Chapter 2644: South City Tonight Has Rain 06

Regarding the site selection for Lin Island Bar, Jin Chen spent some time looking around South City.

He finally noticed a shop that happened to be up for transfer; it used to be a photography-themed Western restaurant, its location wasn't top-notch but wasn't remote either—quiet amidst the bustle, a freestanding two-story building with a modest yard, and its total area was quite considerable.

The shop owner needed to leave South City due to an urgent matter, was eager to sell, and the price was also suitable.

Jin Chen and the shop owner arranged a time to meet at the shop.

When he arrived, the items that needed to be moved had already been cleared out roughly, leaving the place feeling empty.

The decoration still retained roughly its framework, warm-colored wallpaper, and fixed large greenery.

The shop owner was a long-haired youth wearing a bright pink hoodie, looking somewhat anxious; upon seeing Jin Chen enter, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Mr. Jin, right? Hello, hello!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the shop owner led Jin Chen inside, his tone awkward: "Um… Mr. Jin, I'm really sorry. The situation has changed a bit… today… another buyer came by, offering… a price slightly higher than what you previously discussed."

The conversation sound carried upstairs with their footsteps, letting the person in the room hear it.

The second floor was even more open than the first; most of the original booth sofas were still there, and the man seated by the window turned his head at the sound.

It was Xie Shao.

His attire always bore an elite demeanor, making him stand out sharply in the somewhat disordered environment.

"Jin Chen," Xie Shao smiled at him, his tone familiar, "We meet again."

Jin Chen didn't stop his steps, his face showing no particular expression; he merely gave a soft "uh" in response and sat down in the booth opposite him.

Seeing this, the pink-clad shop owner tactfully didn't follow up, leaving them space to talk.

"I made things clear with Boss Ren," Jin Chen got straight to the point, "What else do you want, Mr. Xie?"

Xie Shao leaned back slightly, a relaxed pose of being in control, "I know, but I like to prepare for a rainy day."

He glanced around the surroundings, "At least, I won't let anything not yet fully accomplished slip out of my control."

He looked at Jin Chen again with a condescending superiority: "The nominal owner of the new bar is still you; I won't meddle in daily operations. I only need to sign an investment contract with you, providing the funds to buy this place. That way, no one can trace my connection to the shop. If it runs well, it'll count as a successful investment of mine—a win‑win, right?"

Jin Chen's tone was cold, his refusal blunt and decisive.

"I disagree."

This reaction was within Xie Shao's expectations.

The faint hint of false smile on his face faded, "Indeed, it's not like before; we're not as easy to work together anymore."

"How so, have you really taken a liking to my good brother?"

"Jin Chen, don't forget our cooperation, and what you promised me."

Jin Chen lifted his eyelids coldly, his gaze substantive as it fell on Xie Shao's face, his tone mocking: "Just how afraid of Xie Linzhou are you, that you can't even wait this last month?"

Xie Shao was startled by those words, his face sinking: "Jin Chen!"

Jin Chen calmly gazed at him, his eyes devoid of warmth, yet it felt as if a biting wind and snow pierced through, making Xie Shao's heart inexplicably tighten, giving rise to a vague sense of fear.

However, Jin Chen merely mentioned it offhand, startling him before withdrawing his aura: "Are you really planning to spend money to buy this place?"

Xie Shao steadied himself, took a deep breath, and suppressed the unease from just moments before.

Thinking that Jin Chen was after all just a bartender, the huge funds required to acquire this bar would likely be an unbearable burden for him, and the sense of superiority returned to the forefront.

"Of course, unless… you can obtain what I want before Xie Linzhou returns from abroad."

Nothing more than Xie Linzhou's unpublished design drafts or ideas.

This time Jin Chen straightforwardly replied, "Buy it, pay the money."

The speed of his attitude shift left Xie Shao momentarily stunned.

Just moments ago they were at odds, yet now he was so agreeable? But after thinking it over, he found it reasonable.

Facing financial pressure, lowering one's head is perfectly normal.

It seems Jin Chen's backbone isn't as hard as he makes it appear.

Seeing that they seemed to have finished their discussion, the pink-clad shop owner walked over with the prepared contract.

Jin Chen took it, flipped directly to the page needing a signature, and placed it together with a pen on the coffee table between them.

Xie Shao glanced at Jin Chen's expression.

Compared to his earlier coldness and calmness, now his brows and eyes were tinged with a slight impatience, like the irritation of being forced to accept terms and losing face.

Xie Shao was pleased to see his "forced to submit" expression, smirked inwardly, and picked up the pen.

He quickly signed his name on the Party A line, then took out his wallet from his inner suit pocket, pulled out a card, and completed the payment on the card reader the shop owner handed over.