Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 58. A Strange Experience (Part 2)

August 9, 1997, Saturday.

Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen bought a set of orchid stamps for 25 yuan at Xinhua Bookstore. Later, they saw someone willing to buy them for 40 yuan at the entrance of People's Park and thought it was a "business opportunity." So the duo went back to Xinhua Bookstore. Guan Xuchen bought three sets of orchid stamps, and Gao Xinglang bought another two sets.

The salesperson at the stamp counter was a bit surprised to see these two middle school students come back and buy the same stamps again. She tentatively asked, "Young men, do you really like this set of stamps? Why are you buying so many sets? We also have other stamps here. They're very beautiful and have great collection value."

"No, thanks, Ma'am. We just want this set of orchid stamps." Gao Xinglang replied casually, and then he and Guan Xuchen exchanged a smile.

After purchasing the stamps, the two of them cheerfully returned to the entrance of People's Park. However, they couldn't find the tall, slender middle-aged man, nor did they see anyone else who was buying stamps.

Gao Xinglang said to Guan Xuchen, "Maybe the city administration officers came by earlier, and that man went into the park. Let's go in and have a look."

The two entered the park. They didn't see that tall and slender man, but they did see several people holding cardboard signs that said "Buying Stamps" and shouting to draw attention.

The duo first walked up to chubby young men. Gao Xinglang took out two sets of orchid stamps and asked tentatively, "Hello, how much would you pay for these stamps?"

The chubby young man glanced at the stamps in Gao Xinglang's hand, pursed his lips, and said indifferently, "These aren't worth much. If you want to sell them, I'll give you 10 yuan for each set."

"Come on, dude." Gao Xinglang burst into laughter and said, "I saw someone offering 60 yuan to buy them here before."

"Then go find that person and sell them to him for 60 yuan," The chubby young man said gruffly.

"How about 40 yuan?" Gao Xinglang haggled.

"25 yuan for two sets. I won't offer any more." As he spoke, the chubby young man took out five 5-yuan banknotes from his crossbody bag and waved them in front of Gao Xinglang, saying, "If you sell them, I'll give you cash on the spot."

Gao Xinglang thought the chubby young man was deliberately lowballing him and grew annoyed. So he pulled Guan Xuchen away.

Then they asked several more buyers, but the purchasing price was only around twelve or thirteen yuan per set.

Clinging to their last glimmer of hope, they walked up to a middle-aged woman. Before Gao Xinglang could open his mouth, the woman smiled and said, "Little handsome, don't bother asking. You must be mistaken."

She was wearing a friendly expression, but what she said next was like a splash of ice-cold water on Gao and Guan, "These stamps are sold for only 25 yuan per set at Xinhua Bookstore. If I buy them from you for 40 or even 60 yuan per set, why don't I just buy them directly at Xinhua Bookstore instead?"

Then she added, "Since you two are students, I'll give you 15 yuan per set at most. What do you say?"

Gao Xinglang gently shook his head. Seeing this, the woman turned away, a bit disappointed, leaving Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen standing there, stunned.

After a while, Gao Xinglang came to his senses. Looking at Guan Xuchen, he forced a smile and said self-deprecatingly, "Soupy, do you think I'm being really silly? The stamps only cost 25 yuan at the bookstore. How could I have thought that someone would buy them for 60 yuan?"