Chapter 37: This Move Is Called Top-Tier Probing

After wrapping all her scenes for Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, Gao Yuanyuan's mood stayed low for a while.

Cheng Chen, unusually, didn't go out to do commercial gigs; instead, he accompanied Gao Yuanyuan on a stroll around Jingcheng.

"Sis, what do you think about me buying an apartment in Jingcheng?"

Gazing at the bustling buildings, Cheng Chen suddenly spoke up.

In 2002, Jingcheng's housing prices were still fairly stable, with an overall average of just over 4,000 yuan per square meter.

In fact, that was the general environment — throughout the whole of 2002, the main features of the real estate development market were:

Total real estate development investment hit a new high, but the growth rate of investment was slowing.

The total vacant area of commercial housing continued to increase, with growth basically on par with 2001.

Among that, the proportion of commercial housing left vacant for over a year dropped noticeably.

And that was how a healthy real estate economy should look — people buying, people living in them, not blindly bidding up prices.

Today's prices, compared to the sixty or seventy thousand per square meter of later eras, could only be considered a little brother.

"That sounds great. Looks like you made quite a bit this time. When your big sis here runs out of roles, you have to take care of me, okay?"

Coming out for a walk really did lift Gao Yuanyuan's mood a lot — she even started joking around.

"Don't worry, you won't run out of roles."

Cheng Chen spoke up. In his previous life, after wrapping Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, she had gone on to collaborate with director Lai Shuiqing on a wuxia light comedy.

And the broadcast of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre also earned Gao Yuanyuan more fans, sending her popularity soaring.

Later she collaborated with director Xiao Shuai on a film called "Qing Hong," which went straight to the Cannes Film Festival.

Afterwards, through the company's maneuvering, she received a large batch of resources and exposure, becoming the artistic goddess in the hearts of countless men.

Although Gao Yuanyuan's acting had always drawn plenty of criticism, her career was never affected.

Some people are destined to be famous — even if their acting is lacking, their career still sails smoothly.

This is probably that saying often quoted in showbiz: small fame comes from being propped up, big fame comes from fate.

"What if, though? Everyone has their what-ifs."

"Don't worry, sis. Listen to me — in this life you're destined to be a star. You're going to be famous, for sure!"

Cheng Chen replied lazily.

Gao Yuanyuan glanced at him and said nothing.

Talking to someone whose brain hasn't been switched on is exhausting!

"So have you decided what kind of place to buy?"

No longer dwelling on whether she'd have roles to film, Gao Yuanyuan spoke up.

"Just head to the sales office and take a look, won't that tell us?"

Cheng Chen grabbed Gao Yuanyuan and headed straight for the development.

Gao Yuanyuan circled the scale model carefully, as if she were picking a home for herself.

"The first floor is too damp. No good."

"Won't the top floor leak?"

"West-facing units are out too — in our line of work we can't be associated with the west. 'The sun setting behind the western hills' is a bad omen. But east-facing units are more expensive…"

Watching Gao Yuanyuan frown in deep thought, Cheng Chen couldn't help but smile slightly.

Having someone worry about things for you — that feels really nice.

After much deliberation, Cheng Chen finally decided on a fully decorated apartment of just over 200 square meters.

East-facing, on the 26th floor.

Cheng Chen had his reasons for choosing a high floor.

This certainly wouldn't be his last apartment in Jingcheng — what he dreamed of was a big villa.

But at present, any villa in Jingcheng with a decent environment cost anywhere from five or six million to over ten million.

Although he'd made some money now, it was still far from enough!

Even setting villas aside, some apartments in Jingcheng were ones he didn't dare dream of.

For instance, one residence Cheng Chen had long had his eye on — 40,000 yuan per square meter, with top-tier suites reaching 60,000 yuan per square meter.

The smallest unit was 133 square meters, about 5.3 million yuan.

The largest residence was 470 square meters, roughly 18.8 million yuan.

Those who lived here were either rich or noble,

although the sales agent would never tell you who the buyers of these luxury homes were.

Yet word had it that "the units over ten million sold the fastest,"

"most paid in full, few used mortgages."

Just hearing these things was enough to make one's jaw drop.

It was said that someone even asked the sales office how the villa's earthquake-resistant design was.

He'd expected her to answer something about how deep the foundations went, or that they'd used a steel-frame structure or the like.

He hadn't expected her to reply: "Our ancestors were very clever. This plot of land was chosen to build the imperial palace for a reason. When have you ever heard of the Forbidden City being toppled by an earthquake?"

Listen to that — there's a reason they're expensive. Not only is the decoration lavish, there's also the "royal location" factor.

Of course, Cheng Chen was only daydreaming about such a luxury home — he didn't have that kind of money yet.

The high-rise apartment in this complex he was buying now, for one thing, was move-in ready.

On the other hand, high floors were quiet, and with one household per elevator, privacy was stronger.

After all, he was a somewhat famous public figure — if he got up to anything and got caught by the entertainment reporters' "big guns," he'd be done for.

Glancing at the bank card with just over six hundred thousand left, although spending the money stung, when he saw the property deed, Cheng Chen couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in his heart.

In his previous life, until his "death," apart from the self-built house back in his hometown, Cheng Chen had never owned a home that was entirely his.

After drifting in the north for years, by the time he looked back at Jingcheng's housing prices, they were already far beyond his reach.

Reflecting on all those years of living in basements and sleeping under bridge arches, Cheng Chen couldn't help but grip the property deed tightly.

Finally... he had a home!

"Why the rush to buy a house?"

Gao Yuanyuan still wanted to look at a few more developments to compare, but Cheng Chen had already paid on the spot.

"They're all the same, sis. This is just my first place in Jingcheng — there'll be more later!"

"But you..."

Cheng Chen said nothing, simply stuffing the key into her hand.

Gao Yuanyuan stared with wide eyes, exclaiming in surprise:

"Why are you giving it to me?"

"I'm probably going to be busy for a while, and you're wrapping up filming and need some rest anyway. When you have time, come over and help me set up the place.

Anyway, everything that should be there is already there — we just need to add some decorations like flowers, plants, calligraphy, paintings, that sort of thing.

You're my sis, so of course you should put some heart into my home. I'll keep a room for you too — how about it?"

Cheng Chen said, entirely self-righteous.

Gao Yuanyuan was so exasperated by his words she laughed, saying:

"Keep a room for me? Then what'll you do when you have a girlfriend later?"

Cheng Chen didn't pick up the thread, but lowered his head as if thinking it over seriously.

For some reason, seeing him like that only made Gao Yuanyuan more annoyed, and she huffed:

"Regretting it now? Let me tell you, there's no regret medicine in this world! Only one woman can live at home — me, or your girlfriend!"

Cheng Chen looked up with a cheeky grin and said:

"Sis, didn't I just tell you? This is absolutely not going to be my last place in Jingcheng. Worst case, you live here, and I'll buy another place for her!"

"Her?"

"Ahem, there isn't a 'her' yet."

"Yet?"

"Aiya, sis, have mercy on me — otherwise give the key back to me!"

"Dream on! Buy as many houses outside as you want later — this key is mine!"

Gao Yuanyuan clutched the key tight, staring into Cheng Chen's eyes as she spoke.

"Fine then, that's what you said."

Cheng Chen laughed — the laugh of an old fox.

This move, this move right here is what you call a top-tier probe!