Future Pet Shop

"Okay, no problem. I’ll go talk to him right now. He should agree!" Shen Yibin agreed decisively. Wen Yuan was looking to build a portfolio, wasn’t he? And what could be more high-profile than designing a garden for Director Kong, compared to designing one for him? This was an absolutely fantastic opportunity for Wen Yuan; there was no way he would turn it down.

"Bin, hold on, don’t hang up yet." Hearing Shen Yibin was about to spring into action, Director Kong quickly stopped him. "Don’t forget about the trip to America in a little while. And if you see a good spot, pick out a plot for yourself, too. I’ll cover the cost of the land; you just need to find someone to handle the design, construction, and renovation. If Mr. Wen’s design doesn’t meet the requirements, I can have a couple of designers from Xiangjiang or the West make a trip to Yunzhong City!" He was still thinking about the *Panda Hero* sequel; there was no way he’d miss this chance to get on Shen Yibin’s good side.

"Uh, you don’t have to do that, do you? I’m perfectly fine living at the shop." The atmosphere at the shop was so pleasant, and he had so many animals to keep him company. Shen Yibin wouldn’t want to trade it, not even for a villa.

"That’s not the right way to look at it," Director Kong said earnestly. "The shop may be nice, but it’s still a place of business. It’s fine while you’re single, but what happens when you get a girlfriend? It might be a bit awkward living with all your employees then, don’t you think? You need to consider these things." He continued, "Besides, Hah’Er may have bamboo groves and big trees at the shop, but that’s no substitute for a real forest, is it? Don’t you want Hah’Er to be able to play in a forest every day?"

’He had a point.’ Every time he took Hah’Er, Xiaoliu, and the others to play in the suburban forests, they were always so happy. And after visiting Xu Ye’s mountain villa, he had even thought about getting a similar place for himself. How could he not have realized it when the opportunity was staring him in the face? Shen Yibin began to waver. "Well, in that case, I’ll pay for the land myself. I shouldn’t trouble you with it." He was a man worth tens of millions now; buying a few acres in the suburbs of Yunzhong City was well within his means.

"Yunzhong City is only willing to sell this land as a favor to me. Even if you wanted to pay, you’d have to find someone willing to take your money. Besides, you’ve helped me so much—what’s wrong with me showing a little appreciation? Don’t treat me like a stranger. If you really feel that bad about it, just gift me a couple extra bottles of your wine." Director Kong was not about to take Shen Yibin’s money, deftly neutralizing his protest. "Alright, it’s settled. Go take Mr. Wen to look at the plots. I’ll give Qin Qing a heads-up. I still need to discuss post-production special effects with John Farrell, so I have to run. We’ll see each other in Shanghai." With that, Director Kong hung up, leaving Shen Yibin no chance to argue.

’Great, now I owe him another huge favor,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’Looks like the *Panda Hero* sequel is unavoidable.’ He called Wen Yuan back over, but just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. It was Qin Qing. "Bin! You’ve done Yunzhong City a massive favor this time. If Director Kong is willing to buy land and live here, we’ll of course give him our full support. Are you at your shop now? I’m coming over to take you to see the sites. We can start by helping Director Kong pick one out."

Yunzhong City’s development strategy had always been focused on being a "livable city" and a tourist destination. Having a celebrity as renowned as Director Kong, both at home and abroad, take up residence would be the best possible advertisement for that image. That was why Qin Qing was so eager.

After some polite thanks, he hung up and was finally able to speak with Wen Yuan. "It’s settled. First, we’re going to look at a few plots of land. Help pick one out, and if you see one with potential, you can create a preliminary design sketch. If Director Kong is satisfied, he’ll buy the land and commission your design." Shen Yibin repeated Director Kong’s offer.

"Okay, no problem. This is a great opportunity for me as well." Wen Yuan, of course, understood the implications. He had designed for celebrities before, but none of them were on the same level as Director Kong. If he did this project well, he wouldn’t have to worry about future business. At the very least, Director Kong’s friends would surely bring him more work.

It wasn’t long before Qin Qing arrived at Shen Yibin’s shop. Shen Yibin gathered Wen Yuan, then called for Hah’Er, Xiaoliu, Bald Qiang, the couple, and Maphario. The whole crew piled into Shen Yibin’s trusty van and headed for the outskirts of Yunzhong City. After all, the animals would be living in the new house too, so their opinions definitely had to be taken into account.

"We have three reserved plots in total, each with its own pros and cons. Let’s go see the first one," Qin Qing said from the passenger seat, briefing Shen Yibin on the properties. "This first spot is near Shilin. It has an underground hot spring that can be piped into the yard. Just imagine, soaking in a hot spring in your own home!"

Neither Shen Yibin nor Wen Yuan offered an opinion. A private hot spring was appealing, but the area around Shilin didn’t have many trees or streams. Bald Qiang would have nowhere to build his dams, and Hah’Er wouldn’t have much room to play.

After a quick look around the site and snapping a few photos to keep it as a backup, the group got back in the van and headed for the second location. This plot was situated right next to the Ten Thousand Mu Orange Garden. A stream wound its way through the dense rows of orange trees, and the Yunshui River flowed just a short distance away. Backed by a mountain and facing the water, it was a textbook example of a prime location in terms of feng shui.

However, this place had a drawback as well. The Ten Thousand Mu Orange Garden was a tourist hotspot, meaning the location wasn’t very private. Neither Director Kong nor Shen Yibin would want to be constantly bothered by strangers. Wen Yuan felt the same way; he didn’t want outsiders interrupting his creative flow.

"It seems neither of these plots appeal to you. Well, then there’s only one option left." Qin Qing’s expression showed no hint of panic. In fact, the last location was his personal favorite; he was merely saving the best for last.

They continued along the Yunshui River before turning onto a fork in the road. After rounding a small hill, a vast bamboo forest suddenly appeared on both sides. From within its depths, they could faintly hear the gurgling of a stream. The scenery here was far better than the previous two spots, and it was much more secluded, guaranteeing they wouldn’t be disturbed by outsiders.

"It’s only about a forty-minute drive from here to your pet store," Qin Qing explained as he led them onto the property. "This area was originally zoned for a high-end rehabilitation center, but the project was cancelled for various reasons. A lot of the preliminary infrastructure work is already complete—the water, power, and internet hookups are all set. You just need to build the house to your own specifications..."

Shen Yibin was extremely pleased with this location. With a large mountain at its back, the Yunshui River out front, and flanked by both a forest and a bamboo grove, it was absolutely perfect. He stroked Hah’Er’s head. "Hah’Er, how would you like to live here?"