Initially, the James family and the Byron family had planned to transform this area into a high-end residential zone, complete with a luxury shopping mall and sleek corporate high-rises.
That was why they never factored in keeping the original residents on the property.
No wonder everyone was so angry.
After spending the entire morning gathering information, both Claire and Dane were starving.
Claire led Dane to a street-side food cart to grab some fried rice and noodles.
Dane's expression was one of undeniable reluctance.
Claire found it amusing. "You've never eaten at a street stall before, have you?"
The closest he had ever come was that outdoor barbecue joint they went to for spicy crawfish.
And even then, it had been Claire who dragged him along.
What Claire didn't know was that Dane had spent the entire next day with a terrible stomach ache.
It wasn't severe, but it had completely wiped out his energy for twenty-four hours. This little food cart looked even less sanitary than the barbecue joint, filling Dane with a deep, silent sense of dread.
"I haven't." Looking at Claire, Dane couldn't bring himself to say no.
Claire had grown up wealthy, too; she probably hadn't roughed it much either.
If she could stomach street food, how could he possibly admit he couldn't?
Besides, an early-stage idea was beginning to form in his mind.
Since the locals relied on these food stalls to make a living, what if they incorporated a dedicated culinary market into the redevelopment plan?
They didn't want to leave, but if they were relocated nearby and offered discounted leases for market stalls, would they really say no?
They'd still have their livelihoods, just in a cleaner, more regulated space that would attract even more customers. It was a win-win.
Resolving himself, Dane ordered a dish alongside Claire.
They got one plate of meat over rice and one order of fried noodles.
Instead of piling the meat on top, the vendor served the stir-fry on a separate plate, letting them serve their own rice.
Claire preferred it this way; it made the meal feel far less greasy.
Plus, it made it easier to share with Dane.
She had the vendor split the noodles into two bowls so they could both try some.
The vendor even tossed in some pickled veggies and two bowls of broth.
The broth was nothing to write home about, but the pickles were surprisingly good.
They The
loa crisp, spicy, and tangy.
was double-cooked pork
loaded with vegetables, and it fasted decent enough content
Naturally, this couldn't compare to the gourmet cuisine at Hearth & Kettle.
But for street food, it hit the spot.
The steady line of customers made it obvious that the local laborers frequented this spot.
There were a few office workers scattered around, too.
Seeing a stunningly attractive couple that looked so out of place, the other diners couldn't help but stare.
Claire and Dane were both used to drawing attention, so they simply ignored the stares and focused on their food.
Someone even sneakily snapped a few photos of them.
Eventually, a young woman gathered the courage to walk up and talk to Dane. "Excuse me, are you two celebrities?"
Word on the street was that a lot of actors had been coming to Apex to film lately.
It wouldn't be surprising if these two were movie stars.
"No," Dane replied coldly.
Claire watched the girl with mild amusement.
She looked like a student from a nearby college.
The university wasn't slated for demolition, but the surrounding campus
would definitely?
from the Westside's future
gentrification.
It was summer break, so why was a college student still hanging around here?
A part-time job, maybe?
"Well, handsome, could I get your number? I'm a student at Apex State University."
"I'm currently scouting for a
agency wing a
modeling agency part-time, and you
completely fit our profile. If you're interestedContent Belongs
FindNovel.net
Dane's patience had already evaporated. "You're interrupting our meal."