With every question that surfaced, his heart sank a little deeper.
He wanted to do something.
The thought came suddenly, yet it was exceptionally clear.
Whether out of a desire to make amends or some indefinable, complex emotion, he could no longer sit idly by while Su Wan continued to live in such a place.
Should he give her money?
Help her find a decent apartment?
Or perhaps... use his connections to ensure she at least had a safe place to stay?
Gu Huaiyu leaned back against his seat, his gaze never leaving that unfinished building.
He knew Su Wan’s pride was in her very bones; a direct handout would only provoke even greater resentment and resistance from her.
But perhaps he could start with the property rights of that building?
Old Ghost said she was looking into it—could she be planning to buy it?
The idea was nearly absurd, but if it was her...
Gu Huaiyu found that he actually didn’t dare to dismiss it entirely.
He decided to wait.
He wanted to see her.
He would wait for her to return.
...
After obtaining the key information from Old Ghost, Su Wan found a secluded spot and used the newly acquired unregistered burner card to dial Manager Wang’s private number.
The call was answered by a slightly weary, middle-aged male voice: “Hello, who is this?”
“Hello, Manager Wang. I apologize for the intrusion.”
“My surname is Su. I’m interested in the batch of non-performing assets your bank has recently bundled for disposal, and I’d like to learn more about the specifics.” Su Wan went straight to the point, her voice calm and devoid of much emotion.
On the other end of the line, Manager Wang was clearly accustomed to potential clients approaching him directly like this. His tone carried a professional detachment and caution:
“Miss Su, is it? Regarding the disposal of non-performing assets, we have formal procedures and public channels. If you are interested, you can follow the auction announcements on our official website or come to the bank for an inquiry...”
“I understand the process,” Su Wan interrupted his slightly evasive opening.
“But I’ve heard there are some special circumstances within this batch of assets. Perhaps... private communication would be more efficient?”
“If it’s convenient for you, Manager Wang, we can meet to discuss the details. Of course, I won’t let your efforts go unrewarded.”
These few sentences seemed to strike a chord with Manager Wang.
He paused for two seconds, his tone quietly becoming a bit more welcoming. “I see... It seems Miss Su knows how the game is played.”
“Since you’re being so sincere, how about three o'clock this afternoon at the second-floor private booth of Blue Bay Cafe? I’ll bring the relevant documents.”
“That works. Three o'clock this afternoon, Blue Bay Cafe,” Su Wan agreed decisively and hung up.
The environment on the second floor of Blue Bay Cafe was quiet and elegant.
Su Wan arrived five minutes early and chose a seat toward the back.
Before long, a middle-aged man in a well-pressed dark suit walked over. It was Manager Wang.
He carried a briefcase under his arm, his face looking somewhat slick and worldly.
After exchanging pleasantries and sitting down, Manager Wang didn’t immediately take out the documents. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and sized Su Wan up with a probing tone.
“Miss Su is young and promising. I wonder which specific projects in this batch of assets you’re interested in?”
“Additionally, according to our internal practice, to avoid ineffective communication, I’ll need you to provide a basic proof of funds first. If you don’t mind...”
A verification of funds.
It was an expected step.
Su Wan’s expression remained unchanged as she took out her phone and pulled up a processed bank account balance interface to show Manager Wang.
Four million yuan in funds.
The clear seven-figure balance on the screen caused the last trace of doubt in Manager Wang’s eyes to vanish, and the smile on his face immediately became much more genuine.
“Miss Su is indeed capable.” Manager Wang’s attitude became even more enthusiastic as he hurried to pull a stack of organized documents from his briefcase.
“Come, come, these are the preliminary details for part of the asset bundle. Take a look.”
“These are all issues left over from the past with clear property rights, it’s just... well, the current situation is a bit tricky, so there’s a lot of room for negotiation on the price.”
Su Wan took the documents and flipped through them as if casually, her gaze quickly scanning information on bankrupt factories, unsold plots of land, and problematic shops, as if she were truly searching for a bargain.
When she saw “Jinxiu Garden,” her gaze didn’t linger. She simply read the accompanying notes calmly, just as she had for the other entries.
Manager Wang observed her expression from the side. Seeing that she didn’t show any particular excitement or obsession with any project, he couldn't help but wonder if this young woman just had some spare cash and wanted to try her luck, without necessarily intending to close a deal.
However, considering his heavy performance pressure and the reality that these assets were difficult to offload, he still patiently introduced them, emphasizing the price advantage and potential value.
From the documents and the man's introduction, Su Wan extracted the key information regarding Jinxiu Garden:
This unfinished building was not being auctioned individually but was being transferred as part of a “small real estate bundle.”
This “small real estate bundle” contained three unfinished buildings or old factories in remote locations with numerous issues.
The transaction format was a negotiated transfer through a non-public bidding process, and the buyer was required to pay the full amount in one lump sum.
The reserve price for this asset bundle was 2.8 million yuan.
And Jinxiu Garden, due to its “ill-fated reputation” and location, was considered the biggest drag on the bundle, with its actual valuation likely even lower.
Su Wan calculated quickly in her head.
This price was within her budget and could even be called a great deal, especially considering the irreplaceable special value Jinxiu Garden held for her.
Taking the entire asset bundle would mean getting two unwanted “extras,” but it would avoid the excessive attention that might come from buying Jinxiu Garden alone.
But a buyer trying to “snag a bargain” among non-performing assets would never accept the seller’s initial quote wholesale, especially when facing a bank desperate to offload an asset bundle.
Thus, when Manager Wang finished his introduction and looked at her expectantly, Su Wan didn’t immediately show interest. Instead, she frowned slightly, her fingertip lightly tapping the list of the asset bundle.
“Manager Wang, these quotes...”
“Forgive me for being blunt, but while they are lower than the market price, considering the various conditions of these assets, as well as the planning and unknown troubles one might face in handling them...”
She looked up, her gaze calm yet carrying a merchant’s scrutiny. “The risk is still significant.”
“Especially this asset bundle...”
“Isn’t this 2.8 million quote a bit detached from market reality?”
The enthusiastic smile on Manager Wang’s face stiffened for a moment. “Miss Su, this price is already the most favorable reserve price we’ve given after a comprehensive assessment.”
“The three properties included here, although their current state has some... well, issues left over from history, the property rights are clear, and the land value is still there...”
“Land value?” Su Wan shook her head gently, her tone peaceful yet carrying a certainty that suggested she saw through the situation.
“You might be able to say that to an outsider, but as for this ‘Jinxiu Garden’...” She pointed specifically at the photo of the unfinished building in the documents.
“In Jiangcheng’s real estate circles, who doesn't know that the unfinished building at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in the western suburbs is a haunted building?”
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