Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

Qin Ran listened to the real estate agent with a puzzled expression.

"The owner is already dead—so who are we signing the contract with?"

"With the third owner."

The agent quickly explained, "The second owner passed away, but his wife didn't. She sold the house to the third owner. However, the third owner is too scared to move in directly, so they're looking for someone to stay here for a few months as a trial."

Lu Sheng, standing nearby, looked confused and asked, "So, did the third owner get this house at an incredibly low price?"

"Of course!"

The agent nodded confidently. "It's a house with a dark history. If it weren't dirt cheap, who would buy it?"

"How much did the third owner pay for it?"

"Let me check the transaction records. This house was handled by one of our branch agents."

The agent scrolled through his phone and then said firmly, "1.88 million yuan—less than a third of the market price."

"Is it really that cheap?"

Lu Sheng sounded skeptical. "Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"

"No mistake," the agent assured him. "This house has seen two murder cases. Only someone desperate for a bargain would consider buying it."

He added, "Actually, after the first owner died, the house still sold for 4.88 million yuan. Back then, a villa like this would have been worth around 6.5 million on the market."

Hearing this, Qin Ran became intrigued. "Are there any other houses like this for sale in this neighborhood?"

The agent chuckled. "Miss Qin, do you have a particular interest in cursed houses?"

Qin Ran blushed slightly. "It's just that they're so affordable. Who doesn't love a good deal?"

The agent nodded. "True. Why don't you take a look inside first?"

Qin Ran took the key and unlocked the U-shaped lock on the front door. As she pushed it open, a musty smell hit her. The dust inside was thick, and the large leather sofa was covered in grime, making it impossible to discern its original color.

The interior decoration was exquisite, almost luxurious. A grand crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, surrounded by high-end European-style furniture. Upstairs, there was an elegant wardrobe and a leather bed, all top-of-the-line European designs. The basement included two parking spots and a half-finished KTV room with a full-wall projector and imported sound system.

After inspecting the place, Qin Ran was thoroughly satisfied. Such a lavish residence would normally be out of her reach if not for its grim reputation.

The agent, waiting at the door, asked, "How was it? Are you satisfied with the house?"

Qin Ran nodded. "Yes, I'm quite pleased. The decor is excellent. But could you arrange for it to be cleaned? There's a chalk outline of a body in the master bedroom—can someone remove that?"

The agent replied, "That was left by the police after the second owner died."

Lu Sheng was surprised. "How do you know? You didn't go inside."

"I didn't, but my colleague took photos earlier. I saw them and recognized it."

The agent pulled up the photos on his phone and pointed to the image of the bedroom. "From the shape of the chalk outline, the second owner must have been a tall man. Are you sure you want to live here?"

"Absolutely. Why not?"

Qin Ran turned to the agent. "Mr. Zhang, call the third owner and tell him I've decided. We can sign the contract today, and I can move in this afternoon."

The agent hesitated. "Actually, there's no need to rush, Miss Qin. You should think it over. After all, this is a house with a dark history."

Qin Ran shrugged. "There's nothing to think about. I'm not afraid of ghosts."

The agent sighed. "Alright."

He stepped aside to call the third owner.

Lu Sheng looked at Qin Ran. "Are you really going to move here?"

Qin Ran smiled. "Of course. I'll earn 100,000 yuan a month here. In three months, I can pay back the 300,000 I owe you."

Lu Sheng frowned. "This place is far from the city, and it's inconvenient. My money isn't urgent."

"You might not be in a hurry, but I am. I don't like owing people—it makes me anxious. Paying you back will give me peace of mind."

Before Lu Sheng could respond, the agent returned.

"Miss Qin, I spoke with the third owner. He can't come, but he's authorized me to sign the contract on his behalf. He's already sent the power of attorney."

The agent looked at Qin Ran. "If you're okay with it, we can go to a print shop, prepare the contract, and sign it today."

"I'm fine with that."

Qin Ran added, "But can the payment be made monthly? I don't want to chase down the money after three months."

"I already discussed this with the owner, and he agreed. To ensure your peace of mind, he'll transfer one month's payment to us. We'll then pay you monthly. Once you complete a month, we'll transfer the payment to your account the following month."

Qin Ran understood. "So, the owner will transfer the monthly payment to your agency?"

"Yes, that's what we requested. Some owners of cursed houses have failed to pay after a month or two, which caused us a lot of trouble."

"As long as you guarantee the payments, that's fine."

The agent reminded her, "Miss Qin, I need to make it clear: houses like this often experience paranormal activity, especially at night. Even if it seems normal during the day, nights can be unpredictable. Also, once the contract is signed, you must stay for three months. If you leave early, even by a couple of days, the owner can demand the return of the previous payments."

Qin Ran dismissed his concerns. "Ghosts? I'm not afraid of people, so why should I be afraid of ghosts?"

The agent sighed. "Miss Qin, while we guarantee the payments, if you don't stay for a full month, you won't receive any money."

"I understand. Can you stop being so wordy? Let's go sign the contract."

The agent, a bit exasperated, explained, "Miss Qin, we need to be thorough. We don't want any misunderstandings leading to legal issues later."

Qin Ran said, "I just want to earn the 300,000. I don't want to sue anyone. Let's go sign the contract."