Chapter 2

The dim light accentuated his tall and imposing figure, while also casting a gentle hue over his handsome features. Perhaps having just experienced a fright, she unexpectedly felt a hint of affection towards him

Although the law explicitly states that securities practitioners are not allowed to trade stocks, who in a securities company does not engage in stock trading? Generally, they open accounts in the names of their family members. Xu Ke uses Lin Ge's account, but the fifty thousand yuan inside is her own savings

It's nothing, I have a knife under my pillow

Following Xu Ke's instructions, the car twisted and turned along the narrow path for quite some time before finally stopping in front of a seven-story residential building

Shen Mu furrowed his brows slightly

Xu Ke declined listlessly, "Thank you, but I won't trouble Mr. Shen."

Xu Ke suddenly felt weak and trembled as she sat up, quickly running to the window and locking it tightly. Just a moment ago, while peeking from behind the window at Shen Mu's awkward attempt to reverse, she had been so pleased that she forgot to lock the window.

Green Island! Xu Ke admitted that she was quite moved, but also rationally felt that it was not very realistic. She had a rough idea of how expensive the houses on Green Island were, so she politely replied with "thank you," not very enthusiastic.

Her fingers slowly released the phone and grasped a knife

When the first note of the familiar tune sounded, Xu Ke's heart skipped a beat

She took out her phone, looked at the recently dialed number, thought for a moment, and still chose to save it. When entering the name, she instinctively typed three characters: He Ding Hong

Xu Ke was taken aback, recalling his obsession with cleanliness. In fact, she also found it disgusting and wanted to throw it away after it had been touched by that thieving hand. However, for some reason, when the words came out of his mouth, she inexplicably felt a sense of rebellion and casually replied, "It can be washed and used."

Lin Yao's handwriting is as stingy as she is. Xu Ke has never encountered such a miserly person; no matter the time or how urgent the matter is, she will definitely not answer your call and will insist on returning the call using the office phone. To her, a mobile phone is merely a pager

The narrow alley can only accommodate a single vehicle, and the dim streetlights, along with the dilapidated houses, create a stark contrast with his sports car

After a while, the thief, having gained nothing, quietly pushed open the window and climbed down

Shen Mu lowered his head to drink the porridge, unsure whether it was the porridge that was unappetizing or his stomach that was uncomfortable, as he kept frowning.

He is not wrong. Xu Ke no longer holds back

Xu Ke pointed to a small alleyway in Huxi and said, "Mr. Shen, this is good enough."

After saying this, she immediately began to regret why she hadn't been more tactful. Why hadn't she lobbied a bit more? A mere one-thousandth of the bonus was just dismissed like that. Did she think she was a wealthy heiress?

She suddenly jolted awake, coming to her senses in a daze

She opened the text message, and the content was simple, consisting of only one sentence

Thief

Once the music finished playing, he turned his head to glance at her and said, "Didn’t you just say you would treat me to a meal? Why haven’t you settled the bill?"

He walked straight past Xu Ke and entered the room

Xu Ke turned her head to look out the window again

Xu Ke was very surprised. Who is this? After hesitating for a moment, she dialed the number.

Shen Mu got into the car and casually turned on the sound system, only to find that it was playing "Take a Bow"

He stood in front of the windowsill, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he asked, "Are you going to report this to the police?"

Unexpectedly, I dreamt of Shen Mu. He was sitting on the balcony of the villa's second floor, holding a lit cigarette, backlit. She could not see his face clearly, but felt that there was a hazy glow surrounding him, both real and illusory, very beautiful

Xu Ke smiled wryly and rubbed her cheek: "I was startled. There was a thief in the house just now, and I wanted to call the police. I might have accidentally pressed the redial button when I took out my phone and called you. I apologize for that"

Xu Ke was taken aback; she did not expect him to refuse in such a joking manner. Her pride emerged inappropriately, and her smile was forced: "Since Mr. Shen is so loyal to his friends, I shall not say anything further"

She was so frightened that she could hardly breathe, and her heart was about to leap out of her chest

Shen Mu unhesitatingly said, "I will take you inside."

Xu Ke got out of the car, expressed her thanks, and walked into the corridor without looking back

She thought for a moment, and the words that were on the tip of her tongue were not intended to be spoken.

She did not look at his expression, and with the illustrated book, she tried hard to remain calm, as if even a slightly heavier breath would reveal her inner thoughts

On Monday, fully invested in buying 600xxx

Watching him pull out the underwear and toss it carelessly onto the floor, Xu Ke felt both fear and anger

He watched as the lights turned on layer by layer, and then a light illuminated a window on the fifth floor

Xu Ke was extremely nervous, but upon listening intently, she recognized it was Shen Mu's voice

At such an old age! Xu Ke secretly gritted his teeth, wondering how he could be so sharp-tongued

Xu Ke closed the door and walked to the window to open it. The headlights of the cars downstairs were very bright, and the Porsche was trapped in the narrow alley, unable to maneuver left or right

Xu Ke felt very embarrassed, and casually gathered the underwear before placing it in the drawer

She lay on the bed in a daze for a while, gradually falling asleep

He seemed quite satisfied with this answer, turning his head with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown

She turned on the light, quickly climbed onto the bed, and hugged the blanket, her drowsiness completely startled away.

I happen to have a friend who is going abroad, and he is urgently looking to sell his house in Green Island. I will have him contact you later

Shen Mu's eyes filled with anger as he coldly said: "You consider moving to Green Island, and I consider transferring my household registration to your company"

Looking at the K-line chart of 600xxx, and then considering the recent trends and accompanying news, it is indeed poised for a rapid surge. Xu Ke turned off the computer and lay in bed, unable to stop pondering Shen Mu's intentions. Why did he share this insider information with her? Was it out of a sense of guilt, wanting to make amends in this way after six years?

She was about to pull the light, but felt something was amiss. On the window, there was a black shadow, and in the dim moonlight, she could vaguely see a person bending down and rummaging through her drawer

She believed that Shen Mu's revenge had been thoroughly vented six years ago. Now, he should no longer hate her, and she should no longer hate him; they could meet with a smile to bury their grievances, and then become like strangers. Therefore, he had no need to disclose false information to deceive her

Xu Ke waited for a while, but he remained silent. Just as she was about to hang up, he suddenly asked, "Do you believe it?"

Xu Ke helplessly said with a guilty conscience: "Just ordinary friends"

She could not help but laugh

Shen Mu furrowed her brows and turned around, saying, "It is very messy here; you cannot stay here."

The thief stealthily rummaged through things for a while, glancing at Xu Ke on the bed

This is a stock that a friend has invested in. You need to enter on Monday; otherwise, you will not be able to seize the subsequent price limit increases. There will be a rapid surge next week, and you should sell within two weeks.

No need. There is nothing valuable in my house. The thief must be regretting it right now

What is wrong with you? You just called me and then remained silent.

Shen Mu furrowed his brows and said, "There is still some distance from here to the city center, the buses have stopped running, and there are no taxis. I think with you wearing such high heels, you won't be able to walk to the city center."

At this moment, the sudden appearance of an acquaintance brings immense comfort, even if this person was once her enemy and is now a stranger.

I went to Kaifeng with my classmates today and will return the day after tomorrow

This area was originally a rural suburb, but due to the rapid development of the city, it has been embraced by urban expansion within a mere ten years. However, the dilapidated houses and the narrow, unplanned streets remain incongruous with the entire city, resembling a nouveau riche individual suddenly intruding among the aristocracy, exuding an air of poverty and pettiness. Nevertheless, this is the most affordable rental area in the city, where Xu Ke and her boyfriend Lin Ge, along with Lin Yao, Lin Ge's sister, have rented a two-bedroom apartment together

Xu Ke was taken aback; when did she call him?

Do you live here alone

Xu Ke, Xu Ke

The thief moved in front of the wardrobe again. The sound of opening the cabinet door was too loud, so he chose the drawer beneath the cabinet door. Unfortunately, it only contained Xu Ke's underwear

At that time, when the two decided to share a rental house, Xu Ke did not want to live in Huxi, believing that the environment was poor and the public safety was also lacking. However, Lin Yao insisted on living here because the rent was very cheap

He then asked, "Why does your complexion look so poor? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xu Ke looked out the window, fully aware of the situation; why must one insist on having others make it explicit?

Xu Ke turned her head in surprise, "I thought, no need to settle the bill"

Xu Ke turned her head and smiled faintly at him: "I thought you were friends"

Tiger West

I live with my boyfriend's sister

The wooden cabin stood out against the backdrop of a beautiful moonlit night, with a gentle glow illuminating the surroundings. The flowers and trees flourished, subtly evoking the essence of a picturesque scene under the moonlight, reminiscent of a perfect moment shared among blossoms and the moon.

She did not know whether he had intentionally played this piece. That night, her first love came to an end with this piece of music... The time of that night was like fireworks bursting into the sky, dazzling and brilliant to the utmost, followed by boundless illusion and silence

Where do you live

This knife has been placed under her pillow for two years, ever since the first day she moved here. Lin Yao has always joked about it, but today it has found its purpose. With this knife, she feels much more at ease.

Unfortunately, her mind is filled with that fleeting moment of one in a thousand.

He remained silent, deliberately creating a tranquil atmosphere, allowing this piece of music to flow quietly through the air, gradually sketching the memories of days gone by

Xu Ke smiled silently: "Why should I not believe?" Then, she hung up the phone and opened her computer

At your age, you should consider buying a house

Xu Ke was not in the mood to watch him eat, her mind wandering as she thought about leaving

In those years, his name in her phone was "Pufferfish," delicious yet toxic, a longing filled with risk. However, after that night six years ago, she understood that he was not a pufferfish, but rather "Cinnabar," not a risk, but something she absolutely must not touch

She quietly reached under the pillow and felt her phone. With one press, it was 110, but after the call connected, she was unable to speak. How could she report the incident

He stepped outside and locked the door behind him. After a while, the sound of a car starting echoed from downstairs

The call was connected, and it was actually Shen Mu! How did he know her phone number

He frowned and said, "Just throw it away."

Shen Mu's gaze passed over her shoulder, looking into the room. He was very tall, and the disarray in the room was fully visible.

Xu Ke walked to the window, looking at the sports car parked in the narrow alley, no longer smiling

He briefly finished speaking, yet did not hang up the phone, as if there was still something to say

The city at midnight appears so desolate, the roads are wide, and the cars are moving swiftly, reaching Huxi in less than ten minutes

Xu Ke was just about to stop him when Shen Mu had already driven the Porsche into the narrow, winding street

The Porsche, like a tiger fallen to the plains, was unable to turn around after several attempts; in the end, it drove out in reverse all the way

Xu Ke remained motionless, holding her breath as if asleep. At this moment, she missed Lin Ge very much, but he was far away in Wuhan

In her dream, she was still awake enough to know that he and she were already in the past, so she turned her head and linked arms with Lin Ge. Strangely, Lin Ge shrugged off her arm and left in anger

What is this? A transaction? Xu Ke casually remarked, "I can't afford to rent a house on Green Island."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. In the stillness of the night, it sent a chill down one's spine

There is a note stuck on the mirror in the bathroom

After taking a shower, she changed into her pajamas and lay down under the covers, planning to turn off her phone and sleep in tomorrow. When she picked up her phone, she discovered a text message from an unknown number.

On the ground lay Xu Ke's lingerie, in pale pink, light purple, and grass green, resembling the wildflowers blooming in the fields after a spring rain, fresh and serene, yet subtly alluring.

Xu Ke felt helpless; considering that she was Lin Ge's sister and would be her future sister-in-law, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow, her expression somewhat displeased, "What do you think? What do you believe?"

Shen Mu surveyed the room, walked to the door, and turned back to say: "Lock the door and go to sleep"

Xu Ke finally couldn't help but let out a chuckle. She happily turned around to go to the bathroom to wash up

Shen Mu glanced at her again and relentlessly pursued the question: "What do you think?"

He hardly touched the dishes on the table, and after drinking a bowl of porridge, he stood up and said: "I will take you back."

Does he still need to settle the bill in a relationship like the one he has with Rongrong? Moreover, when he left, he showed no intention of settling the bill, and neither did Rongrong

Shen Mu's expression darkened: "What friend?"

There are faint, almost inaudible sounds in the room, is there a mouse

At this moment, she could almost be certain that he played this piece intentionally

She jumped off the bed and quickly opened the door

It is imperative to buy a house! This is the only thought in her mind at this very moment, more intense and urgent than ever before