Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 273 Sea and Sky Garden, Private Territory

Jingle bell—jingle bell—

My phone kept ringing, and a string of unfamiliar numbers was displayed on the screen.

Fang Cheng frowned slightly and hesitated for a few seconds.

Then, with a sense of caution, I gently pressed the answer button.

"Hello, are you Mr. Fang?"

A warm yet somewhat formulaic voice came from the other end of the phone:
"This is Xiao Liu from Hongyuan Real Estate Agency. I'm calling to let you know that the property transaction procedures entrusted to us by your uncle, Mr. Li Dingjian, have been completed. You can come and pick up the certificate at any time. The property transfer went very smoothly."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then calmly replied:
"Oh, I see. Thank you for your help. What's the exact address?"

"It's no trouble at all, you're too kind."

Xiao Liu quickly gave the detailed address, and then continued:
"Mr. Fang, when would be a convenient time for you to come over? Let's set a time, and I'll prepare the materials for you in advance."

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment and said:
"Then let's do it this morning. I'll be there around ten o'clock."

After both parties reached an agreement, they hung up the phone.

Fang Cheng quickly and efficiently packed his luggage.

Then, I called my maternal grandfather and my mother to tell them that I was going back to Jiuchang Street to stay for the next few days.

A while ago, my uncle bought a house in Wanghu Town and started renovating it.

He was very thoughtful; he provided each family member with a mobile phone, which made it much easier for them to stay in touch.

After making the call, Fang Cheng went downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast, then left the hotel and took a taxi back to the city.

Upon arriving at the agency, I found Xiao Liu, whom I had spoken to on the phone.

The other party greeted him with a smile and handed him a bag of documents:
"Mr. Fang, look, everything has been completed according to the procedures, and we're just waiting for you to get your certificate and move in."

"And also, could you please sign here, that would be perfect..."

Fang Cheng wore a baseball cap he bought on the street to cover his bald head, first showing his ID card, and then flipping through the documents in his hand.

He seemed to glance at it casually, but he actually memorized every single piece of information on each page without missing a single word.

After confirming everything was correct, I signed the document, took the property certificate, and casually asked:
Have you been in contact with my uncle?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Liu looked apologetic and quickly explained:
"I'm so sorry, I tried calling Mr. Li yesterday afternoon and today, but the call kept going unanswered. Maybe his phone is off."

After a pause, Xiao Liu added:

"However, Mr. Li had instructed you beforehand that he would notify you after the formalities were completed, and everything would be up to you."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.

Leaving the real estate agency and standing on the street, I glanced at the property certificate and keys in my bag, but I couldn't calm down.

Based on the current situation, it seems that the mysterious "crow" in the professor's team is indeed his uncle.

Let's not even talk about where his special abilities came from.

Given my uncle's usual cautious and lazy nature, how could he rashly participate in such an extremely dangerous operation?

Could it be that, desperate to raise money for her grandfather's surgery, she found this team of extraordinary people and joined them?

Or perhaps someone has inadvertently given them leverage over you and you are being coerced?
Fang Cheng shook his head inwardly, his doubts lingering in his mind.

Unexpectedly, while I had been hiding my involvement in these mysterious events from my family, my uncle also had a similar secret identity.

It's as if everyone in the family is wearing a mask, with a different face. They live together without knowing each other's secrets. It's both absurd and helpless to think about.

"What kind of mess is this...?"

Fang Cheng stood silently on the street for a while, watching a red taxi drive by.

He then raised his hand to flag down the car, opened the door, and got in.

My uncle isn't around right now, so I can't ask him for details. Let's go take a look at that new house first.

....................................

Guanlan District, Qingshui Bay.

As its name suggests, this place boasts charming beaches and a long coastline, backed by lush hills that act as a natural green barrier, isolating it from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Although it is located in a coastal area, its location is quite remote, lacking large shipping facilities such as deep-water ports in the surrounding area, resulting in slow development in its early years.

However, things took a turn for the better, thanks to the new district development plan announced by the municipal government, which clearly stated that the tourism and rehabilitation industries should be vigorously developed.

It's like a shot in the arm for this place, and its development momentum has been very rapid in recent years.

With the influx of large amounts of capital, infrastructure construction is progressing rapidly, roads are being widened and repaired, and many hospitals and elderly care facilities have been built, with supporting facilities becoming increasingly complete.

As Fang Cheng drove along the road, he could see that there were many newly developed villa areas and real estate projects nearby.

It's worth mentioning that this place isn't too far from either Jiangbei or Jiangdong.

Driving along the coastal highway, it takes just over half an hour.

It offers the unique advantage of being able to enjoy the tranquility and beautiful scenery of the suburbs while also being able to reach the bustling city center in a short time and enjoy the convenience of urban life.

That's why my uncle initially considered buying a house here for my grandfather to live out his retirement.

Of course, housing prices, needless to say, skyrocketed.

Land prices that were once insignificant are now staggering.

Fang Cheng, carrying his bag, got off the bus and successfully found the location of the house his uncle had bought for him.

"Jinmao Mansion · Haitian Garden".

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the blue nameplate hanging high, then took out the access card that the agent had helped him obtain from his pocket and swiped it lightly on the card reader in the pedestrian passage.

With a soft "beep," the door opened and I walked in steadily.

Fang Cheng strolled through the residential area, his eyes scrutinizing as he carefully examined his surroundings.

This should be considered a relatively rare low-density high-rise residential building on the market in recent years.

Although it has only been less than six months since its completion, the green landscape has already begun to take shape.

The neatly trimmed shrubs, lush green lawns, and various seasonal flowers vying for attention show that the developer has put a lot of thought into creating a livable environment.

According to the information provided by the real estate agent, the community's main focus is on rehabilitation and wellness.

To fit this theme, the developer specially designated large green areas for building fitness trails and yoga plazas.

In addition, it also has a full range of recreational facilities such as outdoor basketball courts, swimming pools, senior activity centers, and children's playgrounds.

Overall, it can be described as a mid-to-high-end residential area.

Moreover, the neighborhood is surrounded by excellent amenities such as supermarkets, restaurants, farmers' markets, and hospitals, making daily life incredibly convenient.

Fang Cheng successfully located the corresponding building number based on the address registered on the property certificate.

Then, I took the elevator to the 19th floor where my apartment is located.

After exiting the elevator, I looked around and quickly identified the door number. Then I took out my key, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it.

With a creak, the door slowly opened.

Fang Cheng stepped into the house, where he was greeted by a bare, unfinished scene.

The rough cement floor kicked up dust with every step. Pipes and wires were scattered haphazardly across the exposed walls and ceiling.

This space, which is a full eighty square meters, is currently in its most primitive state.

Fang Cheng strolled leisurely, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the room, already having a simple layout plan in mind.

He didn't plan to undertake any major renovations and decided to preserve the rugged "Syrian war-damaged style".

It wasn't because I was stingy or unwilling to spend money, but because I had other plans.

Fang Cheng decided to use this place as a secret base for exercising and practicing his skills.

I usually travel back and forth between Jiuchang Street and Wanghu Town. Both places are crowded and not the most suitable places to exercise.

Moreover, after my mother returned home, she was not very free to move around.

Fang Cheng desperately needs a private space that is entirely his own.

This unfinished apartment perfectly meets my needs.

Since it's being treated as one's own private territory, there's no need for extravagance; just ensuring basic living conditions is sufficient.

Fang Cheng's gaze swept over this "territory," as he made his plans.

A table and a few chairs in the living room provide a place for eating and reading.

Place a bed in the corner, draw the curtains, and you can fall asleep easily when you're tired.

The kitchen is equipped with basic cabinets, a sink, and a stove. It's perfectly capable of cooking instant noodles and stir-frying vegetables to handle daily meals.

The bathroom also needs to be tidy up; a toilet, shower head, and sink are all essential so that it's convenient to shower after exercising.

Fang Cheng plans to use the remaining large space to install fitness equipment and training props.

Treadmills, dumbbells, barbells, pull-ups, sandbags, wooden dummy – arrange everything you can.

From now on, I can greet the sunrise over the sea every day, sweat it out here, and work out my body. Just thinking about it makes me full of energy!
Thinking of this, Fang Cheng turned his gaze to the large floor-to-ceiling window.

He then walked over and reached out to open the small outward-opening window on the side.

A fresh sea breeze rushed in, carrying a faint salty smell, instantly dispelling the stuffy atmosphere in the room.

Looking out into the distance, the azure sea blends seamlessly with the horizon.

Waves crashed rhythmically against the golden sand, creating layers of white foam.

Under the bright sunlight, the water droplets sparkled like tiny diamonds.

Several seabirds soared freely in the air, sometimes circling low, sometimes swooping down to the sea, snatching a small fish, and then flapping their wings and flying high, drawing graceful arcs.

Along the coastline less than half a kilometer from the Ocean View Garden, there are many beaches, seafood restaurants and resort hotels scattered around.

The occasional bursts of laughter mingled with the sound of the waves, clearly reaching Fang Cheng's ears.

"really not bad!"

Gazing at the beautiful scenery of the blue sea and sky, Fang Cheng stretched out his arms and yawned contentedly.

A series of cracking sounds, like firecrackers exploding, suddenly emanated from all the joints of his body.

If it weren't for my mom being so used to living in Jiangbei and being reluctant to leave her neighbors in Jiuchang Street, moving here would actually be quite nice.

Alternatively, Fang Cheng could buy a larger apartment, one room for exercising and the other for his family to live in.

This is not a fantasy.

Once the antiques entrusted to Xu Sanduo are successfully sold and the money arrives in my account, I will be able to fully afford this expense.

Paying the down payment is a piece of cake, and with a monthly salary of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan, the subsequent loan repayments will be no problem at all.

The house my uncle bought cost 2.4 million yuan, or 29,000 yuan per square meter.

If we calculate based on 100 square meters, the total price would be approximately three million.

In a major international metropolis like Tokyo, this price isn't actually that expensive.

Guanlan District is developing very rapidly. According to the current market trend, in two years, the housing prices here may rise to 30,000 or even 40,000.

Buying a house for investment or to preserve value is a good choice.

Taking a deep breath of the slightly salty sea breeze, Fang Cheng felt as if he were standing by the sea, and couldn't help but imagine his life here in the future.

Every day at dawn, when it is still pitch black, he can listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing and run along the beach.

You can also face the surging waves and keep swinging your fists to practice shadowboxing.

Perhaps, just like on Yong'an Island, one could dive into the depths of the bay and use the pressure of the seawater for high-intensity weight training to further enhance their skills and experience.

Just imagining it makes me excited and eager to try it out.

However, Fang Cheng did not take immediate action.

It's broad daylight now, so I can't just reveal my whereabouts.

Moreover, there is an even more important task at hand that urgently needs to be completed.

This unfinished house is secluded and tranquil, simple and unadorned to the point of being primitive, without any fancy or distracting external material conditions.

Like a pure land in the mortal world, it is a very suitable place for spiritual practice.

Fang Cheng plans to practice meditation here to resolve some issues that have been troubling him since last night.

With this thought in mind, he immediately sat down cross-legged by the window.

Then straighten your back, place your hands naturally on your knees, and gently close your eyes.

Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting dappled shadows and creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

At first, the distant sounds of waves and seabirds, like laughter and chatter, seemed to try every means to penetrate his ears and disturb his chaotic thoughts.

But Fang Cheng remained unmoved. He took a deep breath and began to focus on his breathing.

With each breath, the breath flows gently like a soft tide, shutting out all the disturbances of the outside world.

As my breathing gradually became steady, my mind slowly calmed down.

Fang Cheng vaguely found some of the feeling he had when he practiced meditation in the trench.

The rough walls and exposed pipes seemed to gradually disappear, replaced by an ethereal darkness.

In this darkness, Fang Cheng was like a diver in the deep sea, constantly sinking down, searching for the tranquility and strength deep within his heart.

Each crash of the waves seemed to be keeping time for his breathing.

Every slight ripple in my heart is soothed in this tranquility.

That weariness and exhaustion that came from the depths of the soul was slowly washed away by the tide.

Fang Cheng seemed to blend into everything around him.

The waves are the rhythm of his thoughts, his breath is his connection with the world, and his state of mind is the all-encompassing ocean.

In the deepest part of the ocean, a flame burns, radiating a bright light.

Like an ever-burning lighthouse in the darkness, it pierces through layers of fog, guiding lost souls on their way.

(End of this chapter)