"Hurry up and close the door." The woman seemed to know she looked rather terrifying, and she hurried into the inner room.
"Sure."
Standing in the living room with his backpack on, Chen Ge peered into the inner room. The woman was sitting on the edge of the bed, covered by a thin blanket. "The house is a mess, don't mind it. Just sit wherever."
The woman's home wasn't exactly messy — there were just a lot of pill bottles scattered around. Chen Ge casually picked one up and took a look. The label was entirely in English, and he could only make out a small fraction of it.
"Don't touch my things," the woman said in a low voice. She looked at Chen Ge, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "What's in that backpack of yours? You don't look like someone here to buy a house."
"The bag may be worn, but all my belongings are in here," Chen Ge replied casually. "That apartment of yours has a great location, but the price still needs some discussion."
"That apartment has a lot of potential for appreciation. If I weren't in desperate need of money, I wouldn't sell it at any price." The woman's skin had an unhealthy pallor to it, giving her a very strange appearance.
"Forgive me for asking, but what illness do you have? You need to sell a house just to raise money?" Chen Ge had no intention of buying a house from the start. Right from the opening, he was fishing for information.
"Cancer." The woman pointed at her face. "Long-term chemotherapy. I've lost all my hair, even my eyebrows."
"I'm sorry." Chen Ge hadn't expected such an answer.
"All I'm thinking about now is living a few more days. It's only when you reach this point that you realize just wanting to live a few more days is enough." The woman was selling her house to extend her life. At first glance, it seemed perfectly reasonable, but on closer thought, something about it felt off.
"Let's talk about the price then."
The woman made a significant concession — her asking price was thirty percent below the market rate for similar properties.
"If you agree, I can bring my documents tomorrow and we can handle all the procedures."
"It's not that I'm trying to take advantage of your situation, but your price is still a bit on the high side." Chen Ge played the part to the fullest, putting on an expression of deep conflict.
"That price is *still* too high?"
"I genuinely sympathize with what you're going through, but business is business. Before coming here, I did some research — there were reports of hauntings in that building a few years ago, which is why it's been sitting unsold all this time." Chen Ge patted his backpack. "I'm a fairly brave person, and I happen to be short on cash, so I figured I'd consider buying your haunted property."
The woman knew she was at a disadvantage. She asked, "Then how much are you offering?"
"One-tenth of the market price. That's all I have."
"*One-tenth?!*" The woman was so angry she laughed. "And you still claim you're not taking advantage of me?"
"After all, that place was haunted. Buying a home is a once-in-a-lifetime decision. If I weren't truly strapped for cash, I wouldn't buy a haunted house either." Chen Ge had fully immersed himself in his role. A flicker of hesitation appeared in his eyes, as if he was growing reluctant after seeing the woman's condition. "How about we both meet halfway? I know you're selling the house to raise life-saving money. I can borrow from friends and relatives, but the price you're asking is too high — I simply can't afford it."
Perhaps because the apartment had been on the market for so long without selling, the woman had grown desperate as well. She was silent for a long time. "One-tenth is too low. My bottom line is half the market price. If you're willing to take it, I'll have a guarantee company handle the paperwork with you tomorrow. If not, then forget it."