(My True Friend)
(Episode 22)
He couldn't come back.
So I have to go over there and accompany him.
I hope that he can successfully bring advanced technology back here,
when he returns in the future.
You're really fortunate to be able to settle down in the US.
The word "hometown" means a lot to us.
We hope we can return to the home we belong to when we grow old.
Ms. Wu,
I really like this house,
but I'm viewing this place for my client.
My client is overseas and there is a time difference,
I'll contact them as soon as possible...
and get back to you.
Is it all right for me to take some pictures?
Sure. Go ahead.
You know,
I know what Ms. Bai looks for in a house.
If this house wasn't good,
I wouldn't have recommended it to you.
Okay, okay.
This house is especially good.
I think Ms. Bai will like this place.
Thanks, Ms. Mei Li.
It's nothing.
But I found this house for you...
not to help you.
I'm doing this for Ms. Bai, who's looking for a house.
Let's make it clear.
If this is a deal,
there won't be any discounts on the agency fee.
Also,
the sales commission goes to me.
All right. I know, I know.
I represent the client...
and you represent the agency,
naturally, the sales commission belongs to you.
Of course.
I bear grudges...
and I'm narrow-minded.
If the commission is mine, it's all mine.
I had to pay a large sum last time for the agency fee...
because of you.
I have to recover from that loss.
You paid for the agency fee?
Of course, I did. Who else would pay for it?
If she was willing...
to pay for the agency fee,
I wouldn't have had to go against the company's regulation.
I'm inviting trouble for myself...
by dealing under the table.
Even if she's your relative, you shouldn't be doing that.
Look at you. You're at it again.
I'm sorry, Ms. Mei Li.
Forget it, it's all over.
You don't have to apologize.
We're just...
not the same type of people.
All I want is...
to earn more money.
This time, both of us...
will go by the book.
I'm introducing you to this house...
because of Ms. Bai and Mr. Jing.
We're not dealing privately.
I know.
Thanks, Ms. Mei Li.
Xi Shan, are you busy?
Here, have a drink.
Thanks.
Why haven't I seen Xiao Ning around?
He...
He went out with a client to view houses.
Do you need anything from him?
It's okay.
Now I can ask you.
I have a question.
Does your boyfriend need to have a house...
before you get married to him?
Why are you asking me that question?
Nothing much. I'm just asking...
to understand more about...
white collar city dwellers' needs.
Let me give you an example.
Say, for example,
you have a boyfriend.
You're in love.
And then you're going to get married.
But the problem is, you don't have a house.
And in the short term,
you will not be able to afford one.
What do you do?
Would you choose to break up with him...
and find someone who has a house?
Or would you continue to be with him...
and work hard together?
Of course, I'd pick love.
You can rent a place if you can't afford to buy one.
Not corrupted by riches and honour.
What a nice lady.
Okay, thanks.
I'll go ask Xiao Ning.
Why do you have to ask him after asking me?
Oh, it's nothing.
I'm just asking the lady...
before the man.
Stop chit chatting in the office.
Are you going to make any sales by doing that?
Go find some clients.
I was about to.
But you caught me again.
I'm leaving.
This way, please.
The apartment we saw,
it looked good,
but we couldn't see the view outside.
The view is blocked by other buildings.
I'm not very satisfied with it.
If you're not satisfied with it,
we still have another listing.
It fulfils your requirements.
But it's a little far.
Do you want to consider it?
We can have a look.
But I can't make it today.
I have other appointments.
How about this?
I just need two minutes of your time.
You can view more information on this apartment...
using your mobile phone.
- Oh, you can do that? - Yes.
Look at this.
This is the layout of the apartment.
It looks pretty.
You can see it from any angle.
Yes.
You can view apartments...
on An Ju Ke using virtual reality.
It uses the most advanced technology in the world.
You can have a 360-degree view of the house...
and examine it from all angles.
It's like you're viewing the apartment in person.
Great.
How about this?
I'll come and have a look with my husband.
Let's make another appointment, all right?
Sure, sure. I'll make an appointment with you...
when you're free.
All right, I'll see you again.
Okay. See you again. Bye-bye.
How was it?
I'm not sure. We have to look at another apartment.
Why are you here?
Oh, yes. I have to ask you something.
Listen carefully.
Let's say you have an apartment.
The apartment's area is 150 to 250 square meters.
The home appliances are all ready.
It has a private kitchen and bathroom.
The monthly rent is about 700 to 1,200 dollars a month.
That's too expensive.
I wouldn't consider it.
I'm not done yet.
In the district,
there's a library,
a public gym,
and some social networking events.
For example, making friends, looking for jobs,
and joining the home-owners association.
Stuff like that.
There's a community kindergarten.
And more importantly,
during the period when you're changing jobs,
there's social welfare.
Do you still think it's expensive?
It's still expensive.
By about 10 to 15 percent.
But the service is comprehensive.
For instance,
if something in your house breaks down,
the refrigerator, the TV... if it breaks downs,
someone will head to your place to provide service...
and fix it.
You don't have to pay a single cent.
No increase in rent in two years.
And when your lease is up,
you're the priority so that you can continue the lease.
Where is this apartment?
Do you have some insider information...
that you haven't shared with me?
Are you tempted?
Do you feel like it's not expensive after all?
Seriously,
if all this...
comes with the apartment,
then it's not expensive at all.
Especially the social welfare...
and the kindergarten.
It can resolve the issues that many non locals have...
when residing in Shanghai.
Where's this apartment?
Thanks.
Is he crazy?
Peng Cheng.
Are there any interesting TV dramas recently?
I have no idea what to watch.
It's not reliable to rent.
That's what I think.
"True Friend" is not bad.
I heard...
You're eating?
You're here?
Do you want some?
I can have some tomatoes.
Xiao Shao.
Have you asked Fu Xiao Ning?
Xiao Ning?
He feels...
that a man has to buy a house,
no matter what.
No woman will be willing to marry a man without a house.
That's what I think.
Even if the woman is willing,
the man should not disappoint.
Let me ask you.
If...
Hold on.
Hello.
Zhen Zhen,
I have seen on An Ju Ke the layout of the three apartments...
that you have sent me.
The actual photos too,
I have seen them all.
I think they're not bad.
You have picked well.
Give me a second.
Sit here.
Why should I ask her?
She doesn't have to think about this.
But I think the best one...
is still the last one that you sent to me.
The environment of the district...
and the geographical location,
as well as the layout,
I think they're all great.
You don't have to worry about the interior，
don't forget that your boyfriend is a professional.
I'll redesign it when the time comes.
How is Ms. Bai?
Send her my greetings.
My mom is doing well.
She's been thinking of you every day.
Don't worry. I'll send her your greetings.
Also, I...
I miss you.
I'm at work.
I'm hanging up.
All right, you hang up first.
You talk on the phone the whole day long.
Mom, you gave me a shock.
I gave you a shock, all right.
What's wrong with you?
Aren't you anxious?
What is there to be anxious about?
Head back to China now!
So that you can meet her parents,
fix the wedding date,
put on the wedding ring,
and register your marriage.
How can you not be anxious?
Mom, aren't we buying a house already?
We're heading back soon.
Don't worry.
Zhen Zhen won't run away.
I'm telling you, I'm worried...
because she's always with Xiao Shao.
Although he doesn't have a house nor money,
he's pretty hardworking.
He might be successful in the future.
You can't be too complacent.
He might not have a career,
but he has money.
What are you talking about?
Mom.
Look.
This is the house Zhen Zhen found.
How is it?
I think the whole district, geographical location,
as well as the layout is pretty great.
Right?
Look.
It looks great on the photos.
Check if there are any other options.
I'm warning you.
You shouldn't just judge by the photos when buying a house.
You have to see it in person.
Mom.
Zhen Zhen is there to check them out.
Right? It won't be a problem since she's so meticulous.
Zhen Zhen...
Will it be okay?
It will be okay, Mom.
Just leave everything...
to Zhen Zhen and me.
We'll not disappoint you.
All right?
All right, fine.
Xiao Du sold three apartments this month.
Xi Shan...
Ms. Luo.
Peng Cheng is not around.
What's the matter?
Ms. Luo is a VIP.
Let me receive her.
It's fine.
I'm not here today to buy a house.
I'm not here to see Shao Peng Cheng either.
I'm here to see Ms. Zeng.
Ms. Zeng, I came here specifically...
to apologize to you.
Peng Cheng has been angry with me because of this.
I heard Lin Zhi Xuan is a swindler.
He cheats money and gambles.
I didn't know about it.
But let's make this clear.
Although I introduced you to Lin Zhi Xuan,
I'm not close with him.
I've only drank at his bar a couple of times...
and added him as a contact on WeChat.
You can't blame me for what happened.
You're an adult.
You should be able to identify swindlers.
- Right? - You're right.
This has nothing to do with you.
So you didn't have to come...
all the way here to apologize.
I realize you're pretty reasonable.
She came here to apologize...
during a meeting,
she must have planned to make Ms. Zeng feel bad.
Such poor manners.
Not too loud.
Don't create trouble for yourself.
Don't offend her.
But I learned a lesson from this.
I won't introduce them to your agency...
if I don't know them personally.
I won't be a busybody anymore.
I'm sorry, Ms. Zeng.
Peng Cheng! You're back.
Why are you here again?
I came to apologize to Ms. Zeng.
Apologize? What for?
Can't you see that they're in a meeting?
About Lin Zhi Xuan.
Come out.
Why?
Ms. Zeng has said that it's not my fault.
But you told me off...
and put the blame on me.
You hurt me.
I...
Hello. Ms. Wu.
Hello. I'm Hao Mei Li.
My colleague's client,
he's pretty satisfied with your apartment.
She said that we can have the contract signing anytime soon.
Please come to our office when you have the time.
Bring all the documents.
Great, great. I'll go prepare it for you now.
The contract. Okay?
All right, no problem.
See you.
Regarding the house that Ms. Bai is looking for,
it's all settled now?
I have sent the photos and information...
to them.
Ms. Bai and Jing Ran are pleased.
Zhen Zhen.
Don't mind me,
but regarding this, I want to remind you that...
when helping someone buy something...
as expensive as a house,
you have to be extremely careful.
Jing Ran is your boyfriend now.
But that doesn't mean you can take matters into your own hands.
Also,
Hao Mei Li is involved.
She may seem to be helping you,
but there's something off about someone who doesn't do anything...
that won't benefit her being so enthusiastic about this.
You have to be even more cautious...
than usual, you get me?
Let me finish.
I know you want to rebut.
But really, I'm not saying this...
I'm not saying this...
because I'm biased against Jing Ran.
It's not because of that.
I'm really concerned about you.
I know.
I wasn't going to rebut you.
I wanted to thank you for your reminder.
You words...
sounded a little harsh,
but it made sense.
I didn't listen to you about Lin Zhi Xuan,
then Ms. Zeng got into a mess.
I feel...
Firstly, I didn't eavesdrop.
I just happened to overhear you.
What happened to me has become a bad example.
You don't have to blame yourselves or be suspicious of everyone.
That was my problem. I'll resolve it.
Thirdly, if Zhen Zhen and Mei Li...
close Jing Ran's deal,
it's praiseworthy.
But Shao Peng Cheng is right too.
When you're closing a deal, besides being cautious,
you have to be brave and proactive.
Just because I was hurt...
doesn't mean you have to be afraid.
Ms. Zeng, we didn't mean...
to talk behind your back.
Get busy with what you're supposed to do.
You heard me?
Yes.
You have to think twice.
You can't be careless about it.
I'll go out for a while.
Where are you going?
I have something important to deal with.
Hey. Could you help me and answer a survey?
- I'm busy. - I'm sorry.
Hey. Do you have time for...
Hi. Do you have time for a survey?
Hey. Could you help me and answer a survey?
Hey, sorry, but could you...
spare me a few minutes?
Well, I'm doing a survey.
Do you have time?
Entrepreneurial mobile software? No, I'm not doing it.
Hey, hey.
We're doing a survey...
on rental demands.
Hey.
Help me out with this survey.
If you need to rent an apartment in the future, please look for me.
Let's have a look.
We just participated in a job fair.
And besides, we're graduating soon.
It's good to know more about the market.
Yes, yes. Your girlfriend is right.
You see, renting is very costly these days.
To many young people, buying a house...
is almost unachievable.
If there were to be an apartment...
which can provide young people...
in this city...
a long-term lease...
An apartment for youth.
In this apartment,
there'll be personal space...
and comprehensive...
public facilities.
For example, the library...
in your school,
a gym, and a swimming pool.
It'll all be available.
If, hypothetically,
there's such an apartment for youth,
would you be willing to live in it?
It doesn't sound too bad.
Is there really such a place?
Silly. He said "if". Of course there isn't.
No, I mean, well...
It doesn't exist yet,
that's why I'm doing a survey.
I want to collect more information...
if university students like you...
or even more young people...
would want to live in an apartment for youth like this.
Then sooner or later,
I believe it will come true.
That's not bad. Let me fill it out.
Great, great. Let me do it. Let me do it.
Of course, we'd be willing to rent this place.
Hey, do you mind...
helping me fill out a survey?
- Thank you. - Hey, do you mind...
helping me fill out a survey?
Have a look.
Hello, everyone.
Take one each and have a look.
Zhen Zhen, we're getting off work.
- Bye-bye. - Bye-bye.
Hello. Zhen Zhen. What's the matter?
Ms. Mei Li.
We're not buying Ms. Wu's apartment.
What?
How could you change your mind just like that?
- Wait a minute. - I'll send you the link.
What link?
Give me a second.
Have a look.
"111 Hua Dong Da Dao.
A real haunted house.
Seeing is believing."
This...
No, Zhen Zhen.
What is going on?
There's no such thing as ghosts.
This is nonsensical.
But as you know,
Ms. Bai cares a lot about feng shui.
If she finds out...
that the house is said to be haunted,
she'll feel uncomfortable.
All right. How about this?
I'll give Ms. Wu a call later.
I hope she'll give an explanation.
This will cause a delay.
Sorry to bother you, Ms. Mei Li.
The next time I see Ms. Wu,
I'll apologize to her as well.
Forget it.
Ms. Bai is spending so much money to buy a house.
If she's shrouded by the idea of a haunted house,
she wouldn't be comfortable living in the house.
I'm at fault too.
I didn't do a complete background check.
Thank you, Ms. Mei Li.
Okay.
What haunted house?
Ms. Cheng.
Ms. Wu, why are you here?
Ms. Cheng.
Ms. Hao gave me a call...
and told me about the rumours online.
I thought I should come and explain things to you.
I personally don't believe in such things.
But because I'm buying this house on behalf of someone,
- so... - I understand.
Really, I understand.
Actually, I really want to explain this...
to every buyer.
But not everyone is willing to listen.
I believe you're a professional real estate agency.
So you have the duty and responsibility...
to hear me out.
All right, why don't we take a seat first?
How about this?
Come over to my place for dinner.
We can talk about it over a meal.
I sincerely want to invite you over.
Don't be too worried.
If you're worried,
you can give Ms. Hao a call...
and inform her.
Ms. Wu, I don't mean it that way.
Don't take it to heart.
Honestly, I like you a lot.
I think you're an understanding person.
Even if no one wants to buy my house,
I'd like to be friends with you too.
It's okay, we'll just have a chat.
All right, let's go to your place.
Okay. Thank you.
- Let's go. - Okay.
Ms. Wu,
is anyone else eating with us?
Ms. Cheng, I invited you over...
because I wanted to explain things.
I want to introduce you to someone.
Right. These dishes...
were prepared by my husband.
Your husband?
He's back?
Didn't you say that he's in the States?
I'm sorry, Ms. Cheng.
When you see him later,
don't be shocked by his appearance.
Hello, Ms. Cheng.
I'm her husband, Li Han.
I'm the rumoured...
ghost in this house.
Ms. Cheng, don't be afraid.
Let's have a seat.
Mr. Li, I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Actually, I got Wu Qing...
to invite you over for dinner.
I know that...
because of the rumours,
you have decided not to buy this house.
But I'd like to put in some effort to push things through.
After all,
I can't always hide behind my wife...
and let her deal with all the problems.
Ms. Cheng.
Let me tell you how the rumour...
about the haunted house came about.
It all began three years ago.
I was...
a material science professor doing research on artificial skin.
One day, three years ago,
a local biotechnology company...
invited me back from the States...
to be the director of their reproductive skin project.
One day...
Here, please come in.
Please come in.
Here.
Professor Li.
Here, here.
Mr. Gao.
Let me introduce him.
He's Mr. Gao.
Mr. Gao.
I have proposed to the company many times...
that no outsiders...
- should be allowed here. - I know.
There are many dangerous chemical reagents here.
If they get spilled,
the consequences could be disastrous.
I know, Professor Li.
But I really don't have a choice.
Our clients from Europe...
want to have a look at the laboratory.
They just want...
to have a look at your experimental process...
and see if it's the same as what I have said.
I have already told them to maintain a distance...
and avoid touching anything.
You just have to show them the process.
And they'll leave.
Okay, okay.
Come on.
Here, let me introduce you...
to Professor Li.
These are our clients.
Nice to meet you.
Regarding our artificial skin,
it's still at the final stage of the experimental phase.
For mass production...
and clinical practice, I'm afraid that will still take some time.
Come on.
This way, please.
Here is where we clean up...
lab glassware...
after finishing up all the experiments.
Well, this way.
What is displayed here...
are some basic agents for making artificial skin.
For artificial skin,
we use some kind of...
a new composite material.
Using these reagents...
Stay away from those!
Run! Run!
Then what happened?
This is what happened.
After the incident,
my facial muscles were damaged.
To make it easier for me to chew,
all these years, Wu Qing...
has been cutting my food into smaller pieces.
That's dreadful.
Did the company compensate you in anyway after that?
The company barely paid...
for the initial medical bills.
Once I was discharged,
they dismissed me.
Dismissed you? Based on what?
This was clearly an accident caused by...
Mr. Gao's improper act.
They said...
that the incident in the laboratory occurred...
due to mismanagement on my part.
It caused the company to make a big loss.
They also said that...
they didn't pursue the issue...
because I have been working for the company for many years.
My husband's face was disfigured...
due to the incident.
There's nothing we can do...
except to accept it as it is...
and resign to our fate.
Mr. Gao is a major shareholder in the company.
I'm just a skilled employee...
with the title of a professor.
And then rumours of the haunted house began.
Hey, I think I saw the ball go that way.
Let's go have a look.
It's there.
- Wait, I'll go over there. - Okay.
Hurry back!
A ghost!
From then on,
rumours about our house being haunted began to spread.
I had been cooped inside the house for too long.
When I heard the children's laughter,
I went to take a look.
Ms. Cheng.
My husband and I are very prideful people.
So we never told anyone...
about the whole incident.
Including our family, friends, and relatives.
I just told them...
that my husband has gone overseas for a project.
But it has been three years.
He has to go out.
When he goes out and people see him,
they start spreading rumours that our place is haunted.
And it got more and more ridiculous.
Dear,
it's been hard on you these past three years...
of being with me...
and living in a haunted house with a Frankenstein.
Ms. Cheng.
All these years, my husband and I...
never gave up on his dream.
We hope that...
he can complete the project,
so we have spent all our savings on it.
Now that we have depleted our savings,
we have no choice...
but to sell this house.
I get it.
Thank you for your trust,
and for telling me everything.
I will tell the truth...
to my client...
to make them understand...
and accept your house.
Thank you.
I hope we can become your client too.
Don't be rash.
The owner could be coming up with excuses...
to convince you that it's just a superstition.
You have to constantly bear in mind...
that you are representing the buyer's interest.
You have to consider the buyer's requests...
and not the seller's problem.
You got it wrong this time.
I'm looking for youth.
I'm a youth...
doing surveys.
- Hey, handsome, give us one. - Here's one for you.
Pen.
How could there be something this good?
The rental apartment that you talked about,
people's commune...
and there's personal space,
library, and gym.
Home-owners these days...
can't wait to modify...
the aisle into a partitioned room to be rented out, right?
Exactly.
Real estate agencies...
are like Internet enterprises.
The bubbles get bigger.
Yes, they're all boasting.
All of you here are top students.
Don't you have a bit of imagination?
It's not that we don't,
but that reality is too harsh.
- Yes. - Yes.
- It's too harsh. - It's too harsh.
Have more.
What are you doing?
Why are you looking at me like that?
Are you planning something?
You know,
you came all the way here...
to the school to look for me.
Something must be wrong with you.
Why? Are you monitoring me?
I feel like you're a little different recently.
What about me is different?
I feel like you've become more and more like a man.
Do you know how to talk?
No, when you first joined Hua Yuan Store,
you had a laid back attitude.
You felt like a kid to me.
But today, I saw...
you working so seriously,
although I don't know what you're doing,
I'm happy about it.
That's rare.
I thought you didn't care about what I was doing.
All right, since you look interested,
I'll let you in on it.
Honestly, for the past few days,
I have been working on something great.
I have been doing a survey.
I did a market survey...
on house leasing in the city.
I want to find out more about the tenants,
landlords' demands,
clients' needs, social supply,
and what the demand vacuum is.
I may not have worked for long...
as a real estate agent,
but I have a lot of ideas.
Take the family of six for example.
A family with young and old,
they were already short of money,
but why did they...
want an apartment of their own?
Why?
Why didn't they consider other options?
Why didn't they rent?
There are many Westerners...
who rent houses for their whole lives.
They are no less happy, right?
All right, as real estate agents,
besides helping them find an apartment,
what else can we do?
For example,
we helped a family last time to get a place to live in.
Can we also try...
to help a group of people?
So I was thinking,
this is not just about individual cases.
Once we see the individual cases...
and study them thoroughly,
we might come up with a brand-new business model.
Isn't that right?
Do you get me?
I don't quite understand you,
but I know...
that you are trying to help people.
I think that's pretty good.
Shao Peng Cheng.
For the first time, I thought...
you looked pretty much like someone...
who has graduated from a top university overseas.
Not someone who paid for it.
Can I beat you up?
That's my best compliment for you.
That's because you don't know me well enough.
In the future, you should...
All right, all right. Drink some soda. Drink some soda.
No, really.
Here. You need to get to know me more.
Then you'll realize my merits.
You know,
but getting back on topic,
what I just told you...
is just the initial stage of my idea.
I know.
If we were to implement it,
we'd face a lot of problems.
But I still want to give it a try.
I really want to give it a try.
I don't think you have to worry about it, really.
Don't we always say that?
We should always have dreams.
What if it comes true?
All right, I'll support you.
What's wrong with you today?
You are only giving me verbal support.
What else do you want from me?
Forget it.
Get me two more sticks of kidneys.
Boss, give us two more sticks of kidneys.
Actually, I think what you're doing...
benefits the citizens.
So I decided that...
whenever you need me,
I'll be there to help you out.
Wait, what's wrong with you today?
I'll take it for real.
I'm telling you, if I should one day...
want to realize this dream,
don't give me a load of excuses when I look for you.
Have I ever stood you up...
when you asked me for help?
All right.
I'll remember that.
So what happened today...
when you went to the rumoured haunted house?
Haunted?
It's not haunted at all.
You know, the home-owner...
is too pitiful.
He's a professor,
but his face got burned.
And there was a time when he went outside of his house...
and his face looked scary.
Two kids saw him and got a shock.
And then a rumour spread that it was a haunted house.
Ms. Wu wants to sell the house,
so that her husband can undergo cosmetic surgery.
But because of the rumours,
they can't get the house sold.
Actually, I really want Jing Ran...
to buy the house...
because it's below the market's price.