The Zhongtong branch was located in Building 4 of the residential complex, while the property they were showing was in the adjacent Building 5. After crossing the street, they arrived at a row of shops beneath Building 5. The vacant unit was situated right at the corner, directly facing the busiest intersection in the neighborhood—arguably the prime location in the entire community.

This shop had been scouted by Zhang Wei himself, and given its quality, Xu Ming had prioritized it for the first showing. Leading the way, Zhang Wei gestured toward the entrance. "Miss Murong, this is the shop we found for you. The location is excellent, with high foot traffic—perfect for a restaurant business."

"Uh-huh," Murong Xuan acknowledged, stepping forward to survey the surroundings before striding into the shop. Zhang Wei followed at a leisurely pace. The moment he entered, his eyes lit up—the spacious interior, pristine white walls, polished floor tiles, and tasteful decor created an atmosphere of openness and elegance that filled him with satisfaction.

Years in real estate had given Zhang Wei a unique appreciation for properties. Spotting a well-located, well-designed unit stirred a sense of joy in him, much like a stamp collector admiring a rare find or a photographer capturing a perfect shot. Though he couldn’t afford to buy such properties himself, he loved photographing them, treating the images as treasures to be preserved.

"This is Miss Zhang, the property owner. We spoke on the phone earlier," Zhang Wei introduced, though his relationship with her was distant, so he kept his tone polite.

Though in her forties, Miss Zhang was impeccably maintained, appearing no older than thirty. Dressed in a white dress paired with a black bolero, she exuded an air of refined elegance—clearly accustomed to a life of comfort.

"Go ahead and take a look," she said dismissively, glancing at the group before returning to her nail grooming. "I’m not stopping you."

Zhang Wei had intended to introduce Murong Xuan to the owner, but her aloofness made the introduction unnecessary.

"Miss Murong, shall we begin the tour?" Xu Ming, seasoned in real estate, remained unfazed by Miss Zhang’s attitude. However, he couldn’t help but worry that Murong Xuan might take offense. Glancing at her, he was relieved to see her expression remained composed, seemingly indifferent to Miss Zhang’s dismissiveness.

"Alright," Murong Xuan nodded, stepping further inside to examine the layout. But before she could proceed far, Guo Bin stepped forward to intercept her.

"Miss Murong, look at this exquisite European-style decor and the spacious layout—it’s perfect for your restaurant!" he said, adopting a professional tone.

Murong Xuan forced a polite smile but ignored him, turning to continue her inspection. As Guo Bin moved to follow, Xu Ming shot him a warning glare. "Guo Bin, we’re short-staffed here. Go back and help at the office."

In real estate viewings, discretion was key. Agents were taught to "listen more, speak less" to avoid prematurely shaping the client’s perception. A misplaced comment could backfire, making the client skeptical if it clashed with their own vision.

"Brother Xu, um... why don’t you send Zhang Wei back instead? I’ll handle the client," Guo Bin said reluctantly, conveniently shifting the burden to Zhang Wei.

"Tch..." Xu Ming’s frustration simmered. "With me here, why would I need a rookie like you to handle the client? And this is Zhang Wei’s find—why should he leave? You’re just being disruptive."

"Manager Xu, could you come here for a moment?" Murong Xuan interjected, calling Xu Ming over at the perfect timing.

"Miss Murong, what do you think of this shop?" Xu Ming approached her, lowering his voice so Miss Zhang couldn’t overhear. The space was large—400 square meters—with Miss Zhang standing by the street-facing window, gazing outside. As long as they kept their voices down, she wouldn’t hear.

"The location, decor, and size are all great. If the price is right, I’d consider renting it," Murong Xuan said, her professional smile giving way to genuine delight. Her beauty seemed to brighten in the absence of pretense, clearly impressed by the property.

Xu Ming breathed a sigh of relief, a small smile tugging at his lips. He had prepared meticulously for this high-stakes showing—researching the client, scouting the property, and orchestrating the tour. Nothing could go wrong now.

Standing nearby, Zhang Wei felt a surge of excitement. Securing this deal would earn him 30,000 yuan—a sum equivalent to two years of his salary.

Guo Bin and Wang Min exchanged glances, their expressions darkening with disappointment. Since Zhang Wei had found the property, the commission would go entirely to him, leaving them with nothing.

"Miss Murong, what’s your target price? What’s the maximum you’re willing to pay?" Xu Ming pressed, aiming to lock in her budget before any negotiations began.

"Manager Xu, how much is the owner asking?" Murong Xuan countered with a sly smile.

"Miss Zhang wants at least 100,000 yuan per month," Zhang Wei answered.

"Manager Xu, as an expert in real estate, do you think 100,000 yuan is reasonable for this shop?" Murong Xuan asked, furrowing her brows slightly.

"Hehe, this is a street-front unit with excellent visibility, ample space, and high foot traffic—perfect for a restaurant. Plus, the upper floors are mixed-use commercial-residential, ensuring steady weekday business. So no, I don’t think 100,000 yuan is unreasonable," Xu Ming replied.

"Mm, I trust your expertise. If the price is fair, I’m willing to pay up to 100,000 yuan," Murong Xuan said, her words seemingly affirming Xu Ming’s stance. Yet, she subtly shifted the range from "above 100,000" to "up to 100,000"—a minor tweak that effectively capped the negotiation ceiling.

"Alright, I’ll do my best to keep it under 100,000," Xu Ming said with a smile.

In truth, Miss Zhang’s actual asking price was around 95,000 yuan. Xu Ming had instructed Zhang Wei to inflate it by 5,000 yuan, leveraging the psychological tendency of buyers to haggle. Even if he offered the lowest possible price, Murong Xuan would likely try to negotiate further. By padding the initial figure, agents left room for concessions.

"Miss Zhang, Miss Murong has inspected the shop and finds it satisfactory. If the price works, she’s willing to rent it," Xu Ming said, approaching the owner with confidence.

"Let’s sit and talk. How much are you offering?" Miss Zhang gestured to the sofa, inviting them to take a seat.

Zhang Wei, Murong Xuan, and Xu Ming settled onto the sofa, while Guo Bin and Wang Min stood behind them. Miss Zhang occupied a single armchair, with a glass coffee table separating them—the only furniture in the room.

"We’re offering 95,000 yuan per month. Does that work for you?" Xu Ming proposed, matching Miss Zhang’s target price exactly.

"95,000 is too low. At least 97,000," Miss Zhang replied, her eyes glinting as she pursed her lips.

Xu Ming glanced at Murong Xuan, who nodded slightly—indicating she could accept the price. Relief washed over him; this deal was as good as closed, and the adjusted figure still fell within her acceptable range.

Knowing hesitation could invite competition, Xu Ming prepared to accept the offer and finalize the contract. But just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.

"I’ll love you forever, through every trial and test..."

Miss Zhang pulled a pink phone from her bag, answering with a brisk, "Hello, this is Zhang Yuxia."

"Alright," she said after a brief exchange.

"...Okay, do as you said," she concluded, hanging up and returning the phone to her bag before settling back onto the sofa.

"Miss Zhang, we’ve agreed on 97,000 yuan. Shall we sign the contract now?" Xu Ming said, dispensing with pleasantries and diving straight into the deal.

"Sorry, I’ve decided not to rent out the shop. My husband wants to use it himself," Miss Zhang said, her demeanor shifting abruptly as she adopted a dismissive posture.

The room fell silent. The deal was dead—Miss Zhang wasn’t just hesitating; she was pulling out entirely. Zhang Wei’s heart plummeted like a rollercoaster crashing from its peak.

Then, he remembered his mind-reading ability. Focusing on Miss Zhang’s eyes, his pupils dilated as golden text materialized:

"Someone just offered to buy my shop for 46,000 yuan per square meter. I’m not renting it out—I’m selling it outright."

"So she’s not keeping the shop for personal use—she’s planning to sell it," Zhang Wei realized, his tension easing slightly. Hope flickered anew. If he could persuade her to reconsider selling, there might still be a chance to secure the rental for Murong Xuan.