Now that Celia stayed in Rachel's apartment, Jack had less time to spend with Rachel.
When Jack called Michael and Marcus over, Michael couldn't help but tease him, "Now, why did the
president of MK Group suddenly grace us with his presence? Shouldn't you be somewhere else?
Perhaps coaxing a certain beauty?"
"Cut the crap, and just enjoy the wine. I'm paying the bill tonight." Jack poured them both a glass
before sighing heavily. "Besides, even if I want to, I couldn't see her."
Marcus furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"No. It's just a nurse is staying in Rachel's house. It wouldn't be convenient for me to go there." He
looked up from the rim of his own glass. "She is the nurse you drove back home the other night."
Michael snorted as he slung his arm around the Jack's shoulder. "What is inconvenient about going
there? Unless of course... you're going to make out with her."
He pushed Michael's hand off his shoulder. "I meant that it isn't inconvenient to chat! I'm not like you,
you know."
"We're all men. You shouldn't be embarrassed about these things either way." Michael snorted,
downing the red wine in his glass before slamming it back onto the table. When he glanced at the other
side, he suddenly found himself fixated on a beautiful dark-haired woman who had just entered the bar.
His eyes glinted as he whistled and stood up. "Enjoy yourselves, men. I'm afraid that I won't have the
time to converse with you tonight."
"This guy values women more than his friends." Marcus sighed helplessly, but he wasn't surprised as
well. Every time he would go out with Michael, he would always be driving back alone by the time the
party was over.
Then again, it was a good thing that his boisterous friend wasn't here. That way, he could ask Jack
about Celia.
"Didn't she live in a rental apartment? Why is she at Rachel's?"
"I don't know. I haven't made it clear." Jack shrugged before raising his eyebrows at his friend. "You're
interested in her, aren't you?"
"I am." Marcus didn't bother to hide the fact as he clinked his glass against his friend's. "Thank you for
giving me the information."
In the nurse station, Celia said with a grin, "Mindy, I heard that you have very extensive connections.
Can you help me find a suitable apartment to live in?"
It was comfortable to live in Rachel's house. But while she occupied the study, Rachel would only sit on
the sofa to read her books.
Celia noticed how every time Rachel finished reading, she would turn and twist her neck in exhaustion.
Although Rachel didn't say anything, she still felt guilty
Mindy stopped what she was doing. "I want to help you, but you're asking for an apartment that's large
enough to have a full-sized kitchen. Not only that, but you're asking for a place that's close to the
hospital with a budgeted price range. I can't help you."
Celia placed her palms together in a pleading manner. "Please, I haven't even become a regular nurse
yet. My salary's too low. If I portioned everything for my rent, I wouldn't be able to support myself."
"I really have no other choice."
Mindy quickly walked towards the pharmacy. When she saw that the younger woman was still trailing
her, she snapped, "Don't follow me or I'll deduct your bonus."
Celia sat at her desk and rested her chin on her hands. Where the hell was she going to find a decent
place to live in now?
Just as the sun was about to set, she took off her nurse uniform and said her farewells to her
colleagues. Without missing a beat, she raced towards the nearest real estate office, but as soon as
the staff heard the conditions that she had offered, they immediately refused. "Miss, we really don't
have the kind of apartment you're looking for. How about raising your budget? Maybe we can take you
to see some more apartments."
"It's fine."
Celia lowered her head and left. Suddenly, she bumped into a suited man. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, you should really be careful while walking." A familiar voice sounded, and she looked up.
"Why are you here?"
Celia's eyes widened in surprise when she saw that Marcus was standing at the door of the agency.
"Do you plan to rent a house?"
As soon as the words left her lips, she shook her head. "Obviously you aren't here for that. Will you
sign up one of your houses for rent?"
"Yes. The house is too big, and it's boring to live alone. I was planning to rent out a room on the second
floor." He gazed at her. "Are you here to rent an apartment? Have you found a suitable place to live in
yet?"
Celia sighed heavily. "I wish it was that easy."
"Well, do you want to rent my place instead? Then, I won't have to pay the agency." Seeing her
hesitation, he added, "It must be fated for us to meet at the gate of the agency today. Because of that,
I'll give you 50% discount on the rent."
"50% discount?"
Realizing that her voice had been too loud, she lowered her voice into a whisper. "How much will the
rent be after the discount?"
Marcus stretched out his fingers for her to see.
"What? Five thousand?" She staggered backwards as if the mere number would burn her insides. "You
might as well sign it up in the real estate agency and ask them to help you out.
I still need to go somewhere to ask around. Thank you anyway."
"Wait!"
Marcus pulled her back. "When did I say five thousand?"
"You're trying to say that it's five hundred?" She snorted, patting him on the arm. "Don't joke with me.
Knowing your house, it must be very expensive."
"It's actually five hundred. Do you really think I earn from rent money? It's five hundred, take it as a
friendship discount."
"Really?" Celia was so overjoyed that she grabbed Marcus' arm and held her close to her sides. She
was afraid that he might go back on his word. "Where did you park your car? Let's go see the house
now."
While she was talking about the hardships she had spent while searching for an apartment, Marcus'
eyes were filled with an indescribable emotion. A faint smile played on his lips as he gazed at her.
The house he was renting out wasn't far from the hospital. It was a duplex apartment that covered
around three hundred square meters. The interior design was simple yet modern.
As Celia looked around, she couldn't believe how lucky she was. Her eyes shone with indescribable
brightness as she resisted the urge to jump up and down. She pinched Marcus' arm. "Does it hurt?"
"Why don't you pinch yourself?" He smiled. He pointed at the room that was near the stairway
approaching the second floor. "The room has always been empty. I'll ask them to clean it up and add
some furniture in the next two days. You can move in by then."
"No need for that."
She waved her hand. "The rent's so low. How can I ask you for something more?"
"I'll give you the key then."
Marcus showed her around the house. Now, it seemed their relationship had taken on a whole new
level with Celia being none the wiser.
While Rachel was preparing dinner for the both of them, Celia had informed her that she already found
an apartment. Rachel was so surprised that she spilled too much salt into the pot. She stared at the
soup grimly.
The pot of soup was ruined.
Turning off the stove, she walked out of the kitchen. "Who's your landlord now?"
Celia took a large bite from the apple and shrugged. "Marcus said that he'd charge me five hundred.
Compared to the other apartments I've searched, this is way cheaper."
"Are you really sure you want to move out?" Rachel asked.
She was afraid that Marcus wasn't just looking for someone to rent out a space in his apartment. She
gazed at her protectively.
Unconsciously, Rachel already saw the younger woman as her sister.
"Rachel, I know how much this inconveniences you, you know. Anyway, Marcus already fixed
everything up, and the rent is cheap. If I'm not happy living there, then I'll move right back. By that time,
I hope you won't lock your doors." She winked playfully, acting like a spoiled child.
Meanwhile, in a furniture shop
Followed by Jack and Michael, Marcus was choosing different kinds of furniture. He sat on different
beds from time to time to test the cushions and knocked on the cabinets from time to time. He was
detailed enough to ask the shop assistant for their sizes and whatnot.
Michael frowned. "Do you really want that nurse to live in your house? You're really going to let her
invade your private space like that?"
"Sooner or later."
Marcus glanced at the shop assistant. "I want this bed. Send it to my house."
"No problem." The shop assistant took the man's bank card and raced happily to the counter to arrange
it all for him.
Michael sighed exasperatedly as he waved his hands up in the air. "Are you still the same man that I
used to know? If you let the woman move in with you now, your freedom is over before you know it."
"You're overreacting." Jack snorted before gazing meaningfully at his friend. "Thank you, by the way."
"You're only thanking him because he's making things convenient for you." Michael snickered.
Jack threw his middle finger at his friend before shaking his head.
He already had a plan in his mind.
On the day when Celia moved out, Jack appeared at the doorstep right in time. When Rachel came out
of the elevator, he grinned. "You should really consider giving me a key, so I don't have to wait by your
doorstep."
"Why are you here?" She resisted the urge to yawn.
Celia had just moved to Marcus' house that day, so she was exhausted from helping her out.
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