Chapter 9

When did you start to like speaking the truth so much? Are you doing it on purpose?

I will take you there

Xu Ke paused for a moment before slowly saying: "1 million may not even buy you a car, but for some people, it is something they could never earn in several lifetimes. At that time, I was indeed very tempted when I went to look at the house. However, when I saw Zhang Yang driving a Hummer, I knew in my heart that it was probably hopeless. With his wealth, he surely wouldn't be buying a house on mortgage. It would be very difficult for Lin Ge and me to pay in full.

He took the toothpaste but did not rush to apply it to his hands; instead, he raised his arm and threw the toothbrush from a paper cup in front of the sink into the trash can.

Xu Ke immediately turned around nervously and said, "What are you doing?"

Xu Ke glanced over, feeling no guilt whatsoever

Xu Ke, today is my brother's birthday, come over to have some fun, and by the way, meet my new boyfriend and my brother's new girlfriend, you will be quite surprised!

Xu Ke was about to try on the silk stockings when Shen Mu suddenly crouched down and held her foot

Shen Mu held her tightly and chuckled softly, "If you don't plan to go to the appointment limping, you should go buy a pair of shoes first"

He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and arms folded, casually saying: "I am not as generous as you think, buying gifts for other men on your behalf"

The staff in the shoe store on the first floor immediately greeted her warmly, their eyes fixed intently on her feet

Forget it, let's just break the jar and let it fall apart. She steeled herself and said to Shen Mu, "I still need to go to the second floor to buy a gift"

Xu Ke watched his back with gritted teeth. In the future, even if he forgets to wear shoes when going out, he must not forget to bring money

After getting into the car, Shen Mu asked, "Are you going to Xiao Xiao's home?"

As she spoke, she took off her apron, hurriedly grabbed the coat behind the door, and walked out, feeling a sense of relief and lightness in her heart

As Xu Ke approached the entrance of the alley, he saw a Porsche parked by the roadside, illuminated by the streetlight. A white note was affixed to the black car's body, gently fluttering in the night breeze, making it quite conspicuous

Xu Ke's face turned completely red with embarrassment as she glared at Shen Mu and said, "I said, it's considered borrowing from you."

Lin Yao's inquiring gaze immediately turned over.

As the car passed a shopping mall on Xiangyang Road, Shen Mu opened the car door and smiled at her

Shen Muxiao smiled quietly and nodded to Zhang Fei

The sensor light suddenly went out. In the darkness, his expression was invisible, only a tall silhouette could be vaguely seen, carrying an air of the night that was difficult to decipher

His finger brushed against her sole, and he said softly, "You never had calluses here before; don't wear high heels anymore."

"No, if you don't believe me, you can ask Xu Ke." Shen Mu turned around and raised his chin towards Xu Ke.

Xu Ke responded with a vague and reluctant "mm"

Shen Mu stood in the hallway, quietly watching her, with no intention of defending himself

Shen Mu nimbly caught her and whispered with a smile, "There is porridge on the ground, afraid you would step on it, yet you still stepped on it after all"

Xu Ke felt that no matter how well-mannered she was, she could not withstand his repeated provocations. Why should he impose his cleanliness obsession on her? Whether it was the underwear from last time or the toothbrush this time, acting on his own accord, who does he think he is to her?

Why isn't it coming in?

I have eaten, how about you

At this moment, Xu Ke really had no mind to go barefoot to pick out shoes, casually saying: "Just grab any pair."

She opened her phone and sent a text message to Lin Ge

Shen Munu pouted and said, "You sit on the sofa, and I will choose."

Lin Yao was taken aback: "Mr. Shen is joking, right?"

Shen Mu stood in front of the counter and pointed at a pair of boots, saying: "This style, size 36"

Mo Xiaoxiao excitedly grabbed Xu Ke's hand and said, "Quick, look at the girl next to my brother, that's his new girlfriend"

Are you asking me to carry you in my arms or on my back

"Mr. Shen, what brings you here?" Lin Yao was the first to speak, looking both surprised and pleased, as if she hadn't thought much about it.

She set down the plate and took out her phone; it turned out to be Mo Xiaoxiao

After the car started, Xu Ke remained trapped in embarrassment for a long time, as if there were an endless supply of awkward incidents in front of him

Suddenly, she swayed and nearly fell. Looking down, she discovered that the heel of her shoe was caught in a gap of the manhole cover

Shen Mu responded with a faint "mm" and then followed Xu Ke downstairs

Lin Yao walked to the door and politely said, "Mr. Shen, please come again when you have time"

Shen Mu smiled and stood up, "You should have said so earlier"

Xu Ke hurriedly pushed him, but unexpectedly, as soon as she turned around, her foot slipped and she fell backward

Shen Mu's smile froze

If it were any other day, Xu Ke would certainly decline politely, but today, she truly did not want to face Shen Mu, so avoiding him was quite a good choice

Xu Ke nearly dropped the plate in her hand onto the ground

Shen Mu remained silent, turning his head to look at her several times, as if there were many words to say, yet in the end, he still chose to remain silent

The warmth of the palm was so soothing, as if it could seep through the skin and flow into the veins. Her heart skipped a beat, and before she could say anything, Shen Mu had already grasped her ankle and pulled forcefully, causing the shoe to come off while the heel remained stuck in the gap

She was so angry that she turned to leave when suddenly she heard a deep and gentle voice behind her

She said with a flushed face: "Please pay the bill for me, I forgot to bring money. I will pay you back later." Having embarrassed herself to this extent, she felt somewhat resigned; well, there were already enough awkward moments tonight, so one more wouldn't make a difference

Xu Ke felt that the small flame in his heart was starting to flicker upward again, as he was challenging her limits

She could hardly dare to respond any further, nor could she bear to meet Lin Yao's gaze. In a hurry, she rushed downstairs, fearing that if she stayed even a moment longer, Shen Mu might inadvertently utter some shocking words that would reveal the truth to Lin Yao

She was about to bend down to take off her shoes. A pair of hands had already reached her first, resting on her ankles

He held her close to his chest, as if he were using all his strength to prove something

Unexpectedly, Shen Mu immediately stood up, "I will go with you"

Saying this, he placed her in the car and then bent down to fasten her seatbelt.

Such straightforward yet profoundly meaningful words made Xu Ke's heart skip a beat, followed by a chaotic and erratic fluttering.

Shen Mu glanced at the back of his hand, bringing a red mark to her eyelid, and sighed, "Truly ruthless"

Xu Ke was exasperated: "Why are you following me?"

There was no car of his in the alley, and she casually asked, "Did you not drive today?"

Xu Ke felt both embarrassed and angry, wishing to find some tape to seal his mouth shut

Xu Ke quickly explained: "It was an accident."

Xu Ke got out of the car, thanked Shen Mu, turned left, and headed to Xiao Xiao's home

The waiter looked at Xu Ke in astonishment, as if watching a television drama

Shen Muxian left, and Xu Ke awkwardly looked at Lin Yao, unsure of how to explain Shen Mu's arrival

Xu Ke had no choice but to state the truth: "Mo Xinyu"

Just as she was about to explode with anger, the door was suddenly pushed open

Xu Ke wants to laugh

Xu Ke had truly never felt this embarrassed, her face flushed as she tried hard to maintain her composure

Half a minute later, they arrived at the Rong Residence

Shen Muxiao said: "You are being unreasonable. Xin Yu and I are childhood friends; is it not excessive for me to come and see him?"

Shen Mu blew on the back of his hand and asked, "Do you have burn ointment?"

Shen Mu is surprisingly motionless

Xu Ke looked at the quiet and fair-skinned "Zhang Fei" and chuckled.

Xu Ke finally couldn't help but burst into laughter

Xu Ke

She was unwilling to ponder the meaning behind his words and hurriedly walked out of the corridor

Xu Ke felt both shy and anxious. She struggled hard for a moment, but surprisingly, she could not break free. In her embarrassment and anger, she struck the back of his hand with the spoon in her hand

Be careful not to sprain your ankle while walking so fast

Xu Ke ignored him, only wanting to quickly leave the alley and part ways with him

Xu Ke turned around with a smile, feeling that all the gloom in her heart had vanished this evening. Since childhood, her mother had said that she was a person who did not hold grudges. She did not feel much about it before, but later realized that it was indeed true.

After the nanny opened the door, a lively scene unfolded in the courtyard, with lights filtering through the treetops, revealing an outdoor evening banquet.

As she spoke, she walked into the bathroom, picked up the toothpaste in front of the vanity mirror, and when she looked up, she saw him staring directly at her in the mirror

Passing by Green Island Villa, Xu Ke couldn't help but glance into the community. Indeed, the occupancy rate was not very high, with the lights on the upper floors sparse.

Xu Ke shot him a glare, saying, "Women are not as delicate as you; just apply some toothpaste."

It has opened, stopping at the intersection

It was Xu Ke who hit.

Shen Mu smiled and went to swipe the card. Then, he handed her the bill and said seriously: "Remember to pay me back"

Shen Mu narrowed her eyes and said, "Oh, drinking porridge is just an excuse"

Shen Muqing cleared his throat and said, "I believe it was intentional"

Xu Ke hung up the phone and said to Lin Yao: "Mo Xiaoxiao invited me to dinner, you and Shen Mu take your time. I will leave first"

Shen Mu suddenly lifted her up horizontally, and Xu Ke was both startled and embarrassed, struggling as she said, "What are you doing? Let go of me quickly."

Xu Ke followed Mo Xiaoxiao's hand and suddenly froze in surprise

Xu Ke's face flushed; having just seen his joke, he found himself in an embarrassing situation.

Fortunately, her phone rang at the right moment, bringing her back to her senses

I miss you dearly as soon as I leave

Xu Ke felt a warmth on her face, barefoot, she jumped out of the car, fortunately, she was still wearing a pair of silk stockings

Shen Mu turned around and glanced at Xu Ke, saying lightly: "I have something to discuss with Xu Ke. She hasn't been answering my calls, so I had no choice but to come over."

Xu Ke looked down and noticed that when the spoon had fallen earlier, a bit of porridge had splashed onto the floor, leaving a white mark that she had inadvertently slid with her foot. Even so, she still felt a bit angry; there was no need to hold her tightly with both arms just for a kind reminder, a verbal prompt would have sufficed

After a while, Lin Ge replied with a message

No, thank you." She quickly declined and walked away briskly, not wanting him to know that she was going to the Rong residence tonight, which was just a courtyard away from his home

Xu Ke rushed down to the first floor, turned around, and sought to settle accounts with Shen Mu

Xu Ke and Shen Mu turned around simultaneously, seeing Lin Yao standing at the door in surprise

She felt a stir in her heart; he still remembered her shoe size

His tone carried a hint of nostalgia, in the darkness, like an old song that had traversed the flowing years, suddenly resonating with a certain place in her heart

Soon, a pair of brown soft leather boots was placed in front of Xu Ke's feet, flat-soled.

Xu Ke was taken aback and turned to ask, "Aren't you going to have some porridge?"

Xu Ke's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and her face instantly turned crimson

She felt a bit uncomfortable and shoved the toothpaste into his hand

He has already left, do you plan to keep it for him to use next time

Shen Mu glanced at her with a smile as the car sped away

"Lin Yao, you chat with Shen Mu while I go prepare the meal." Xu Ke took the opportunity to slip away into the kitchen and closed the door.

Shen Mu shook his head helplessly, "The police are too dedicated."

What happened

Mo Xiaoxiao, in a mysterious manner, refused to speak and kept urging her: "You will know once you arrive, hurry up!"

She felt inexplicably melancholic, yet also inexplicably anxious. He often delivered the most heart-wrenching blow at the times when he was the gentlest and most considerate. Once bitten by a snake, she was afraid of the well rope for ten years. She quickly brushed his hand away and put on her boots. When she reached into her pocket, she realized that in her haste to leave, aside from the several dozen yuan left from her grocery shopping, there was also a card in her pocket, a public transport card

Have you eaten?

Upon reaching the second floor, she selected a tie at the men's clothing counter and signaled for Shen Mu to pay by card

Shen Muxiao's shoulders shook with laughter

Shen Mu Kuo walked over and said, "What happened? Did you sprain your ankle?"

Xu Ke was speechless, feeling that today was a significant miscalculation

Xu Ke felt a fever on her face, helplessly looking at the two shoes, one high and one low, hesitating whether to go home to change into another pair or to buy a new pair

Now, I believe it is better to speak the truth. If one tells a lie, one will have to tell countless lies to cover that lie, and eventually, it becomes difficult to distinguish which is the lie, and later... he paused, "one ends up deceiving oneself."

The spoon had just fallen out of the clay pot, still very hot, and Shen Mu seemed momentarily stunned, loosening his grip.

Xu Ke looked at the 2699 on the list, gritting his teeth in pain, not expecting that he had chosen such an expensive pair.

In progress

Mo Xiaoxiao rushed over, pulling a boy along with her

Shen Muchen fell silent for a moment and then said: "The houses in Green Island are very beautiful, and the environment is excellent, surrounded by villa areas. The only inconvenience is that it is far from the city center. At that time, there were rumors about building a subway near Green Island, so Zhang Yang bought ten houses in Green Island all at once as an investment. However, shortly after the houses were completed, the subway line was suddenly changed. As a result, Green Island fell into an awkward situation. Wealthy individuals found the area too small and preferred to buy nearby villas instead. Ordinary citizens were also unwilling to buy so far away, as it was inconvenient for commuting. Therefore, Zhang Yang was eager to sell the houses in Green Island. If you miss this opportunity, it would indeed be a pity"

His silence increasingly vexed Xu Ke, and he seemed to enjoy teasing her even more than before

This is Zhang Fei

Xu Ke was immediately ignited with anger and exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

He is too tall. In the past, she started practicing wearing high heels to match him well, and later it became a habit. A habit formed for one person, but unfortunately, it was later shown to another person

Shen Mu followed closely behind.

After a while, she opened the kitchen door while holding the stir-fried dishes, only to see Lin Yao asking with concern, "What happened to your hand?"

Shen Mu sighed, "A tricycle carrying coal balls is blocking the road"

She leaned back with all her strength, yet still felt his body. His profile was very attractive, right before her eyes, but she no longer had the courage to steal a glance as she did in her youth, stiffening her body and turning her head away.

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow: "Who are you sending it to?"

The villa at Rongdi consists of only two houses in a row. The Mo family and the Shen family are neighbors in the same row, each having their own independent courtyard. After Xu Ke moved to the Shen family with her mother, she quickly became friends with Mo Xiaoxiao and became relatively familiar with Mo Xinyu. However, since moving out of the villa at Rongdi, she has not visited Mo Xiaoxiao's home again. Whether it is out of fear of encountering Shen Mu or fear of rekindling memories, she has not given it any thought

Xu Ke's lips curled into a faint smile as she began to cook.

I will go too