C8 The Sunset in the Desert

Everett lowered his phone, catching sight of the boisterous crowd on the screen. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight—all of them were stunningly beautiful women, dressed in the height of fashion, their makeup flawless. At nineteen, they radiated the unique energy of youth.

And there was Marian, holding her phone. Her fair skin was a beauty in itself, enhancing her already attractive features. Her eyes sparkled with life, unlike the dull gaze of many. Her smile revealed two charming dimples, and her noble aura was reminiscent of a celebrity named Dorian back in China.

For some reason, Everett's heart began to race at the sight of Marian's smile. He hadn't felt this way since school, whenever Marian caught his gaze unintentionally.

"Wow, that hairstyle, that stubble, who does it remind you of?"

"Big coat guy!"

"Cut it out with the big coat guy!"

Everett was about to explode with frustration when a quirky girl exclaimed, "He's like Brother Sharp! You know, despite the ragged and dirty clothes, I never noticed before, but he's actually got a rugged charm!"

Embarrassment washed over Everett. Was she complimenting him or mocking him? And had his presence really been so unnoticed? They'd been classmates for nearly two years, and only now they saw his appeal?

"You might be onto something, but how have I never noticed, after being classmates for so long?"

"With all the good-looking guys at school, who'd pay attention to him? Oh, Everett, is that giant candelabra tree behind you real? Can you climb it for us?"

"Yeah, show us!"

Staring at the video of his dear classmates, Everett wanted to shout, 'I'm a patient, not a monkey!' And even if he were a monkey, he wouldn't be foolish enough to climb a candelabra tree!

Marian, sensing Everett's discomfort, grabbed the phone and intervened, "Enough, enough. He's not a monkey, so why would he climb a candelabra tree?"

"Starting to defend him, are we?"

"Not at all!"

"Don't be shy. I think Everett is way more down-to-earth than Young Master Zhang. Everett's out in the desert. Hold on, Everett, are you actually in the desert right now?"

A girl as clever and attractive as Marian had an epiphany. When women get together, the gossip just flows, and it took them a while to notice the difference!

"Exactly! I'm out here in the desert. Oh, and let me proudly present my new abode. Ta-da! Look at this megadune; I was going to call it Jiangshan, but no, it's..."

Everett suddenly realized he hadn't yet named the megadune. He glanced back at the sky where the fiery clouds lingered.

"I've decided to name this megadune Stratdwell Mountain. From atop it, you can witness the desert sunrise. Oh, and you've probably never seen a desert sunrise before. It's the most stunning sunrise in the world, bar none!"

"Take a look over here. I've encircled this area with desert pillar cacti. These cacti are native to South America, but with the desert's expansion, as far as I know, the desert pillar cacti there have all perished."

Everett pointed the camera at the towering desert pillars and the candelabra trees scattered throughout the desert. Each candelabra tree was unique, some resembling a woman with hands on her hips, others like a child gazing up at the moon. Their distinctive branches were a true hallmark of the desert!

"And over here! Yes, you heard right. I've managed to cultivate a type of grass that thrives in the desert. This grass is known as Bellhand Lawn. Unlike the lawn at Marian's villa, mine is softer here in the desert, and best of all, you can lie on it without being bothered by mosquitoes.

"Just imagine, beneath the pristine blue sky, you're lounging on this grass, gazing at the candelabra trees and the sunset. How does that feel? This is the Limesvilles Bellhand Desert Oasis I've just developed. Interested? The first ten visitors get in free!"

Everett's enthusiasm was infectious, leaving the group of girls on the other end of the video speechless!

"What? You've grown a lawn in the desert? My goodness, how is that even possible?"

"If you don't believe me, I invite you to visit my holiday resort. If it doesn't meet your expectations, I'll eat my hat!"

"Eh, who cares about your head..."

"Marian does!"

"Come on, don't be like that. Hey, Everett, why can't I see the lawn?"

Xue Yiyi was persistent on the other end of the video call. Both she and Marian were children of the elite in Hartlepool. "Your skimpy outfit could buy a hundred square meters of lawn."

"The grass is still growing, but I don't mind giving you a peek."

Everett took his phone and walked over to the Bellhand Lawn seedlings. The grass was indeed tiny, almost imperceptible. But after brushing away some sand, he revealed a small patch of sprouting yellow grass, striving to grow in the harsh desert conditions.

"Seriously! Xue, let's go check it out. I'm sick of Hartlepool's air!"

Marian turned to Everett after her declaration. She pondered for a moment before warning him, "Everett, you better not be tricking us, or I'll beat you up when we get there."

Everett could barely contain his excitement with the completion of the mission in sight.

"Are you really coming? That's fantastic! Don't worry, Marian, if I dare to deceive you, I'll hand over my head to you!"

Everett's face flushed with enthusiasm.

Once Everett completed the first task, the building materials mall would open, and he'd be able to purchase construction supplies.

"I'll start by buying the materials for a villa, then hire a construction crew to build it right here. Imagine living in a villa, enjoying the desert view every day – life couldn't get any more idyllic!"

"Look at that, Marian suggests a visit, and Everett's face turns beet red!"

"Good grief..."

The old adage proved true: where there are many ducks, there's plenty of droppings, and where there are many women, there's never a shortage of chatter!

As dusk approached and the sun neared the horizon, the streetlights of Hartlepool were already glowing, a reminder of the time difference.

Everett held his phone steadily toward the setting sun. The fiery clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun turned a deep red before slowly dipping below the horizon's megadunes. As the sun vanished, the desert night crept in, and Everett leaned against a sand dune, gazing up at the vast expanse of stars.

The silence around Everett was profound. He continued to gaze at his phone, at the desert stars twinkling in Marian's wide eyes within the screen. She lay wrapped in a checkered blanket, and even without makeup, her cheeks were still lovely.

"Everett, the desert night is truly beautiful. Thank you. It's been so long since I've seen such bright stars!"

Deep into the night, the skies over Hartlepool remained a dull gray, shrouded in the city's pollution and sandstorms. The urban dwellers had long since forgotten what the starry sky looked like. Hence, Marian had a wish. She expressed her desire to fall asleep under the stars, and Everett had promised to fulfill it.

Of course, it wasn't about the ten thousand yuan. Everett simply enjoyed watching Marian as he held up his phone to show her the starry sky. In that moment, a poem came to Everett's mind:

You stand on the bridge admiring the view,

The moon adorns your window, you see,

Under the starry sky, the moment Everett turned off his phone, he too succumbed to sleep's embrace. As he drifted off, he found himself in a strange dream. He dreamt of a snowy mountain deep in the desert, with a serene lake at its base reflecting the mountain's shadow. Hand in hand, Everett and Marian walked along the lake's edge, surrounded by blooms of vivid purples and reds. Everett looked upon the tranquil surface of the lake, where their reflections mingled with the peaceful scene. This dream was profound, deeply profound.

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