Chapter 40: Another Eccentric Woman

"Little friend, what's your name?"

On the sofa, Lin Feng held the cute little girl in his arms and asked with a smile.

"I'm Song Jiaren. In the north there are beauties, unparalleled and independent beauties," the little girl answered brightly.

Lin Feng patted Song Jiaren's head and said, "I think you should be called Song Qingcheng. There are two more lines: one looks at the charming city, then looks at the charming nation. Don't you know the difference between a charming city and a charming nation? A beauty like you is hard to obtain again."

At such a young age you're already this beautiful; when you grow up you'll surely be as beautiful as your mother.

After speaking, Lin Feng looked up and glanced at Han Xiang, who was sitting on the opposite sofa.

Han Xiang held a cup of coffee in her right hand, leaned against the sofa's backrest, rested her left hand on the armrest, crossed her legs, and turned her head to look out the window.

She had an elegant temperament, a pretty oval face, and the room's décor highlighted a classical beauty about her.

If it weren't for what just happened, Lin Feng would never have believed such a beauty could make a jump‑off move.

Most likely there's some mental issue.

After giving Han Xiang a glare, Lin Feng continued, "With such a wonderful daughter, if it were me, I would never leave her; I'd cherish her carefully as she grows, treating her like a precious treasure."

The suicide attempt failed, and it didn't disturb public order, so afterward Han Xiang wasn't taken away by the police.

Only Lin Feng stayed to handle it, you could say he was watching over her for the time being.

If anything else happens, Lin Feng can call the police… those were the words left when the police left.

Lin Feng really wanted to send her to a mental hospital.

But, no matter what, first we need to get the facts straight.

It would be best to settle the lease issue and have her move out!

Don't let this apartment be ruined by her.

Even though I own over a thousand apartments, such boutique units are rare.

"Then, would you be my dad?"

Seeing Han Xiang stay silent, Lin Feng was about to reprimand her when Song Jiaren widened her bright eyes at Lin Feng, her face full of longing, and said.

"Jiaren, where's your dad?"

Lin Feng asked.

Song Jiaren shook her head, "I never had a dad since I was little, but I really want a dad. The other kids all have dads, and they often mock me."

"How could anyone not have a father? Didn't your mother tell you who your father is?"

Lin Feng asked again.

Song Jiaren shook her head.

It's a private family matter, Lin Feng didn't want to pry, so he looked at Han Xiang and asked, "Tell me why you jumped. You said you were bankrupt, that you were desperate because you couldn't survive, or is it really, as outsiders claim, that you suffer from depression?"

Han Xiang finally turned her head and said to her daughter Song Jiaren, "Jiaren, go back to your room and do your summer homework."

"Oh!"

Song Jiaren lowered her head and replied, then obediently ran into her room and closed the door.

Seeing Han Xiang remain silent for a long while, Lin Feng took out his cigarette pack, only to find there were no cigarettes left.

Han Xiang, seeing this, got up at once, took a pack of Hua Zi cigarettes from the drawer, opened it, and handed a pack to Lin Feng, "I won it in a purchase lottery; it's been stored for over a year."

"Thanks!"

Lin Feng took the cigarettes, tore open the pack, pulled out one, and lit it.

At this moment Han Xiang spoke: "Jiaren is not my biological daughter; I adopted her from an orphanage when she was just over a year old. I've never told her this, and I hope Mr. Lin can keep it secret for me."

Lin Feng nodded.

He wanted to ask about the jump again, and Han Xiang continued:

"I was born in Hangzhou. My family was wealthy when I was young; both parents were teachers and loved classical literature. I still remember the attic at home, which was like a library filled with ancient books."

"As a child, I liked to squat in the attic and read, able to go a whole day without eating or drinking."

"Later, in high school and university, my classmates all said I was a thousand‑golden‑daughter who had traveled from ancient times."

At this point, Han Xiang gave a slight smile; her smile was beautiful.

Unfortunately, that beautiful smile lasted only a fleeting instant.

She sighed, "My parents died in a great fire; the attic piled with classical books caught fire… Because I was too heart‑broken, I quit school before finishing my freshman year."

"My family was simple, just three of us, no other relatives. After my parents died, I sold the house and moved to Yanjing, about ten years ago!"

"The house sold for over ten million, but later I realized I sold it too cheap; others could have gotten at least double that amount."

"But I didn't care; as long as I could survive, that was enough."

"After arriving in Yanjing, I bought a villa, Bishui Manor, you know? It only cost a few million, a huge piece of land."

"After buying the house, I still had ten million in hand; thinking I knew nothing, I kept the money in the bank to earn interest, spent frugally, and that would be enough for this life."

"Later I adopted Jiaren; her surname is my mother's, and my mother's surname is Song."

At this point, Han Xiang suddenly fell silent, turned her head toward the window, and remained quiet for a long while.

"What happened next?"

Lin Feng tossed the spent cigarette butt into the trash can and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Later…"

Han Xiang gave a wry smile, "These past few years prices have risen sharply; the annual interest is only two or three hundred thousand, you know living in a villa costs a lot."

"Unfortunately I know nothing, but a friend from my hometown happened to come to Yanjing; after graduating college she started a company dealing in trade and futures investment."

"We've been good friends since childhood; the two families have had a great relationship for generations. So I trusted her."

"I sold the house, withdrew the savings, and gathered thirty million for her to invest."

"Having nowhere to live, I temporarily rented your family's apartment, thinking that when Jiaren grows up and gets married, I'll withdraw the money and give it to her as a dowry."

"In the first few years the returns were quite good, yielding a dividend of one to two million a year, and I was fairly satisfied."

But I only found out a few days ago that my friend went bankrupt a month ago and even jumped off a building. The several tens of millions I invested are naturally impossible to recover.

Now I only have over a million in my card, I can't do anything, and the beauty's annual tuition is over a hundred thousand, plus rent—what do you suggest I do?

Er~

Lin Feng stared at Han Xiang, not knowing how to describe her.

An otaku girl, a novice in life, an idealist……

Since she asked what to do, Lin Feng thought for a moment and suggested: 'You could find a man to marry, right? With your looks and temperament, relying on a wealthy man would also let you get by, wouldn't it?'

Han Xiang said lightly: 'Snowy milk blossoms float in the noon cup, tender shepherd's purse shoots try the spring platter; the flavor of the world is pure joy.'

This is a poem written by Su Dongpo.

It means brewing a cup of clear tea with floating snowy milk blossoms, tasting the spring vegetable platter of tender shepherd's purse shoots from the mountains, and the truly flavorful thing in the world is still lighthearted joy.

No hope!

Lin Feng also wanted to know how many more such oddballs were among his tenants.

Investigate them, kick them all out, don't let them ruin your house.

But thinking about kicking this woman out, she might really not be able to survive.

'How much money do you need each month, aside from rent?' Lin Feng asked, frowning.

Han Xiang immediately got up, went into the room, and handed Lin Feng a notebook.

It recorded the money spent each day.

Quite meticulous!

After statistics, Lin Feng summarized it.

Daily living expenses are about 300 yuan.

Over a month, that's about ten thousand.

Besides that, there are the beauty's tuition, clothes, stationery, training class fees, etc.

Lin Feng looked at the six-month records, roughly it was right.

The biggest expense, however, was… exquisite handmade fabrics, woven silk items, etc.

These items, over half a year, actually reached over three hundred thousand!

Besides that, there were other miscellaneous expenses, roughly around one hundred thousand.

In other words, over a year, this beauty would spend about six hundred thousand.

This does not include the over three hundred thousand in rent.

'What do you buy these fabrics for?'

Lin Feng pointed at the notebook and asked curiously.

'Come with me!'

Han Xiang said, standing up.

She led Lin Feng into a bedroom.

After opening the door, Lin Feng couldn't help but his eyes lit up.

To Lin Feng, it felt like stepping into a film crew's dressing room.

Han Xiang pointed at these clothes and said: 'These are all fabrics I bought, cut, and sewn myself; the patterns on them are also my own designs, hand-embroidered…'

'Over these years, you do this whenever you have nothing else to do?' Lin Feng exclaimed in surprise.

'Mm!'

Han Xiang nodded.

Lin Feng said: 'You could totally take these out to sell! Each piece starts at several hundred thousand, and those who appreciate them will definitely buy; with several hundred pieces in this room, you could earn back all the money you lost.'

The several hundred thousand per piece that Lin Feng mentioned are all conservative estimates.

His level of appreciation is still there; these clothes, each one can be called an artwork.

Damn! This woman looks like she can't do anything.

Yet she possesses such formidable skill.

'No way!'

Han Xiang shook her head and said: 'These are my blood and sweat; even if I died, I wouldn't sell them.'

Lin Feng gave a wry smile and said: 'Then when you jumped off the building earlier, didn't you think that after you died, these exquisite, unparalleled items would become a bargain for me, your landlord?'

Han Xiang thought for a moment and said: 'Just now I was a bit impulsive; if you say that, there's really nothing I can do…'

Her eyes reddened, looking pained.

At last she figured it out.

People's ideals are all beautiful, but they inevitably have to be defeated by reality.

Lin Feng let out a sigh of relief and casually said: 'The clothes look great; I don't know how they'd look when worn.'

Han Xiang stared blankly, then said: 'Then let me put them on for you to see?'

'Good!'

Lin Feng nodded.

Han Xiang added: 'It might take a while, and we still need accessories, but I've made relatively few of these—just over a hundred sets…'

Lin Feng exited the room and closed the door.

Jinhu Huayuan Community, Building Six 901.

Lin Feng had been gone for over an hour before she finally crawled up from the sofa.

That sudden feeling, as if soaring into the sky, let her savor it for a long time.

'This brat, he's getting more and more reckless!'

Liang Shishi's cheeks flushed red, and she murmured with her alluring eyes wandering.

Last time, climbing the peak bare-handed was enough.

This time, she actually went exploring secluded mysteries, touching her taboo.

Next time, who knows what will happen!