novelkee Chapter 178 Throwing Money
Chapter 178 Throwing Money
It seems like new neighbors have moved in next door.
The noise was quite loud early in the morning; the heavy, muffled sound of a large industrial truck was very rare in her area.
Hearing the noise, Bai Li, holding a steaming cup of "pre-made" tea and casually draped a thick blanket over herself, leaned lazily against her small rooftop.
"Pre-made" tea is tea bag.
With Jingye not around, she could only make do with tea bags.
Bai Li squinted slightly, her gaze passing over several tall ginkgo trees, and looking toward the source of the sound.
Amidst the shadows of the trees, a crowd of people was moving large, exquisite pieces of furniture into the next room, which appeared to be quite valuable.
You can vaguely see some precious antique artworks, carefully packaged and carried inside.
Although it's unclear who this new neighbor is, judging from the scale of their move, they are certainly no ordinary person.
It's not surprising, really. How could someone who has a place in this neighborhood be an ordinary person?
These villas are so rare that it's hard to find one that changes hands in ten years.
They are either strictly protected cultural buildings or private old houses worth hundreds of millions or even beyond monetary value; without absolute power, it is impossible to obtain them.
Bai Li's apartment was a gift from Wanxiang Wheel back then.
She was 100% satisfied with her "tiny apartment" and never considered moving again from the moment she moved in.
After watching for a while, the tea in her hand lost its heat, and Bai Li, no longer interested, withdrew her gaze and turned back into the house.
The people who live here are all wealthy and powerful, with impressive backgrounds and identities.
On weekdays, they mostly stay at home and rarely go out. When they do go out, they are picked up and dropped off in luxury cars. They get in the car directly from their residence and quickly enter the destination, with a seamless connection throughout the process.
Others, likely due to business or other reasons, do not live at home for extended periods, leaving their houses often empty except for maids who come to clean regularly.
Bai Li was already used to this. She had been living here for more than half a year and rarely saw her neighbors, let alone knew them.
Bai Li only observed the newcomers briefly and did not intend to pay them any attention.
Just when she thought life would continue as usual, the new neighbors were different from what she had imagined. They came to visit her just a few days after moving in.
Coincidentally, Bai Li was home when she knocked on the door.
When Ahe opened the door to greet her, Baili glanced at him from afar in the garden.
Standing at the door was an elderly gentleman with an extraordinary air about him. Although his hair was gray, he was dressed very neatly, with every strand of hair looking as if it had been carefully combed, and every crease in his suit was perfectly pressed.
What's even more noteworthy is his appearance: deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge—he clearly doesn't look Asian.
The old gentleman gave a graceful slight bow, a polite smile on his face, and greeted the man in fluent Chinese:
"Hello, I am the housekeeper of the new tenant next door. You can call me Sheldon. I am new here and have brought a little something to visit you."
As he spoke, he respectfully handed over the gift box.
The gift box was wrapped in exquisite silk, obscuring its contents, but it looked extremely distinguished.
Ahe didn't accept immediately. He caught Bai Li's approaching figure out of the corner of his eye, and he slightly turned to give Bai Li his place.
Since the host was present, he could not overstep his bounds and accept the gift at will.
When Sheldon saw Bai Li, a fleeting hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes, but his expression remained calm, only noticeably more respectful. He bowed slightly and greeted her warmly, "Good day," before handing the gift box forward.
One shouldn't hit a smiling face, especially such a kind-looking old man, so Bai Li quickly thanked him and accepted the gift box.
The gift box was quite heavy, which surprised Bai Li.
Did some foreign nobleman move in next door?
This custom of giving gifts to neighbors when moving into a new home seems to be a custom found only in foreign countries.
This is quite a display... the gift must be extraordinary.
She was starting to wonder what was inside the gift box.
But why didn't the new neighbors come over themselves, instead sending their housekeeper?
Bai Li couldn't help but glance curiously in the direction of the next room.
Just as Bai Li was secretly guessing, Sheldon seemed to see through Bai Li's thoughts in an instant and explained, "My master has been traveling a long way recently and is feeling a little unwell. He is currently resting in bed."
Sheldon said this with a slightly apologetic smile on his face.
“But he is very happy to have moved to this neighborhood and looks forward to getting along well with his neighbors. That’s why he asked me to come and visit with a gift as soon as possible. He will definitely come to apologize in person once he has recovered.”
So that's how it is...?
Bai Li is no longer the naive person who believes whatever others say.
From the moment Sheldon arrived, she sensed something was off.
She didn't think much of it at the time, but now the more she thinks about it, the more something seems off.
First, the seemingly kind-looking foreign butler is the first suspicious point.
From this butler, Bai Li could roughly deduce the background of his master.
It's highly likely that he's not a native Chinese.
They are either overseas Chinese who have returned to China, or they have been settled abroad for a long time.
This foreign butler is quite old, yet he speaks fluent Chinese without a single accent; it sounds like his native language.
This is the second strange place.
Foreigners who learn to speak later in life will still have an accent to some extent, no matter how much they are corrected.
To reach this level, one definitely didn't start learning Chinese halfway through life.
Are there any all-Chinese language environments abroad?
It's possible that the old housekeeper came to China and grew up from a young age.
But Bai Li felt that this possibility was unlikely, and she preferred another guess.
The family to which the butler belongs has its own training system.
Just like the Qing Teng family.
They subject their household servants and attendants to centralized management and rigorous training from a young age to ensure they reach extremely high standards in all aspects.
If this butler's family is also like this, then it would be terrifying.
What kind of family background is this?
The existence of the old butler indicates that this family has been prosperous for at least half a century.
Why would someone with this background, who was doing well abroad, suddenly return to China?
This is the third strange point.
Although Bai Li showed a concerned smile and politely said things like "No need to apologize," "Your health is the most important thing," "Please give my regards to your master," and "I hope you recover soon," Bai Li said these words repeatedly.
But she had already begun to be wary.
She hoped she was overthinking things.
She happened to know someone who met the above criteria.
This person called her a few days ago and said some strange things, like staying away from Zhou Chengjing because it's dangerous.
He not only knew the location of his house, but he also actually did the kind of thing that was like a persistent pest, moving next door to his own home. He pretended to be sick and didn't come over in person, but sent his housekeeper to check on things first, which is very much in line with his personality.
The more Bai Li thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed, and she was almost certain that she had made this guess.
After seeing the housekeeper off, Bai Li returned home with mixed feelings.
Ahe had already helped open the gift box and showed Baili the contents—two bottles of wine that looked like works of art.
Bai Li carefully picked up one of the bottles and gently turned it around. On the vintage label, the text was all hand-stamped in gold.
"Chateau Margaux, 1982"
“1982…” Bai Li murmured to herself.
The widely circulated meme instantly popped into Bai Li's mind—"Give me a bottle of '82 Lafite!"
The meme is very famous, but Bai Li didn't really know before why everyone admires the 82 Lafite so much.
I later learned that it was because the climate in 1982 was almost perfect, resulting in the grapes having the most intense flavors and producing wines of exceptional quality that year—a once-in-a-century phenomenon.
Wines from renowned estates like Lafite are still highly praised today.
In short, "82 Lafite" seems to be synonymous with high-end wine.
But Bai Li expressed doubt: after so long, is there really any wine from 82 still on the market?
Given the vast time span, it's likely that some of the items are genuine, and most are even fakes.
The number of genuine articles must be extremely small, and they are treasured by a very small number of collectors.
I'd really like to try the white pear, but unfortunately it's never been in the Wanxiang Wheel.
And now, I've actually received it!
Although it's not Lafite, Château Margaux is just as famous as Lafite and enjoys a similarly prestigious reputation among wines.
What's even more surprising is that, perhaps because this wine itself has extremely high collectible value and a certain vintage, the entry for "[Master Appraiser]" was automatically activated.
Bai Li accurately identified the wine in front of him as a genuine 1982 vintage!
And it wasn't just one bottle.
There are two bottles!
A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Li's eyes.
She had been wondering why he had sent two bottles of wine, but now she understood.
If you only give her one bottle, she'll hesitate for a moment, wondering whether to open it and drink it right away or keep it as a keepsake.
But now there are two bottles!
You can keep one bottle as a collector's item and open another to taste it.
While surprised, Bai Li couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart.
The other party is so thoughtful...
Is it really Wuhai?
Although she was sorry, Wu Hai hadn't left her with a good impression due to their previous interactions.
Just moments ago she was almost certain that her new neighbor was Wu Hai, but now she was starting to have second thoughts. Would Wu Hai really give such a thoughtful gift?
Bai Li's gaze slowly moved over the two bottles of wine, noticing a gold thread wrapped around the neck of the bottle. Upon closer inspection, he saw a gold family crest hanging on the thread.
What a unique pattern...
And it felt strangely familiar.
Bai Li leaned closer for a closer look and saw a pure gold compass surrounded by a ring of waves. The compass was adorned with a few stars, not many, but each one was extremely dazzling. The pure light made Bai Li immediately recognize that its material was diamond.
Made of gold and diamonds, the logo is both opulent and exquisitely crafted.
Bai Li's mind raced; she remembered where she had seen this pattern before.
—That cruise ship.
It was the Celebrity cruise ship I had been on before; it had a huge pattern on its hull that was exactly the same as the one in front of me.
Bai Li: ...
Therefore, this is the logo of the Worldwide Shipping Group, and of course, it is also the family crest of the Wu family, the shipping magnates of North America.
I spent ages guessing, only to find out that the other person hadn't intended to hide it at all; it was already clearly stated in the gift.
The new neighbor is indeed Wuhai.
When did this man become so self-aware, realizing that his move-in was a bit clingy and that he was afraid of meeting her directly and getting angry?
Bai Li felt that she had probably guessed Wu Hai's thoughts correctly.
This man is more perceptive and understands me better than I imagined.
Bai Li imagined what would happen if Wu Hai came to her door today and announced that he was moving in as her neighbor. Bai Li would really be shocked by his suddenness.
But now, despite his careful approach, subtly hinting and explicitly suggesting through the gift, Bai Li was not only not frightened, but was actually very satisfied with the gift.
Bai Li intended to call Wu Hai directly, but a second before pressing the call button, she withdrew her hand, turned around, repackaged the two bottles of wine, and stored them away.
Sending wine is probably just the first step for Wuhai.
She wanted to see what other tricks this man had up his sleeve.
-------------------------------
Sheldon returned next door, and the moment he saw his young master, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, feigning nervousness as he said:
"Young Master, I have conveyed everything you asked me to say. I am losing face by lying for you this time."
Upon hearing this, Wu Hai couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The person in question, exhausted from a long journey and unwell, was wrapped in a luxurious blanket, enjoying a sunbath with a clear conscience, looking radiant and showing no sign of illness whatsoever.
Sheldon was originally his grandfather's confidant, and had been by his side since his birth.
It could be said that Sheldon was the person closest to him.
Of course, he also knew Sheldon very well and could tell at a glance that he was faking it.
Wu Hai completely ignored Sheldon's "complaint" and asked curiously, "What was her reaction?"
"Miss Bai Li seems to like the gift quite a bit, but apart from responding politely, she hasn't shown any other particular reaction. Perhaps I'm just not perceptive enough to see any deeper meaning in it."
Sheldon was helpless.
The young master asked him to observe Bai Li's reaction when he gave her a gift.
But the person our young master has taken a liking to is no ordinary person.
Even he couldn't see anything. It was the first time he had seen Bai Li in person. He only noticed that this young lady was intelligent, meticulous, and had no flaws.
After seeing this, he could roughly understand why the young master liked it.
It's just a pity that the young master seems to be in unrequited love.
How long has it been? It must have been more than half a year, right? And you're still following it.
They chased him all the way from Country A to here, but he didn't even dare to personally deliver the gift.
Sheldon shook his head inwardly and sighed silently for his young master.
Well, after all, this is the first time the young master has ever pursued someone since he was a child. He doesn't have much experience, so it's understandable that he's not very good at it.
After listening to Sheldon's report, Wu Hai seemed to have already guessed it. His face showed no particular expression, but he simply picked up his newly replaced personal cell phone and glanced at it.
The phone remained silent; half a day had passed without any new messages or calls he was looking for.
Wu Hai's lips curled down, his voice displeased: "Sheldon, the gift you mentioned is completely unreliable. I clearly said I was going to give you an antique."
Sheldon didn't know why his young master was so persistent in giving away antiques. Although the number of antiques given away in the past six months was only a drop in the ocean compared to the size of the Wu family, it was still enough to keep them going.
Moreover, they are all treasures from Master Wu's collection.
Sheldon felt that if he didn't stop the young master, and the young master squandered all of the master's treasures, he would be too ashamed to face the master again before he even caught up with him.
He was inwardly groaning, but still patiently advised, "Good wine needs no bush, young master, just wait a few more days and see."
Wu Hai clicked his tongue impatiently, his face sour, but even so, he was still extremely handsome.
If only everything in this world could be solved with money.
He actually bought this house a long time ago; just because others can't get it doesn't mean he can't.
The day after visiting Bai Li's home, his team contacted the residents there.
I heard that at first, that family was firmly against it.
But they eventually agreed.
If 300 million isn't enough, then 500 million will do.
If 500 million isn't enough, then add special privileges: lifelong medical insurance, guaranteed admission to Ivy League schools, access to top-tier business clubs...
If you can't take it, it's just that you haven't smashed it enough.
When faced with absolute self-interest, anything can change.
This has always been his most proficient and effective solution. But only with Bai Li, his methods have repeatedly run into obstacles and setbacks.
With a grim face, Wu Hai asked, "Sheldon, is there any other way?"