Chapter 7: Securing the House (Please Keep Reading)

The night passed without incident. When Ao Xi opened his eyes, he found James’s bunk empty, with no trace of him. He had no idea where James had gone.

Sitting for a moment in a daze, Ao Xi shook his head and got up to inspect the house.

The real estate agency started work early. At the agreed meeting spot, Ao Xi realized the agent was a woman. After a brief conversation, she drove him to view properties.

Ao Xi’s requirements were simple: the price needed to be within his means, and since he would be serving as backup deputy chief at the Temple City precinct, the location couldn’t be too far. He had no car or license yet, and even if he got one later, he didn’t want to live too far from work.

Ideally, the house would be fully furnished, ready for him to move in—shopping for everything would be a hassle.

The agent assured him that wouldn’t be a problem. “Everything you want is reasonable,” she said with impeccable professionalism. “If we fail to meet your needs, that’s on us.”

After a ten-minute drive, the agent brought him to a yellow-and-red apartment building, seven stories tall and relatively new—unlike the typical old structures in Los Angeles.

She led Ao Xi inside, greeted the building manager, took the key for unit 325, and guided him upstairs, explaining as they went: “This apartment is in San Gabriel, close to the Chinese communities of San Gabriel and Walnut, as well as West Los Angeles and downtown. The transportation is convenient and it’s perfect for singles.

There are two types of units: one-bedroom flats and two-bedroom ensuites. Rentals don’t allow exceeding the occupancy limit, but purchases have no restrictions. I’m showing you the larger two-bedroom unit, which is more expensive, but if you’re not satisfied, we can see one-bedroom units or other buildings.

The building was constructed in 2002, so you don’t have to worry about the musty smell or leaks common in old buildings. There’s an underground parking garage—if you get a car, the manager can arrange a spot for an extra fee. City-paid parking is also available outside.

The building is designed in a connected square, with a rooftop terrace and sun loungers—perfect for enjoying the view or sunshine in good weather. The central courtyard has been transformed into a large swimming pool and leisure area, accommodating more than fifty people. If you like swimming, it’s very convenient.

There’s a fitness center inside, with both cardio and free-weight equipment; six multimedia rooms with flat-screen TV walls; a dining and shopping area within the complex, so residents can enjoy quality living without leaving the premises.

To ensure residents’ comfort, the apartment committee has 24-hour security downstairs, as well as services for package delivery, takeout, quick repairs, and keeping strangers out.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the door of unit 325. The agent unlocked the door and gestured for Ao Xi to enter first.

Ao Xi nodded and stepped inside. The dining area was right at the entrance, set up for four, with an open kitchen against the wall—cabinetry, fridge, microwave. The cabinets were empty, with no pots, dishes, or knives.

Further in was the living area, furnished with a sofa, coffee table, and television. Despite the furniture, the spacious living room didn’t feel crowded. To the left was the bedroom, generous in size—about twenty square meters—with a storage bed, writing desk, and a horizontal wardrobe.

To the right of the bedroom was a bathroom with separate wet and dry areas, equipped with a washer and dryer.

“The usable area is 1,259 square feet—about 117 square meters. High-end finishes, modern and minimalist in style. All furniture is included in the sale, and you’re free to use it. The price covers everything, and there are internet ports and Wi-Fi. After moving in, you can apply with the provider. Utility bills will be mailed to you for payment.”

Ao Xi was basically satisfied with the apartment. For a single man, layout barely mattered; they were all alike. Now, it was a question of price. “Miss, this place is excellent. What’s the purchase price?”

The agent’s smile brightened. “The previous owner is moving to New York and needs to sell quickly, so the price is only $425,000. Transaction tax is 2%, property tax is 1% yearly, management fee is $300 annually, new owners must pay an additional two months’ management donation, title insurance is 0.5%, legal fees are $2,000, registration is $200. The agency fee is usually 3–8%, but we can offer you a discount at 5%.”

Ao Xi calculated: $425,000 for the apartment, $9,040 transaction tax, $4,520 property tax, $900 management fee, $2,260 insurance, $2,200 legal and registration fees, $22,600 agency fee. The total came to $466,500.

If he bought a car and necessary household items, he’d be spending nearly half a million right away.

His head throbbed—he had only $600,000. Suddenly, he understood Mark’s claim of financial hardship the day before was no joke. Living in Los Angeles was just too expensive.

Clenching his teeth, Ao Xi resolved to buy it. He’d already decided to stay in America for good, and sooner or later he’d need a place of his own, especially since he might be out at night fighting crime as a nemesis of evil—it would be best to have an independent, private home.

Since he had the money, the sooner he owned a home, the better.

If he ran out of cash later, he’d just have to go out and punish villains more often.

Los Angeles evildoers, your death star is shining!

“I’m very satisfied with this apartment. Now, let’s discuss the price.”

The agent was overjoyed—she hadn’t expected the sale to go so smoothly. Chinese buyers really were affluent. She hurried downstairs to fetch a standard contract from her car, explaining each part as Ao Xi filled in his information.

Ao Xi had most of his documents in order, making the process easy. They haggled over the price for a while, and the agent explained that the taxes couldn’t be reduced, but she could cut $15,000 off the apartment price and round the agency fee down to $20,000.

Their company also sold cars, and if Ao Xi bought one of their brands, he’d get a 10% discount.

In the end, Ao Xi bought the apartment for $447,500.

They returned to the agency, had the lawyer review and sign the contract, went to the bank to issue a check, and rushed to complete all the registration, pay taxes, buy insurance, and set up utilities.

Whoever said things aren’t complicated in America was wrong—it was anything but simple. With no government services hall, everything required driving all over town. It was exhausting.

After finishing everything, Ao Xi managed to sign up for the driving test at the DMV before closing, picking up a copy of the driver’s handbook to study at home.

Los Angeles truly was a city with a large Chinese population—even the driver’s handbook had a Chinese version, ensuring easy integration.

Returning to his new home, Ao Xi collapsed onto the bare mattress and fell asleep, feeling none of the joy of buying a new house.

The next day, they went to the agency’s dealership. Ao Xi chose a newly released Cadillac XT4—just the right size for one person, with a reasonable price. The sports model cost $42,000, and with the 10% discount, he added extra features like sport suspension and a sunroof. After paying all taxes and buying insurance, his combined house and car purchases totaled $500,000.

Ao Xi’s heart bled—he needed to earn money fast or he’d be bankrupt.