Avril had once been a child star, known for her sweet and adorable looks. She even performed on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala.
As she grew up, she maintained her pure and innocent image, appearing in many films and TV dramas. At her peak, she had over 10 million followers online.
Unfortunately, during a comedy talk show appearance, she criticized the private lives of female celebrities, accusing them of being scandalous.
Her comments angered many actresses, and they banded together to ostracize her.
A few big-name directors even publicly stated that she had tarnished the image of the entertainment industry.
She was eventually blacklisted and has struggled ever since, with no significant projects in recent years.
Most of her roles now are in third-rate web dramas, where she typically plays a "white lotus" character.
James pulled out his phone, searched for her photo, and took a quick glance.
Name: Avril
Age: 22
Charm Score: 93
Relationship History: 0
As expected of a celebrity, few of them were unattractive.
But what surprised James was how clean her record was after all these years in the entertainment industry.
No wonder she had the confidence to criticize other actresses.
James had fond memories of Avril as a child star.
Back then, she was a sweet and lively presence on screen, her innocent eyes seeming to speak a thousand words.
Every move and expression radiated youthfulness and energy.
Later, James got busy with work and stopped following her career.
Looking at her recent photos, she still had the same radiant smile.
He couldn't help but wonder what she was like in real life.
"Alright, can you show me the unit? If it's good, I'll take it," James said, nodding to the saleswoman.
Having a beautiful neighbor? Who cared about the superstition of the 18th floor?
He only believed in his system, not some higher power.
Besides, he felt that someone who had been acting from a young age and had years of experience in the entertainment industry could be helpful for his future media company.
As a rookie about to step into the entertainment world, it wouldn't hurt to get to know a celebrity or two.
The saleswoman, seeing James nod, quickly grabbed the access card and led him to Building 8 to view the unit.
They took the elevator to the 18th floor.
As soon as James stepped into the apartment, he fell in love with it.
The 3.4-meter-high ceiling was incredibly spacious. The 26-meter-long living and dining area was bright and open, with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a breathtaking view.
The wide, airy space immediately brought a sense of calm and tranquility.
The apartment was beautifully decorated with plush carpets, luxurious sofas, a coffee table, and potted greenery by the windows.
It featured a five-bedroom, six-bathroom layout, including a children's room, a maid's room, a master bedroom, a guest room, and a study.
Both the master and guest bedrooms had balconies where one could enjoy unobstructed views of the lake and surrounding greenery.
The unit was fully furnished, complete with a 100-inch TV, a double-door refrigerator, and a 2.8-meter Simmons bed.
For someone like James, who didn't want to deal with renovations, this move-in-ready apartment was perfect.
"How much?" he asked immediately.
"The total is 14 million RMB, with a discount of 3,000 RMB per square meter compared to other floors," Alice Bentman said with a growing smile.
She could tell James was very satisfied with the unit, and there was a high likelihood of closing the deal.
For someone this wealthy, buying a house was probably as easy as buying groceries. If they liked it, they'd pay without hesitation.
No haggling, no fussing like ordinary people.
But then, James spoke in a calm, sincere voice.
"Can you give me a discount?"
Alice Bentman's smile froze.
She hadn't expected someone who drove a Rolls-Royce with a bodyguard to try and negotiate.
Her heart ached a littleâany additional discount would cut into her bonus.
Still, to close the deal, she ultimately offered him the lowest possible price.
James purchased the apartment at a 5% discount.
Who said rich people always threw their money around?
It was his moneyâwhy not save a little if he could?
And 5% was no small amount.
Based on his old salary of less than 100,000 RMB a year, it would've taken him ten years to save that much.
James completed the payment and paperwork that very day, planning to move in immediately.
Alice Bentman stuck close to him, offering to clean the apartment for him and help tidy up.
But James, noticing the not-so-innocent look in her eyes, declined her service.
He was practically wearing a "Do Not Disturb" sign around his neck.
He couldn't handle even the slightest bit of temptation right now.
Plus, her age and relationship history made him feel a little uneasy.
Returning to what was now his very own home, James took his time admiring every detail of the apartment. He rolled around on the bed, leaving his scent behind.
James felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
He snapped a few photos of the apartment, added some text, and posted it on his social media.
"Looking for a roommate: must be a single woman who can cook. Rent is free. Interested applicants, please DM with photos."
He made sure to hide this post from the three women he'd been interacting with recently.
The post was mainly to show off his new place and maybe fish for some attention.
The post quickly garnered over 100 likes.
The last time he got this many likes was when he posted a photo of his Porsche.
Indeed, houses and cars were what people cared about most.
James lounged on the bed, feeling very pleased, as comments began pouring in.
Coworker: "Holy crap, a luxury flat! Did you rob a bank, bro?"
College roommate: "James, bro, would you consider a male beauty? Remember, you once said I looked good in drag."
Female classmate: "Is it too late to learn how to cook now?"
Kennedy Bella: "Scumbag!!"
Perla: "Mr. King, you live in Lakeview too? That's close to my place. Want me to come over and cook for you tonight?"
Cody Jenkins: "James, you're amazing. Which girl is this place for?"
Artair: "Godfather, are you looking to rent this place out? Should I list it for you?"
James had a sudden thoughtâit might not be a bad idea to actually hire a young, attractive maid.
He opened Artair's chat and had a quick conversation with him.
He agreed to let Artair post the apartment photos online but specified that only beautiful women need applyâpreferably even more stunning than Hertha, one of the employees at Artair's agency.
He also asked that any applicants send photos for him to review before coming to view the property.
Artair was amazed by James's high standards.
If someone like Hertha wasn't good enough, what kind of woman would it take to meet his criteria?
Artair couldn't comprehend James's level of wealth. He posted the photos of the luxury apartment on various platforms, clearly stating the landlord's requirements.
The listing quickly gained traction.
Meanwhile, James continued chatting with his college roommates.
He wanted to invite them over for a meal.
Unfortunately, they were all out of town. It was rare for them to meet even once a year.
Having money but no one to show off to was a lonely feeling.
Feeling bored, James thought of the celebrity living across the hall.
He asked Jay Johnson to buy some fruit and decided to pay his neighbor a visit.
Standing in front of her door, James waved Jay Johnson off to the elevator.
He rang the doorbell.
After waiting for a while, no one answered.
Unwilling to give up, he rang it again, twice more. Still, no response.
James guessed that Avril was probably out filming.
Just as he was about to leave, the elevator door opened.
Out walked a girl wearing oversized sunglasses.
She was dressed casually in a printed T-shirt, loose jeans, and a pair of flip-flops.
Although the sunglasses covered her eyes, they made her fair and delicate complexion stand out even more, smooth and milky like porcelain.
Her petite nose, rosy lips, and cheeks that still carried a hint of youthful baby fat were accented by faint dimples at the corners of her smile.
Her bare toes were small and flawless, gleaming like jade, as she skipped lightly down the hall.
This was James's first time seeing a celebrity up close, and he couldn't help but feel a little excited.
He had essentially watched this girl grow up on screen.
Now, seeing her step out of the screen into reality, she felt less like an unattainable dream and more real and vibrant.
James smiled warmly and greeted her,
"Hello, Feifei. I'm one of your fans."
The girl, seeing a stranger standing in front of her door, showed no fear. She casually chewed her gum, tilted her head, and smiled mischievously.
"Uncle, how did you get in here?"