After binding to the super rich system, I became a real daughter of a

Chapter 18: I Prefer to Collect Rent

"Miss Yun."

When they met again, Lu Yunque saw a very different Yun Zijin from the one at yesterday's auction.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lu."

"Good afternoon. Let's head inside."

He made a polite gesture for Zijin to enter the café. Zijin smiled and walked in first, with Lu following close behind. Inside, Zijin glanced around and chose a four-seater table by the window.

"Let's sit here," she said.

Lu nodded and took a seat gracefully, with Zijin sitting opposite. A waiter approached: "What would you like to drink?"

"Black coffee," said Lu.

"Cappuccino for me, thank you," Zijin added.

"Alright, please wait a moment."

After the waiter left, Zijin immediately handed over a house key. "Here's the rental house key. I've cleared out the unit and hired someone to clean it. These are the photos and videos taken afterward. If there's no problem, we can sign the lease termination now."

Lu paused—he had expected some small talk before business, but he appreciated Zijin's direct style. "No problem. It looks neatly done. I've brought the termination contract," he said, taking out two copies from his briefcase. He passed one to Zijin.

Not being adept at contract scrutiny, Zijin relied on her system's assurances before signing her name. Lu also signed, labeling himself as a proxy since he was acting on behalf of the actual landlord, Ms. Fang Shuxin.

They'd just finished signing when the waiter returned with their drinks. "Please enjoy," he said, then left. Zijin took a sip of her cappuccino. "Mr. Lu, you mentioned you wanted to discuss something?"

Lu nodded. "Miss Yun should know that at yesterday's auction, Li Yuecheng, Fu Ze, and I aimed only for the land in the western suburbs. We didn't expect you to suddenly appear and buy it."

Zijin acknowledged, "Yes, I did end up getting it."

Lu continued, "I assume it was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. You may not have a development plan yet. I have one here, if you're interested." He withdrew another document from his briefcase, clearly well prepared.

Zijin opened the file: it was a hot spring resort concept. The land she'd won dovetailed with the rest of Lu's planned area, forming a complete ring. "I see," said Zijin. "But it's curious how a large company like yours neglected to secure that piece earlier."

"If not for your sudden appearance, I believe it would now be in Lu's possession," he replied, implying the land had been up for auction mainly to generate buzz. People usually wouldn't dare compete with Lu's group. But Zijin had shown up, out of nowhere, and placed successful bids.

She sensed mild frustration under his calm tone. "Hehe… well, we can discuss cooperation. Next time there's an auction, maybe I won't try to outbid you."

"Miss Yun, do you plan on there being a next time?" he said drily. Zijin gave a small smile and shrugged. That was the best answer she could offer.

"Anyway," said Zijin, "about the Western Suburb Hot Spring Resort—cooperation is fine, but let's clarify how."

"Certainly." He handed her another contract. Skimming it, Zijin saw that although her land made up at least ten percent of the project's total area, she'd get only a five percent share in dividends. She also noticed that while the project was developed, her land rights would temporarily transfer to Lu's Group, giving her no say in the design or execution. She felt as if Lu viewed her as a pushover.

She tapped the contract. "I'm not great at big development projects, but I do like collecting rent. I'm not too keen on being a silent partner with no income until the resort eventually makes a profit—if it does. Meanwhile, my land would be used entirely by your team. So here's my suggestion: I lease my land to you, and you pay me rent. Whether your resort is profitable or not, you'll still owe quarterly rent."

It was an unusual proposition. No one had ever pitched something like that to Lu's Group. Most joint developers wanted a piece of the eventual profits or an equity stake. Zijin just wanted steady rent.

Lu stared, caught off guard. "Interesting idea. But it's not solely my call. I have to discuss it with the other directors before giving you an answer."

"No rush," Zijin said, sipping her cappuccino. "I don't urgently need the money. It doesn't matter if your resort is delayed. But for Lu's side, time is money."

Lu finished his black coffee and stood up. As group president, his time was valuable; sparing this much to chat was already significant. He settled the bill before leaving. Zijin lingered, finishing her cappuccino in a leisurely fashion, then exited the café.

Earlier, while wandering around to fulfill her spending task, she'd discovered a hidden custom tailor shop specializing in traditional clothing. The owner, a graceful middle-aged woman named Wang Zhuqin, claimed to be over fifty, yet she looked barely thirty in her well-fitted cheongsam. Intrigued, Zijin had only chatted briefly before her meeting with Lu.

Now free, she returned to that shop. As soon as she entered, Wang Zhuqin's eyes brightened. "Xiaoyun! All done with your appointment?"

"Yes, we couldn't finalize everything, so we'll discuss the rest later. I'm here to order some custom clothes!" Zijin's face lit up at the thought. She couldn't resist the traditional outfits she'd glimpsed on display.

"Great!" said Wang cheerfully. "Here's our style catalog—take a look. Pick any designs you like, and we'll tailor them. Don't hesitate to request changes."

Zijin sat down, flipping through the thick booklet brimming with exquisite cultural styles. She felt a surge of excitement as she prepared to treat herself once again.