May Wang was one of Evan Lin's junior-high classmates, though they were never particularly close.
Evan remembered that May's family wasn't well-off, and she wasn't exactly pretty—at best you could call her clean-cut. She was a bit withdrawn, and back in class she was always one of those unpopular kids who got excluded by everyone else.
After graduating junior high, Evan never saw May again—he never expected they'd run into each other here.
"You work here? You didn't go to school after all?"
Evan looked at May, who seemed a little embarrassed. "No, I stopped going to school after junior high," she replied.
"Oh right, you went to school over in Minghai, didn't you? How have you been lately?" May gave Evan a once-over, and before he could answer, she smiled shyly. "You look a lot stronger than before."
"I'm doing okay," Evan nodded.
"Are you just here for a stroll?" May asked curiously.
To create a high-end living environment, Mooncrest Manor had completely renovated the entire area—cobblestone paths, a small landscaped garden, pretty nice scenery. Usually, quite a few seniors and young people just came here to walk around.
Seeing Evan walk in, May naturally assumed he was just here for a walk. After all, she knew about his family situation, so she didn't ask if he was here to buy a house—she was just worried he'd feel awkward if she brought it up.
"No, I just wanted to see if there are any good houses. Could you recommend some?" Evan Lin shook his head.
May was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Sure!"
Hearing Evan's words, May simply thought he wanted to look at houses. As for buying, that was another matter. She knew Evan definitely wouldn't buy, but she still showed him around the development and explained everything carefully, never once asking if he was going to buy—she didn't want to embarrass him.
"Look at that rookie, wasting so much time on that kid—she must have a screw loose!" One of the saleswomen glanced at May Wang, who was leading Evan through the innermost section, showing him villa after villa. Her tone was full of disdain.
"She can't get along with people, can't even do her job right. That girl—she'll never amount to anything." Helen Han sneered, the more she looked at May, the more she found her tacky and annoying.
"This villa is the quietest, being furthest inside, but it's very close to the mountain, so the air can get pretty damp."
"This one's sunnier, and it's close to the main road inside the development, so the traffic is the most convenient."
May patiently explained each villa to Evan, answering every question he asked without hesitation.
"Mm."
Evan nodded.
Unknowingly, May Wang led Evan Lin right to the villa that Kevin Cheng and Lisa Liu were looking at.
Just as they walked up, before May could say anything, Kevin Cheng spoke to the saleswoman: "This house is pretty good, but can the price be discounted any further?"
The saleswoman smiled brightly. "The discount is already quite generous. Plus, look—this house has exits to both the east and west sides of the community, so the traffic is excellent. The rooftop is perfect for growing flowers and plants, with plenty of sunlight." She kept going: "With your status as successful people, I'm sure a few tens of thousands won't matter. What you're buying is comfort and a high-quality living environment."
Kevin Cheng and Lisa Liu were still hesitant, deep in thought.
If they sold their old house and combined it with their housing fund and a loan, they could afford it—it just felt a bit expensive.
While Kevin Cheng was thinking, he suddenly noticed a teenage boy standing in front of the villa, looking at it.
At first, he felt the boy looked familiar, but couldn't immediately recall where he'd seen him before.
Then he heard May Wang beside the boy say with a smile, "Evan Lin, this villa is the best one here. Because of its position, the pool behind it is much bigger than the others."
Not only that, but this villa stays warm in winter and cool in summer—it's really an excellent place.
May Wang had just finished speaking.
Kevin Cheng heard the name 'Evan Lin' and kept trying to remember where he'd heard it before—it felt so familiar, but he just couldn't place it.
But right then, Lisa Liu, who was feeling a bit awkward, suddenly changed expression. She pointed at Evan's nose, her eyes fierce: "You're Evan Lin?"
"You're the brat who dragged down my daughter's grades in junior high—and even hit my husband!" Lisa Liu's voice was shrill, and her shout drew everyone's attention.
Kevin Cheng suddenly remembered everything.
Back in junior high, Chloe Cheng's grades dropped quickly for a while. Later, after some intense questioning, they found out she'd started dating—and it was Evan Lin.
At the time, Kevin Cheng and Lisa Liu stormed into the school, demanding answers from the homeroom teacher and even called Evan's parent in.
Kevin remembered Evan's mother—she seemed to be an elementary school teacher, looking worn out by life. Faced with Kevin and Lisa's anger, she just kept apologizing.
Then Kevin and Lisa said some really harsh things, which made Evan snap. Right in front of the homeroom teacher, Evan punched Kevin, leaving him furious.
Afterward, Kevin demanded a hefty compensation, and only then did things settle down. Otherwise, Evan wouldn't have been able to finish junior high at all.
"It was you, kid!"
Kevin Cheng stared at Evan, his expression darkening as he pushed up his glasses. "Haven't seen you in years—still the same punk as ever!"
Kevin still couldn't let go of the time Evan beat him up.
"What a coincidence," Evan said coolly, glancing at them with a slight raise of his eyebrow.
Speak of the devil.
Just talked about Chloe at lunch, and now I've run into her parents tonight. Seriously, Whitewood County is so tiny it's almost ridiculous.
"Oh, still hung up on my Chloe? Listen up, kid! You and Chloe are impossible. You’re not from the same world!" Lisa Liu shouted at Evan, her voice so loud it seemed she wanted everyone to hear.
"With your grades, with your family background—don’t even think about getting close to my Chloe! If you try to pester her, I’ll call the police and have you arrested!"