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He tilted his head back and took a big gulp of ice-cold beer. The icy liquid slid down his throat, dispelling the smoky smell of the barbecue. He let out a satisfied sigh: "That was great! I feel so refreshed!"

He Fei also took two small sips. The cold beer, with its slightly bitter taste and effervescence, rushed into her mouth, and she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.

A beautiful blush quickly spread across her fair cheeks, making her look exceptionally radiant under the night lights.

As they were finishing their meal, Chen Zhiyuan stood up and said, "I'm going to the restroom. Do you want to go too?"

He Fei smiled and rolled her eyes at him, her eyes sparkling: "Go by yourself, I don't need to."

Chen Zhiyuan hummed a tuneless little tune happily as he walked toward the public toilet not far away.

After taking care of his personal needs, he washed his hands while thinking: Now that my physique has improved, even my urination is exceptionally powerful. With a little effort, I can throw water several meters away, like firing a machine gun.

Being young is wonderful!

Thinking back to my previous life, my health started to decline after I turned forty. I would often get urine on my hands when I urinated. Sigh, it's a long story.

After leaving the restroom, Chen Zhiyuan went straight to the shop owner and quietly paid the bill.

Not much, fifty-three yuan in total.

But for He Fei, this money might mean ten days' worth of food expenses.

He Fei, of course, had no idea. After they finished eating, she got up to pay the bill, but the owner smiled and told her, "Young lady, your boyfriend already paid."

"Chen Zhiyuan!" He Fei turned around, a little anxious and a little embarrassed, "I promised to treat you..."

Looking at her slightly puffed-up cheeks and those eyes that seemed to say "I didn't keep my promise," Chen Zhiyuan found her charmingly naive appearance particularly amusing and couldn't help but laugh.

"Same here, same here! I'll treat you this time, and you can treat me next time, isn't that fine?"

"Well... it's a promise! You definitely can't sneakily pay next time!" He Fei looked at him earnestly.

"Okay, no problem, I promise I won't do it secretly," Chen Zhiyuan assured with a smile.

It was still early, and neither of them planned to go back to their dorm immediately.

So I strolled along this bustling street aimlessly, soaking in the energy and vibrancy that belonged to young people.

Perhaps it was the slight intoxication and relaxation brought on by a few beers, or perhaps it was the natural cover provided by the night and the crowd, but Chen Zhiyuan naturally reached out and gently took He Fei's small hand placed at her side.

That hand was soft, smooth, and warm.

He Fei's face flushed bright red instantly, her heart skipped a beat, and then started pounding wildly like a rabbit in her chest.

She panicked slightly, instinctively flinching, her voice barely audible: "There are...there are so many people watching..."

Chen Zhiyuan felt a surge of amusement. Did she mean... that it was okay if no one was around?

But he didn't loosen his grip; instead, he tightened it slightly, with an undeniable gentle domineering air.

Holding He Fei's hand, he continued walking slowly forward, chatting casually with her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He Fei only struggled symbolically at first, and then let him lead her.

The warmth and pressure from her fingertips sent waves of sweet, tingling sensation through her, making her cheeks flush, yet she couldn't bear to pull her hand away.

"Sir, your girlfriend is very beautiful!"

A clear and melodious female voice rang out from the side.

Chen Zhiyuan turned his head and saw a young woman in a well-fitting business suit with exquisite makeup smiling as she handed him a colorful flyer.

Turns out she was a real estate consultant. She's really dedicated, still promoting houses in a high-traffic area at night.

"Sir, would you be interested in learning more about our property? 'Mirror Lake Impression,' a true lake-view apartment complex, is just a short distance away, and it's a high-quality, upscale community..." the saleswoman enthusiastically introduced.

Chen Zhiyuan took the flyer, smiled, and said half-jokingly, "Miss, do I look like someone who can afford a house?"

"Yes! I'm sure you have the financial means!"

The saleswoman's gaze swept over Chen Zhiyuan's composed demeanor and his understated yet well-made clothes. Her tone was confident, and her smile became even more sincere.

Chen Zhiyuan was amused by her: "You have a good eye. I will definitely consider buying a house, but I don't have time to look at any right now."

"It's alright, sir! You can take a look at our promotional materials first. They have floor plans and detailed descriptions. Our community is right by Mirror Lake, the environment is especially nice..." The young lady didn't miss any opportunity.

Chen Zhiyuan took the beautifully printed brochure and said loudly, "Okay, I'll keep the brochure. If I really plan to buy a house, I'll contact you."

"Jinghu Impression"... Chen Zhiyuan had some impression of this neighborhood.

This is one of the earlier high-end residential communities in Jiangzhou, featuring innovative designs and emphasizing lake views and quality.

It boasts a prime location, situated right on the shores of Mirror Lake. Mirror Lake is the largest natural lake in Jiangzhou, with half of it located within the campus of Jiangnan University, earning it the reputation of "the pearl within the campus"; the other half is surrounded by a bustling commercial district, and this commercial street is built along the lake.

Clutching the flyer, a thought arose in Chen Zhiyuan's mind: Should he buy a house now?

It's 1999 now, and housing prices across the country are still at a low level, practically dirt cheap.

Especially for high-end residential communities like "Jinghu Impression," which are destined to become prime locations in the future, the price per square meter is probably less than 1,000 yuan now.

This is a lake-view apartment in Jiangzhou, the provincial capital!

Twenty years from now, in this location and environment, you shouldn't even dream of buying a place for less than 20,000 to 30,000 yuan per square meter. This is absolutely a sure-fire investment, allowing you to live there yourself and wait for the property to appreciate in value.

"Yes, this is something worth seriously considering," Chen Zhiyuan folded the flyer and put it in his pocket.

Okay, I'll make some time tomorrow to check out a few nearby properties and pick the one I like best to buy for myself.

The numbers in your bank account keep growing, but they're just cold, hard numbers lying in the bank.

We must invest these assets to revitalize them, increase their value, and multiply them, allowing them to grow bigger and bigger like a snowball.

Chen Zhiyuan made up his mind.

Around nine o'clock in the evening, the streetlights on campus cast a soft, dim glow.

Chen Zhiyuan held He Fei's soft, slightly cool hand, and the two walked side by side on the way back to the dormitory.

The campus presents two distinct appearances at this time of day: the main roads and the area near the cafeteria remain bustling with people; but some areas have quieted down, with dim and hazy lighting, such as the grove of trees they are currently passing by.

This grove of trees right next to Mirror Lake has an unspoken nickname among students at Jiangnan University—"the sanctuary of love."

In the evenings, especially on weekend evenings, this place becomes a paradise for couples.

Under the dappled shadows of the trees, couples can be seen everywhere, whispering to each other, embracing tightly, and even faint sounds and suppressed laughter can be heard coming from deep within the bushes.