CHAPTER 120: AGREEMENT WITH LOTUS GARDEN APARTMENT

As they walked down the sidewalk, the afternoon air hot against their skin, Han Queying glanced at Zhao Yiming’s face look too serious after they met with Hongxin Alley.

"So," she said, hands stuffed into the pockets of her sleek jacket, "where are we going after this? Are we gonna kick some asses?" She tried to ease the tense atmosphere between them.

Zhao Yiming chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I really want to do it but I already asked the owner of Lotus Garden Apartment to meet with us. We’re heading to the apartment office."

"You’re relentless," she muttered, amused.

"I know right?" he chuckled as they finally arrived. "I just can’t let them get away with everything."

"Right... If the law can’t touch them, what will you do?"

Han Queying’s question made him stunned as he stopped, "I... Never think that far ahead. But I think I will need to bug them until they give up."

She laughed while hitting his arm lightly, "Huh, I thought you were gonna turn violent."

Zhao Yiming shrugged, "I don’t want to be on the same level as them."

After a while of walking, they finally arrived. The Lotus Garden Apartement building stood quietly. True to Ruan Lihua’s information, the Hongxin Alley and this apartment were close.

It was an old apartment complex, probably built in the 80s or early 90s, and still had charm despite its aging façade.

The ground floor office had its light on.Inside, a woman sat nervously at the desk, her posture stiff and her fingers tapping anxiously against a manila folder. She stood up as they entered.

"Miss Zhang Ruolan?" Zhao Yiming greeted her politely.

The woman nodded, she was in her late thirties, with tired eyes and a slight tremble to her hands, Zhang Ruolan looked like someone who hadn’t had proper sleep in weeks.

"You’re Zhao Yiming, right? I’ve been waiting," she said, offering a strained smile. "Sorry for a late reply... I have lot of things to do."

"No problem. Thanks for agreeing to meet." He and Queying sat across from her.

Zhang Ruolan sighed. "Golden Earth... they’ve been pushing me hard. They want this apartment complex for only thirty percent of its real market value."

"They said it’s ’worn down’ and that I should be thankful they even offered that. That’s why I’ve been busy fixing things right here and there."

Zhao Yiming’s jaw tightened. "They use the same trick every time. Pressure until people break."

Zhang Ruolan just nodded as silently hugged them. She tapped her fingers on the table as she suddenly said, "About your offer.... I want to hold on to this place," she continued, voice cracking.

"It’s not just a building. My parents built this with their own hands. It might be old, but it’s home. And I know every crack and corner of it."

Zhao Yiming’s voice softening. "I understand. Truly. But this is more than just sentimental now. That bastard won’t just give up and will stir up more problems."

"Also, one thing needs to be done first. Madam Ruan asked me to deliver a message. You still owe her money, correct?"

Ruolan’s shoulders slumped. "Yes. Half a million. I borrowed to renovate two years ago, but it didn’t boost business like I hoped."

He didn’t push further. He simply gave her a nod of understanding. "If you agree to sell the apartment to me instead, you can pay the rest of your debt using that money."

"You can still live here for as long as you want, or we can find a way to transfer you to a new place you like."

Ruolan’s eyes watered slightly. She looked away. "I don’t want to give up... but I know I have no choice."

"Please take care of this apartment, Mr. Zhao and if possible, I hope you won’t sell this building."

Zhao Yiming laughed, "Of course not. I have a plan to renovate it too." he said as he looked at the system notification:

---

[Ding!]

[You finished your quest: A New Business In Lotus Garden Apartemen!]

[Reward can be claimed in the mailbox!]

[Reward: $10,000 | 1500 AP | 1 perk point]

[New feature opened!]

[The Development of Lotus Garden Apartment]

• Development: 0/100 → (Generates 0 AP)

• Tenant Satisfaction: 0/100 → (Generates $0)

• The Quality Of Life 0/100 → (Generates $0)

---

Zhao Yiming sighed. He wasn’t even done with the Lianwu Street. Though, he had already hired a business development team for the shopping market and the street was now growing rapidly, it still takes time and effort.

But oh well, it generates a lot of money anyway.

’Need to hire another team then.’

Han Queying leaned forward. "Miss Zhang, if it’s okay, may I record this conversation? Just to have documentation for future legal defense, should it be needed."

She shook her phone before putting it in the table. Though, it was already recording the moment they started their conversation.

Zhang Ruolan hesitated, but finally agreed. "As long as you don’t make it public. Promise me that. If Golden Earth finds out, they’ll destroy what’s left of my business."

"That’s hard... But if possible I will do it," Han Queying said seriously, pressing the record button.

"Also," Queying said, "do you have any CCTV footage of the times Golden Earth men came to harass you? It would help our case."

Zhang blinked, startled. "I—yes. I do. Some of the confrontations were caught on camera. I kept them in case I ever needed evidence. But... if I give it to you, I don’t want to be part of any investigation. You have to swear it."

Han Queying looked at Zhao Yiming. He gave a reassuring smile. "We’re not going to expose you. I promise. We’ll use it the right way."

Zhang nodded again. "I’ll prepare the USB tomorrow. I have to copy it from the system manually."

"Thank you," Han Queying exclaimed.

They finally have something as proof to attack Golden Earth in the court and a valid one too.

After that, they continued talking about Golden Earth’s blackmail, scams, and the property damage done to the apartment.

The more Zhao Yiming spoke, the more depressed Zhang Ruolan looked. Fixing everything would require a hell of a lot of money.

"Honestly, I almost gave up," she said quietly. "But because of your phone call, I thought... maybe I still have hope. This apartment is my parents’ legacy."

She gave a soft, exhausted laugh. "I don’t mind if, in the end, it’s not me who brings it back to glory. But I do hope you’re really serious about this, Mr. Zhao."

Her green eyes locked with his. Sharp, clear, and dead serious for the first time since they started talking.

Zhao Yiming nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Zhang. I’ll do the best I can. You can count on me."

"Thank you," Zhang Ruolan closed her eyes. "Maybe this is the right time to retire."

A couple of hours passed before they ended their conversation. Zhao Yiming and Han Queying then stepped out of the building. They had scheduled a meeting for next week to finalize the contract with a proper notary.

Han Queying exhaled sharply. "I hate this. People like her shouldn’t have to make choices like that."

Zhao Yiming was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. Then he looked at her. "You think they’ll come after me next?"

She didn’t smile this time. "If they find out you’re the one gathering up all their targets and keeping them from cashing in? Yeah. They’ll come for you. And they won’t be polite about it."

She looked truly troubled now. Genuinely worried.

"You’re not just a nosy citizen anymore, Zhao Yiming. You’re their biggest headache."

He smirked slightly. "Good. Let them take aspirin. I’m not stopping."

But inside... the weight of it sank deeper. Golden Earth wasn’t just scum. They were powerful, ruthless scum.

And if he lost this game—it wouldn’t just be him who paid the price. It would be everyone around him. He couldn’t let that happen.

Han Queying smirked, "I knew you were going to say something like that. Anyway, let’s go eat. You promised me spicy noodles!"

"Alright, alright, right away."

---

The two sat at a rickety roadside table beneath a flickering neon sign that read "Hell Fire Noodles." Steam curled from their bowls in violent spirals, red oil floating like lava on the surface.

Locals walked by and stared in awe—two lunatics brave (or dumb) enough to order the maximum spice level at this infamous stall.

"Damn! This is so good!" Han Queying beamed, her face red, tears and snot dripping freely, and yet she was still chewing like a maniac.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yiming slammed down a carton of milk in one gulp and burped like he was dying.

"Wh-what the hell... I can’t feel my face anymore."

"..."

"You’re literally just eating the mild version," she said, deadpan.

"And? You see that neon light right there?! It isn’t a joke! It tastes like hellfire!" he wheezed, hunched over like he’d just sprinted a marathon.

Han Queying shook her head. "I can’t believe an Asian with no spice tolerance exists."

In the end, she cleaned her bowl until not even a speck of chili oil remained, while Zhao Yiming raised the white flag—defeated, halfway through his.

As they cooled off and drank the last of their milk teas, Han Queying suddenly remembered something.

"Why don’t you send Madam Ruan’s bodyguards to watch over the folks in Hongxin Alley? At least they’d feel safer."

Zhao Yiming shook his head.

"If I do that, they won’t sell their houses or land to me."

Han Queying froze mid-sip. "...I did not expect something like that to come out of your mouth."

She looked at him, stunned. "You’re different from what I thought you’d be, Yiming.".