Stay as Long as You Want

Seeing this situation, Su Yang smiled helplessly, "Mengrou, we still need to sign the contract. After all, I’ve already troubled Wang Qiang for so long. We’ve already discussed everything beforehand, so don’t interfere."

"What nonsense is this? This is my house, and I can let whoever I want live here. What can you do if I refuse to sign the contract now?" Zhao Mengrou retorted with a proud smirk, looking at Su Yang.

Su Yang sighed and said, "Mengrou, don’t make things difficult..."

"Who’s making things difficult? I’m offering your friend a free place to stay, and you’re not happy about it?"

"It’s different. If I had contacted you from the start, that would be one thing. But I already discussed it with Wang Qiang. He showed me the place, and we’re satisfied with it, so let’s just stick to the original plan."

Hearing this, Zhao Mengrou rolled her eyes playfully and smiled, "Fine then. How long do you plan to sign for?"

"One year."

"One year? No need. Just sign for one month. Pay Wang Qiang the agency fee, and after that, it’ll be between you and me. I’ll let this little sister stay for free—she can stay as long as she wants."

Su Yang chuckled helplessly and agreed, "Alright then, let’s sign for one month first."

Wang Qiang nodded and unfolded the contract. After all, the duration didn’t matter to him—whether it was one month or ten years, he’d only get one month’s agency fee. Well, actually, half a month...

But half a month’s fee was still money.

Soon, the three of them signed the contract, and Su Yang transferred one month’s rent to both Wang Qiang and Zhao Mengrou on the spot.

Wang Qiang stared at the 3,800 yuan in his account and asked in surprise, "Huh? Su Yang? We agreed I’d only take half the agency fee. Why did you send me the full amount?"

Su Yang turned his head and said, "Just keep it."

"Oh, alright. Thank you, Su Yang."

"Why thank me? You helped Xia Zhiyu find a place. I should be thanking you."

Zhao Mengrou accepted the money on WeChat and grinned, "Enough with the thanks. Anything else?"

"Nope, nothing else." Wang Qiang picked up the two signed contracts and handed one to Zhao Mengrou and the other to Xia Zhiyu.

"Here, these are your copies."

Xia Zhiyu reached out to take it, but Zhao Mengrou waved it off, "Give it to Su Yang."

"Huh? Oh, sure." Wang Qiang hesitated for a second before handing the contract to Su Yang.

Su Yang glanced at it and took it. "Alright, Wang Qiang, that’s all for now."

"Oh, okay. I’ll head out then. Su Yang, you guys chat."

"Thanks, Wang Qiang. I’ll introduce friends to you if they need a place to rent."

"Ah, just hearing that from you is more than enough. Thanks, thanks! I’m off." Wang Qiang smiled brightly and left.

Bang. The door closed behind him.

Zhao Mengrou grinned and sat down next to Xia Zhiyu. "So, little beauty, what’s your name?"

"Xia Zhiyu~"

"Xia Zhiyu? That’s a lovely name."

Su Yang chimed in, "You can call her Xiaoyu—it’s her nickname."

"Xiaoyu? Got it. Hehe, Xiaoyu, you’re really pretty." Zhao Mengrou took Xia Zhiyu’s hand and placed it on her own fair thigh. "Xiaoyu, you can live here however you like. This place was just renovated—no one’s lived here before. So don’t worry, just make yourself at home, okay?"

Xia Zhiyu nodded nervously. "Thank you, Sister Zhao. But I’ll pay rent every month."

"What rent? No need! You’re Su Yang’s friend, so you’re my friend too. Charging for one month is just for show. Rent is for strangers, got it?"

"But... Sister Zhao, I won’t feel comfortable living here if I don’t pay rent..."

"You stubborn little fish! Even if you give it to me, I won’t take it." Zhao Mengrou deliberately raised her chin.

Su Yang looked at them and laughed. "Mengrou, you should just accept it. But..."

"But what?"

"I think your rent is a bit too expensive~" Su Yang winked at Zhao Mengrou teasingly.

Hearing this, Zhao Mengrou immediately caught on. She held Xia Zhiyu’s hand and said, "Right, right! This place isn’t worth that much anyway. How about this—I’ll charge you the lowest rate. From now on, just pay me 500 yuan a month."

"Huh?" Xia Zhiyu was stunned and looked up at Zhao Mengrou in disbelief.

"This... this place can’t possibly be only 500. My last place was an old apartment, and it cost 800."

"I said 500, so it’s 500. Take it or leave it?"

"I’ll take it!"

"Hehe, then it’s settled. Prices are set by people, and I’m happy to set it at 500~"

"Alright, that’s decided." Su Yang looked at both of them. "Add each other on WeChat. Xiaoyu, just send the rent to your Sister Zhao every month. At this price, I don’t need to chip in for you."

"Got it, Su Yang." Xia Zhiyu took out a cracked, five- or six-year-old phone and added Zhao Mengrou on WeChat.

Seeing this, Su Yang thought to himself, ‘Poor Xiaoyu... Well, since I’m free today, I’ll take her to buy a new phone later, get Mengrou a thank-you gift, and treat them both to dinner tonight.’

He turned to Zhao Mengrou and asked, "Mengrou, are you free later?"

Zhao Mengrou blinked and grinned. "If you’re treating me to dinner, then I’m free."

"Haha, how did you know I was going to invite you?"

"You rascal! After not seeing you for so long, you owe me a meal!"

"Of course! Not just a meal—I’ll make sure to thank you properly!"

Hearing this, Zhao Mengrou immediately understood his implication. Her face flushed, and she glared at him. "Get lost!"

......

"Heh, I’m thanking you, and you tell me to get lost? Fine, fine, I’ll go." Su Yang stood up and said to Xia Zhiyu, "Xiaoyu, chat with your Sister Zhao for now. I’ll go downstairs and bring your things up."

"I can get them myself, Su Yang." Xia Zhiyu quickly stood up to follow.

Su Yang waved her off. "No need~ You two talk. After I bring your stuff up, we’ll go out for a bit."

He glanced at Zhao Mengrou and then left.

Once Su Yang was gone, Zhao Mengrou took Xia Zhiyu’s hand again. "Xiaoyu, how old are you?"

"I’m 20, Sister Zhao."

‘20... So young. Meanwhile, I’m almost 30.’

"Sister Zhao, you don’t look 30 at all."

"Oh? Then how old do I look?" Zhao Mengrou spread her arms and grinned at Xia Zhiyu.

"Like 20."

"Haha, you’re such a sweet talker, Xiaoyu. I wish I were still 20~"

"But you really do look young, and you’re so beautiful." Xia Zhiyu said with genuine sincerity.

Zhao Mengrou blinked. "Young? Not really. But beautiful? Yeah, I’ll take that~"

As they chatted, Zhao Mengrou’s phone rang. She picked it up, glanced at the screen, and answered.

"Hello? Why are you calling when you’re already downstairs?"

The voice of Su Yang came through the phone: "Hey, Mengrou, chat with Xia Zhiyu a bit longer. I’m going back to switch cars—the one I’m driving now can only fit one person, so it won’t work for both of you later."

Zhao Mengrou paused, suddenly remembering the supercar she’d seen downstairs earlier. She asked tentatively, "Wait, was that red sports car downstairs yours?"

"Yep, it’s mine."

"No way, you—alright, fine, hurry up then."

"Okay, half an hour max. Gotta go."

"Is it Su Yang?" Xia Zhiyu turned to Zhao Mengrou and asked.

"Yeah," Zhao Mengrou nodded. "He said he’s going home to change cars. All he ever drives are those flashy sports cars—useless except for looking cool. Can’t even fit an extra person. Whatever, let’s keep talking~"

......

Half an hour later, knocking sounded at the door. Su Yang’s voice called out, "Mengrou, open up~"

"Coming~" Zhao Mengrou immediately got up to answer the door.

When the door opened, Su Yang walked in carrying a bulging blue-and-white backpack in his left hand and a khaki cloth bag in his right.

"Is this Xia Zhiyu’s stuff?"

"Mm-hmm~"

Su Yang stepped into the living room and set the items down on the sofa.

Xia Zhiyu quickly stood up and walked over to thank him. "Thanks, Su Yang."

"Don’t mention it~ Seriously, you thank me like ten times a day. No need to be so polite."

Xia Zhiyu laughed awkwardly. "I just don’t know what else to say. You’re so good to me, Su Yang!"

Su Yang grinned. "No big deal~ Don’t overthink it."

"Mengrou, your place doesn’t have much besides furniture, right?"

"Like what?"

"Daily essentials—toiletries, pots, pans, that kind of stuff."

Zhao Mengrou shook her head. "Nope, none of that. We’ll have to buy everything."

"Alright, let’s go shopping then. It’s still too early for dinner anyway."

"Sure, you lead the way~"