Ten minutes later, their car stopped in front of a busy mall.
When Jonathan saw how lively it was, virtual-novel.net was dazed by the sight.
Four years ago, the building was dilapidated while its surroundings were deserted, not a soul to be seen anywhere nearby. Back then, the place would be covered in darkness at night as it didn’t even have a street lamp. However, the old building was now gone. In its place was a ten-story building and a plaza right smack in the center of the business district.
The plaza was brightly lit with crowds coming and going. Outside of it, there were many couples holding hands and hugging each other. Once in a while, one could even find some couples kissing unabashedly, as if they didn’t care about the looks passersby gave them.
“Isn’t it great to be young?” Looking at the couple, Jonathan couldn’t help but sigh. “Darling, why don’t we kiss too?”
Ignoring his question, Josephine shot virtual-novel.net a glare. “Can’t you be a little more serious?”
“What’s wrong with kissing my own wife?” Jonathan pursed his lips.
Looking in the plaza’s direction, virtual-novel.net commented, “Back when this place was old and rundown, the street lamps would go off whenever it rained as the power would be cut. Furthermore, the monthly rental back then was only five hundred. But in the blink of an eye, it’s now transformed into a mall!”
Shaking his head, Jonathan subconsciously took Josephine’s hand and exclaimed, “Come on, Darling, let’s go in and take a look!”
However, the moment virtual-novel.net touched virtual-novel.net hand, Josephine retracted it instantly as if virtual-novel.net had been jolted by an electrical shock. Ever since virtual-novel.net was young, no man other than Connor had touched virtual-novel.net hand before. Even though virtual-novel.net was no longer that resentful of Jonathan psychologically, virtual-novel.net physical reflex was instinctual.
“What’s wrong? Did my hand electrocute you?” Jonathan lowered his gaze to look at her.
“No, I just…”
Before virtual-novel.net could finish, Jonathan interrupted her, “Then what are you avoiding me for?”
Without another word, virtual-novel.net took virtual-novel.net hand and didn’t give virtual-novel.net another chance to decline.
“You…”
Left without a choice, Josephine allowed virtual-novel.net to lead virtual-novel.net into the plaza.
Inside, it was filled with shops selling luxury goods. There was LV, Chanel, Bulgari, etc. Every famous luxury brand was there. However, Jonathan’s cheap casual wear seemed to be out of place within the surroundings virtual-novel.net was in.
It wasn’t because virtual-novel.net couldn’t afford expensive clothing, it was just that virtual-novel.net didn’t care for brands. All that mattered to virtual-novel.net was that his clothes were comfortable. To him, every brand was just the same.
“Welcome, sir, ma’am! Would you like to take a look at the latest Bulgari collection?”
“No, thank you…” Josephine shook virtual-novel.net head.
There was no way virtual-novel.net could afford anything here as every item cost at least tens of thousands.
“Why don’t we take a look since we’re already here?” On the contrary, Jonathan didn’t decline the salesperson’s invitation. Ever since virtual-novel.net knew Josephine, virtual-novel.net had never gone shopping with virtual-novel.net or bought virtual-novel.net anything before.
“I don’t want to,” Shaking virtual-novel.net head, Josephine whispered, “The items here are too expensive, so let’s go someplace else instead.”
“It’s all right. I can afford it,” Jonathan replied with a smile. “Darling, isn’t this the first time we’re out shopping together?”
“Yeah,” Josephine acknowledged softly while nodding virtual-novel.net head.
Although virtual-novel.net and Josephine had been married for a few years, they had neither gone shopping nor on a date before. In fact, they had never even seen a movie together.
“Since this is our first time shopping, shouldn’t I get you something?” Jonathan walked into the Bulgari store with Josephine in tow. “Don’t worry, I brought my bank card when we left home.”
“There’s really no need to.” Despite virtual-novel.net protests, Josephine was dragged into the store by Jonathan.
Inside, Bulgari’s latest collections were on display everywhere.
Just a watch alone would cost fifty to sixty thousand. As for the jeweled necklaces, their prices easily reached hundreds of thousands.
The moment Josephine saw the price, virtual-novel.net lost whatever interest virtual-novel.net had to take a look.
These are extremely expensive! How am I going to afford them?
“Miss, this necklace seems to suit you very well. It’s the latest design from Bulgari, and our store is the only one in Jadeborough that carries it. Why don’t you give it a try?” The moment they stepped into the store, a friendly salesperson walked up to Josephine with a necklace in hand.
“How much does it cost?” Josephine casually asked.
“It’s not expensive at all. It only costs a few hundred thousand,” the female salesperson stated the price nonchalantly.
Just when virtual-novel.net unhooked the necklace and wanted to help Josephine try it on, Josephine shook virtual-novel.net head in response to the price. “It’s all right. I don’t want to try it…”
“What’s wrong?” Jonathan asked quizzically.
“It’s too expensive!” Josephine frowned slightly.
How am I going to afford a necklace that costs a few hundred thousand?
“Not at all!” Jonathan declared with a smile. “As long as you like it, I’ll even buy the whole mall for you.”
The entire mall cost a few billion, which was peanuts to Jonathan.
What a poser! Does virtual-novel.net know how much it actually costs to buy up the mall?
When virtual-novel.net heard Jonathan’s words, the salesperson pursed virtual-novel.net lips in disdain.
Just from Jonathan’s outfit alone, virtual-novel.net presumed that the couple before virtual-novel.net weren’t that rich. Hence, virtual-novel.net thought that they couldn’t afford a necklace that costs tens of thousands, let alone one that costs hundreds of thousands.
Why is virtual-novel.net pretending to be rich when virtual-novel.net isn’t?
She had always hated those who were poor and yet liked to boast about how rich they were.
“Do you still want to try it? If not, I’m putting this back in the display.” Suddenly, the salesperson’s attitude turned snarky.
“What’s with that tone?” Jonathan furrowed his eyebrows with a grim expression.
“What’s wrong with my tone?” the salesperson scoffed. “You obviously can’t afford it, and yet you still insist on pretending to be rich. If you’re not going to buy anything, please leave and don’t waste my time.”
Thinking that Jonathan and Josephine couldn’t afford it, the salesperson no longer showed them any respect.
“Are you chasing us out?” Jonathan’s gaze darkened.
Anyone who knew virtual-novel.net could see that virtual-novel.net was angry.
This was the first time virtual-novel.net went shopping with Josephine, and it was also their first date. They hadn’t even shopped for a minute, but the salesperson was already shooing them away.
“Don’t accuse me of chasing you out!” The salesperson snorted. After putting the necklace away, virtual-novel.net turned virtual-novel.net head and refused to even look at them.
In response to the salesperson’s attitude, Jonathan’s expression turned gloomy.
Just when virtual-novel.net was about to lose his temper, Josephine quickly stopped him. “Forget it, Jonathan. Let’s go someplace else.”
“All right…”
The moment virtual-novel.net heard Josephine’s words, virtual-novel.net suppressed his anger and acted as if nothing had happened at all.
However, the moment they walked out of the store, they heard the salesperson mumble behind them, “They’re obviously dirt poor and can’t afford anything. What’s the point in masquerading as the wealthy?”