Chapter 190: Price of Memories Xin then carried on with his business.
He walked to their previous house, a familiar five-minute journey from where Seraphina had dropped him off.
As Xin walked through the familiar landscape toward their previous house, a wave of nostalgia washed over him.
Every step seemed to echo with memories of the past, filling the air with a bittersweet ambiance. The rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze carried the whispers of bygone days, and the familiar scent of blooming flowers evoked a sense of homecoming.
Standing in front of their old house, Xin felt a surreal sense of déjà vu wash over him. Four years might have passed, but the memories felt as vivid as if they had happened just yesterday.
He could almost picture himself, full of excitement and nervousness, racing to the front door, eager for his date with Meilyn.
It was beyond his wildest dreams that he would find himself here, standing before the very house that held so many cherished memories.
However, now, he was about to buy it back from its current owner, a thought that felt both exhilarating and daunting.
With a deep breath, Xin steeled himself and pressed the doorbell.
After a few tense seconds, a middle-aged man opened the door. The expression on his face indicated that dealing with him might prove to be a challenging task.
The man who answered the door was noticeably short, his frame slightly hunched, giving him a stooped appearance.
Thinning hair clung desperately to his scalp, revealing patches of gleaming skin underneath. His once-vibrant hair was now a fading memory, and a persistent frown etched deep lines on his face, overshadowing any remnants of youth.
A protruding stomach strained against the fabric of his shirt, a testament to years of indulgence and neglect.
His eyes, once perhaps lively, now held a weariness as if burdened by the weight of the years and the responsibilities he carried.
As he regarded Xin, a sense of skepticism and distrust flickered in his gaze, making the atmosphere even more tense.
This man, the current custodian of Xin’s childhood home, appeared worlds apart from the vibrant memories that still echoed within the walls of the house they both stood before.
As he approached the gates, the man’s voice reverberated, his frustrated shout filling the air.
"Woman, it’s the weekend! Can’t a man get some rest in his own house?!"
Upon noticing Xin, the man’s frown deepened, his tone sharp and dismissive. "Who are you? We’re not interested in buying anything. Get lost!"
Xin stood his ground, his voice firm as he introduced himself. "I’m the previous owner of this house. Is it possible to buy our house back from you?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
The man’s face twisted in annoyance and anger. "Huh?! What do you think you’re asking, kid?! Are you playing games with me? Get lost before I call the cops!"
Under his breath, Xin grumbled, frustration evident in his tone. "I’m willing to buy back the house from you, double the price."
He was aware it was an irrational bargain. A house, in the grand scheme, wasn’t a wise investment, especially when he could easily afford a more modern residence in the neighborhood.
However, the sentimental value tied to this particular house was immeasurable. It was the place where he and Xiaxia had spent their entire childhood, their only true home.
The man stared at Xin with narrowing eyes. "Double the price, you say, eh? Then I’ll consider it if you buy it at five million."
Xin’s eyebrow furrowed. "Five million? That’s five times the price of this house." He couldn’t help but feel the weight of the man’s unreasonable demands settling heavily on his shoulders.
The man’s grin widened maliciously. "Let’s make it six million now."
"What?" Xin’s voice slightly trembled with disbelief.
"Seven million, take it or leave it," the man said, the satisfaction evident in his smug expression.
". . ." Xin realized the man was toying with him.
"Ahahaha. Don’t underestimate me, kid. I know how to handle brats like you. If you’re serious about buying back this house, bring ten million, and then we can talk."
With a derisive sneer and a contemptuous spit on the ground, the man turned and retreated back into the house, leaving Xin standing there, speechless.
He felt like any word he uttered might inflate the price even more, leaving him frustrated and powerless in the face of this despicable man who now owned their cherished home.
". . ." Xin’s frustration and helplessness grew as he realized that the man was going to be difficult to deal with.
"Xin?"
The unexpected sound of a familiar voice pulled Xin’s attention.
To his side, a sports car came to a stop, and the windshield rolled down, revealing Meilyn in the passenger seat.
"Meilyn . . . ," Xin uttered, his eyes flickering to the man in the driver’s seat.
Gold hair, blue eyes. It must be Richard, Meilyn’s new boyfriend.
"What are you doing here?" Meilyn inquired, though she didn’t make a move to get out of the car.
. Xin knew they might bump into each other here, given that Meilyn’s house was just a few blocks away, but he was still caught off guard.
In truth, he didn’t want to see her right now.
The way she was dressed suggested they were going on a date.
Despite the pang in Xin’s heart, he remained impassive and replied with a controlled tone, "I’m here to buy back our old house."
There was no point in lying to her.
"Buy back . . . your house?" Meilyn’s eyes widened in shock.
Richard chuckled from the driver’s seat, a sneer playing on his lips as he looked somewhat annoyed. "Good luck with that. You need at least a million to buy it back right now. And that’s being the lowest price."
Xin was acutely aware that Richard was underestimating him.
"Richard . . ." Meilyn scolded, offering a small awkward smile in Xin’s direction. "I’m sorry, Xin. We have to be somewhere else, so I have to cut our conversation short. But I wish you luck."
Meilyn raised the windshield, and the car accelerated away, leaving Xin standing there, a mixture of emotions clouding his thoughts.
He knew that Meilyn wanted to escape the tense situation, and didn’t want him and her boyfriend to argue.
However, Xin didn’t have the luxury to indulge in his emotions or ponder what Meilyn might be thinking about him buying their old house back.
Right now, he was more concerned on how to buy back their old house.