Chapter 383

I returned to work as usual.

I had been away for more than a month.

On my first day back, a client arrived.

But this client belonged to Anning. She had found her by handing out flyers. We paid to print our own flyers, and each carried our personal contact information.

Honestly, I found it unbelievable that Anning had attracted a client.

Interest in viewing a property did not guarantee a sale, and Anning could barely manage the simplest conversation. Her chance of closing a deal was less than one percent.

To improve our odds, Meng Yifan sent me with her and asked me to handle the negotiation.

Naturally, I would never steal Anning’s commission, and Meng Yifan knew that.

The person who died in this Stigmatized Property was a single mother with a child in kindergarten.

Overworked and ill, the mother suffered sudden death at home one day. When the child missed kindergarten for two days, the teacher called the mother but received no answer. She visited the home and discovered the body.

Technically, it did not qualify as a Stigmatized Property, but most people would consider it one.

Today’s prospective buyer was also a woman. Her surname was Su, she was twenty-seven, and she was unmarried.

Women were less likely to buy such properties because most were naturally afraid of these things. Anning was an exception.

After touring the apartment, Ms. Su seemed very satisfied with its two bedrooms and living room. The price was affordable as well.

But someone had died there, and the single mother had passed away in the Master Bedroom.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable about that.

Seeing Ms. Su’s hesitation, it was time to put my salesmanship to work.

But before persuading her, I needed to understand her. Her cheeks lacked flesh, the bridge of her nose was knotted, her philtrum was short, and her nasolabial folds were uneven, with the right one shorter than the left. In physiognomy, these were classic signs of someone who lost her mother in childhood.

Such a person either suffered throughout life or worked desperately in the first half before enjoying prosperity in the second.

She was clearly the latter.

“Ms. Su, the person who passed away in this room was a single mother.”

“Her husband died in a car accident three years ago. She lost her job the following year, but she still had a child to raise. With no one to help, she had to earn money while caring for the child. She eventually worked herself to death in this room.”

“Death itself isn’t frightening. What frightens us is separation in life and death. That young child will never see his mother again.”

I looked at Ms. Su. “I think you and that single mother are alike.”

She looked confused. “Why do you say that?”

I replied, “Both of you worked hard to live, yet life kept letting you down. You’re only twenty-seven and can already afford a home. That’s more impressive than a grown man like me. Your friends may envy you, but they don’t know how hard you worked, how many grievances you endured, or how many hardships you crossed to achieve what you have today.”

“Even if you don’t buy this apartment, I still admire you from the bottom of my heart.”

My words quickly swept Ms. Su away.

She sighed deeply. “My mother died when I was very young, too. I never knew a mother’s love. I left school after junior high and began working. Even I can’t believe how I survived all these years…”

I sighed. “You truly are remarkable. I’ve never met anyone your age more accomplished than you. If you live here, I think the single mother’s spirit in Heaven will bless you with safety, success, happiness, and joy.”

“No matter how strong you are, you still need someone to care about you…”

I put on a complete performance, deploying every trick in my repertoire.

In the end, Ms. Su did not let my shamelessness go to waste. She paid the deposit.

She also seemed far less bothered by the bedroom than before.

Before she left, I sincerely told her, “Compared to life’s hardships, death is nothing. You don’t need to dwell on it. Besides, ghosts don’t exist. Someday, this home will gain another resident: its male owner.”

“Ms. Su, your life will get better.”

I stopped there. If I continued, I suspected she would cry.

People who grew up without a mother’s love tended to have fragile hearts and deep emotions.

After we got into the car, I smiled at Anning. “You’ll earn at least ten thousand in commission from this deal. Plenty of people don’t make that much. Why aren’t you smiling?”

Wasn’t she especially interested in money?

Or had my words to Ms. Su touched her as well?

“But you negotiated the deal. I didn’t do it myself.”

Anning looked dejected.

I hurriedly assured her that the commission was hers. I wasn’t going to steal it.

“What about next time? I can’t ask you to help every time. It makes me look useless…”

“What’s wrong with that? I’ll always help… I mean, helping others has always been one of my virtues. You don’t need to worry about inconveniencing me.”

She remained discouraged.

But there was no easy solution. Different childhoods created different personalities, and traits shaped in childhood were difficult to change.

She thought hard for a while, then asked contemplatively, “Is it because I’m uneducated…?”

I barely managed to suppress my laughter.

…

It was already late by the time we finished showing the property.

Instead of returning to the shop, Anning and I ate at a restaurant, and I drove her home.

Once we reached her residential complex, Anning took out the classical Chinese book she had been reading and asked me to teach her.

I sat with her in the complex and taught her. She studied seriously and even took notes in a notebook.

After an hour, she finally went upstairs.

As I watched her leave and prepared to go, Seventh Master called.

He planned to visit the Tan family’s estate again tonight and wanted me to accompany him.

Naturally, I agreed and said I would go home first to retrieve my broadsword.

He asked where I was so he could pick me up. I told him I was at Anning’s residential complex.

Seventh Master fell silent. After a long pause, he asked, “Are you lonely…?”

“How am I lonely? I was teaching Anning classical Chinese.”

“Hahaha…”

Seventh Master burst out laughing. “The activity may sound refined, but deep down, you’re still a creep.”

I was speechless.

After hanging up, I hurried home to retrieve my blade and waited for Seventh Master to collect me.