Chapter 664 - 412: A Familiar Scent and an Unacceptable Reality

Chapter 664: Chapter 412: A Familiar Scent and an Unacceptable Reality

CLIP-CLOP... CLIP-CLOP...

Horse hooves striking the bluestone-paved road produced a series of crisp sounds. Along both sides of the street were numerous active construction sites.

On this scorching hot afternoon, construction workers who had just finished their lunch were urged on by their foreman, toiling and sweating profusely under the sun.

"WHOA."

The carriage driver tugged on the reins, and the galloping horse, understanding the signal, came to a halt.

"Sir, we’re here."

Lin Li stepped down from the carriage, pulled a stack of banknotes from his pocket, and handed two of them to the driver.

The driver, having received his fare, smiled and stuffed the money into his pocket before driving the carriage away.

Lin Li withdrew his gaze from the departing carriage and turned to look at the construction site across the street.

It had only been a few days, but the villa being built at the construction site across the street was already close to being topped out.

It seemed the construction efficiency of these workers in Dongwu City was no less than that of the workers on Blue Star, who had professional construction equipment.

As time went on, more and more homes would be completed in this area, which the Dongwu City government had zoned for the trendy, villa-style residences that had become popular in recent years.

Once the residences were finished and more people moved in, the various supporting infrastructure would also follow.

By then, this area, which currently became very quiet after sunset, would grow increasingly lively.

Based on his experience from the other world, once the area became bustling, property values would also rise with the tide.

’At this rate of development, the villa I bought will appreciate in value very soon.’

’If the previous owner hadn’t been in a rush for cash, I never would have been able to get a house in this location for that price, let alone one that came fully furnished and decorated.’

Lin Li gazed at the nearly completed villa across the street, lost in thought. He didn’t snap out of it until a few birds flew overhead, letting out shrill cries.

"Those birds are so loud!" Lin Li grumbled, glancing up at the unknown birds as they flew away.

Then, he turned and walked to the main gate of his villa. With a thought, a ring of keys materialized in his hand.

CLICK.

He opened the villa’s main gate, entered the courtyard, and stepped onto a cobblestone path, heading straight for the quiet house in the distance.

While walking on the cobblestone path, Lin Li scanned his surroundings. On the lawn next to the villa was a clothesline, and a few brightly colored items caught his eye.

’A traditional bodice?!!!’

A few articles of clothing were hanging on the clothesline. Among them, a bright red garment was particularly eye-catching, swaying gently with the occasional breeze.

This type of clothing, which was already extremely rare on Blue Star, made Lin Li stare blankly for a moment, and he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

"Uh..."

He didn’t have to guess to know the clothes on the line belonged to Qin Muqing. Although he had only stared for a few extra moments out of curiosity, it was hard to shake the feeling that he was ogling someone’s personal laundry.

Lin Li quickly averted his gaze, muttering "I think those were mandarin ducks embroidered on it" under his breath as he continued walking.

CLICK.

The solid wood door at the entryway made a sound. Lin Li opened it, stepped inside, and casually closed it behind him. Then, he returned the ring of keys in his hand to the Mysterious Small Island.

The house was silent. Lin Li went to the living room on the first floor to check but saw no one, so he called out, "Qin Muqing."

The sound echoed through the room, but no one answered Lin Li’s call.

’Is she not home? Or is she in her bedroom on the second floor and didn’t hear me?’

If he hadn’t just seen her clothes on the line, Lin Li might have thought that Qin Muqing had left.

Just as he was about to go up to Qin Muqing’s bedroom on the second floor to see if she was there, he heard a noise from the entryway.

The sound of the door opening was heard. Lin Li left the living room and walked toward the entryway.

Her hair was piled high, and she was wearing a simple, light gray long dress.

The style of the dress was a very common one seen on the streets. Paired with her unremarkable looks, if Qin Muqing were walking down the street, almost no one would pay her any mind.

Uh... then again, it wasn’t true that *no one* would look at her.

Although Qin Muqing’s face was currently plain and unremarkable, her figure was exceptional. Even the loose-fitting, light gray dress she wore couldn’t hide her distinct curves.

"Mr. Lin!!!" the slender Qin Muqing, holding a vegetable basket, greeted him with pleasant surprise upon seeing Lin Li.

"You went out grocery shopping?" Lin Li’s gaze fell on the basket in Qin Muqing’s hand. It contained vegetables, eggs, and meat.

"Yes. Ms. Zhang, the lunchbox vendor, told me a new little grocery store opened up at an intersection not far from our house."

"It’s their grand opening, so there’s a discount for the next few days. I figured we were running low on groceries, so I went and bought some," Qin Muqing said cheerfully.

The reason she was so happy was that the nearby fresh food market hadn’t been built yet.

Before, she had to walk a long way to buy groceries. Now that a small grocery store had opened at the intersection, it would be much more convenient.

Lin Li nodded. He had passed by the small grocery store Qin Muqing mentioned on his way back in the carriage. It was a small, two-story bungalow covering an area of just over sixty square meters, and it was crowded with customers.