After leaving the Beijing airport, he took a taxi directly to the Conservatory of Music. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Sun Li waiting nearby, dressed in a red outfit with leather boots and a sharp short haircut. Standing at the entrance of the conservatory, she was absolutely a striking sight. The men passing by couldn't help but take a few extra glances. But then they saw this beautiful woman walking toward a taxi and hugging the man who had just gotten out. It was truly a disappointing and scandalous sight, and they could only lament that they weren't that man.
They hugged briefly, without any public displays of affection—after all, this wasn't a movie. "Teacher Miao gave me a special day off today, knowing you were coming," Sun Li said, wrapping her arms around Zhou You's neck and whispering in his ear. "Teacher Miao is quite understanding. Is her soundtrack finished?" Zhou You asked, gently pushing her away by holding her waist. Feeling him push, Sun Li let go and tightly linked her arm through his. A nearby guy, who seemed to be waiting for someone, couldn't help but watch the whole scene. He was deeply impressed, thinking, *This is a true role model—able to push away a beauty throwing herself into his arms.*
"Have you looked at any apartments yet?" Zhou You had reminded her earlier to check out places in Beijing. "I just took a quick look. Since I arrived, I've been studying every day, so I haven't had time. The neighborhoods near the school are just a few complexes, nothing special," Sun Li said, actually too embarrassed to go on her own. Only after coming to Beijing to rent did she realize how hard it was to live here. The small two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment she was renting cost 3,000 yuan a month, which was equivalent to a monthly salary in Luzhou. She had also casually asked about housing prices—over 20,000 per square meter, with better ones at 30,000. A slightly larger place would cost over 3 million yuan, and Sun Li didn't dare bring that up.
"Alright, we'll just live nearby. Buying something close is fine. Get one for now, and when new, good developments come up later, we'll buy another," Zhou You said. He didn't have much cash on hand and needed to keep some for investments, so he didn't boast about buying a top-tier place. Zhou You was decisive, especially when it came to buying a house. He pulled Sun Li along to find a real estate agent he'd seen before, asking as they walked, "What sizes did you look at earlier?" "Well, there were 80-something, 90-something, and 100-something square meters." "Those are all too small. Did you have any interest in bigger ones? Well-decorated, move-in ready, with an elevator!" This area was a mature neighborhood close to the school, but older buildings didn't have elevators. "A few days ago, an agent took me to see a 130-square-meter place that was decorated and ready to sell. I looked at it and thought it was too big," Sun Li said sheepishly. "Buy big, not small. Small places are uncomfortable to live in. Come on, let's check this one first. If it's suitable, we'll buy it directly and skip the rest. There's not much to choose from around here anyway," Zhou You said, stroking her face, knowing she was trying to save him money, but she was actually losing out. "Don't be shy. This house isn't just for you—I'll be living here too. Besides, prices will go up in the future. The bigger it is, the better the deal. The smaller you buy now, the less you'll earn later."
Sun Li laughed at his reasoning. "Where do you come up with these twisted ideas? I know you're trying to cheer me up, and hearing that makes me happy. But houses get older over time—who would buy an old one?" That was true, but reality was strange: old houses were actually getting more expensive. Where could you even argue that?
With the agent leading them, Zhou You took a look at the place. It was 135 square meters total, with one elevator serving two units per floor, only six stories high—a small garden-style building. Originally built to support the school's faculty and students, the neighborhood had a nice environment and was just a five-minute walk from the school. The only downside was that the interior decoration was a bit dated. Asking around, he learned the building was almost six years old. It had been rented out before, but now the owner wanted to sell it to buy a new place, so it was no longer for lease and had been listed online.
"How much is the total price? Can we get a discount for paying in full? Ask the owner for a firm price. If it works, we'll settle it today," Zhou You said after looking around. He found it acceptable and didn't want to bother with other options. "Mr. Zhou, the owner listed it at 3.5 million. Since they're in a hurry to sell, their bottom line is 3.3 million. Let me confirm with them again," the agent said, rushing off to make a call. Sun Li had never seen Zhou You buy anything before—she only knew he was quick to pay tuition fees. She didn't expect him to be so casual about buying a house. She gripped his hand tightly. "You Ge, this is too expensive—over 3 million. I think that 80-square-meter one was fine, under 2 million." She forced a bitter smile. "If you buy such a nice house and I end up not passing the exam, I'll feel so much pressure."
Zhou You laughed heartily, realizing her concern. "You're so cute. It's like when parents are good to their child, and the child feels guilty for not living up to expectations." Sun Li, annoyed at being treated like a child, twisted his arm, then laughed herself, realizing she did have that mindset. As they were playfully bickering, the agent came back. "Bro, the owner confirmed—3.3 million is fine. They'll be here soon." "Good, we'll sign the agreement when they arrive and handle the transfer," Zhou You said, not wanting to drag things out and waste time.
Soon, the owner arrived—a man in his late thirties, dressed like a businessman. He was surprised to see Zhou You so young but quickly recovered. Beijing was a place full of hidden talents, and no one should be underestimated. After chatting for a bit, Zhou You learned that the owner's child was going abroad, and the family wanted to upgrade to a bigger place. Selling this house would fund the child's education and allow them to buy something larger. Zhou You thought it was normal—in this era, most people wanted to send their kids abroad. He had once considered studying overseas himself, but his major offered no advantage, and his family was poor, so he gave up. This time around, though, traveling abroad would definitely happen.
Zhou You and Sun Li worked with the agent on the paperwork. When it came time for the transfer, Sun Li stood outside and refused to go in. This was one of the things Zhou You loved about her—she was strong and independent, preferring not to rely on others. Her willingness to rely on Zhou You for further study came from her ideals and dreams, not material pursuits. "You don't want to get married in this life, and I don't know when I will either. Putting both our names on this property deed is like a marriage certificate," Zhou You said softly, holding her face, meaning every word. Hearing this, Sun Li burst into tears and hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.
*Currently in the second round of recommendations, seeking collections and follow-ups. A man's words, a woman's heart—sweet talk can be deadly.*