So that was what happened.

Without Xiang Yiren needing to explain, he had already grasped the situation. The landlord didn't want to renew the lease.

Regarding the lease agreement, it seemed they had communicated with the property management during the company transfer. At the time, they had assured him there would be no roadblocks and no immediate need to sign a new lease. Then, predictably, the unexpected happened.

"That's more or less the situation," Xiang Yiren explained as she walked beside him. Her face held a trace of panic, and she stole glances at him from time to time, afraid he would think her incapable of handling even this small matter and damage their intimate relationship.

"It's fine. Relax," Sun Dasheng said, stroking her head. He pointed at the door to the first-floor reception room. "Are they all in there?"

"Yes, the head of the property management company is here too." Xiang Yiren felt a wave of relief at his comforting words.

It feels so good to have a strong man to rely on!

He pushed open the reception room door, and all eyes inside focused on them.

Xiang Yiren introduced him to everyone, "This is Director Sun, the boss of our company."

"Director Sun, this is Manager Ji from the property management company." In front of outsiders, she still addressed him as Director Sun to give him the proper respect.

Hearing Xiang Yiren's introduction, Manager Ji quickly stood up. "My apologies, Director Sun."

Sun Dasheng ignored his extended hand, a subtle but firm power play. "Manager Ji, wasn't the lease renewal already settled? Why the sudden change of heart?"

Manager Ji awkwardly withdrew his hand. The smile on his face lost its charm as he adopted a strictly business-like demeanor. "Here's the situation, Director Sun. After an internal discussion, we've determined that the renewal price your company offered isn't competitive. Another fitness company has made a very attractive offer, so we have unanimously decided to lease the space to them."

"Business is business, wouldn't you agree, Director Sun?" he said, sitting back down and arrogantly crossing his legs. His frivolous attitude was a pointed response to being ignored earlier.

"Of course, if your company is still serious about renting, we can provide a platform for you both to bid against each other. The highest bidder wins. I'm only offering you this chance out of consideration for how long your company has been our tenant. Otherwise, you wouldn't even get this opportunity."

He spoke as if renting the place to them was an act of charity.

Sun Dasheng laughed.

Does he really think I'm a novice who doesn't understand the current market? The real estate market is in a slump, and commercial properties are no different. Rents in many high-end office buildings have dropped by over thirty percent, yet you have the nerve to ask for an increase. I wonder where you get your courage. It's a buyer's market. If you won't rent to us, there are plenty of other places that will.

"Fine! Go ahead and rent it to them. Our company won't be leasing it anymore," Sun Dasheng declared, his words silencing the room.

Beside him, an anxious Xiang Yiren tugged at his clothes and whispered in his ear, "This is an excellent location. It won't be easy to find another commercial office building this large in the same area."

Sun Dasheng gently held her hand to comfort her. "It's alright. Even if we can't get a location this good, there will always be second-tier options, right? As long as we manage our membership system well, the impact won't be too significant."

Would the impact really not be significant? Of course, it would be. Didn't he know that? Of course, he did. He was just using this as an opportunity to bankrupt the company that Xiang Yiren had so painstakingly managed to keep barely afloat. It was a chance to farm some experience points and then start over.

Ji Fa's scheme had failed, and his expression turned grim. He wanted to say more, but Sun Dasheng gave him no such chance and had him shown out.

"Without our golden nest, your company can just wait to go bankrupt!" he shot back harshly on his way out.

Here's hoping! Sun Dasheng thought to himself.

And those words came true.

The business became unsustainable less than a week after the main gym relocated. New member acquisition was cut off at the knees, plummeting drastically. The gym went bankrupt and closed down less than a week after moving.

[Due to poor gym management, de facto bankruptcy has occurred. Experience Points +2,000]

Sitting in his villa, Sun Dasheng looked at his system panel and smiled with satisfaction. After withdrawing the experience points to his personal account, his cash balance reached: 318,100,000.

His wallet was full once again.

They say money is a man's courage.

And right now, Sun Dasheng was brimming with confidence.

While Sun Dasheng was quite pleased, Xiang Yiren, who was beside him, was moping. She blamed herself for running the company into bankruptcy.

"Hey, it's not your fault. I'm responsible too," Sun Dasheng said, stroking her head to console her.

She forced a faint smile. "I know, Brother Sun." But it was obvious she was still unhappy.

"Alright, I'm going to take you to see something that will cheer you up," Sun Dasheng said, pulling her up from the sofa.

They drove to a large shopping mall not far from their previous main gym, at most five or six hundred meters away.

"Brother Sun, why did you bring me here?"

"Don't ask so many questions. Just come with me," Sun Dasheng said, pinching her glum face.

On a floor on the left side of the mall, a conspicuous billboard was hanging. It read: Aishang Fitness Center.

Xiang Yiren's eyes were drawn to the billboard before Sun Dasheng even had to point it out.

Puzzled, she asked, "Brother Sun, why is there a fitness center here with the same name as our gym?"

"Why do you think?" Sun Dasheng asked.

"Could it be that they copied our gym's name?" Xiang Yiren guessed.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.