"Why aren't you going with them?"
Watching as the doors of the two cars ahead were muttered around, Licolice Shapath, who had rushed to the passenger seat, gave Carter a raised eyebrow.
Carter was now in a dilemma, unsure of how to approach the "elf princess" beside him.
This "elf princess," far from being ethereal, was rather earthy. From actively inviting him to go out during school to showing up early in the morning to "steal" his family, and now even boldly hopping into his car.
Carter was not some naive romantic. In his past life, not to mention indulging in worldly pleasures, but during his student days, with a decent appearance and the aura of an entrepreneur, he casually hooked up with a few younger girls and even some seniors without much hassle.
Licolice's series of actions made Carter believe that as long as he made a move, she would not reject him. And maybe, he could even fulfill Jenny's wishes tonight. But was this the girlfriend he wanted?
Carter scrutinized the slightly awkward and shy Licolice. Today, Licolice seemed to have come prepared, wearing tight black pants that accentuated her slender legs, and a white hoodie similar to what Carter was wearing on top, with golden hair peeking out from the furry hat, giving her a playful vibe.
Simply based on her appearance, Carter had to admit that this girl fit his expectations, even matched his taste. Especially those legs. For Carter, who had a thing for legs, this was a bonus point.
But the thought of her overly earthy behavior made Carter hesitant. He didn't want his future girlfriend to be someone so worldly. She could be pragmatic, but not solely pragmatic.
Who doesn't long for sweet love? Don't expect her to be overly sweet, but don't be too bland either! Someone like Licolice, who had almost no interaction with him, or if there was, it was negative interaction, who approached him because his current situation was good, was something Carter instinctively disliked.
Because Carter knew that such a person could approach you when you were successful but would also distance themselves from you when you were down.
So, Carter's mind was now complicated. In simple terms: attractive, tempting, but doesn't want to take responsibility or bear the burden of being a boyfriend.
"Because they all have someone to accompany them. It's a long drive to Atlanta, won't you be bored alone?"
Licolice blinked her big eyes, noticing the aggressive look Carter had just given her. She didn't mind Carter's somewhat intrusive gaze; instead, she felt a hint of pride.
She knew there was a barrier between Carter and herself, but he hadn't asked her to leave the car yet. And why was that? Because, after being a goddess for so many years, she understood these dog men like Carter too well.
"Alright, suit yourself."
Carter retracted his gaze as he saw the two cars ahead had already started. He started the Mustang and followed them.
Ignoring the psychological repulsion, Carter had to admit that having a big Mustang in front of him felt quite satisfying.
The scent in his nose was fragrant, and when he turned his head to look in the rearview mirror, he saw a pair of slender and beautiful legs. Perhaps noticing that Carter's gaze lingered on her legs for too long, Licolice would deliberately stretch her legs after the car started moving.
While Carter enjoyed the eye candy, they remained silent for the rest of the journey.
Carter didn't know what to say. He couldn't just ask, "Wanna spend the night for $800?" And Licolice was thinking about how to bridge the gap between them.
It had been a long time since the incident with Glenn, and although they had no contact afterward, Licolice had been quietly keeping an eye on Carter's every move.
She watched him darting from one classroom to another, saw his calm demeanor during exams, and saw him bustling around the bank and school. She knew this boy beside her wasn't really invested in Douglas, and neither was she.
But compared to herself, this boy had the potential to break out, no, he could easily leave this small place behind. And effortlessly, he could bring someone like her along.
This was something that none of the others in Elmond could do, only he could! Since discovering this, Licolice had made her goal clear.
"Um, were you on the phone with a friend just now? You must be very good friends. I've never seen you smile so genuinely at school."
After a long silence, Licolice broke the silence.
"Yeah, not just friends, but partners, very good partners!"
Hearing Licolice mention Julian, Carter couldn't help but smile. Julian would be touched by Carter's unwavering acceptance to bring him $500,000 in silver. Carter was also moved by Julian's feedback this morning.
$800,000 was no small amount in this era. Even for Julian, who belonged to the high-income group, it was not to be underestimated. After all, he was just a senior wage earner now, and in terms of assets, Julian was probably not as wealthy as Carter.
In this situation, to lend $800,000 without hesitation. Even though his belief in his ability to repay played a role in his decision, making such a decision without hesitation was beyond the normal relationship between a stockbroker and a client! To say they were partners was not an overstatement!
"That's great. He's not in Douglas, is he? Is he in Atlanta? Can we invite him to join us this time? With a familiar friend around, you might be happier, and I like seeing you smile. Carter, you're usually too aloof, and many people at school are afraid of you, but you actually look quite handsome when you smile!"
Seeing Carter's face light up again with that genuine smile, Licolice tentatively spoke. Just as men pursue women, she had to work on Carter's friends.
But this dog of a man, didn't have many friends in Douglas. As for Kazim, he's black!!! It would be too embarrassing to actively approach him!
"Um, he's in New York, working on Wall Street. How could he have time to accompany you guys for a random trip?!"
Carter turned his head, chuckling somewhat impolitely. Based on his understanding of Licolice, he instinctively believed that this girl was trying to eat her cake and have it too. Couldn't she see the bigger picture? She might be one of the most beautiful girls in Douglas, but in New York, with all the models around?
Who do you think you are?
To help this girl establish a clear self-awareness, Carter continued to jab:
"Ordinary people wouldn't even think of meeting him without at least $200,000 in hand!"