Chapter 64: Villa on Arrival
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Ah, I finally made it,” Zhou Chao emerged from Beijing Daxing International Airport with a bag slung over his shoulder. The airport was bustling with people and so vast that it took him nearly half an hour to find his way out.
Standing by the roadside at the airport exit, he sighed.
“System check-in.”
“Congratulations to the host for checking in a courtyard by the Jindu Canal.”
Zhou Chao felt a weight in his backpack, indicating the relevant documents, property deeds, keys, and more were inside. He pulled out his phone and checked the details about the courtyard online.
Situated along the banks of the Jingdu Canal, the courtyard found itself at the outset of Chang’an Street, nestled beside the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Conveniently linked to the Jing-Chang Expressway and Chang’an Street, it was a mere 20-minute drive away from the CBD. Boasting an exclusive expanse of 81,000 square meters of untouched canal forest, a verdant urban oasis, the courtyard embodied the essence of a city’s inaugural purely detached residential villa. With this overview in mind, Zhou Chao effortlessly hailed a taxi.
“Driver, take me to the courtyard by the Jindu Canal.” After hearing this, the driver glanced at Zhou Chao through the rearview mirror, struggling to deduce more than his attractive looks and unassuming clothing. Zhou Chao didn’t strike him as someone who belonged to the luxurious villa district, especially since his appearance didn’t immediately give that away. After a discreet second look, the driver initiated the car’s engine.
“Alright, young man, are you going there to visit your family?” The taxi driver unexpectedly spoke with a distinctive Beijing accent.
“I’m not visiting family; I’m going to see my new house.”
“Who would have thought that a young man like you would have such a strong background? The properties in that area don’t come cheap. Are you not a local?” The driver’s thoughts were in turmoil. “These young folks these days, are they all this remarkable? That house must carry a hefty price tag.”
“Well, I’m from Fog City. This time, I intend to stay here for a while.” Zhou Chao retrieved the property deed and key he had just obtained through the check-in process. Glancing at it, he noted that it covered an area of 1,800 square meters. He had grown accustomed to the impact such details had on him, yet a touch of excitement still stirred within his heart.
Upon hearing this, the taxi driver was utterly taken aback. To think that he had bought a property here just to stay for a while, and it turned out to be a villa worth at least eight figures! That’s some grand style right there.
The ride with the taxi driver was quite enjoyable. Zhou Chao discovered from their conversation that the driver was a true Jingdu native, using taxi driving as a way to stay active. His family owned more than ten properties, all obtained from compensation during demolitions. While he used to manage rent collection, he had now passed that responsibility to his son.
After less than an hour and ten minutes, they arrived at their destination. The taxi stopped at the entrance. Zhou Chao got out of the taxi, and the driver greeted him warmly, “Take care, handsome.”
With his backpack, Zhou Chao walked toward the estate. As expected, a security guard intercepted him. Zhou Chao handed the property deed to the guard, who quickly verified the original owner’s identity. A sightseeing car was arranged promptly.
Soon, the sightseeing car arrived at Zhou Chao’s courtyard. With its four-meter-high walls made of green bricks, the entire yard was enclosed. Zhou Chao used his key to unlock the gate, revealing a massive Chinese-style courtyard that resembled being in a Suzhou garden.
Zhou Chao wandered around for a bit, discovering that the interiors of the villa were beautifully decorated in a traditional Chinese style. He genuinely liked it. Stepping into the courtyard, he couldn’t help but sense the strong atmosphere of a Chinese-style courtyard and the deep cultural significance it carried.
The garden was split into three main sections: the front courtyard, the side courtyard, and the rear courtyard. The front courtyard evoked the ambiance of southern water towns for Zhou Chao. The side garden was suitable for leisurely evening walks. Yet, it was the rear courtyard that captured Zhou Chao’s heart the most – a serene and refined space, ideal for savoring tea and indulging in reading.
Zhou Chao glanced around the house and saw that everything was already in place, so there was no need for further purchases. He chose a bedroom with a great view as his master bedroom. After all, he was mostly living alone now, so any room would do for sleeping.
As Zhou Chao roamed the villa, he discovered a Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the garage. He wondered whether it was a feature from the system or a gift that came with the villa. At least now he had a means of transportation.
After exploring for about an hour, having seen every nook and cranny of the courtyard, he lay on a recliner in the back garden. He felt like he had nothing to do all of a sudden. He considered calling Qin Fen to have some fun.
He took out his phone and dialed Qin Fen’s number.
“Hey, Qin Fen, I’ve arrived in Jingdu. Where are you?”
“You’re already in Jingdu? How did you get there so fast? I thought you were coming in a few days.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re still in Modu City.”
“Ahem, you’ve got me. I’m planning to come the day after tomorrow.”
“Alright then, I’ll have to explore on my own.” Zhou Chao sighed as he ended the call. He didn’t know where to go by himself. It seemed he would have to wait for Qin Fen to arrive in Jingdu before going out.
With a sense of helplessness, Zhou Chao ordered numerous fruits and snacks online, planning to stay in the courtyard without going out.
He reclined in the pavilion in the front yard, intending to watch some short videos. However, as soon as he opened the app, the first video that appeared was the dominant CEO transformation video he had helped Lei Mingtang shoot. As expected, it went viral with 1.2 million likes and nearly 200,000 comments. Zhou Chao was becoming a sensation online as well.
Initially finding it boring, Zhou Chao stumbled upon his own video and decisively clicked on the comments. He saw a comment with a staggering 300,000 likes: “This handsome guy isn’t just good-looking; he gives off a dominant CEO vibe. His gaze is so captivating, I’m in love.”
“Well, not bad. The netizens this time really have good taste.” Zhou Chao looked through numerous comments discussing his looks, wanting to marry him, and asking for his contact information. It took him half an hour just to read through the comments, and he still hadn’t finished.
After reading similar comments for a while, he felt it was becoming repetitive and slid past that video.
“Ding,” a notification came in from Lei Mingtang. Zhou Chao immediately knew it was a message for showing off.
“Chao, did you see? You’re trending. Do you want to try making a video on the Mou Yin app too?”
“Sure, if I find some time, I might give it a try. But you should really seize this chance yourself, and aim to push your fan base past a million. And if you decide to do a PK session, just give me a heads-up. I’ll be there to support you.”
“Sure, got it. Just don’t forget to post a video when you’re free.”
Arriving swiftly and leaving just as fast, Zhou Chao knew that Lei Mingtang was in a crucial stage of becoming popular. Time was money, and if he seized this chance, his career as a social media influencer would certainly become more effortless.
After the call with Lei Mingtang, Zhou Chao lost interest in watching videos. He was about to stand up and go inside to play games when he heard the doorbell ring. It reminded him that the items he ordered earlier had likely arrived.
“Thanks, mate,” Zhou Chao said as he carried a large bag of things. After closing the door, he took the fruits out of the bag and walked into the kitchen with the groceries. After all, he hadn’t had breakfast or lunch yet.
For a while, the kitchen resonated with a rhythmic melody..