I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

Things progressed faster than expected.

Hollywood's efficiency was astonishing; fearing Xiao Chen might back out, they faxed the contract over at lightning speed.

After Wang Jinhua confirmed that everything was correct, a huge sum of US dollars was transferred to Ye Huimei's overseas account the next day.

Ye Huimei went to the bank with Wang Jinhua.

When she saw the countless zeros following the balance in her bankbook on the machine, her brain completely shut down.

She swallowed hard, tapping the numbers on the screen again and again.

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands...hundreds million?

Really... over 100 million?

Seeing Ye Huimei's pale face, the bank staff asked her with concern if she needed help.

Wang Jinhua quickly helped her up and explained with a smile.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, she was just too excited."

More than just excited!

Ye Huimei felt like her soul was about to float away!

She had lived half her life and never imagined that one day she would feel dizzy because she had too much money!

Even after leaving the bank, Ye Huimei's legs were still weak.

Wang Jinhua stood by, handing her water and fanning her.

"Huimei, you have to hang in there! This is just the beginning!"

"In the future, Xiao Chen will earn much more money than this, so you need to get used to it in advance."

Ye Huimei took a big gulp of water before she could barely find her voice.

"Jin Hua... so much money... I'm afraid to close my eyes when I sleep at night."

Clearly, this amount of money was beyond her naive understanding.

Wang Jinhua put her arm around her shoulder, her expression suddenly turning serious.

"Sister, you're not alone, I'm here for you..."

As she spoke, her gaze passed over Ye Huimei and fell on Xiao Chen, who was squatting by the roadside watching people play chess not far away.

The child was wearing a white down jacket, and the sunlight fell on his fluffy head, making him seem to glow.

Nine out of ten passersby would turn around and look at him.

Wang Jinhua's gaze became more serious, and she lowered her voice.

"Sis, there's something I have to tell you."

"Xiao Chen is too eye-catching now. Not to mention Hollywood, his fame is growing day by day in China alone."

"Look at the entrance of your alley, haven't there been a lot more unfamiliar faces lately?"

Ye Huimei was taken aback, but immediately nodded.

"Yes! I thought they were here for tourism..."

Wang Jinhua shook her head, her tone grave.

"No, those are fans and paparazzi."

"I've had people inquire around, and most of them just want to see Xiaochen and take a few photos."

"But among them... it's hard to guarantee there aren't some with ulterior motives."

Ye Huimei suddenly remembered that a few nights ago, when she got up to drink water, she seemed to hear rustling sounds outside the yard.

At the time, she thought it was a stray cat, but now, thinking back on it, she feels a chill down her spine!

Ye Huimei dared not think any further and grabbed Wang Jinhua's hand.

"Jin Hua! What should we do?"

Wang Jinhua had been pondering this question, and now she was sharing her thoughts directly.

"The best solution is to move."

Money is not a problem right now.

"My idea is to buy a villa with the best security in Beijing, the kind with a yard."

"It would be best to hire a few more bodyguards and assistants for Xiaochen."

Ye Huimei nodded repeatedly as she listened.

Correct!

Buy a villa!

As long as her son's safety is guaranteed, she'd be willing to spend all 3000 million US dollars, or even go bankrupt!

The two hit it off immediately and hurriedly took Xiao Chen, who was still watching the chess game, home.

As soon as she entered the house, Ye Huimei told her son about her decision.

"Xiao Chen, Mom and Aunt Hua have made a decision."

"Let's buy a big villa! It'll be safe!"

Xiao Chen had just poured himself a glass of cool water when he heard this, and paused in his drinking motion.

He put down his cup and looked at his expectant mother and Wang Jinhua.

"I don't want to live in a villa."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

The living room fell silent instantly.

Ye Huimei was stunned.

"Why...why?"

"Villas are so great, they're big and safe!"

Wang Jinhua also became anxious.

"Xiao Chen, this isn't a question of whether it's good or bad, it's a safety issue!"

"Don't you know how many people are watching you right now?"

"Living in the alley like this is too dangerous!"

Xiao Chen pulled out a chair and sat down, swinging his two short legs.

"I know."

He knew better than anyone the extent of the frenzy that a phenomenal child star could attract.

But he had his own considerations.

"Aunt Hua, what you mean by safety—being close to a high wall—is useless."

"But for those who really want to cause trouble, no wall can stop them."

"True security is when, even if you find them, those people have no way to get to you."

Wang Jinhua was stunned by what he said.

"So what do you mean?"

Xiao Chen stretched out his finger and tapped on the old eight-immortal table.

"Let's buy a courtyard house."

Ye Huimei and Wang Jinhua spoke in unison.

"A courtyard house?"

In their minds, a siheyuan is the kind of large, crowded courtyard house they live in now.

Several families lived together in cramped conditions, and they had to use public toilets to go to the toilet.

It's cold in winter and hot in summer. Apart from having a bit of the old Beijing feel, how can it compare to a modern villa?

Wang Jinhua frowned.

"Xiao Chen, didn't you understand?"

"We're rich now, lots and lots of money! We can buy the best house in Beijing!"

"Why buy a courtyard house?"

"Isn't that just jumping from one pit into another?"

Xiao Chen smiled and patiently explained.

"Aunt Hua, I'm not talking about this kind of tenement courtyard."

"I'm talking about those large courtyard houses with one, two, or even three courtyards, each with its own entrance."

"Close the door, and it becomes a separate world."

"People outside have no idea what it's like inside."

He paused, his dark eyes gleaming.

"There are many neighbors in the hutong, and with so many people, it's easy to get distracted."

"If a stranger were to loiter around the neighborhood every day, we wouldn't even need to say a word; the helpful Chaoyang aunties would be able to interrogate him thoroughly."

"This is more effective than any security guard."

"and……"

Xiao Chen shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, his tone relaxed.

"I'm used to living in the hutongs. There are chess games at the street corners and cats playing at the end of the alleys."

"It's fine to stay in a villa occasionally for a vacation, but if I had to live there every day, it would feel like being in prison. It's boring."

These words are half true and half false.

The first half was the logic spoken to Wang Jinhua, and the second half was the preferences spoken to Ye Huimei.

But he didn't say the most important reason.

Who could have imagined that, more than a decade later, a courtyard house in the heart of Beijing would become a reality?

Its value will skyrocket to an astonishing level!

That is the true king of real estate, a symbol of status and heritage.

Villas may become outdated and depreciate, but courtyard houses, which carry history and culture, will only become more and more valuable.

This was the most secure backup plan he had prepared for himself and his mother.

Ye Huimei and Wang Jinhua both fell silent.

Looking at the seven-year-old child in front of them who was speaking so eloquently, they were momentarily at a loss for words.

What he said... seemed to make some sense?