Chapter Eleven [Moving into a Haunted House]
Chen Yan's eyes immediately lit up, visibly more energized.
"Haunted house? How haunted?"
Hu Shangke was a bit baffled.
Classmate, your mental state seems a bit off!
Why do you seem to suddenly get excited?
Hu Shangke also perked up: "There really is such a place, in the southern Jiangning District, inside a villa area.
Near a mountain, it's a standalone three-story villa, over four hundred square meters in total, very well decorated, fully furnished. High-end furniture and appliances, and even has central air conditioning.
The yard is big, with large green spaces, and it even has an outdoor swimming pool. The overall outdoor yard area exceeds an acre.
I'm telling you brother, this kind of house definitely counts as a luxury villa!
Under normal circumstances, if the monthly rent isn't at least fifty thousand, don't even think about renting it!"
"What's the price now?"
"Fifteen thousand.", Hu Shangke quickly replied.
Chen Yan laughed: "That's quite a drastic discount, what kind of case happened inside?"
Hu Licking Dog had a somewhat sinister look on his face: "A crime of passion! A woman, together with her lover, murdered her husband, and cut him into pieces right at home!"
Chen Yan got even more excited: "Dismemberment case, huh!"
"One dead body and the monthly rent drops to fifteen thousand?"
Chen Yan felt a bit embarrassed: "So... is there something even more haunted? Like a house where several people died?"
"...", Hu Shangke felt a tightness in his chest: "Bro, if that's not enough, should I just find you a grave?"
Chen Yan also got all the details about the house from Hu Shangke.
They're classmates after all, and while Hu Shangke wanted to earn some intermediary fee, his conscience wasn't completely bad.
After all, they were just fresh university graduates, still somewhat naive and didn't want to backstab a classmate, ruining his reputation within the circle of classmates — maybe a few years later, after being tossed around society, that might change.
Hu Shangke told everything he knew:
There indeed was a dismemberment case in the house, it happened several years ago and was quite sensational at the time.
Hu Shangke didn't know the specifics of the case, just heard that the female owner killed the male owner.
Probably a crime of passion.
The female owner was of course arrested, whether executed or not is unknown.
Later, the family sold the house... after such an incident, who the hell would still want to live there?
It was sold very cheaply, a bargain price.
Such a murder house is hard to sell, even at a low price, few are willing to buy it.
But it just so happened a bold investor seized the chance, bought the house at half the market price.
The person wasn't stupid.
The house definitely wouldn't sell immediately.
They thought of renting it out at a low price first!
As long as the house is rented out for a few years, having a few batches of tenants.
Even though the rent is low, it could cover maintenance and property management costs.
Moreover, no matter how haunted the house is, after a few years with tenants, the past events would be forgotten.
By that time, few would still care.
Then, the house bought at half price for ten million could be sold at twenty million market price.
In a few years, a hundred percent return rate.
It's a unique long-term investment. The return rate is quite high.
However... not many dared to do this kind of business.
"The murder case in this house happened years ago, the current owner, after buying it, has rented it out to three batches of tenants, it seems they were fine, no issues occurred.
Our company private talks estimate the owner might rent it out for another year or two, then put it up for sale.
This bargain, you can enjoy it for a year or two max, longer than that they might not be willing to rent it anymore.
But it matches your requirements well."
Hu Shangke's words were very clear.
Without further delay, Chen Yan decided right there and then, dragged Hu Shangke to see the house.
The two took a taxi straight to Jiangning District, south of Jinling Prefecture.
The house is located at the foot of General Mountain, in the villa residential area, the innermost house near the mountain.
The place was quite quiet, next to the mountain. The adjacent houses were about a hundred meters away.
The yard wasn't small, featuring a tiered structure — Hu Shangke's one-acre yard was actually conservative.
The house faces the mountain, the outer wall of the yard is right against the slope, uphill is deserted... if brave enough, one could make a gate through the wall to walk up the slope into the wilderness.
Chen Yan was satisfied at first glance.
Very finely decorated, considered luxurious a few years ago.
Furniture was also high-class, central air conditioning, and floor heating.
The living room was double height, huge crystal chandelier lending a sense of opulence.
Of course, the overall decoration style was a bit dated, the furniture was solid wood type, probably liked by older folks.
Younger people might not prefer this style.
But Chen Yan didn't care!
Three months ago, he was still sleeping in an eight-person dorm room!
He felt: large space, remote location, low price.
As for the haunted house?
His Miracle Art training should soon advance a level.
Then, he could practice one or two of the offensive arts from the Secret Manual.
If any strange entity dared to show up, one True Yang Five Thunders Technique could send it to reincarnate!
If not, summoning a Ghost Servant to serve him might be quite challenging too, right?
Chen Yan paid the deposit on the spot, asking Hu Shangke to arrange for the contract signing.
Regarding the keys, he pocketed them immediately.
Hu Shangke was efficient, eager to get the intermediary fee quickly.
In three days, Lao Hu arranged for both parties to sign the contract.
The real owner didn't show up; such wealthy bosses seldom do, instead sent a subordinate with authorization.
Chen Yan transferred the half year rent. Hu Shangke earned half month's rent as intermediary fee.
This old classmate was diligent in the transaction, his previous advice was genuine and sincere.
Chen Yan didn't agree, but appreciated the sentiment.
Paid the intermediary fee promptly, with no discount.
The process went smoothly, once completed, the other party quickly left.
Overall, Chen Yan was happy, Hu Shangke was happy, the other party was happy too.
But before leaving, the person couldn't help but give Chen Yan a deep look.
Nowadays... why so cheerful to live in a haunted house?
Is post-2000 generation so fierce?
Chen Yan called the old landlord to cancel his lease directly.
There were a few hundred bucks deposit, Chen Yan wasn't bothered to claim it.
By contract, early termination is a breach, legally the landlord can keep the deposit.
Morally, the landlord was unreliable, often ignored maintenance duties.
But Chen Yan didn't want to waste time, worth a few hundred bucks delay for days?
With his luggage, moved into his "luxury villa".
On moving in, Chen Yan used the Celestial Eye Qi Observation Skill to check the house.
Hmm, didn't see anything eerie.
Felt a bit disappointed.
In a thirty-square-meter master bedroom on the third floor, on a king-size bed, Chen Yan sprawled out.
The room had air conditioning and floor heating, warm like spring.
Lights adjusted to warm tones.
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view of the mountain outside...
Chen Yan exhaled: That's comfortable!
"What? Chen Yan moved out?"
The girl standing at the rental house door suppressed her irritation, looking at the man inside.
The man about thirty years old, squinting at her...
Suppressing the urge to kick him in the crotch, she maintained a sweet cute smile, softly asked: "So, do you know his contact?"
"...No, not familiar with him.", the man, one of the tenants, though annoyed by the knock during game, was patient seeing a beautiful lady: "The landlord definitely has his number."
The male tenant secretly eyed the girl... such a pretty gal, why wear that old-fashioned cotton coat?
Uh? There's coal ash on her clothes?
But her face is really attractive...
The girl ignored his looks: "So, can you give me the landlord's number?"
The tenant took out his phone, pulled up contacts, then hesitated.
"You think I'll just give it?," he smirked sleazily: "Missy, got a boyfriend? Add me on WeChat, then I'll share the landlord's number."
The girl's smile slowly faded.
She squinted at him, then scanned around... the corridor was empty.
"Anyone home?", she gently asked.
"No one, how about you come in?"
She nodded: "Good, no one."
Then, she blew softly into his face.
The breath hit him, his vision blurred.
Seemed he saw a strange gleam in her eyes!
She took his phone, he barely reacted.
In a daze, he heard her softly say:
"You're a dog, you're hungry, go eat."
His eyes glazed over, turned straight around.
Barking lightly, he marched towards the bathroom...
She noted the landlord's number from his phone quickly.
Then tossed the phone inside, closed the door.
[Today's second update is complete, please add to bookshelf!]