Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Previous | TOC | Next |
Chapter 67: That's How It Is
"Sir, this house was only built three years ago. It's still considered new. If it weren't for the fact that the seller urgently needs money...," a client manager from a real estate company pursed her lips, revealing a smile everyone would understand what it meant. "It might not even make it to our sales list."
That was how this era was—everyone felt they deserve respect and recognition. Behind every demand lay a vast market. Whether it was a bank, a real estate company, or any other service industry, as long as they were in business, they were managers.
Client managers were the most common, followed by after-sales managers. Many people may not have thought about what it was like when they called these managers or when these managers called them.
But people enjoyed it. Having a manager provide specialized service was always a brag-worthy experience.
The house in front of Lynch was in a newly developed middle-class residential compound, and it had only been standing for two years and ten months. It featured independent front and back yards, with a moderately sized pool in the backyard.
The main building had three floors above ground and one below, covering an area of two hundred and twenty square meters, excluding the yard.
With some money in hand—almost two hundred thousand combined—Lynch, who was scorned by Katherine's parents for being unemployed just a month ago and subsequently broke up with his girlfriend, now earned more money than some people could in a lifetime.
Fate is interesting, but more so is individual capability. Not everyone possessed such abilities—only Lynch did.
Living above the small bar was no longer suitable after having some money. He needed a house to conceal certain private matters, so he chose this place.
The residents of the newly developed middle-class residential compound had not yet learned to become indifferent. About half of the residents in the residential compound here were newly promoted middle-class families. What they urgently needed now was a more abundant social network.
Community socializing was an excellent way to make friends. People were eager to get to know everyone in the residential compound and consider whether these people could be useful to them.
A few years later, they would lose this enthusiasm because most neighbors had no financial relationship with their lives—aside from saying good morning in the morning, good day at noon, and good night in the evening. There wouldn't be any further interaction.
But for now, everyone was active. Activeness implied enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility. When Lynch needed help, these foolish… well-intentioned people would eagerly assist him and spread certain things to help Lynch.
"Open the door, I want to take a look inside...," Under the stairs, the rounded top of the handrail felt pleasantly smooth to the touch. Lynch glanced back at the client manager and made his request.
The client manager's expression changed slightly, but she immediately put on a smile, swaying her hips as she walked up the steps.
Summer was hot, and everyone would wish they didn't have to wear clothes. After all, the feeling of clothes being soaked with sweat was truly uncomfortable!
After opening the door, the client manager invited Lynch inside. The design of this house was quite good. The previous owner must have hired a good designer for their family.
Practical, beautiful, trendy, simple yet elegant, well-lit, and well-ventilated. There was no sign of the musty smell one would find in a house left unused for a while.
Most things in the room had been moved out, leaving it completely empty. Lynch checked every room, even went to the basement, and was very satisfied.
It didn't seem like the typical work of designers who often prioritized increasing room numbers to accommodate larger families, opting for compact designs in each room for practicality.
The former wealthy owner of this house ensured that each room in the house had ample space. Living here wouldn't give people a sense of being restrained or tightly bound, something Lynch appreciated.
"How much?" Back on the ground floor, Lynch looked at the client manager, who struggled to conceal her surprise.
The situation in big cities may not be clear to everyone, but in Sabin City, economic and social problems had become increasingly apparent. Unemployment was rising, and jobs were becoming scarce.
A few years ago, investors wouldn't care about the cost of land, design fees, or labor. At that time, every client manager could easily make a fortune.
But now, it was challenging. To close a deal, they not only had to invite clients to meals and shopping but also some entertainment activities. There may even be some undisclosed content.
In this industry, and in various locations, there had already been instances of unscrupulous individuals exploiting the pretext of home purchases to deceive others for financial and personal gain. This had turned what was once an admired profession into a high-risk endeavor.
Some people had started criticizing these real estate client managers, claiming they lacked integrity and had questionable ethics. However, if it was not for the sake of survival, who would willingly compromise their own dignity?
The girl discreetly pulled up her already very short skirt, adjusted her clothes, and tugged at the hem. "Forty-eight thousand, sir, it's definitely worth that price."
The bottom line given to her by the real estate company was forty-two thousand, and a considerable portion of the excess would be her commission. Besides, the price she quoted wasn't considered high.
A non-self-built house, from acquisition to occupancy, would entail additional expenses for design and basic decoration.
For a fifty-thousand-bucks house, a design fee of three to five thousand was normal. Perhaps those living in impoverished neighborhoods might find this unreasonable, but the middle class didn't see it as an issue.
Using half the price of the house for design and decoration had become a standard and even a mindset for them.
Lynch shook his head, "Too expensive. Forty thousand, and I can pay now..." He took out a check and a pen from his pocket.
The client manager's breath quickened. She raised her hand to smooth her hair, hiding some insignificant glimmer in her eyes. She lowered her voice and said flirtingly, "Sir, actually, there are some other things about this house that you might not be aware of. Would you like me to show you?"
It was a very obvious hint, but Lynch had already explored every corner inside. If there was anything he didn't know, it wasn't related to the house itself.
The unknown secrets were like a black hole, captivating the interest of most men, but Lynch was not among them.
"I don't need you to sleep with me. Five hundred, give me the lowest price. Or maybe negotiating with your supervisor would be simpler?"
The girl rolled her eyes. She'd rather let Lynch have his way a bit, "Eight hundred, I need the money."
"Deal."
It was a violation, but nobody cared. Lynch did it to save time. After all, exploring unknown secrets also required time. The girl, on the other hand, maintained her dignity, even though she disclosed the lowest price.
Shortly after, accompanied by the girl, Lynch signed the property purchase contract. The real estate company also breathed a sigh of relief; they were still willing to proceed despite the transaction price approaching their bottom line.
For a real estate company burdened with a large number of properties, these houses were becoming a serious threat to their survival. Not to mention pressing them to accept their bottom line, they were even willing to reduce the price slightly just to get rid of the property.
A portion of the real estate company's funds consisted of bank loans, and the rest came from community fundraising. With the slow economic growth, there was increased pressure due to financial shortfalls from various avenues. Opting to sell and cash out was a smarter move than waiting for a judgment while dealing with escalating pressures.
In just half a day, all the contracts were finalized. Looking at the property, Lynch was extremely satisfied.
Please vote for this novel at
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
No comments:
Post a Comment