Chapter 452: One Million Dollars to Buy a Master's Nominal Title

Chen Yang actually already had the blueprint for the East River One Bridge Old City Renovation Project in his mind. After all, he is a reborn person, copying creative design comes naturally to him.

But Su Mingyue's opinion also makes sense. Smith Luo, after all, holds the title of Pritzker Architecture Master. Having him step forward, even if the design turns out to be a pile of shit, can still raise the estate's brand image.

Then Chen Yang called Zhu Zhu to communicate, hoping she could persuade Smith Luo's team to come to Xingcheng to participate in the design of the East River One Bridge Old City Renovation Project.

Unexpectedly, the reply was that they needed to focus on designing the blueprint for the common people's commercial building, and they directly refused Chen Yang.

Although Chen Yang greatly admired Smith Luo's professionalism, he was not discouraged. He had Liu Shijie's designers draw a full planning blueprint for the East River One Bridge Old City Renovation Project according to his requirements, and named it East River New City Residential Area. Then he took the blueprint and flew to Deep City.

"Chen Yang, having a world‑top architect design an ordinary commercial residential area in a sub‑provincial city is overkill, isn't it?" Hu Haiquan did not really understand Chen Yang's behavior.

Deep City, as a first‑tier city, has its commercial residential area planning handled by local design institutes. Meanwhile, Xingcheng at most qualifies as a second‑tier city, yet it wants to hire a world‑top architectural designer. This is too extravagant!

Chen Yang explained: "What I want is not for Smith Luo to design this residential area, but to use his fame to boost the brand value of East River New City Residential Area." After saying that, he took out the blueprint he had designed for East River New City Residential Area and handed it to Hu Haiquan.

Hu Haiquan looked at Chen Yang's planning blueprint and said in surprise: "This East River New City Residential Area planning blueprint is really good! Not only is the layout reasonable and the lines smooth, but it also fully considers residents' living needs and comfort. Which master in Xingcheng drew this?"

Chen Yang did not expect Hu Haiquan to rate his planning drawing so highly; he laughed, pointed at himself, and said: "This is what I had others draw according to my own personal ideas. If there are any unreasonable parts, you can help point them out."

Hu Haiquan, hearing this, looked at Chen Yang with suspicion and said: "You brat, don't try to fool me. Don't think I don't know—you and Lin Wei both study finance; how could you possibly design such a good residential area plan?"

Chen Yang did not want to argue pointlessly with Hu Haiquan, so he said directly: "Brother, if you don't believe me, forget it. I'm not seeking anyone's approval either. I came here just to spend some money to buy a nominal title from Master Smith Luo."

"Chen Yang, are you just rich with nowhere to spend money? Such a good design blueprint—just use it directly; why waste money on a foreigner?" Hu Haiquan did not understand Chen Yang's behavior at all. Xingcheng is merely an ordinary sub‑provincial city, and housing prices are not high. He felt that even with a master architect's title attached, the value would not increase much.

Chen Yang smiled without speaking. In his previous life he also thought fame wasn't important; ability was the core of success. But reality slapped him hard.

After arriving at the Supreme Grand Hotel where Smith Luo was staying, he directly had Hu Haiquan state his purpose to the other party.

Smith Luo is a British elderly man in his sixties; upon seeing Chen Yang's residential area blueprint, he also showed an expression of surprise.

"Mr. Chen, your residential area blueprint is very beautiful; there's no need for my team to intervene."

Chen Yang spoke fluent English to him: "Mr. Smith, I hope you can put your name on this blueprint; you can set the price as you wish."

Smith Luo, hearing this, shook his head vigorously and said: "This is not my work; how could I take money? That's not allowed!"

Seeing Smith Luo still putting on airs, Chen Yang directly extended a finger and said: "Mr. Smith, as long as you agree to sign your name on this planning blueprint, I will give you one million dollars."

Smith Luo, hearing this, had a flash of excitement in his eyes. He had come all the way to Deep City just to make money. Now someone is sending money straight to his face—how could he refuse? Of course, he still put on airs and said to Chen Yang: "Mr. Chen, buying my nominal title at such a high price—isn't that too crazy?"

Chen Yang said without hiding: "What I want is to raise the fame of East River New City Residential Area. If you agree, you can receive a generous signing fee. This is a fair trade."

Smith Luo thought for a while, then said to Chen Yang: "Mr. Chen, I can accept this deal. But I can't just take the money for nothing. I want to make some detailed revisions to your blueprint based on my own ideas. Do you agree?"

Chen Yang had no objection; he handed over the blueprint to Smith Luo and then left the Supreme Grand Hotel.

Hu Haiquan followed Chen Yang throughout the whole process, and he bluntly said that spending one million dollars to buy a nominal title from Smith Luo was too wasteful.

Chen Yang laughed and said to him: "Brother, the day you win the Pritzker Prize, I can also spend this much money to buy a nominal title from you."

"Then you'd better save your money!" Hu Haiquan sighed: "I don't have that ability."

Chen Yang encouraged him: "Where there's a will, there is a way; as long as you are willing to work hard, you will eventually achieve your goal."

Hu Haiquan laughed while shaking his head: "Forget it, I still have self‑awareness. In front of an architectural master like Smith Luo, I feel like a total novice."

Chen Yang understood Hu Haiquan's feelings. For a top‑tier professional in an industry, ordinary people really struggle to catch up, let alone surpass.

After leaving the hotel, Chen Yang went to a branch of the Common People Agricultural Products Trading Company, took a look around, and checked on Zhao Xiaoxiao and her team's work progress. After confirming everything was proceeding smoothly, he then found a hotel near the branch to stay in.

Three days later, Smith Luo finally finished revising the plan. Chen Yang took the plan from his hand, looked at it, and found that the revised version was indeed better than his original draft.

Most importantly, his name had already been signed on it.

Chen Yang was very straightforward; he paid the signing fee of one million dollars on the spot, and then told the other party his requirements for the common people's commercial building.

After confirming that the other party fully understood his meaning, Chen Yang then took a flight back to Xingcheng.

Three days later, Xingcheng Financial Investment Limited officially posted a statement on its own website: Common People Financial Investment Company will invest no less than 15 billion yuan in funds for the construction of East River New City Residential Area.

As soon as the news came out, Chen Yang's phone was blown up by calls from strangers.