Approaching the front door, she rang the doorbell, and a young man opened the door, smiling at her. “Hello, I’m Xu Ke,” she said. “Please come in, Ms. Xu. Feel free to look around,” he replied, welcoming her inside.
Stepping into the house, Xu Ke was immediately struck by its beauty. With a second glance, her admiration turned to astonishment. Shen Mu walked in from the balcony, his silhouette tall and upright against the light, just like in a dream. He slightly smiled at her, “I’m here to pick up a package and thought I’d check out Zhang Yang’s place.”
Hearing the word “package,” Xu Ke’s mind went blank. It was over; Lin Yao was right behind her, and now the excuse of Mo Xiaoxiao wouldn’t work anymore. She nervously glanced back at Lin Yao, who was looking at Shen Mu, not with suspicion as she had expected, but with a hint of admiration. Feeling slightly relieved, Xu Ke thought perhaps Lin Yao hadn’t connected the dots.
The house was spacious, with a view of the Emperor Lake from the large windows. It looked recently renovated, bright and fresh, exactly the country style Xu Ke loved, aligning with many of her own ideas. Lin Yao was excitedly looking around, constantly saying, “Nice, nice, it’s so beautiful.”
Xu Ke remained calm. The better the house, the colder her heart felt. Such a good house would definitely not come cheap. Shen Mu stood with his hands in his pockets, casually leaning against the liquor cabinet, looking like an outsider. Xu Ke didn’t look at him, but she could feel his gaze enveloping her like a net, making her uncomfortable. She quickly toured the place and then said to Zhang Yang, “Thank you, I’ve seen enough. I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
Zhang Yang seemed a bit surprised, “Ms. Xu, are you not satisfied?” Xu Ke laughed, “No, I’m very satisfied. The house is too good, so I think, well, I might not be able to afford it.” Zhang Yang laughed heartily, “Ms. Xu, you’re a friend of Shen Mu, and I’m in a hurry to go abroad, so we can discuss the price.”
Shen Mu, who had been silent, now spoke slowly, “Zhang Yang, you don’t need to consider me. Charge whatever the house is worth. It has a lot of potential for appreciation; even if you’re in a rush, you shouldn’t sell it too cheaply.”
Xu Ke felt like a small stone was stuck in her throat. Although she hadn’t planned on getting a discount because of Shen Mu, his insistence on a high price, while disassociating himself from any influence, seemed a bit excessive. She smiled stubbornly at Zhang Yang, “I’ll have my boyfriend come and take a look later. If you’re in a hurry to sell, don’t feel obliged to keep it for me.”
Her attitude surprised Zhang Yang, who glanced at Shen Mu for his reaction. Shen Mu, with a slight smile, patted Zhang Yang’s shoulder, “Selling something is like this, the highest bidder wins, no need for personal considerations.”
Xu Ke felt uneasy looking at Shen Mu’s nonchalant, detached demeanor. Initially, she felt slightly indebted to him for showing her the house, but now his words had stirred up her discomfort. Was he helping her or just teasing her? Her pride flared up, and she turned to leave with the reluctant Lin Yao in tow.
Shen Mu came over, “I’ll drive you back.” Lin Yao’s eyes lit up, but Xu Ke calmly declined, “No need, we’ll take the bus.” Shen Mu watched her with a slight frown, showing a hint of displeasure. Xu Ke could clearly see the word “stubborn” in his eyes.
Leaving Green Island, the sky was overcast, and the wind had picked up. Xu Ke, wearing a spring dress, felt the thin fabric cling to her legs as the wind blew, accentuating her slender figure. Moments later, a Porsche sped past, the wind lifting her skirt, leaving her both embarrassed and angry as she watched the car disappear, noting its license plate: A520. Showoff!
Lin Yao’s envious gaze followed the car until it turned the corner, then she exclaimed, “He drives a Porsche, he must be rich. How do you know him?” Xu Ke was silent for a moment before saying, “His father was once my stepfather.”
Lin Yao stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide, “So he’s like your brother!” Xu Ke replied indifferently, “Sort of, but he’s a stranger. Haven’t seen him in six years.” Lin Yao’s eyes sparkled as she began to ask more about Shen Mu. Xu Ke answered sporadically, feeling helpless yet unable to show her annoyance or outright tell her that such a person was out of her league.
Before they reached the bus stop, fine rain began to fall. Fortunately, it was just a spring drizzle, gently and coolly landing on their brows without making them too disheveled. This was a villa area, where most residents had their own cars, so taxis were scarce. Xu Ke was looking forward to the bus when she unexpectedly saw the A520 speeding towards them from the intersection. Her heart stirred, thinking he had turned back because of the rain. However, the car didn’t stop, zooming past her.
Xu Ke bit her lip, feeling a sudden tightness in her chest. The fine rain felt cool on her face, bringing a sense of clarity. She silently reinforced her resolve. Time could erase hatred and dilute the past, but it couldn’t change someone’s essence; he was still the cold, unfeeling person from six years ago. She told herself, for her mental and physical health, this would be the last time she got involved with him. Better not to see him again.
Just as she was thinking this, a Hummer stopped in front of them. The window rolled down halfway, revealing Shen Mu.
