Xu Ke’s face burned as she looked at her mismatched shoes, debating whether to go home and change or buy a new pair. Suddenly, Shen Mu scooped her up in his arms, startling and embarrassing her. She struggled, “What are you doing? Let go!” Shen Mu held her tighter, chuckling softly, “If you don’t want to limp to your appointment, let’s go buy you a new pair of shoes.” With that, he set her in the car and leaned over to buckle her seatbelt. She leaned back, but still felt his presence. His profile was strikingly handsome, but she lacked the courage to gaze at him as she once did, stiffly turning her head away.
After the car started, Xu Ke remained in an awkward silence for a long while. In front of him, it seemed she was doomed to make a fool of herself. Shen Mu, after a moment of silence, said, “The houses at Green Island are beautifully built, with a great environment, surrounded by villas. The only inconvenience is the distance from downtown. There was talk of building a subway near Green Island, so Zhang Yang bought ten houses there as an investment. However, shortly after the houses were completed, the subway route changed. Thus, Green Island found itself in an awkward position. The wealthy found the lots too small, preferring nearby villas, while ordinary citizens were reluctant to buy due to the commute. So, Zhang Yang is eager to sell. It would be a shame if you missed out.” Xu Ke paused for a moment before slowly saying, “A million might not even buy you a car for someone like you, but for others, it’s a lifetime’s earnings. When I went to see the houses, I was indeed tempted. But seeing Zhang Yang drive a Hummer, I knew there was no chance. Someone as rich as him wouldn’t be buying on a mortgage. For me and Lin Ge to pay it off in full would be tough.”
