C2 Pure Landlord, Foolish Landlord

Hsiang Tai wasn't born yesterday. Someone who had just turned you down, only to circle back and agree, clearly wasn't swayed by the Achievement System's rewards. No, they must have run into a situation where they suddenly needed a stand-in boyfriend.

Scenarios like this are a dime a dozen in trashy novels, where, invariably, the pretend boyfriend ends up either as the pitiful second choice or the even more pitiful romantic lead.

Well-versed in such clichés, he said sternly, "Feelings are serious business. We've only just met, and you're already bringing up such a topic. That's not appropriate."

Hee Zi's heart sank upon hearing this. She had inadvertently cast herself as flippant. But it was he who had confessed to her. How had things taken such a turn? Had boys become so heartless, and so quickly at that?

She was at a loss for words, yet she knew she had briefly considered exploiting this kind boy's generosity. It made sense, then, that he would reject her.

"I'm sorry, that was presumptuous of me," she said, promptly apologizing.

"If there's something urgent, you can be honest with me," Hsiang Tai offered, despite wanting to walk away. After all, she had helped him with an achievement, which had its perks. It was only polite to inquire.

He suspected she needed a decoy.

Indeed, Hee Zi did need assistance. She looked down and confessed, "Shen Tong, I was hoping you could pretend to be my boyfriend and meet my parents."

Shen Tong? He had no clue who that was.

"Sorry, but that's asking too much," Hsiang Tai replied. Minor favors were one thing, but meeting parents was a whole other ballgame. One encounter could derail his entire life, the ultimate plot twist in the playbook. He might never hear the end of it from her parents. So, he decisively declined, "I can help with other things, but I can't assist with this."

Without another word, Hsiang Tai turned on his heel and left. The reasons behind her need for a temporary boyfriend to meet her parents were none of his concern, and he preferred to keep it that way.

"Alright then..."

Hee Zi watched as Hsiang Tai disappeared swiftly, like the wind. Unsure of what to say, she could only stomp her foot and let out a sigh, forced to seek alternative ways to appease her parents.

Was I too forward? Usually, guys I don't know wouldn't agree to such a request. But why did he give me the false impression that he would be willing to help?

Hee Zi was at a loss to explain this feeling, as she typically had great faith in her gut instincts. However, this time, they had failed her spectacularly.

...

Hsiang Tai was a sophomore at a university that, while not among the prestigious 985 league, was still a respected 211 key undergraduate institution. Although his future job prospects weren't guaranteed to be excellent, he could at least count on a stable income and a secure existence without chasing a high salary.

His backstory was marked by upheaval. His parents were once high earners who ran their own business. However, following an unfortunate accident that claimed their lives, he was left with debts. Fortunately, his parents' business partners didn't press him too hard and left him with two apartments—a considerable asset that ensured a comfortable life, even to the point of being able to live off the rental income.

Indeed, with his fixed assets, he could be considered wealthy.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to afford the life of a homebody a few years back. In an era where even watching series and reading novels comes at a cost, being a shut-in without money was nearly unthinkable.

But with the introduction of the Achievement System, Hsiang Tai's lifestyle became less introverted. Now, aside from his academic pursuits, he also had a part-time job. With the additional income from renting out a room, he was self-sufficient without the need for student loans—and he was enjoying life to the fullest.

"Senior sister, can we talk about something?"

"Are you asking for a rent reduction? I might consider it if you cut my rent a bit."

"Discussing money can ruin relationships. Would you really be okay with watching your adorable junior starve because he can't afford food?"

"Sorry, Junior Hsiang Tai, I might agree if you claimed to be handsome, but cute? That's not a trait you possess. And let's be real—you, a landlord collecting rent, starving? Hardly likely."

Hsiang Tai rested his chin in his hand, gazing at the girl before him—one of the few he got along with well at school. She was his upperclassman, Su Qin.

Their acquaintance dated back to a time when they were mere strangers, a time when a dare during a game with friends led him to confess to her, earning him a "nice guy" rejection but also triggering an achievement.

Despite the gentle letdown, Su Qin found Hsiang Tai's audacity amusing and exchanged contact information with him. They didn't chat much, but they remained the kind of friends who occasionally liked each other's social media posts. Fate had it that they crossed paths again just as she was looking to rent a place.

From a tenant's perspective, renting from someone you know is always a plus.

Once they became housemates, their conversations grew more frequent. To avoid any confusion, Hsiang Tai clarified that his feelings had changed—he no longer harbored a crush on her. This was to prevent Su Qin from thinking she needed to charm her way out of paying for utilities.

Yes, charm.

Su Qin, his senior, was without a doubt one of those people who seemed to have been shortchanged in the leg bone department at birth. She claimed to stand at 1.6 meters, but that was only with the help of her 7cm heels. Her makeup channeled a domineering lady vibe, and from certain angles, she could pass for 1.7 meters. But no matter the illusion, it couldn't alter the reality of her being an adorable figure under 1.6 meters tall.

She was the epitome of a domineering spirit in a petite frame.

No matter how she tried to elongate her silhouette with high-waisted pants, it made no difference. Hsiang Tai thought she looked better embracing her cuteness.

On this particular day, Hsiang Tai had made his way to her favorite coffee shop to catch her, intent on leveling up his achievement progress. Their friendship was solid; they could banter freely without fear of awkwardness or misunderstandings.

But Su Qin wasn't on board, fully aware that when Hsiang Tai switched from calling her "Little Sister Su" to "senior," it signaled genuine trouble.

"It's a trivial matter, really. Just a few words will do."

Hsiang Tai, ever focused on his achievements, never cared much for his own dignity. Su Qin would say he reeked of cheapness. With his hands pressed together in earnest, he bowed his head and requested, "Confess your feelings to me. Naturally, I'll turn you down."

Su Qin had no intention of indulging such an absurd plea. She huffed, "I should've known you're still hung up on being rejected by me. What, trying to heal your bruised ego this way?"

Attempting to tap Hsiang Tai's head, her short stature betrayed her; her arms simply weren't long enough. Switching tactics, she pointed at him and accused, "Or maybe... you're scheming to corner your senior sister? Planning to say yes and then cement our relationship? I've seen these little games before; I'm not playing along."

"I'll cover next month's electricity bill."

Hsiang Tai, unfazed by her retort, laid out his terms.

"I like you. Please be my boyfriend!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Su Qin traded her integrity. After all, under the illustrious shadow of Chairman Mao, who even speaks of souls? We don't entertain such archaic beliefs.

"Sorry, I refuse!"

A victorious grin spread across Hsiang Tai's face as he edged closer to his goal, but to Su Qin, it was the smirk of sweet revenge.

"You're quite the oddball," Su Qin remarked, not fooled by his antics. She gave Hsiang Tai an eye roll and declared, "I don't care. This month, I'm blasting the air conditioning every day, even when I'm out. It's not often I get a free pass on the electric bill—I'm going to live it up."

"Do as you wish," Hsiang Tai replied nonchalantly. "I'll just hike up the rent. The lease is up next month, perfect timing for a price increase. You got too good a deal on the last one."

"Landlord, dear!" Hearing about the rent hike, Su Qin instantly shed her tough exterior. Her eyes went wide, her cheeks ballooned, and with her hands clasped before her, she pleaded adorably, "Spare a thought for the poor girl who's down to eating dirt, won't you?"

"Don't try to charm your way out when you're asking for favors—I'm immune to that tactic."

"Well then, what approach does work on you, Landlord Dad?"

"Just kidding, just kidding. Senior Sister, you've been such a help to me. Do I seem like the bad guy? I trust that you're always careful with money and wouldn't deliberately waste it by running the air conditioner needlessly, right?"

"Absolutely, you've got it exactly right."

Su Qin couldn't help but mutter a complaint. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to play by their rules. But she quickly found another subject to steer the conversation toward. "You know there's still an empty room in my place, right? I have a friend who's interested in renting it. Could you consider it?"

Hsiang Tai owned two apartments: one was a two-bedroom he lived in himself, which he hadn't rented out. The other, a three-bedroom across the hall, was where Su Qin and another girl resided. The previous tenant had moved out for work, leaving a room vacant.

"A friend?"

"A girl, just got admitted to our school this year, and she's quite attractive. But I know, even with her looks, you won't cut her a deal."

"Oh..." Hsiang Tai had long ago unlocked an achievement titled 'Innocent Landlord, Charming Tenants,' which came with the perk of gaining his female tenants' favor. The prospect of another woman moving in seemed like it would only invite a host of complications.

Like with Senior Sister Su, once they warm up to you, they start with the 'money talk is tacky' spiel, which can hit you right in the wallet.

"Denied." Hsiang Tai was firm. "You're just trying to get me to waive your internet fee under the guise of saving me the agent's commission, aren't you?"

"Am I that kind of person?" Su Qin protested, stretching her neck out, then retracting it and playfully sticking out her tongue. "Even if you won't waive the internet, a little break on the water bill wouldn't hurt, eh?"

"I only charge you ten yuan for water each month," Hsiang Tai shot back. "Skip the coffee shop once, and you've got your water bill for several months."

"But it's not the same!" Su Qin exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Saving money from you has its own special significance! It feels like the proletariat's revolution has finally triumphed!"

Hsiang Tai glanced at the unassuming single-shoulder bag resting on the seat next to him.

A CELINE new release, priced at 22,000 yuan—a Christmas gift from Su Qin's father.

His eyes then shifted to the khaki windbreaker draped over the chair.

A fresh Loewe piece, tagged at 28,000 yuan, purchased by Su Qin with her New Year's money.

Despite Senior Sister Su's daily laments about being broke, she never flaunted her wealth. Yet Hsiang Tai was well aware that even though she never sported instantly recognizable luxury brands like LV, Gucci, or Chanel, she was never short on understated luxury items that flew under most people's radar.

The value of the clothes and bags he'd seen her with over the past year alone amounted to tens of thousands. These were not just gifts from her father—she bought plenty with her own money.

So, really...

What kind of proletariat do you claim to be?

Naturally, he had no intention of calling her out on her concealed affluence. She might quibble with him over a few dozen yuan here and there, but truth be told, she often invited Hsiang Tai to dinner, saving him a considerable sum each month.

"Fine, fine, fine. In light of your recent help, I'll let the utilities slide."

"Waiter, another cappuccino for this dashing young man here, and it's on me!"

Electricity for 50 yuan, water for 10. A coffee for 38 yuan—you're quite the saver, aren't you?