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.”
