:

The financial officer:

The manager, Xu Tong:

What? Is this like buying vegetables at the market?

Sure, the property prices at Jinlin Mansion were affordable, but they weren't that cheap!

But what left them even more dumbfounded was what followed.

Ye Chen playfully glanced at Zhang Jingshan and said, "Not buying a few more units?"

"Ahem, just two will do," Zhang Jingshan said awkwardly.

Although tens of thousands of yuan was nothing to him, money didn't grow on trees.

It was Ye Chen's confident demeanor that made him impulsively want to join in.

At worst, he would just forfeit the 200,000-yuan deposit. That's how Zhang Gongzi rationalized it.

"Sir, will you also pay deposits for two units?" Xu Tong cleared his throat.

He had encountered all sorts of clients before, but clients like this were a first.

Without hesitation, Zhang Jingshan said, "Yes, two units. Mr. Ye reserved Unit 01, right? I'll reserve Unit 02 on the same floor."

With the staff escorting them out of the sales office, Ye Chen and Zhang Jingshan each left with two deposit subscription agreements.

"Mr. Ye, although 200,000 yuan isn't much to me, this could be the most irrational thing I've ever done," Zhang Jingshan remarked as they walked.

"Actually, you could have been even more irrational—like paying deposits for ten units at once or even outright buying ten units in full. After all, there's no purchase limit," Ye Chen said.

"Are you kidding? If the prices don't rise, what would I do with them? Leave them empty? A place like this wouldn't even sell at a loss!" Zhang Jingshan replied with a bitter smile.

Throughout it all, even now, he didn't believe Jinlin Mansion's prices would rise anytime soon.

The 200,000 yuan was essentially written off in his mind.

Ye Chen shook his head with a smile but didn't say more.

Champs-Élysées Restaurant.

This was one of the most elite Western restaurants in Jiangzhou.

After all, Zhang Jingshan's intention was to thank Ye Chen for his advice the night before.

Compared to the crisis that had been averted, picking a random spot would have felt too petty.

Still, he was a bit worried—worried Ye Chen might feel out of place in such a setting.

"Mr. Ye, while Champs-Élysées isn't the absolute top-tier Western restaurant in Jiangzhou, few places can rival its level of sophistication," Zhang Jingshan said with a smile as he led Ye Chen into the lavishly decorated restaurant.

Seeing Ye Chen glancing around at the luxurious surroundings, Zhang assumed Ye Chen was overwhelmed, like a country bumpkin visiting a grand city.

But little did he know, in his past life, Ye Chen had acquired the entire Champs-Élysées brand.

He had transformed Champs-Élysées into the most high-end Western restaurant chain in the nation—a symbol of status.

At this moment, Ye Chen was merely reminiscing about those memories that had been stirred up.

Under Zhang Jingshan's practiced navigation, the two quickly reached a window-side table.

There, a young man of similar age to Zhang was already waiting.

"Old Zhang, you're still the same—always late but never early. I've been staring at the view for ages!" the man joked as soon as he saw Zhang.

Then, turning to Ye Chen, he asked, "And this is?"

Unbeknownst to him, as he looked at Ye Chen, Ye Chen froze upon seeing him.

The philanthropic school-building enthusiast from his past life had appeared before him?

In Ye Chen's memories, this man was a deeply charitable figure who had silently built over 100 schools for impoverished mountain areas and funded over 500 university students in 15 years.

All of this only became widely known 15 years later.

When Ye Chen, already over 50 in his past life, learned of this, he had researched the man's background.

He was a low-key entrepreneur who had run a trading company. He had lost a leg in a car accident caused by brake failure.

Wait.

As Ye Chen's memories became clearer, he suddenly remembered that the accident had occurred on the very day Jinlin Mansion opened for sale.

Was that... today?

"Changfeng, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Ye Chen, the one I told you about late last night. Thanks to his advice, I narrowly avoided a major disaster!" Zhang Jingshan quickly introduced Ye Chen.

"Mr. Ye, it's a pleasure to meet you! I heard from Jingshan last night that you're a master at predicting things?" Li Changfeng extended his hand with a half-joking tone.

"Mr. Li, the pleasure is mine! I wouldn't call myself a master—it's just intuition," Ye Chen replied, shaking his hand.

"Changfeng, I didn't mention this yet, but Mr. Ye's wife, Chen Yinuo, works at your Huaxing Trading. If she hadn't come to my company yesterday, I wouldn't have known about the trouble at Yuntian Network. They had someone disrupting our partnership. I owe it all to Mr. Ye's wife; otherwise, I'd be in big trouble!" Zhang said.

"Jingshan, that's not entirely fair. My team is also at fault. Knowing the bid was 10% lower than the competition, they still forced the issue. That's just unreasonable! But you're right—if it weren't for Chen Yinuo, none of this would have come to light. Having such an employee is a blessing for Huaxing Trading!" Li Changfeng replied.

Zhang Jingshan subtly hinted at Chen Yinuo's connection to Ye Chen, hoping to win her some favor.

Li Changfeng immediately understood the intention. If Chen Yinuo was competent, he was more than willing to oblige.

"Alright, let's not dwell on this for now."

Zhang tactfully changed the subject, handing the electronic menu to Ye Chen. "Mr. Ye, pick something to eat."

"Mr. Zhang, no need to stand on ceremony. I'll go with whatever you choose," Ye Chen replied.

Zhang interpreted this as Ye Chen being unfamiliar with high-end Western cuisine and thus unwilling to make a choice for fear of embarrassment.

He nodded with understanding.

"Alright, I'll order for you then!" Zhang said cheerfully.