C3 Strange Leather Shoes

Meanwhile, in an unknown realm of advanced technology, a somewhat portly young man lounged on a sofa, sipping red wine as he listened to a middle-aged man enthusiastically extol the virtues of the leather shoes he was holding—a pair of unassuming black leather shoes.

"Young Master Bruce," the middle-aged man began, cradling the shoes with care, "these leather shoes incorporate cutting-edge technology. They may look like any ordinary pair, but once worn, they enable the wearer to run at the speed of the wind." He continued with a flourish, "Furthermore, these shoes are a product of Happy Technology; they remain spotless and can automatically adjust to fit the size of the wearer's feet. In essence, if one so desires, a single pair could last a lifetime."

"Hmm? Do I strike you as the kind of person who wears the same pair of shoes for life?" Bruce, the young man in question, raised an eyebrow in skepticism.

"Of course not, certainly not," the middle-aged man backpedaled hastily.

"Fine, keep the shoes. Go see the butler for your payment," Bruce dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

"Thank you, Young Master Bruce," the middle-aged man beamed, standing up with a look of sheer delight. He hadn't invested much effort into these shoes, and selling them at a handsome price was more than satisfactory.

Bruce squinted at the pricey footwear, his gaze devoid of any real affection. It wasn't surprising; his usual choices were designer brands or bespoke creations. These ordinary-looking shoes, reminiscent of something hawked at a street stall, wouldn't have even caught his eye in the past.

But tomorrow was different. He was set to participate in a running race, an event filled with wealthy heirs and children of officials. Despite his bulky frame, which made even walking for extended periods exhausting, Bruce was determined to compete. He had endured enough mockery from his social circle for his lack of athleticism. Discovering the middle-aged man's miraculous shoes had inspired him to propose the race, eager to flaunt his newfound advantage. After all, if he could outpace someone in athletic shoes while donning these leather ones, who would dare to mock him then?

Bruce's face broke into a smile at the thought, already picturing the stunned looks on his friends' faces. He relished the anticipation of their surprise.

Setting aside his wine glass, Bruce slipped on the shoes for a trial. They adjusted to fit his size perfectly and were quite comfortable, despite their inferior craftsmanship compared to his usual footwear. The man who had given them to him was a tech developer, not a designer, after all.

On his feet, the shoes made Bruce feel lighter, and running became less tiresome. Their speed was impressive.

Content, Bruce removed the shoes and instructed his servants to store them away. Despite their performance, he had no desire to wear such poorly made shoes regularly; they were beneath his status. He'd only don them for tomorrow's race before discarding them into the trash.

The servant tucked the shoes away in Bruce's exclusive shoe cabinet, which housed an array of designer footwear. The plain-looking shoes seemed out of place among the collection.

Once the servant had left, an unnoticed, faint glow emanated from the cabinet. The high-tech shoes vanished momentarily, then reappeared just as they had with Huang Feng, unseen by anyone. The shoes' surface had transformed, appearing quite different from before.

The night passed uneventfully. Come morning, Huang Feng rose early. Manager Liu had made it clear that today marked the start of his official employment, and lateness was not an option. Huang Feng had no intention of being tardy, especially not on his first day, as it would surely tarnish his reputation with his superiors. He was keen to make a good impression, considering his three-month internship lay ahead.

Huang Feng retrieved the shoes he'd purchased for over a hundred dollars the day before from his storage box. As he handled them, he sensed a change. Yesterday's pair had been a shoddy imitation, rough to the touch, with creases that wouldn't smooth out, likely not genuine leather.

Now, as he examined the shoes once more, he noticed the surface was polished and felt luxurious. The craftsmanship had markedly improved. The decorative patterns that had once adorned the sides were gone, replaced by a sleek, unembellished finish.

"It's definitely a knockoff. I haven't even worn these shoes for a full day, and the decorative pattern is already peeling off. If I weren't in such a rush to use them today, I'd have taken them back to exchange in a heartbeat." Huang Feng grumbled as he slipped into his leather shoes. He harbored no suspicions, chalking up the feel and craftsmanship to his lack of attention the day before, and assumed he must have accidentally scraped off the pattern himself at some point.

"Hmm, they actually feel pretty comfortable, way better than the pair I had before. They even seem more comfortable than when I tried them on yesterday." Pressed for time, Huang Feng didn't dwell on the shoe issue. He quickly finished dressing, freshened up, and headed out.

The morning commute was in full swing, with the streets bustling with people and vehicles. The bus stop was overflowing with commuters. Relying on his sturdy physique—a result of both regular exercise and daily battles to board the bus for work—Huang Feng managed to wedge himself onto a bus.

He was on his way to report for duty at Heaven's Pride Group, a star enterprise in Jiang Prefecture and a major player throughout Qing Province. Nationally, it had a significant reputation.

What made Heaven's Pride Group particularly appealing was its CEO—a woman rumored to be strikingly beautiful. Huang Feng had never laid eyes on her, but the company's gender dynamics, with a high female-to-male ratio, only added to its allure for men. The security guard recruitment had drawn a crowd of hopefuls, many enticed by the prospect of proximity to the company's attractive leader. The number of applicants was overwhelming, and Huang Feng himself was pleasantly surprised to have been selected.

"Ah, my wallet's gone! Thief! Somebody catch the thief!"

Just as Huang Feng stepped off the bus amidst the throng of passengers, a cry rang out from someone nearby, capturing the immediate attention of everyone around. Huang Feng noticed a person not far from the shouting passenger whose expression shifted before hastily making an exit.