After spending two days at home, Qi Sheng and Tan Hua were still chatting enthusiastically whenever she had a break from work.
From time to to time, she would also probe, asking when exactly he would be able to come to Chengdu.
Qi Sheng was evasive every time, but in reality, he had already made all the necessary preparations.
He had already arranged for his car to be towed to Chengdu in advance.
The drive from Jia City back to Qi City had been utterly exhausting.
'I'm not short on money, so why put myself through that kind of misery?'
Qi Sheng went ahead and bought a ticket for a direct flight from Qi City to Chengdu, without telling Tan Hua in advance.
As for the car, it was scheduled to be delivered to the airport that afternoon.
That way, Qi Sheng could get right into his car as soon as he landed.
Now that he had money, Qi Sheng naturally wouldn't be so cheap with himself.
He wasn't about to fly economy; he went straight for first class.
Economy was 2,200, and first class was 4,400.
It was called first class, but on domestic routes with smaller planes, it was essentially just business class.
His mom drove him to the airport in her Buick, wiping away tears, reluctant to see him leave.
No matter how old her children get, in a mother's eyes, they're always her little kids.
Qi Sheng comforted her for quite a while before finally waving goodbye and heading through security.
The perks of flying first class weren't particularly noticeable at such a small airport.
Still, it came with all the expected benefits.
For example, priority boarding and the patient, gentle service from the flight attendants.
The meals and drinks were also quite lavish.
'As expected, money really can buy happiness!'
Qi Sheng mused.
He watched as a flight attendant warmly offered him a thin blanket, worried he might get cold from the air conditioning.
Although the flight attendant was attractive, probably close to an 80-pointer...
...Qi Sheng wasn't particularly interested. And the flight attendant didn't seem too interested in him, either.
Judging by his clothes, Qi Sheng was utterly unremarkable.
He wasn't wearing an impressive watch or decked out in luxury brands.
As for flying first class, who knew if he wasn't just faking it to look rich.
The flight took off at 10:30 AM and had a nearly three-hour layover in Tianjin.
He didn't arrive at Tianfu International Airport until 7:05 PM.
Qi Sheng had only brought a small suitcase.
He had spent four hundred on it, and its quality wasn't bad.
It was packed with a few changes of summer clothes and some underwear.
'As for clothes and other things, I'll just buy them when I get to Chengdu.'
'With money, you can live a stylish life anywhere.'
...
A tow truck had already been waiting at the airport's arrivals exit for nearly two hours.
When they saw Qi Sheng approaching, the two middle-aged drivers quickly got out of the cab.
"Mr. Qi?"
"That's me. Thanks for waiting."
Qi Sheng smiled and took out four red bills. "Here, buy yourselves some cigarettes."
"Thank you, Mr. Qi."
The two middle-aged drivers exchanged a glance and smilingly accepted the tip from their client.
'Rich people really are generous. A tip of 200 yuan right off the bat.'
"Mr. Qi, would you like me to back the car off for you?"
one of the more enthusiastic drivers asked, volunteering for the job.
"No, that's alright. I can reverse it myself."
Qi Sheng smiled, got into the car, and easily reversed it off the truck.
"See you."
Qi Sheng rolled down the window to wave at them, then hit the gas and drove off.
"Tsk, a million-yuan luxury car. I wonder if the pretty girls in Sichuan and Chongqing will be able to resist that?"
The two men sighed, full of envy and jealousy.
They were all human, but they were just beasts of burden.
Meanwhile, that guy was enjoying life.
...
Chunxi Road is to Chengdu what the Bund is to Shanghai, or what Manhattan is to New York.
Among these, the IFS International Finance Center is located in the very heart of Chunxi Road.
An endless stream of tourists, a bustling and vibrant streetscape.
Walking down the streets of Chunxi Road, it's hard not to be stunned by the countless fashionable men and beautiful women walking past.
There were more handsome men and beautiful women than one could count.
Occasionally, an A-Level, high-scoring girl, as rated by the system, would brush past him.
Qi Sheng looked down at what he was wearing; it was honestly a bit pathetic.
'It's all cheap stuff from Uniqlo. A total embarrassment to the system.'
Fortunately, he had the A8 to keep up appearances, so he didn't feel too self-conscious.
Qi Sheng's destination was the IFS International Finance Center.
But he wasn't here to just wander around; he was here to find a place to live first.
He had come to Chengdu with long-term plans in mind, so naturally, he wasn't going to stay in a hotel.
Before he left, he had given his parents 50,000.
Qi Sheng only had one million left in his account now, so he had to consider his budget.
Shelling out three or four thousand a night would still put a strain on his finances.
National Gold Mansion was a serviced apartment building operated by IFS itself.
As for the price, it was the most expensive in all of Chengdu.
The cheapest one-bedroom unit cost 15,000 a month.
The most expensive three-bedroom started at 50,000 a month.
"Hello, you must be Mr. Qi?"
As Qi Sheng walked into the lobby, the receptionist recognized him and greeted him with warm politeness.
"That's right. I have an appointment to view an apartment."
Qi Sheng glanced around at the lobby's decor. It was incredibly luxurious and grand.
"Of course. I've already contacted the butler for you. He'll be down shortly to show you the apartment. You can leave your luggage with us in the meantime."
The receptionist was extremely welcoming, as was required by the service standards of a top-tier apartment building.
"Thank you."
Naturally, Qi Sheng wasn't going to refuse such a kind offer, so he handed his suitcase over.
A moment later, a man in his thirties stepped out of the elevator.
He was sharply dressed in a suit and leather shoes, looking very much the gentleman.
"Mr. Qi, I'm the building's butler, Cheng Qi. This way, please."
Cheng Qi shook Qi Sheng's hand warmly and led him to the elevator bank.
"Mr. Qi, here at National Gold Mansion, we have dedicated elevators for different apartment layouts."
"In the parking garage, there's a dedicated level for residents, from which you can take your exclusive elevator directly to your apartment."
"Additionally, we offer a range of shopping, cleaning, and laundry services."
"These services are on-call 24/7 to provide the most comprehensive support for your daily life and activities."
The rapidly ascending elevator was a high-speed model from Hitachi.
It ran very smoothly, unlike the shaky elevators found in cheaper apartment buildings.
They entered the apartment. It was now night, and the view from the window was magnificent.
Directly opposite was the IFS International Finance Center and the Internet Celebrity Slope, with Taikoo Li to the right.
In the distance, you could even see the 339 TV Tower.
The 270-degree panoramic corner windows made this the premier one-bedroom layout.
It was 92 square meters, and the view was simply unbeatable.
It featured finishes specified to an 11,000 yuan-per-square-meter standard and was fully equipped with central air conditioning, a fresh air system, and underfloor heating.
The floors were a composite of stone and solid wood.
The living room also featured a transparent wine cabinet.
A row of stemmed glasses hung below it, adding a very stylish and romantic touch.
There was a built-in Siemens refrigerator. While not a double-door model, it was more than enough for one person.
A Kohler combination steam-oven and microwave...
Not only were the appliances comprehensive, but they were all from major international brands.
In addition, there was a retractable projector screen in front of the living room sofa.
Combined with the 3.9-meter-high ceilings, the space didn't feel the least bit cramped.
'Imagine cuddling with a beautiful girl, watching a movie on the projector.'
'The two of them could sip some red wine, then tumble onto the sofa and have some fun.'
'How perfect would that be?'
The bathroom featured a separated wet and dry design.
It was divided into a vanity area, a soaking tub, a toilet area, and a shower stall, making it extremely functional.
The space felt very comfortable and not at all cramped.
After all, using 92 square meters for a one-bedroom apartment was incredibly extravagant.
The bathtub was situated right next to the floor-to-ceiling window.
'Imagine sipping some red wine while soaking in the tub with your girlfriend.'
'Watching the nightscape of Taikoo Li outside the window... you'd be over the moon.'