« Patron, maintenant que le studio a de l'argent, devrions-nous consolider notre présence en établissant un local ? » demanda soudain Ailent.
Xu Yi baissa les yeux, pensif ; il avait prévu d'étudier la question de l'installation du studio une fois entré à l'université.
Après tout, le cœur de son activité se situerait sans aucun doute près du campus à l'avenir.
Pas seulement le studio d'exorcisme, mais surtout le laboratoire. Depuis qu'il avait choisi la voie « les pauvres comptent sur les mutations, les riches sur la technologie » pour renforcer son corps, il était naturel de s'y préparer tôt.
Seules les grandes universités pourraient lui permettre de mettre la main sur ces instruments de haute précision.
« Patron, les grands studios d'exorcisme ont en réalité plusieurs locaux ; ça facilite le travail », dit Ailent doucement, comprenant les préoccupations de Xu Yi.
« As-tu des endroits en tête ? »
Xu Yi fit aussi un constat. L'argent qu'ils avaient n'était pas énorme, mais pas négligeable non plus ; monter un labo n'était pas envisageable, donc mieux valait fixer le local du studio au plus vite pour passer à l'étape suivante du plan.
« Et si on regardait du côté de Chinatown ? Je me rappelle qu'un commerce y est à reprendre, tout à fait adapté pour un studio », proposa Ailent sans hésiter, visiblement y ayant déjà réfléchi.
« Allons voir cet après-midi ! »
Xu Yi était très intéressé par l'achat d'un bien, ce serait sa première acquisition immobilière dans ce monde.
« Ah, patron, en plus du chèque, James nous a aussi donné ça », dit Ailent en sortant une invitation de sa poche et en la tendant à Xu Yi.
« Ils ouvrent une station balnéaire au lac Skysea dans deux jours et m'invitent à la cérémonie ? » Xu Yi médita le texte de l'invitation.
Un instant plus tard, il acquiesça : « Allons y faire un tour alors ! »
Après tout, c'était un gros client, et des opportunités de collaboration pourraient naître par la suite. Ne pas y aller risquait de les froisser, d'autant qu'il venait d'encaisser 500 000 $ de leur part.
Ce que Xu Yi ignorait, c'est que ce hochement de tête l'embarquerait dans une tourmente massive.
...
En périphérie de Chinatown, Xu Yi et Ailent visitaient des biens.
« No wonder you kept thinking about this place; it really is quite suitable to be a studio », Xu Yi expressed his satisfaction with the house recommended by Ailent after touring it.
The area was not far from Chinatown or the city center, with convenient transportation.
Most importantly, the store's previous life was a coffee shop, and it hadn't been long since it was nicely renovated and started operating. If they wanted to use it, only minor modifications would be necessary to turn it into a studio.
It would save time and effort.
« Boss, there's a small issue. The owner will only sell the house, not rent it, and the asking price is $160,000 », Ailent whispered into Xu Yi's ear.
« Buying it is no problem; it's just the price? »
Xu Yi had just gotten his hands on $500,000, which hadn't even warmed up yet, and now had to spend half of it, which he was somewhat reluctant to do.
« The asking price is a bit inflated. Negotiate well, and we should be able to get it for around $130,000. »
Xu Yi was really satisfied with the house and, after pondering for a moment, nodded in agreement.
In the evening, Ailent finally reached an agreement with the owner for a sale price of $132,000.
After signing the contract, Xu Yi looked at the 79-square-meter property in front of him, his eyes filled with an uncontrollable smile.
The house had three stories: the first and second floors for the studio, and the third for living quarters.
Although the house Ailent found for him was nice, it was still a rental, and it couldn't compare to the comfort of owning his own.
For the people of Xia Kingdom, attachment to home was ingrained deep in their bones.
« I'll find someone to come over tomorrow. Just a quick redecoration, and our Holy Flame Studio can open for business! » said Ailent, also stirred with excitement.
...
Binney Road.
Ailent returned home with an exhausted expression and sat on the sofa. He wanted to take a sip of water only to find that the kettle was empty.
« Bellamy, do we have any boiled water at home? »
« Want to drink water, can't you boil it yourself? I barely see you all day, anyone would think I'm raising two kids on my own here! »
Bellamy walked out with a mop, her eyes not looking like eyes, her nose not looking like a nose as she glared at Allen.
« Didn't I run around just as much when I was working as a real estate agent? » Allen muttered under his breath.
« What did you say? » Bellamy's eyebrows shot up, her gaze towards Allen turning ominous.
« Nothing! I didn't say anything! »
Allen hurriedly denied loudly. His wife had never been quite happy about him quitting his job as a real estate agent.
« By the way, the kids' school fees are due next week! » Bellamy didn't press further, changing the subject.
« Oh! I know! » Allen just nodded, then continued looking for water to drink.
Bellamy, seeing Allen act so nonchalant, was irritated beyond measure.
Ever since Allen became an exorcism agent, he hadn't brought home a single penny, though the money flowed out like water.
« Some exorcist, isn't that just another word for a scammer? »
Bellamy had muttered to herself more than once, but she didn't dare say it out loud, knowing that the moment she did, Allen would surely turn hostile.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
« Later, could you drop the kids off at the Youth Palace? There's an activity organized by the school. » While mopping the floor, Bellamy spoke to Allen who was lounging on the sofa.
« The Ford is broken, it's currently in the shop for repairs. » Allen finally found some water, took a big gulp, and exhaled a long breath of relief.
« Why didn't you say so earlier? Where am I going to get a taxi now? I always tell you not to switch jobs randomly! Following some exorcist all over the place, you've driven the car to its end! At this rate, can we even keep on living like this? »
Bellamy's pent-up anger finally erupted, tossing the mop aside abruptly, scaring the two kids who had just come out of their room.
If this had been any other day, Allen would have had no choice but to appease his wife with sweet words and gentle persuasion.
But things were different now. Allen glared back at Bellamy, « What's all the fuss about? It's just taking the car for repairs. What's the rush? »
He looked at his two children with a smile, « Are you dressed yet? Daddy will drive you to the Youth Palace. »
Shocked by Allen's sudden assertiveness, Bellamy was stunned; he was usually not this forthright.
Unsure of what Allen was up to, she followed him out the door.
Allen took out the key from his pocket, pressed the unlock button, and the Mercedes luxury car in the driveway beeped twice.
« This car? » Bellamy stared at the Mercedes luxury car in front of her, her eyes wide.
« It's not mine; the boss bought it for the studio, » Allen said.
Allen hadn't said « new car, » just « newly purchased car »—a detail neither deceptive nor timid, and he mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his clever workaround.
As the rear door opened, the children cheered, climbed in, and started touching around, evidently curious about the so-called luxury vehicle.
« Your studio is driving these types of cars now? » Bellamy, touching the smooth door of the Mercedes, asked in amazement.
In her mind, Allen's « boss » was just an ordinary high school student who used to bum rides off her family.
« This car is just so-so! » Allen stood tall, trying to appear calm, but the corners of his mouth betrayed his genuine delight.
He took out a stack of cash from his pocket, « Here's three thousand US dollars. You use it to pay the kids' school fees. »
Allen stuffed the cash into Bellamy's hands.
Looking at the money, and then at the Mercedes luxury car, Bellamy's many thoughts boiled down to one question, « You're taking the kids to the Youth Palace, this won't delay your work for the boss, will it? »
A tiny twitch appeared at the corner of Allen's mouth, the speed of Bellamy's change in attitude was indeed too fast.
« Don't let your boss's trust in you go to waste! » Seeing Allen didn't respond, Bellamy patted his shoulder, much like those slick-talking managers.