[Item: Entire Building No.1 of Hongyang Grand Mansion – Price: 1 yuan]
When Lu Chen saw this, he was genuinely stunned.
He knew that Hongyang Grand Mansion and the Hongyang Community where he currently rented were developed by the same company, and the two neighborhoods were right next to each other—literally separated by one wall.
Yet the price difference was astronomical.
On one side of the wall: ordinary residential apartments, bare-shell units for first-time buyers, priced around 15,000 yuan per square meter.
On the other side: Hongyang Grand Mansion—every unit professionally designed and luxuriously fitted out with top-tier brands for appliances and furniture. Move-in ready, the kind where you just bring your suitcase.
Because both neighborhoods were located around the core CBD area of Jiangdu City's development zone, rental demand was sky-high. Naturally, because of the price gap, the tenants' financial levels were worlds apart.
Most people renting in Hongyang Community were ordinary office workers, while everyone in Hongyang Grand Mansion was either a high-paid white-collar executive or a small business owner.
And now… an entire building in Hongyang Grand Mansion was available for just 1 yuan?
The whole building?!
How many units was that?
"Buy!"
With a single thought, his phone vibrated—1 yuan deducted.
System prompt: Purchase successful.
In his inventory appeared a small box crammed full of property certificates and matching keys.
"1, 2, 3… 36!"
"Thirty-six units… holy crap!"
Hongyang Grand Mansion Building No.1 was a 12-story mid-rise, three units per floor, with sizes of 260 m², 180 m², and 100 m².
A rough calculation: this single building was worth over 300 million yuan. Sure, it wasn't comparable to the total value of Tai Fu Plaza, but suddenly owning thirty-six property certificates at once was still a huge shock.
Especially since he rented right next door and passed by this building every day. Back then, he had dreamed of one day being able to afford even one unit here.
Never had he imagined that now he would own the entire building.
Excitement surging through him, Lu Chen decided on the spot: he would go pick the units he wanted to live in, then let the property management rent out the rest. That way he could move in immediately and become a landlord collecting rent.
Action followed thought. He hailed a taxi and headed straight for Hongyang Grand Mansion.
…
"System, didn't you say there's only one flash-sale chance per day? How come I got two today?"
On his way from the taxi to the property management office, hugging the small box, Lu Chen voiced the doubt in his heart.
[Note: In principle, one chance per day.]
"In principle? What does 'in principle' mean?"
[Literal meaning.]
"Heh, so we have a slightly tsundere system here."
Lu Chen couldn't help laughing. So it all depended on the system's mood? Whatever—extra chances were always welcome. As long as the guaranteed daily flash sale stayed intact, he was happy.
At the property management front desk.
"Hello, sir. How may I assist you?"
The receptionist stood up immediately when she saw Lu Chen, smiling brightly.
"Hi, I have some vacant units I'd like to rent out. What are the current market rates?"
"Certainly, sir. Please show me the property certificates for the units you wish to lease, and I'll register them for you. For whole-unit rentals, the price is a bit lower. If you rent by individual rooms (co-living style), the total monthly income will be higher. Which way would you prefer?"
The receptionist kept smiling.
"Co-living rental, please."
"Very well. For co-living: a standard room goes for about 5,000 yuan. The 100 m² units have 3 bedrooms → 15,000/month. The 180 m² units have 6 bedrooms → 30,000/month. The 260 m² units have 10 bedrooms → 50,000/month.
Additionally, owners enjoy our free leasing agency service. The management fee is 5 yuan per m² per month, deducted directly from the rent collected. The remaining balance will be transferred to your designated bank account. Tenants pay their own water, electricity, gas, and internet."
The receptionist explained patiently.
"Sounds good. Please register them for me—33 units in total."
Lu Chen did some quick math: he'd keep the three top-floor penthouses for himself (no neighbors above). The remaining 33 units would bring in roughly 1.04 million yuan per month in rent. After deducting management fees for all 36 units (a bit over 30,000), he'd still net around 1 million per month.
Another handsome passive income stream. Perfect.
With that thought, he pushed the prepared box across the counter.
"Wha—thirty-three units?!"
The receptionist froze solid.
She flipped through a few certificates in disbelief—all bearing the name "Lu Chen"—and instantly snapped to attention.
"Please wait a moment, sir! This volume needs our manager to handle personally!"
She bolted toward the back office, her voice echoing down the corridor:
"Manager! Manager! That legendary tycoon is here!"
The shout was like dropping a bomb. Employees poured out of every office to gawk.
"Wow, so this is the mysterious big shot who bought a whole building?!"
"Oh my god, he's so young… and so handsome!"
"…"
The office instantly turned into a chirping aviary of excited women. Some started fixing their hair and throwing flirtatious glances. In a high-end community like this, rich bachelors were plentiful, but a young, handsome one who owned an entire building? That was a diamond-encrusted golden turtle! One glance from him could change a girl's life forever.
"What are you all doing? Back to work!"
A figure rushed out, sternly dispersing the flock of "orioles and swallows."
This was a VIP client—how could he let these girls ruin things with their obvious intentions?
Someone who could buy an entire building wouldn't even look twice at them.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Lu! I'm the manager here, Sun Defu. Here's my card. We've long heard of your illustrious name. Meeting you today, I see you truly are young and exceptionally accomplished!"
Sun Defu spoke flatteringly while respectfully presenting his business card with both hands.
"Hello. Then I'll trouble you to handle the leasing for these units."
Lu Chen found it funny—how had word already spread when he'd only just acquired the building? As expected, people good at flattery climb the ladder fast.
"No trouble at all! I'll register everything right now."
It was done in no time—efficiency through the roof.
"Manager Sun, one more thing—can you arrange some movers? I have a few things to bring over from my rental in the neighboring Hongyang Community."
Lu Chen figured he might as well move in tonight. The units were fully furnished; he just needed daily necessities and some clothes.
Especially since the air-conditioning in his old place had broken again, and it was the middle of August—without AC at night he couldn't sleep at all.
"Of course! I'll personally bring people to help you move right away."
And so Lu Chen led Manager Sun and his team to the neighboring Hongyang Community.
But the moment they reached the door of his rented apartment, they found it ajar—and angry voices coming from inside.
Hearing them, fury instantly flared in Lu Chen's chest.
"Looks like someone needs to be taught a lesson."