Liu Yanbo truly was getting the most benefit from this deal.
China had always been a country with a large population, and with more people, the demand for housing was naturally high.
Especially after the establishment of the Socialist Market Economy, the domestic economy had developed rapidly and the people's living standards had improved as well. More and more people left the yellow loesses and the mountain villages to enter the big cities brimming full of job opportunities, and there, find a home to settle in.
The concentration of population had accelerated the pace of urban modernization, but at the same time, it had also created problems such as housing shortages, which led to a great surge of development in the real estate industry.
In recent years, although the government had directly intervened in the economy in pursuit of stable development, and had imposed certain restrictions to control the high outbreaks of the real estate industry, it was undeniable that it was still one of the most profitable industries.
Even though many specialists were looking down on the future development of the real estate industry, saying that it was a bubble economy, there was still a steady stream of businessmen joining in.
Did real estate make money?
It was very a lucrative industry. Many people of the high society had made their fortunes through it.
In China, a real estate tycoon once topped the list of the richest people in China. Even in the present days, in an era of economic diversification, he was still one of the strongest contenders for this position...
If Liu Yanbo wanted to make money quickly to gain more power, real estate was undoubtedly one of the best choices of all honest industries.
After all, there was now someone willing to help him, and even someone to fund it.
It was almost as if they were asking him to be a lazy shopkeeper*, just waiting to collect the money.
*Idiom, meaning: somebody who asks others to work but does nothing himself.
As for the conditions Li Liang put forward, it was nothing to Liu Yanbo——
One was that he had recently been closely interacting with Ji Ruyan. In the minds of many people, it was believed that they have been on the same side for a long time. Therefore, if others were looking to cause trouble for Ji Ruyan, they probably wouldn’t leave Liu Yanbo alone anyway;
Secondly, Liu Yanbo himself understood that he needed to take advantage of the situation to face future trouble. It wouldn’t be appropriate to expose his previous identity or deal with it the way he’s best at.
After all, this was China, a country with strict laws, and also Liu Yanbo’s motherland; not some turbulent foreign country. He couldn't kill everyone who came asking for trouble, could he?
With all this in consideration, it’d be ridiculous to not take advantage of such a beneficial deal.
So, apart from Liu Yanbo's previous desire to avoid attention, he had no reason not to agree, didn’t he?
However, Li Liang was still uneasy and made sure, "Liu, does that mean you agree?"
Liu Yanbo turned to look at Ji Ruyan and seriously said: “If you ever encounter trouble in the future, Boss Ji, and I’m still in this world, I’ll try my best to help you.”
Liu Yanbo then turned to Li Liang again, and continued: “Uncle Li, I can’t promise you her safety forever, but I can say this: I will try my best.”
There was a difference between promising and trying their best.
The former meant absolute commitment, meaning that whether you could do it or not, you would have to do it anyway, leaving no room for negotiation;
The latter was much better. Although it could be considered a promise too, at least there was a way out. It was like the saying: We must do what we can.
Liu Yanbo wasn’t the type of person that could easily make promises, he had already suffered from such behavior.
This wasn’t something of the far past, it happened quite recently.
If he hadn’t signed Yin Hanruo’s unreasonable marriage contract, he wouldn’t be trapped and unable to escape from all the incoming trouble.
More importantly, Liu Yanbo was a person with many secrets, and those secrets unknown to everyone but him prevented him from making long-term promises.
The world was unpredictable, every life had an end, no matter what he does, a man cannot overcome heaven.
Liu Yanbo's cautiousness did not arouse Li Liang's dissatisfaction. On the contrary, he was still very happy and smiled: "Yes, trying your best is great! Just try your best!"
"Then it’s settled. Ruyan, tomorrow, accompany Liu to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau for registration. I’ll give Director Zhen a call."
When Liu Yanbo heard that he would have to make a registration, his expression suddenly changed, it wasn’t happy, but a look of reluctance. Looking at Ji Ruyan pitifully, he tried: "Boss Ji, what if I don't go, and you go for me?"
Ah, it seems Bo had caught the laziness disease once again!
Regarding Liu Yanbo's irrational fear of trouble, Ji Ruyan knew a bit about it, but she found a few things weird.
He’s obviously a person who’s afraid of trouble, but then why does he put himself in the center of so much trouble?
He really is contradictory!
Ji Ruyan shook her head, not because she didn’t want to, but because there was no way to do so. She smiled: "How about we do it like this: there happens to be a real estate company under my name. I can transfer it to your name, then you can use it to take that piece of land, what do you think?"
See? See this right here?
Yin Hanruo, should I call you to come over so you can see it personally? Boss Ji is a good woman who knows how to show consideration to a man’s requests. Not like you, who turn your face when you don't agree, and doesn’t hesitate to punch and kick...
Liu Yanbo took a deep breath and calmed down the resentment in his heart. He said seriously: "That’s a good idea.”
The two sides reached a consensus and were officially on the same page.
To be honest, Ji Ruyan and Li Liang didn’t expect it to go so smoothly. They even discussed beforehand a long-term plan of persuasion in case he hadn’t agreed.
But Liu Yanbo had no choice. He originally came to Haishi to live at the bottom of society, and have the most ordinary life. For the past three years, he had indeed done so.
But life was always full of variables, he had never expected to be reunited with Young Sir Bin in this city, nor get accidentally married to Yin Hanruo...
Bai Bin’s trust in him and Yin Hanruo’s status, have both prompted Liu Yanbo to make changes and give up his original intentions.
If didn’t have a choice anyway, why drag it out?
Fortunately, Liu Yanbo liked to read urban web novels when he had nothing to do, and he had fantasized about being like the male protagonists in those novels, living full of mettle in the bustling city. So, this could be considered as mental preparation, right?
Now, the dream became reality!
The matter was settled, there was no need to sit down again. After agreeing to meet when they take the land, the three of them prepared to leave.
Li Liang left first, and Liu Yanbo and Ji Ruyan went together.
When leaving, Liu Yanbo received another wave of stares. All that made him feel a bit awkward, so he hurriedly fled to Ji Ruyan's car.
Sitting in the car, Liu Yanbo fell into deep thought as he looked out the window to the darkening sky.
Now I have to get used to another life again?
Why does trouble follow me everywhere I go?
After a long time, Liu Yanbo let out a bitter smile and turned his head away from Ji Ruyan, then said, "Boss Ji, it’s better if you take the land under your name, and the company can stay under your name too."
Ji Ruyan looked deeply at Liu Yanbo, squinted her eyes, and asked, "Do you already regret it?"
"That’s not it." Liu Yanbo waved his hands and explained, "I'm just afraid of trouble, plus I've never opened a company before, so I'm genuinely afraid of not doing well. You're going to help me anyway, why don't you help me to the end?"
Ji Ruyan thought about it and shook her head: "You can't do this if you’re afraid of trouble. I can help you with managing the company in the future, but be present at the business negotiations and social engagements. If you think there’s something wrong with having the company under your name, then we can keep it under mine, but you have to be the majority shareholder. What do you think?"
Ji Ruyan had her reasons for saying this.
It didn't matter if Liu Yanbo didn't want to manage the company, she could help. But negotiating business and socializing could expand the circle of people he knows, which would be helpful for him to build his own network.
As for why she let Liu Yanbo be a shareholder, firstly, was in consideration of his wishes;
Secondly, because of her own secret wishes. Ji Ruyan wanted to get closer to Liu Yanbo. This was a perfect excuse to meet him often and prevent him from avoiding her.
Although Liu Yanbo wasn’t able to understand the secret intention behind Ji Ruyan's suggestion, after thinking about it for a bit, he deemed it fair and nodded: "Okay! Then let’s do as you said, Boss Ji."
"Can you stop calling Boss Ji all the time?" Ji Ruyan side glanced at Liu Yanbo and snapped, "It's unpleasant!"
Liu Yanbo touched his nose awkwardly and said, "Then what should I call you?"
"Ruyan Jie*? What do you think?" Liu Yanbo asked cautiously. He had heard Wang Yingying mention that Ji Ruyan was twenty-eight years old, two years older than him.
*Jie means older sister, it can be used after the name of a woman older than you. Girls can also use Jie too.
"Uhum! This name is still barely acceptable." Ji Ruyan said with an arrogant face, "Let me hear it one more time."
“Uh…” Liu Yanbo was dumbfounded, but still obediently called again, "Ruyan Jie."
‘Pftt~’ Not only did Ji Ruyan laugh, but even Hei San, who was driving, also laughed out loud, as if he had discovered a new continent.
Liu Yanbo puzzledly scratched his head, one moment looking at Ji Ruyan, and the next looking at Hei San, not knowing what they found funny...
The car slowly stopped outside the gate of Bamboo Garden. Before getting off, Liu Yanbo turned back and said, "Ruyan Jie, I may be busier soon, so I’ll have to rely on you for the land matter."
"Yes, don’t worry about it." Ji Ruyan nodded her head. She gently asked, "Is there anything else you need my help with?"
"Thank you, Ruyan Jie. There’s one little thing I need to do, but I can handle it myself." Liu Yanbo smiled faintly and got out of the car.
With his job lost, what else could he have to do?
Liu Yanbo did in fact remember one thing he needed to resolve.
With so many people onto his every move, there was no reason that explained why the Undercurrent organization hadn’t yet made their appearance.
Those who wanted to avenge Jiu Ye could have their concerns to confront him, but this fierce and notorious terrorist organization shouldn’t, should they?
It was only a matter of time before Liu Yanbo would have to kill once again.
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