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“Huh? Oh.” The woman looked confused but obediently agreed, her voice low. She glanced at the man walking toward them behind Vivian and smiled brightly, as clueless as ever: “I understand... Second Sister...”
After passing through the kitchen, Sophia Gu did not return to her room but boarded a bus to a bustling square in the city center.
Even at this hour, the square was still bustling with people. Couples walked past her, holding hands, and there were a few small stalls selling bags and toys on the ground. The clothes and shoes she was wearing now were all bought from these stalls—a simple T-shirt and jeans, paired with a pair of white sneakers.
Appearing at such a banquet in that outfit, it was no wonder that her second sister, who was just as concerned about appearances as her grandfather, had said such things. However, recalling the slight frown on her second sister’s brow and the fleeting look of displeasure as she left, Sophia Gu couldn’t help but curve her lips into a faint smile.
She pulled out her phone from her pocket to check the time. She no longer had any expectations for today’s date. Looking at the towering skyscraper ahead, she shrugged and decided to go shopping instead, treating herself to a birthday celebration. Derek Gu wouldn’t be back until after 11 PM.
After taking just a few steps, she saw a fair-skinned man walking toward her calmly, holding a bouquet of roses.
She composed her bored expression and gave a lukewarm smile: “Yang Jie, you’re here?”
“For you!” Yang Jie proudly handed her a large bouquet of red roses.
He was tall and muscular, wearing an orange shirt, dark brown casual pants, and a pair of outdated dark brown leather casual shoes of an unknown brand.
“They're beautiful, thank you!” Sophia Gu was easy to please, like all women in love, and immediately broke into a smile. However, she kept one hand in her pocket and the other holding her phone, refusing to take the flowers.
“What? Don't you like them?” Yang Jie looked at her unhappily. His eyebrows were thick, his eyes deeply sunken, making his nose appear exceptionally high and straight.
He scrutinized Sophia Gu from head to toe, frowned, and stood beside her, casually remarking, “You wore this outfit last week, didn’t you?”
Seeing the obvious superiority and disdain in his eyes, Sophia Gu looked at him in confusion and innocently asked, “Yes, so what?”
Yang Jie reached out to hug her waist, but she stepped back lightly, her tone still that of a love-struck little woman: “Stop it, it's itchy!”
He noticed the shoes on her feet and raised his voice a notch: “Where did you buy those shoes?”
Sophia Gu smiled charmingly, her jade-like chin extending into a delicate line, and casually gestured toward the street vendor, answering very bluntly:
“From a street vendor!”
“How much?”
“About a hundred yuan!” She spoke indifferently, then suddenly raised her face and gave him a sideways glance, asking with a hint of a smile, “What? Did I pay too much?”
“You should buy better shoes next time. My colleagues all have shoes that cost over a thousand!”
Sophia Gu's expression grew somber. She lowered her head before lifting it again to look ahead, responding softly, “Oh, you guys are really rich!”
Whether or not he noticed the sarcasm in Sophia Gu’s tone, Yang Jie arrogantly wrapped his arm around her slender shoulder, lifted his head high, and pointed to a building about 500 meters northwest of the skyscraper she had been about to enter, saying, “Let’s go eat first. In a few days, when I have time, I’ll take you to Baida to buy a few pieces of clothing!”
In a few days when we have time? Sophia Gu, whose gaze remained fixed ahead, let a faint smile curve her lips and exclaimed admiringly, “The Hundred Greats? You're so generous!”
“I'll take you out to eat!” The man humbly changed the subject, speaking briskly, his voice betraying his evident joy.
Sophia Gu smiled happily, her eyes sparkling like shards of broken glass reflecting countless beams of light, dazzlingly bright.
She tilted her face upward to gaze at him, her voice soft and playful: “I've never tried French cuisine before!”
“French cuisine?”
Sophia Gu looked at him admiringly: “You must eat it often, right?”
He humbly replied: “Not often, just occasionally. French cuisine isn't very tasty!”
“Not tasty?” She lowered her eyelids in disappointment, her emotions hidden beneath her eyes, her tone filled with sadness: “But I want to eat it...”
Yang Jie looked at her with an “you're so spoiled” expression: “Then let's go eat French cuisine!”
“Great!” Her thick eyelashes completely covered her bright eyes, her lips curled up, revealing her white teeth, her smile blooming like fireworks, her expression as silly as a happy little woman immersed in the sweetness of love. “I know a good French restaurant!”
After smiling, she turned her face slightly with a worried expression, blinking her clear eyes, and asked very seriously, “Do you have enough money?”
Yang Jie, feeling humiliated by the remark, frowned unhappily and said arrogantly, “Don't worry about that. Let's go!”
Sophia Gu smiled without saying a word, then pressed a few keys on her phone before casually putting it back into her bag.
H City was a place where every inch of land was precious, with sky-high property prices. Even affordable housing units cost nearly ten thousand yuan per square meter. As a famous scenic spot in the heart of the city, Nanhu Lake had even higher property prices. A nearby apartment complex called Heima had once been auctioned off for over a hundred thousand yuan per square meter.
This restaurant is located beside Nanhu Lake, with a large floor area and a circular staircase shape. The other side of the restaurant is one of the city's best entertainment venues, complete with KTV, bowling, and more. Below is a large underground parking lot. About 500 meters south is H City's busiest commercial street. Despite its proximity, the area remains quiet and serene, with a peaceful and pleasant environment. Most of the guests who come here to relax have a relaxed smile on their faces.
- Writer
