Chapter 16 — After Notarizing 5 Houses, I Just Got Married

In terms of reputation and seniority, we ranked last. On the day of the presentation, I was the last person to go on stage. The solutions of the previous two companies are both very mature—one follows Nordic minimalist style, the other follows industrial retro style. All very good, but all very safe. My plan is not safe. The concept I came up with is called “Local Memories”—the design of each branch is distilled from the local cultural elements of that city, so that tenants can live in the memories of a city, not in a standard stereotypical space. The first branch in Chengdu, design elements are taken from wooden structures and bamboo weaving art of Sichuan residents. The second branch in Hangzhou, distills the window frame motifs and water ripples of ancient houses along West Lake. The third branch in Xi'an, uses the Santai Tang ceramic color system and the spatial proportions of the Dai Ming Palace. The fourth branch is in Xiamen, taking the mixed architecture of Ky Lau Mansion as a model. Each branch is different, but shares a unified internal logic. After I finished presenting, the meeting room was silent for a few seconds. Co Dien sat in the middle of the judges' seats. His expression is very unpredictable.

“Director To, the cost to construct this plan is at least 30% higher than the standardized plan.”

"That's right. But the brand differentiation value it brings will be 10 times greater than the standardization option."

“Data proves it?”

"I researched similar brands. For serviced apartments designed in a local style, the average online rating is 0.8 points higher, the occupancy rate is 15% higher, and the rentable price per room (ARPU) is 20% higher."

Co Dien bent down and flipped through the data analysis table that I attached at the end of the plan. When he raised his head, his expression had relaxed a bit.

“Go back and wait for notification.”

Three days later, the notice arrived. We won the bid. All four branches were accepted. Eight million yuan. This is the largest contract since the establishment of Cam Hoa Design Department. My aunt said one sentence on the phone: "It's okay." Hearing the words "okay" from her mouth is equivalent to someone else saying "so wonderful". The signing ceremony took place at the office of Thinh Hang Fund. Co Dien and I signed the contract. After signing, he stood up and shook my hand.

“Looking forward to this cooperation, Director To.”

His palm is very dry, the grip strength is moderate.

“Happy cooperation, Mr. Co.”

When I walked out of the Thinh Hang building, Lam Dao was waiting for me downstairs. Today she asked for special leave to come pick me up.

“Signed?”

“Eight million yuan?”

“Eight million yuan.”

"To Niem, you've made a fortune! You should invite me out for a nice meal!"

I smiled.

“Go, you choose the location.”

"What about that newly opened Japanese restaurant? That shop averages 1,000 yuan per person."

“Oh my God, To Niem, now you say a thousand yuan per person without blinking your eyes—you've changed, do you know—”

“Are you going or not?”

“Go go go!”

While eating, Lam Dao drank two glasses of Sake and started talking more.

“To Niem, have you seen how much you have changed in the past half year?”

“Half a year ago you were still at the Civil Affairs Department registering your marriage with Tran Hao, now you're sitting in a Japanese restaurant selling thousands of dollars per person and just signed an eight million yuan contract.”

“That's right.”

“Have you ever thanked your aunt?”

I picked up a piece of salmon.

“I thank you every day.”

“So have you ever thought—you deserve someone better?”

“There you go again.”

“I'm serious. It's Co Dien, I searched, single, thirty-one years old, graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Stanford MBA, manages a fund of over six billion yuan, looks pretty good—"

“I'm not exaggerating, when you two signed the contract and shook hands, I was downstairs holding binoculars to look at—just kidding, but you two looked really good standing next to each other.”

“You're drunk.”

“I'm very alert.”

She put down her chopsticks and looked at me seriously.

“To Niem, you deserve to be treated respectfully by a kind man. Don't close the door because of a scumbag."

I said nothing. But when I got home that night, I saw the business card on my desk. Still in the same position. I took a look at it. Then turn off the lights and go to sleep. After the apartment chain project started, Co Dien and I met each other more and more often. Progress meeting once every two weeks, field survey once a month. Fly back and forth between Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Xiamen.