Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Pleasant Cooperation

"This is just a draft of the contract. The final terms of our partnership will, of course, be based on what we ultimately agree upon.

I understand your point, Miss Yun. A five percent share of the profits is indeed a bit low. I have the authority to offer you another two percentage points. After all, the Lu Family will be providing everything from the design blueprints to the construction team, and we’ll also be covering the labor costs. The entire project will be a considerable expense, so I hope you can understand our position."

"Of course, I completely understand your difficult position, Mr. Lu. That’s why I proposed an alternative method of cooperation.

I won’t use the land as an equity investment. Instead, I can co-develop the project with the Lu Family, and I will personally bear all the development costs for my plot of land.

The land and any buildings on it would remain entirely my property. The Lu Family would simply need to pay me a certain annual rent, and you’d be free to use or redevelop the land as you see fit.

You wouldn’t even have to give me a share of the profits. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?"

Hearing Yun Zijin’s proposal, Lu Yunque frowned slightly. If they had to pay annual rent, it would mean an additional expense during the project’s development phase.

The Lu Family had a fixed budget for the entire resort. An additional rent payment would mean they’d have to re-coordinate the development funds, though that wasn’t an insurmountable task.

"What is the rent you have in mind, Miss Yun?"

"I’m not trying to take advantage of you. I also own a plot of land in the South Suburb, which is about half the size of this one in the West Suburb.

The annual rent for that property is six billion. So for this one, I’ll charge you twelve billion a year. And before the project is completed, I’ll give you a ten percent discount, making it 10.8 billion a year. 108... sounds like ’you will prosper.’ It’s an auspicious number. Pretty generous of me, don’t you think?"

’Giving them a discount on top of that,’ Yun Zijin thought, ’I’m practically the kindest landlord ever.’

’Wow,’ Lu Yunque thought, ’She casually asks for over ten billion.’ He couldn’t help but be impressed by Yun Zijin’s audacity.

’She doesn’t want equity, she just wants to be a landlord. Should I praise her? "Truly, one of a kind."’

"Miss Yun, your asking price is truly something to be admired. If I gave you over ten billion, I might as well not bother developing the project at all."

’We’d definitely run out of funds and the project would be dead in the water.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Well, I could also collect it quarterly. That’s three billion a quarter, or 2.7 billion with the discount. Surely you can afford that?"

Yun Zijin gave Lu Yunque a look that screamed, ’No way! Don’t tell me the great Lu Family can’t even scrape together 2.7 billion!’

’I’m already letting you pay in four installments, what more could you possibly want?’

"Let me think about it."

Lu Yunque began a rapid mental calculation, weighing whether it was more cost-effective to have Yun Zijin invest her land for equity or to pay her annual rent.

The main issue was that if the Lu Family were to lease the land, they would have to pay her at least one quarter’s rent immediately.

Even with her ten percent discount, 2.7 billion was no small sum.

However, after a series of mental analyses and calculations, Lu Yunque concluded that paying annual rent to Yun Zijin was, in fact, the more favorable option for the Lu Family.

The length of the lease, however, would require careful negotiation.

"I can agree to your terms, but the contract must state that the Lu Family has the priority right to lease this land.

You cannot lease the land to anyone else unless the Lu Family explicitly states its intention to terminate the lease."

’This clause is a must,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, when the lease expires, Yun Zijin could just say "I’m not renting it out anymore," and we would suffer a catastrophic loss.’

"Deal. However, if your rent payment is overdue by fifteen days or more, I have the right to reclaim the land and seek a new tenant."

’I can grant them the priority right to lease,’ she thought, ’but there have to be countermeasures. Otherwise, the Lu Family could just stop paying rent without officially terminating the lease, and I can’t just let a huge plot of land like that sit idle.’

Lu Yunque had no objection to Yun Zijin’s demand.

Yun Zijin and Lu Yunque spent over an hour haggling back and forth over the terms of the lease agreement before they finally came to a conclusion.

Looking at the freshly finalized lease agreement in her hands, Yun Zijin’s face lit up with joy.

’Another day, another rent check to collect~’

"Miss Yun, here’s to a successful partnership."

Lu Yunque stood and proactively offered his hand to Yun Zijin.

"To a successful partnership!"

Yun Zijin also rose and confidently took his hand.

As her hand met his, Lu Yunque subconsciously tightened his grip. He felt a soft, delicate touch in his palm that sent a strange, fleeting sensation through him. The feeling vanished so quickly that he barely even registered it.

After a second or two, they released their hands.

"It’s about time for lunch. If you don’t mind, Miss Yun, allow me to treat you to a meal to celebrate our successful partnership?"

Yun Zijin glanced at the time. It was indeed a few minutes past noon, perfect for lunch.

"In that case, it would be rude of me to refuse."

Yun Zijin had a decent impression of Lu Yunque, so she wasn’t averse to him asking her to lunch.

Besides, from their few interactions, Yun Zijin could tell that Lu Yunque was a man who understood boundaries and acted with propriety.

"Then... how about Liuxian Pavilion? Their Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is excellent."

Yun Zijin’s eyes lit up at the mention of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

What person in Hua Country didn’t know of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? But finding a truly authentic version was rare.

’If Lu Yunque says it’s excellent, then it’s almost certainly the real deal!’

"I’m not familiar with this area, so I’ll follow your lead."

"Let’s go, then. It’s only a ten-minute drive, not far."

Yun Zijin and Lu Yunque took the elevator down to the underground parking garage of the Lu Mansion together.

"I drove here," said Yun Zijin. "Mr. Lu, just give me the address and I’ll drive over myself."

Parked next to Yun Zijin’s car was a ’Randomly Spend’ brand luxury van, driven by Zero One and his men, who were all waiting inside.

"I’ll send you the location... oh, I just realized I don’t have your WeChat yet, Miss Yun. We’ve met so many times, and I still don’t have your contact info. That doesn’t seem right, does it?"

Yun Zijin chuckled, taking out her phone. She opened her personal QR code and held it out for Lu Yunque.

"It’s an honor for an ordinary person like me to be able to add Mr. Lu to my contacts."

Yun Zijin accepted the friend request from Lu Yunque, and he quickly sent over a location pin.

"Right. The ’ordinary’ Miss Yun who can spend five billion to snatch a plot of land right out from under me."

Lu Yunque delivered that sarcastic remark with practiced ease.

At the mention of the land-snatching incident, Yun Zijin touched her nose and gave an awkward laugh. "Aren’t we going to eat? I’ll go get my car!"

With that, she scurried off with quick, short steps toward her car—an Ice Plum Powder-colored vehicle that stood out conspicuously even among the rows of other luxury cars.

Lu Yunque waited for Yun Zijin to start her car, then followed behind Zero One’s luxury van as they both drove out of the parking garage.

Liuxian Pavilion was a time-honored establishment in Dijing. Not only were its private rooms in high demand, but even seats in the main hall had to be reserved with lightning-fast reflexes the moment they became available.

Lu Yunque was clearly a regular. The moment he walked in, a staff member came over to greet him, having recognized him immediately.

It was Yun Zijin’s first time dining at such an upscale place, but she remained composed. ’After all,’ she thought, ’I’m a rich woman now. I can afford to eat at places like this.’