Chapter 1 — Total Surveyor

I spent half a billion yuan to buy the top floor penthouse at "Van Dinh Thien Khuyet". But the building management company used the excuse that "The terrace is owned by all residents, but our company has the right to final interpretation", arbitrarily renovating the terrace into a fee-based bar called "Bar Tinh Khong". Real estate manager Luc Canh Minh contemptuously told me: "If you have the courage, sell the house." Looking at his face full of "you can't do anything to me" expression, I burst out laughing. He did not know that soon he would lose his bowl of rice.

1

At exactly twelve o'clock at night, the sound of the subwoofer pierced my ceiling on time. I sat up on the bed, expressionless looking at the crystal chandelier shaking to the rhythm of the drum, the broken rays of light shaking, making my eyes dizzy. This is the thirtieth day since I moved to live in "Van Dinh Thien Khuyet". It's also the thirtieth day that "Tinh Khong Bar" on the rooftop - that money-burning cave - opens on time every night. I picked up the phone and called the number of the building management center. The bell rang for a long time before someone picked up. On the other end of the line, electronic music and the sound of a passionate crowd sounded exactly like what was loudly above my head.

"Hello? Who is it?" A young male voice asked impatiently.

"I am the owner of penthouse A, Ninh Hi. I request you to immediately close the rooftop bar, the noise has seriously affected my rest."

My voice is very calm. The opponent laughed contemptuously.

"Miss Ninh, is it you again? We already said that the terrace is a public area, the management board has the right to conduct commercial exploitation. If you are not satisfied, just sue."

After speaking, he immediately hung up. I looked at the phone screen where the call was cut off, without a ripple in my heart. I have heard these words for thirty days. I got out of bed, put on a coat, and walked straight towards the elevator. The building management center is brightly lit. Several uniformed guards were huddled together, laughing as they watched funny videos on their phones. Seeing me enter, one of them put away his phone and lazily stood up.

"Miss Ninh, what's the matter this late?"

“I'm looking for your manager, Luc Canh Minh.”

“Our manager is off work.”

The guard's answer is as smooth as flowing water.

“Is that so?”

I raised my hand and pointed towards the manager's office door behind him. The door was ajar, bright lights and vague laughter leaked out.

"Manager Luc has already finished work but the room light is still on for him. Truly an exemplary employee that touches people's hearts."

The guard's face froze. I didn't pay attention to him anymore, walked directly forward, and pushed open the manager's office door. Inside the luxurious office, there was a cloud of cigarette smoke. Luc Canh Minh was sitting and playing cards with a few men who looked like he wasn't the kind type, the table was full of cash. A scantily dressed girl sat on his lap, smiling coyly and lighting a cigarette for him. My sudden appearance caused the entire card table to immediately fall silent. Luc Canh Minh raised his head. Seeing that it was me who walked in, a hint of discomfort appeared in his eyes, but it was quickly hidden by a layer of fake laughter.

“Oh, isn't that Ms. Ninh?”

He slowly released it a smoke ring, teasing tone.

“What wind blew you here?”

2

“Manager Luc,” I got straight to the point, “about the noise problem of the rooftop bar, I need a clear solution.”

Luc Canh Minh seemed to have just heard the biggest joke in the world. He glanced at the men next to him, all of them burst into laughter.

"Miss Ninh, are you being too serious? Young people should have some nightlife. Furthermore, this bar helps the management board earn more income, and at the end of the year everyone gets a commission. You're already in the penthouse, why are you still paying attention to that little change?"

The woman in his arms cooed and said:

"Mr. Canh Minh, people just feel noisy, they probably want you to comfort them a little."

Luc Canh Minh burst out laughing and gently squeezed her face.

“I'm still the one who understands you best.”

He stood up and walked in front of me. The smell of alcohol and cheap perfume assaulted my nose. I took a step back, frowning slightly.

“Miss Ninh, I'm telling you for the last time.”

The smile on Luc Canh Minh's face disappeared, replaced by a look of contempt looking down from above.

"The rooftop terrace belongs to the common ownership of all residents. But our management company has the final right of explanation. The bar will continue to open."

“If you find it noisy, you can wear earplugs. Or…”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice with each word.

“If you have the courage, sell the house.”

A round of loud laughter rang out all around. I looked at the face written with the words "you can't do anything to me". Very good. He already reminded me. I didn't say another word, turned around and left the management center. When I got home, I stopped paying attention to the loud music above my head and went straight to the office. Opening the computer, I skillfully logged into an internal system and opened a company's profile.

“King Vi Thoi Khong Geographic Information Company.”

Legal representative: Ninh Hi. Certificate: Level A map surveying qualification. I looked at the company name on the screen and called assistant To Viet.

"To Viet, help me do something. Change the registered address of 'Kinh Vi Thoi Khong' to the penthouse A I am staying at 'Van Dinh Thien Khuyet'."

On the other side of the phone, To Viet was stunned.

"President Ninh, why so suddenly? Isn't that apartment your private home? If you move the company address there, it will be very troublesome in the future."

“Just do as I say.”

My voice does not allow argument.

"In addition, tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, bring the best equipment and technical team to the company's new address. We have a new project."

“What project?”

I looked at the bright lights of the city outside the window, the corner of my lips curled up in a cold smile.

“Health check... for a building.”

The next morning, 8:50 a.m. Three construction vehicles printed with the giant logo "Kinh Vi Thoi Khong" stopped on time in front of the gate of "Van Dinh Thien Khuyet". The car door opens. To Viet led a team of ten people, all wearing blue worker uniforms, and began unloading the sophisticated measuring equipment. 3D laser scanner. Electronic total station. Drones... Devices that only appear in large construction projects are now lined up right in front of the gate of the super luxury house, immediately attracting countless residents and passersby to watch. The security captain of the management board quickly led people to run to stop the car.

“What are you doing? This is a private residential area, no way make a mess!”

To Viet held out a file and smiled professionally.

“Hello, we are Kinh Vi Thoi Khong Geographic Information Company. According to the instructions of the company's legal entity, Ms. Ninh Hi, we conducted ownership measurements and structural safety surveys for the company's new registered address, which is the attic of building A and the building's dependent structures."

“This is the business license and survey application.”

The security captain looked at the address "Van Dinh Thien Khuyet - Building A attic" and the name Ninh Hi on the documents. His whole body stood still.

3

Luc Canh Minh quickly appeared. His drunken face was full of anger. He walked quickly in front of me. At that time, I was standing next to the car, directing the technical team to calibrate the equipment.

“Ninh Hi! What are you playing at? Where do you think this is?” he roared.

I leisurely turned around, gave him a notice of change of company address that had just been printed, and stamped it in red.

“Good morning, Manager Luc. Forgot to introduce myself, I am the legal entity of Kinh Vi Thoi Khong Geographic Information Company, Ninh Hi.”

I smiled.

“From today, this house is also my company. According to the law, I have the right to conduct a comprehensive survey of my business location. This is a business need of the company.”

Luc Canh Minh's face turned from angry to stunned, then turned pale. He grabbed the paper and turned it over and over, as if trying to find a loophole.

“You… you really are a riot!”

He choked for half a day before he could say that sentence.

“Whether it's a riot or not, manager Luc has no right to decide.”

I pointed at the crowd gathered around.

“We're about to start work. If the management intentionally obstructs my company's legitimate business operations, then I'm sorry, my lawyer will immediately come to talk to you about compensation for losses."

Luc Canh Minh stared at me, his eyes seemed to breathe fire. But he did not dare to stop. Behind me is a professional technical team with equipment worth tens of millions. In my hand are all legal documents. He could only watch helplessly as my team began setting up equipment in the public area of the building, with an unstoppable momentum.

“President Ninh, where to start?” To Viet asked.

“Start from the exterior and public areas. From bottom to top, not a single centimeter must be missed.”

The 3D laser scanner begins to operate, emitting a low buzzing sound. The green laser network is like a giant net that slowly covers the entire building. The group of residents on WeChat immediately exploded.

“What's going on? Why are there so many construction vehicles downstairs?

“It seems like the penthouse owner, named Ninh, called and said he was measuring the building.”

“What does she want to do? Are you crazy?