Ning Qian saw that Xu Yun had no intention of greeting her, so she didn't make a move either.
But a feeling of inferiority began to creep into her heart.
'Maybe he's afraid the woman next to him will get the wrong idea.'
By now, Ning Qian had already assumed the woman was Xu Yun's girlfriend.
Xu Yun walked up to the car, staring intently at the red sports coupe before him.
He'd noticed Ning Qian, but the main reason he stopped was that the car was a perfect match for his aesthetic tastes. He absolutely loved it.
Before this, he hadn't given any thought to what kind of car he wanted to buy, or even what he liked.
Just a few days ago, his plan was to work hard after getting married and keep saving up for a car that cost around 200,000 yuan.
Back then, his choices were limited to domestic brands and a few joint-venture models, like the Yage, Passat, or Camry.
Brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche were completely out of the question—he wouldn't even dare to dream of them.
So now that he had money, he was a bit lost, unsure of what kind of car he actually wanted.
The issue wasn't the price, but the type of car.
Now, he knew.
This red sports coupe in front of him was the first car he truly wanted to buy.
The nearby salesperson was no fool.
Seeing Xu Yun's expensive clothes, he knew this was a serious buyer with deep pockets, not just a window-shopper, so he began his sales pitch with enthusiasm.
"Hello, Mr. Xu. This is our newest release for the year, a 911 RED Carrera model. The classic red design is a perennial favorite with younger buyers, and it's especially popular with the ladies.
It's available in both convertible and hardtop versions.
Furthermore, the standard configuration is quite generous. It comes with heated seats, a Bose sound system, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, a sport steering wheel, parking assist, a rearview camera, and more.
As for performance, it has a 3.4L flat-six engine, with a maximum power output of 350 PS, or 257 kilowatts. You can also choose between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive models."
Xu Yun didn't hear a single word of the salesperson's introduction.
He wasn't a car enthusiast, and he had no plans to go street racing every day. He was just a sucker for good looks.
Xu Yun turned and asked, "Can I sit inside and try it out?"
"Of course."
The salesperson quickly opened the car door for him and said with a smile, "Please, Mr. Xu!"
Xu Yun slid into the seat. He didn't know the first thing about materials, but one glance told him the interior was top-notch.
The feel of the comfortable steering wheel in his hands put him in a fantastic mood.
'If there were a long-legged beauty in stockings sitting in the passenger seat right now, that would be one of life's greatest pleasures!'
Just as he had that thought, Li Jinshu opened the passenger door and sat down.
Xu Yun: "..."
Li Jinshu, oblivious to Xu Yun's thoughts, settled into the passenger seat to take it all in, even pulling out her phone to snap some pictures.
'In a person's life, there are only three chances to determine your own destiny.
The first is birth, the second is the college entrance exam, and the third is marriage.
She couldn't control her birth, being born into an ordinary family where she had to work hard for everything she wanted.
For the college entrance exam, she worked hard, got into a prestigious 985 university, and studied design. After graduating, she found a job that was considered excellent by ordinary standards. She had escaped the struggles of the lower class and was living a decent life.
But she was still firmly in the "ordinary" category, a far cry from the wealthy elite.
No matter how hard she might work in the future, owning a sprawling luxury apartment like Su Mu's was impossible. Owning a luxury car like this one was even more so.
That was why she'd stayed single all these years. She wanted to use that third chance—marriage—to leap up the social ladder and obtain the things ordinary people could never have.
Of course, if she hadn't succeeded by the time she was thirty, she would settle for a man on her own economic level.
And now, Xu Yun presented himself as a very good prospect.
He was nice, handsome, and rich—the man of her dreams, practically.
But she didn't know how Xu Yun felt about her.
Besides, there was Su Mu to consider. Until she had a clear understanding of the relationship between Su Mu and Xu Yun, she didn't want to make a rash, wrong move.
If she failed, she would hurt her best friend and lose her chance to even be friends with Xu Yun.
Because in her eyes, if she couldn't be his girlfriend, even being his friend would be an excellent outcome.
In that case, if he just casually referred her for a design project—one of his friends' luxury villas, or even his own home—she would make a small fortune.'
Outside the car, Ning Qian, the model for this very vehicle, could only stand silently to the side.
She watched the woman in Xu Yun's passenger seat, a mix of envy and bitterness welling up inside her.
She, too, had dreamed of sitting in the passenger seat of a luxury car one day, with a man she loved at the wheel.
But reality was cruel.
Some people get to sit inside a Porsche and laugh without a care, while others can only stand outside and watch.
That was the gap between people.
The salesperson stood nearby and asked with a smile, "Mr. Xu, this is a really nice car. It's perfect for taking your girlfriend out for a spin.
You could drive up to Nanshan in the evening and enjoy the beautiful night view of Jiangcheng across the river."
"It's not bad."
Xu Yun got out of the car. "How much for this car?" he asked. "The all-in, on-the-road price."
"Are you looking to buy, Mr. Xu?"
"Yeah."
"There's a promotion on this model right now. The final price depends on the options you choose."
The salesperson explained, "It comes in hardtop and convertible, as well as rear-wheel and all-wheel drive."
"Convertible and all-wheel drive."
With the salesperson's guidance, Xu Yun went on to select various other options and packages.
Things like the wheels, interior color, steering wheel, and so on...
After all the options were added, the price came to nearly 1.75 million yuan.
The salesperson smiled. "If you order it today, Mr. Xu, we can get it for you for 1.65 million after the discount."
"Fine, that works."
Xu Yun asked nonchalantly, "Do I sign a contract now, or what?"
"No, you just need to put down a deposit. I'll write you a receipt."
The salesperson said happily, "I'll contact you when it's ready. You'll just go to the dealership I specify, pay the remaining balance, sign the final contract, and you can drive it off the lot."
"How long will that take?"
Xu Yun added, "I don't have a car at the moment, which is a bit inconvenient."
"Two days."
The salesperson replied, "I'll text you in two days. How does that sound, Mr. Xu?"
"Alright."
After that, they signed a purchase agreement, Xu Yun transferred a 600,000 yuan deposit, and they left.
On their way out, Li Jinshu said with a smile, "Congratulations on the new car."
"It's just a car to get around in. Nothing to congratulate."
"You call that 'a car to get around in'?"
Li Jinshu retorted, "Do you have any idea how many people could never afford a car like that in their entire lifetime?"
"True."
Xu Yun sighed. "The old me never imagined I'd be able to drive a car like this one day either."
"..."
Li Jinshu was left speechless.
'Is he actually complaining that this car is too cheap? That it's beneath his status and he's just settling for it?
The comparison is infuriating!'
Li Jinshu smiled and asked probingly, "So, Xu Yun, who's going to be the designated passenger in that car?"
"Who knows?"
Xu Yun teased, "Whoever wants a ride can have one. I'm single, so my door's always open!"
"Can I, then?"
Xu Yun gave her a meaningful look. "Are you being serious or just joking?"
"Joking, of course!"
Li Jinshu pouted. "I would never steal a man from Susu!"
"There's nothing between me and Sister Su."
After a moment, he added, "At least, not right now. So don't go playing matchmaker."
"So, does that mean I have a chance?"
"You have a great chance."
Xu Yun grinned. "But there's one condition for riding in my passenger seat: you have to wear black stockings."
Li Jinshu said, flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment, "Pah! You big pervert!"
"Don't act so high and mighty. We're all adults here."
Xu Yun shot back, "If men weren't perverts and all ran off to become monks, I'd like to see what you women would do then."
Li Jinshu: "..."
Back at the display stand, Ning Qian watched Xu Yun and Li Jinshu walk away, her spirits sinking.
It wasn't because there was another woman by his side.
It was because from the moment he arrived until the moment he left, Xu Yun hadn't spared her a single glance.
'Maybe... he didn't even see me.'
After her shift ended, she went backstage, changed her clothes, and pulled out her phone. Only then did she see an unread message from Xu Yun.
Xu Yun: [You were as beautiful as the car today.]