Future Pet Shop

The layout of the shop seemed to have changed a bit. The overall structure hadn’t been altered, but some details were vastly different from when he’d left. The changes made the whole store feel much more comfortable. Shen Yibin couldn’t help but be surprised. Li Zhen and his team were already the best renovation company in Yunzhong City. ’For someone to be even better than them... This person must be extraordinarily skilled.’

"Mr. Shen, you’re back. My apologies. I saw that the layout in the shop still had some room for improvement, so I couldn’t resist getting my hands on it. If you mind, I’ll change it right back," Wen Yuan explained as he came forward. So, this was all his work. He had recently learned a great deal from watching Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie build their lodge, and he couldn’t help but try out his new ideas here at Shen Yibin’s place. Although he was a landscape architect, he was no amateur when it came to interior design. After all, things like aesthetics and a sense of space are all interconnected.

"Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine! This is much better than before. I can’t thank you enough, why would I mind?" Shen Yibin replied after a moment of stunned silence. "Thank you so much, Mr. Wen. I never knew my shop could look this good." ’This is clearly the work of a master,’ he thought. ’The design fee can’t be cheap, can it?’ Back when Shen Yibin had a regular job, he’d had some contact with this world and knew that certain master designers’ fees easily started in the six-figure range. Still, for a renovation like this, even a six-figure sum would be worth it!

"I’m glad you like it. I’ve caused you so much trouble recently, so please consider this a small token of my gratitude," Wen Yuan explained with a cheerful smile, dispelling Shen Yibin’s worries. As he spoke, he beckoned, and a beautiful woman leading an adorable child came forward. Wen Yuan made the introductions, "This is my wife and son. Come on, say hello."

"Hello, sir! Is this panda your pet too? May I please play with him?" As expected, no child could resist Hah’Er’s charm. The moment the boy saw Hah’Er, he couldn’t take his eyes off him.

"Of course. Hah’Er, go play with the little guy!" Shen Yibin let Hah’Er go play with the child. Mrs. Wen went along to look after her son, while Wen Yuan followed Shen Yibin up to the second-floor terrace.

"Ever since I arrived in Yunzhong City, I’ve realized it’s much more comfortable here than where I was living." The two sat across from each other, each with a cup of tea, as Wen Yuan began to explain why his wife and son were at the shop. "So, I brought my family here. I’m planning to settle down in Yunzhong City for good! For now, I’ve rented a place nearby. After a while, I’ll see if I can find a good piece of land to build my own manor. That would also make it easier for Bald Qiang and the others to settle down in the future."

"That’s wonderful news!" Shen Yibin was pleasantly surprised. ’If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean I’ll still be able to see Bald Qiang and Gao Lujie often, even after I sell them?’ "Um, but won’t doing this affect your work?" ’Isn’t that a rather steep price to pay?’

"It’s not a problem. I’ve always just run my own studio, working solo, so I don’t have any attachments. Besides, I’m planning to settle down and focus on producing a truly exceptional piece of work. Once that’s done and potential clients see it, I won’t have to worry about future business," Wen Yuan said with complete confidence. He was a man who lived by his craft; as long as his skills were top-notch, he’d never lack for work. "Plus, the projects I took on before were already from all over the country, with very few being local. For my clients, it just means booking a different flight."

Shen Yibin finally understood. Wen Yuan was a master designer, not some miserable wage slave. It didn’t matter where he worked. ’How enviable,’ he thought. "Well, that’s great. Mr. Wen, if you run into any trouble in Yunzhong City and need help, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ve been in Yunzhong for a few years now, so I’m probably a little more familiar with the place than you are!"

"There’s nothing else, really. It’s just that I haven’t been able to find a good spot with mountains at the back and facing the water to build a house. I was wondering if Mr. Shen might know of a place suitable for Bald Qiang and the others to live?" Wen Yuan was actually asking Shen Yibin for help.

"There are some places, but..." It wasn’t that there were no places suitable for a beaver. For example, some tributaries of the Yunshui River were near forests and had small streams, perfect for Bald Qiang to build dams and his lodge. ’The only problem is, you probably aren’t allowed to build private houses in those areas, are you?’

Thinking of this, a sudden idea struck Shen Yibin. ’Hey, wait a minute. Last time, during the promotional film shoot, didn’t the government officials try to persuade Director Kong to build a villa here? Judging by their tone, it seemed like something that could be negotiated!’

"Ah, Mr. Shen, have you thought of a suitable place?" Wen Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly. He had already picked up on a clue from the change in Shen Yibin’s expression.

"I do know of such a place, actually. But it might not be possible for you to build a house there alone. You’d have to go in with someone else," Shen Yibin said after a moment’s thought.

"I understand." Having been in landscape design for so long and having dealt with developers many times, Wen Yuan naturally understood the key issues. Prime locations were never short of takers. A place that met his requirements would absolutely be a prime location for building a villa. As an outsider, it would be difficult for him to buy it, so he would have to rely on someone else’s help.

Of course, such help wouldn’t come for free. If someone were to do him such a huge favor, he would have to offer something in return. So, Wen Yuan spoke up, "If you know of a suitable location, I can handle the design for you. I’m not boasting, but there are very few people in the entire country who are better than me in this field!" This was the truth. Wen Yuan was already a nationally renowned landscape architect, and now, after drawing inspiration from Bald Qiang and the other beavers, his skills were even more formidable. Ordinary people would have to pay a fortune to hire him for a design, so his offer was more than a fair trade.

"It’s not for me, it’s for Director Kong from Xiangjiang. It seems Yunzhong City is keen on attracting Director Kong to live here, so they’ve offered him several prime plots of land to choose from. If Director Kong is willing, adding you to the deal probably wouldn’t be a problem," Shen Yibin explained. "Of course, this will require discussing it with Director Kong. Let me contact him first."

With that, Shen Yibin stood up and called Director Kong, explaining the situation to him. "From what you’re saying, this designer sounds quite impressive," Director Kong replied. "I have actually been thinking about building a villa in Yunzhong City and have even consulted several top designers in Xiangjiang. Since you have so much confidence in him, how about this: you take him to see those plots of land first and have him draw up a rough proposal. If his plan can impress me, then I’ll help him out!"