Got up, washed up, and made some breakfast. Chen Yan meditated for a while and practiced the Primordial Qi Transport Technique again.
He checked the time again; it was nine o’clock.
Picked up his phone and called Lu Sisi.
On the other end, Lu Sisi seemed to be walking outdoors, and her voice sounded a bit anxious.
"Lu Sisi, are you free today?"
"I’m heading to the classroom; I have a compulsory exam today."
"How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, I’m free. After today’s exam, all exams for this semester will be over."
"Good." Chen Yan nodded: "Then go take your exam. Once you’re done this morning, let me know; I’ve got something to discuss with you."
Lu Sisi hung up the phone and looked at the building in front of her.
She took a deep breath and exhaled.
Not sure if it was psychological, if yesterday’s injury brought bad luck, or if the Talisman Chen Yan gave really worked.
But ever since she got back yesterday, she hasn’t had any bad luck.
Seems like everything is going quite smoothly.
Before leaving the house this morning, Lu Sisi hid in the bathroom and burned another Talisman.
Hope... today goes smoothly too.
While sitting in the classroom taking the test, Lu Sisi froze when she saw the questions.
As if afraid she misread, she rubbed her eyes hard.
This question, she did it a few days ago!
Oh, that question, she saw it during revision!
Huh, that section, she memorized it last night!!
Gripping her pen tightly, the young girl was stunned.
In the morning, Chen Yan came to the store near University City again and found Hu Licking Dog.
"You want to rent another house?"
Hu Licking Dog looked curiously at his classmate: "Didn’t you already move into a mansion?"
"Just asking, aren’t you interested in business coming to your door?" Chen Yan laughed.
"Of course! Come, sit!"
Hu Shangke rejoiced, personally moved a chair for Chen Yan, and poured him a cup of tea.
A few minutes later, Hu Shangke looked at Chen Yan, puzzled.
"Bro, you want a short-term rental?"
"Yes, just for a few days, about a week." Chen Yan smiled: "Winter vacation is coming, there should be many short-term rentals available around University City, right?"
Hu Shangke nodded: "Indeed, as someone who studied here, you know there are often many short-term rental listings in our store this time of year."
Around University City, during summer and winter vacations, short-term rental listings often appear.
The reason is pretty straightforward: Some senior students, those dating, starting businesses, or just loving the freedom of living off-campus, secretly rent houses outside.
But during winter and summer breaks, students go home, especially for winter... everyone goes home for the New Year.
The rented houses stay vacant for one or two months.
For students, leaving a house empty for a month or two means paying rent for nothing – Landlords won’t reduce or refund the rent.
So, some clever student tenants quietly list their houses.
A week, ten days to half a month, a month... earn some money back to reduce losses.
However, many landlords dis, so some students can only do it secretly and find familiar agents to quietly introduce the listing.
"What’s your budget?"
"As cheap as possible.", Chen Yan replied confidently.
"Bro... even cheap places need a price, so I can help you look." Hu Shangke sighed: "Cheap houses are usually in remote areas."
"Distance isn’t an issue."
"The houses are old."
"The facilities are basic."
Hu Shangke made a bitter face: "Bro, should I find you a shack?"
Chen Yan seriously thought for a moment: "A shack isn’t bad, as long as it has walls, windows, and a roof..."
Hu Shangke rolled his eyes.
If this guy hadn’t rented a villa from him with real money a few days ago, he would’ve thought Chen Yan was just playing with him.
"You’re renting for just a week?" Hu Shangke considered and checked his phone: "I do have a cheap one, just got the keys yesterday, it’s from a senior from our school."
"The price is six hundred, use it for a week or a month, as long as you clear out before school starts after the New Year.
The house is a bit far, at the edge of University City, nearly at the highway.
A single room with a small bathroom equipped with a flushing toilet, but no shower.
No kitchen, just an induction stove in the room.
Simple furniture: a bed, a wardrobe, and a table. No internet."
Chen Yan laughed: "What kind of senior rents a house without internet?"
"A civil engineering senior, usually interning at construction sites, working day and night. He doesn’t like living on-site, often works until late, and finds it inconvenient to return to the dorm, so he rented a room nearby.
No internet, he doesn’t mind, just needs a bed to sleep.
No kitchen because he usually eats boxed meals at the site.
As for showering, he’s used to being dirty. If he really needs it, he can use the dorm’s public shower."
Poor civil engineering senior... Chen Yan sighed, "Alright, I’ll take it."
"Just to be clear, no deposit, no contract." Hu Shangke reminded.
"I understand." Chen Yan nodded.
Secret rental dealings, technically not permitted, so they choose not to sign contracts – these contracts are legally invalid anyway.