When Wu Qingyi approached, the girl did not hesitate even for a second. She rose from her seat, brushing away the helplessness in her eyes as if she had finally found a reason to stand tall again. In that moment, she no longer cared whether this encounter would earn her a sale or end in disappointment, she just simply wanted to help.
"Hi, my name is Wu Qingyi. Can you please assist me?" Wu Qingyi asked softly, her eyes bright and clear.
The girl gave a small, genuine smile, one that hadn't appeared on her face for days. "Sure. My name is Lin Xi. How may I help you?"
"I would like a beautiful mansion in the Celestial Crown District residential area," Wu Qingyi said softly. The moment the words left her lips, a low scoff cut through the air. A woman standing nearby her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, cast a sideways glance at Lin Xi, lips curling in open ridicule. "Are you that desperate to save your job now?" the manager said coldly. "Trying to coax a foolish girl into buying property?"
Her gaze swept over Wu Qingyi from head to toe, heavy with disdain. "I mean…" she added with a faint, cruel laugh, "does someone who can't even act normal look like she could afford a mansion?" Lin Xi's fingers clenched unconsciously. She felt anger rise in her chest, but she forced herself to remain silent. As for Wu Qingyi, she simply blinked, her expression calm, innocent… and unreadable.
The manager's laughter faded down the polished corridor, sharp and cruel, leaving behind an echo that hung in the air like a slap. Heat rushed to Lin Xi's face as she lowered her head, shame blooming quietly in her chest. Then she turned back to the girl in front of her and bowed slightly, her voice soft and strained. "I'm… sorry, on behalf of my manager." Wu Qingyi blinked at her, eyes clear and puzzled, as if she truly did not understand the weight of humiliation. "Why are you apologizing?" she asked gently. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Lin Xi froze for a heartbeat at Wu Qingyi's calm, sensible reply. Those words, spoken in such a pure and unaffected tone, did not sound like they came from someone others casually mocked as "foolish." A soft smile slowly curved her lips before she gathered herself and gently asked, "Then… would you like to tell me what kind of mansion you are looking for?"
Wu Qingyi's eyes lit up instantly. She began describing her dream home in earnest - sunlit halls facing the morning breeze, a glass-roofed garden blooming in every season, a private swimming pool, a music room, a spacious balcony overlooking the lake, and layers of security to ensure absolute privacy. Her words flowed like she had already lived there, every detail vivid, thoughtful, and refined.
The more Lin Xi listened, the more stunned she became. These requirements… were not something an ordinary family could even imagine, let alone afford. This was the standard of the wealthiest of the wealthy. Yet she knew, deep down, that the girl before her likely held no real purchasing power. Still, Lin Xi straightened her back. If this was truly her last day, she would at least do it with dignity. She decided to treat Wu Qingyi not as a joke, not as a burden, but as a real client.
Even if no contract was signed today, she would fulfil her duty honestly. Even if this was the end, she would not betray herself and unknowingly, she was standing at the edge of a turning point that would soon change her fate.
After viewing several grand properties, Wu Qingyi found herself drawn to one above all the rest - Sun Blossom Estate. It felt as if it had been designed precisely for her, every corner matching the quiet wishes hidden in her heart. She turned to Lin Xi with bright eyes. "I like this one the most." Lin Xi's fingers tightened around the brochure. "Miss… this property…" She hesitated, clearly struggling. Wu Qingyi tilted her head gently and smiled. "It's okay. I have some savings. I think it will be enough."
Her innocent words made Lin Xi's heart ache. She knew this young woman had no idea about the actual value of such a mansion. But lying to her or speaking vaguely would be even crueller, as if she were looking down on her. After a brief pause, Lin Xi finally spoke, her voice soft but honest. "Miss… the price is 3.6 billion yuan."
Wu Qingyi blinked. She didn't look shocked. She didn't look frightened.
Instead, she calmly asked, "Then… how much commission would you get from this sale?"
Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. She studied Wu Qingyi's face, searching for mockery but finding only pure, careless curiosity. After a brief pause, she answered honestly, her voice soft but steady. "Usually, the commission is around two to three percent. But for luxury properties like this… it goes up to five percent."
From the moment Lin Xi began guiding Wu Qingyi through the models, the atmosphere in the hall had subtly shifted. Whispers rose and fell like ripples in water. Although Wu Qingyi appeared naïve and innocent, her beauty was undeniable bright, soft, and impossibly eye-catching, like a blooming flower that refused to go unnoticed. Her wide-eyed admiration for every detail, her delighted little gasps, and her unrestrained enthusiasm as she described what she liked turned countless heads. She was a walking contrast and childlike wonder wrapped in breathtaking elegance.
Even the manager, who had earlier dismissed them so casually, found her gaze drifting back toward the two. She had only just returned when Lin Xi's quiet voice had stated the staggering price of the estate. "Three point six billion yuan." The number lingered in the air like thunder after lightning. Now, with everyone's attention intertwined around the strange, beautiful girl and the desperate junior agent, the quiet hall brimmed with silent anticipation. No one spoke aloud but everyone was watching.
Wu Qingyi's small frown deepened as she tilted her head slightly, her voice hesitant yet firm, "Can we… adjust the commission percentage?" The entire room froze. The murmurs stopped mid-air, jaws tightened, and eyes widened. Everyone was thinking the same impossible thought - Is this naïve girl really planning to buy a 3.6 billion yuan mansion? And now she wants to change the commission? Is she trying to dodge paying the agent?
Even the other agents, who had been observing from a distance, felt a wave of relief wash over them. Thank heavens it's not us dealing with her, they thought, imagining the impossible ordeal of collecting commission from such an unusual client. Lin Xi, however, blinked, caught between disbelief and curiosity, unsure how to respond to this audacious, yet innocent, request.
The manager, overhearing the exchange, immediately saw an opportunity to assert her dominance and ruin both Lin Xi and the seemingly foolish girl. Proud and accustomed to dealing with high-profile clients, she looked down on everyone at Golden Crest Properties, especially someone like Wu Qingyi, whom she deemed utterly naive. Before Lin Xi could even respond, the manager stepped into the middle of the conversation with a sharp smile, her voice dripping with condescension. "Of course, you can adjust the commission percentage," she said, casting a patronizing glance at Lin Xi, "and I'm sure Lin Xi agrees with me. But tell me, dear, will you actually be able to pay the rest of the amount?" Her words hung in the air like a challenge, intended to embarrass and intimidate, testing the girl she believed was nothing more than a naive, foolish client.