Chapter 350

• Ma Yuan’s legs gave out. He slid to the floor. ... News of Ma Yuan’s arrest blew up the entire internet. Who would’ve thought that a famous entrepreneur who was riding high just days ago would end up behind bars like that. Then people finally got why Ma Yuan quit in a panic—it was because he’d broken the law. Only a handful of people in the world knew the truth. The one pulling the strings in the dark was Francis. As for Francis, he acted like nothing had happened and kept living and working as usual. After work that night, Francis dragged his exhausted body home. He stretched, then froze. Something felt off. A faint, feminine scent hung in the air. He’d smelled it somewhere before. He just couldn’t place it right now. Sure, Francis had a girlfriend. There were plenty of women around him. But this apartment was a classic bachelor’s den. No women ever came and went. Winifred and Fallon had come over for dinner, but that was days ago. And this scent wasn’t theirs. Lately, Francis had started noticing that every woman had her own unique scent. Someone had been here? He snapped to attention. “Who’s there?” “Me.” The bedroom door swung open. Shen Ningmei stepped out in a long trench coat, cool and unhurried. Francis almost spat blood. “What are you doing here?” “Came to check on you.” Shen Ningmei sat down like she owned the place. “You’ve got that luxury pad at Evermore Heights, and you still crash in this tiny hole?” “The GPS is convenient…” Francis blinked hard. “How do you have my key?” “I didn’t use a key,” Shen Ningmei said, like it was the most natural thing. “It’s easy to call a locksmith.” “A locksmith can just pop a lock without proof you live here?” “Other people, sure. Me? Not needed.” She smiled and shook her head. “I’m the Shen family’s scion. Why would I come to your shabby place to do anything illegal?” “If you wanted to come, you could just tell me. No need to pry my door open.” “I wanted to surprise you.” She let out a soft breath, her scent swirling. “Okay, don’t get all mushy. Let’s talk business.” “Mushy? I’m pissed.” Francis’s voice sharpened. “This is zero sense of security. I come home from work, and there’s a stranger inside.” “Then change your lock,” Shen Ningmei said, unfazed. “The locksmith told me, in theory any lock can be opened with the right skills. It just takes different amounts of time. Some locks take dozens of hours—any thief would bail. But your lock? Super simple. Fifteen minutes, tops.” Francis’s jaw dropped. His eyes nearly fell to the floor. “What’s that look?” “You broke into my place, and you don’t feel even a shred of remorse. You’re lecturing me like you’re right.” Francis said seriously, “Write me, I don’t know, a ten-thousand-word apology, and I’ll forgive you on the spot.” “I told you—I wanted to surprise you,” Shen Ningmei said coolly. “By the way, Ma Yuan got nabbed. You’re ruthless—cut the grass and pulled the roots.” “Feeling bad for him?” “Why would I?” “You two were friends.” “I have lots of friends. And there are all kinds of friends. Ma Yuan and I used each other. Now that he’s useless to me, the friendship ends.” She paused, then added, “But hey, a man should be tough. He crossed you. I think you did the right thing.” “I think so too.” “So, I came all this way to see you. Don’t you feel something sweet swirling in your chest and refusing to leave?” “Why would I feel sweet? Because you wore a trench coat and broke into my home?” Francis shook his head. “By the way, that trench coat—is it Chanel? Looks great on you. Fits like a glove.”