Chapter 49: Hilltop Manor
Twenty minutes later, Gu Heng drove into the second phase of Yu Cui Garden.
As far as the eye could see, the entire community consisted of either townhouses or detached courtyard villas. The roads were lined with lush, shady trees, giving the place a tranquil and secluded feel.
"The landscaping here is nice."
Gu Heng slowed the car and commented casually.
"Yu Cui Garden is Hutchison Whampoa Real Estate’s first high-end residential project in Beichun. It’s situated right next to Jingyue Lake, the largest man-made forest park in Asia. The entire development covers 920,000 square meters with a plot ratio of just 0.41, and it consists exclusively of villas."
Luo Xiwen softly explained to Gu Heng, "The project was initially developed in two phases. The townhouses we’re seeing now are from the first phase. Compared to the second phase, they’re situated on lower ground. The properties in the second phase are on higher ground and have a more expansive view."
"Hutchison Whampoa Real Estate?"
"Why does that company sound so familiar?"
Gu Heng, who was driving, frowned slightly, his tone laced with suspicion.
"President Gu, the parent company of Hutchison Whampoa Real Estate is the Port City’s Hutchison Whampoa Group. Its founder is the former richest man in Asia, Li Ka-shing."
Luo Xiwen explained to Gu Heng.
"Oh..."
"No wonder the name sounded so familiar."
A look of realization dawned on Gu Heng’s face. "Only a major international real estate company would have the guts to develop a villa complex of this scale in Beichun."
As they spoke, they drove up the winding main road of the complex.
Luo Xiwen gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting as she watched the villas pass by one by one.
’A villa like this... I probably couldn’t afford one even if I worked for a hundred years...’
In the reflection of the car window, Luo Xiwen saw her own elegant and beautiful face. She also saw Gu Heng, handsome and refined, steering with one hand on the wheel.
’An eight-year age gap... is it even possible?’
’Gu Heng isn’t even of legal age to marry yet.’
’In four years, I’ll be thirty-one.’
’There’s no way it could work out between us...’
Luo Xiwen knew this in her heart.
But should she just give up?
’Should I listen to my mother, find an ordinary man to marry, seek a so-called stable life, and then live out my days in mediocrity?’
Luo Xiwen had always been what people called a model child. She had been beautiful her entire life, and she never lacked admirers during her school years.
Excellent grades, a graduate of a prestigious university.
Luo Xiwen was also a woman with high standards.
She longed for happiness but refused to settle for an ordinary life.
Gu Heng was, without a doubt, the most exceptional man she had ever met.
Unfortunately, the age gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm.
Now, looking at Gu Heng, she was struck by an inexplicable feeling—the classic sorrow of being born too early while he had been born too late.
For a moment, Luo Xiwen’s heart was in turmoil.
BEEP—
By the time she snapped out of it, Gu Heng had already driven to their destination.
As a dark, armored electric sliding gate slowly opened, a super-mansion resembling a small estate came into view for both Gu Heng and Luo Xiwen.
The villa in the center of the courtyard was built in a modern European style with clean, flowing lines. The entire structure was made of beige marble, giving it an incredibly grand and stately appearance.
The sliding gate opening before them was the north entrance, designed for vehicles. The paved ground directly ahead was clean and tidy.
On the south side, there was another entrance—the south entrance.
A typical dual-entry design, with entrances on the north and south.
After the gate opened completely, Gu Heng drove in slowly. He saw four cars already parked in front of the garage on the north side of the mansion.
At the same time, a group of people was standing in front of the four cars.
Seeing this, Gu Heng had a faint idea of what was going on.
After parking the car, Gu Heng got out with Luo Xiwen.
"President Gu, this is our Shenglong Real Estate’s President Wang."
Li Mei quickly stepped forward to introduce the middle-aged man standing in the center of the crowd to Gu Heng.
"Wang Baoshan, Shenglong Real Estate."
The middle-aged man was a bit overweight, with a belly that could rival a woman eight months pregnant. However, he seemed to be in high spirits, and his voice was resonant. "President Gu, I was away on a business trip inspecting a project and just got back. Otherwise, I would have come to meet you much sooner."
"Gu Heng, Zhen Cui Group."
Gu Heng shook the hand Wang Baoshan offered and replied with a smile, "I’m afraid I’ve been a bother to you lately, President Wang. Thank you for all your trouble."
"Oh, not at all..."
"President Gu, you’re too kind."
"This is the business we’re in at Shenglong Real Estate. The fact that you trust us, President Gu, is good for our business. How could it possibly be a bother?"
As the head of a real estate company, Wang Baoshan had a certain roguish, worldly air about him in his speech and mannerisms.
"Oh, right."
"President Gu, let me introduce you."
Gu Heng followed Wang Baoshan’s gesture and looked to his side, where an exceptionally elegant woman stood.
Although she wasn’t tall, her presence was impossible to ignore.
It is said that time is kind to true beauties. Even though the years had left their marks on her face, it was easy to see that she must have been a stunning woman in her youth.
"This is Jiang Man, my high school classmate. She is now the Vice Dean of our Beichun Jida Ninth Hospital, and she is also the seller of this mansion."
Hearing this, Gu Heng’s expression remained calm. He extended his right hand and greeted her politely, "Dean Jiang, hello. I’m Gu Heng."
"President Gu, a pleasure to meet you."
The woman gave Gu Heng a slight smile.
After the brief introductions, Wang Baoshan said, "President Gu, Jiang Man, this is the best time of the afternoon, and the sunlight is perfect. Let’s take a look at the house first."
Gu Heng and Jiang Man both nodded in agreement.
Today, Gu Heng was the buyer.
If Gu Heng wasn’t satisfied with the house, there would be no need for further discussion.
None of them were ordinary people; everyone valued efficiency.
"Jiang Man, none of us are familiar with your house."
"So you’ll have to be the one to show it to President Gu."
Wang Baoshan’s smile resembled that of a Maitreya Buddha, giving him a rather comical and jolly appearance.
Jiang Man nodded, then made an inviting gesture toward Gu Heng. "President Gu, let’s start with the yard."
"Alright."
Gu Heng nodded.
"President Gu, I assume President Wang and his team have already gone over the basic information about the house with you, so I won’t bore you with the details."
As the Vice Dean of a top provincial hospital, Jiang Man’s demeanor changed completely once she got down to business. She pointed to the garage in front of them and said, "The garage for this house has four parking spaces, with direct access to the interior."
"But while it’s officially a four-car garage, as you can see, you can also park in the open area outside. I’ve had the ground here paved. There’s more than enough room to park another five cars."
"If you don’t park cars here, it would also be a great, spacious play area for your children in the future, President Gu."
After briefly explaining the parking situation, Jiang Man led Gu Heng toward the south side of the villa, where the main garden was located.
As they passed the east side, she casually pointed out, "I built a gazebo here, with an outdoor sofa and a coffee table inside. In the summer, you and your friends could cool off here, drink tea, or read a book, President Gu. I imagine it would be quite pleasant."
"On the west side, I built an outdoor barbecue area. The space is all set up, but the grilling equipment, tables, and chairs are something you’ll probably have to get for yourself in the future, President Gu."
At this, Jiang Man gave Gu Heng a smile.
But in Gu Heng’s eyes, that smile seemed to hold a hint of bitterness.
Seeing this, Gu Heng had his suspicions, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued to follow Jiang Man forward...