Chapter Twenty-One: I Sell Both My Art and My Body

The car halted in front of the villa. Shen Yanlie stepped out, and after a moment, Mai Xijun opened her door and descended from the white Cayenne. She was locked in an unprecedented struggle with herself, unable to comprehend why she had paused, when she could easily have fled at this moment.

As for Shen Yanlie, it was as if he had foreseen she would follow him inside. He strode ahead alone, seemingly guiding the one behind him, opened the villa's door, and entered.

Mai Xijun lifted her skirt and followed, slow and cautious, surveying her surroundings.

Inside, the villa embodied the quiet opulence spoken of in hushed tones. A massive crystal chandelier hung in the center of the living room, bathing the space in warm, mysterious light, echoing its master’s enigmatic presence. The curved staircase spiraled upward like a winding dragon, its carved patterns exquisitely clear and beautiful. It felt as though she had stepped into a castle—grand yet not lacking in splendor, where, deep within, a prince and his lord lived a life of happiness.

After Mai Xijun finished her survey and turned around, Shen Yanlie stood before her like a wall, startling her into a sharp gasp. In that instant, she was thrust against the wall behind her, just as she had been at the exhibition, the impact sending pain through her body—she could almost hear her spine creak.

Mai Xijun frowned, her eyelids half-closed, her expression twisted in anguish.

“You—scoundrel—” She raised her hand, only for Shen Yanlie to seize her wrist, gripping it tightly. His lips pressed against hers, biting and sucking with fierce intensity.

Seizing his moment of distraction, she suddenly raised her knee, aiming for his vulnerable spot. Yet just as she was about to strike, he deftly pivoted aside, easily dodging her attack.

Her attempt failed, and before her foot could touch the ground, he effortlessly parted her legs. Her posture became awkward, the two of them caught in a haze of intimacy. He still held her chin, claiming her, his hot tongue gently tracing her palate.

He sucked, nibbled, his tongue outlining her lips, exploring the sweet fragrance within her mouth.

“You bastard!” Gasping, Mai Xijun shoved Shen Yanlie away with all her strength, brushing her lips with her hand. Her lips, swollen and crimson from his assault, were tender and alluring. “I appreciate you buying my ring, but I’m sorry, I only sell art, not myself!”

She shouted at him, glaring with disgust, and rose to leave. Yet Shen Yanlie seemed unwilling to let her go so easily. “Only sell art? Then I sell both art and myself. Why don’t you buy me?”

He curled his handsome lips into a smile, shedding the gloom and darkness he wore outside. Mai Xijun shot him a fierce glare—what a shameless libertine! After fixing his reputation in her mind, she turned and walked away.

“Are you sure you want to leave alone?” Shen Yanlie inquired skeptically, though there was an unmistakable note of amusement.

“Are there wolves at your door?” Mai Xijun couldn’t explain to herself why she lingered, why she continued this entanglement with him. If there were wolves, they would surely be men like him.

Shen Yanlie laughed, unable to deny that she was even more stubborn and proud than he had imagined.

“No wolves, but plenty of rogues.” With several strides, Shen Yanlie caught up, grabbing her wrist. She turned, intent on slapping him, but failed once more.

“A woman too fierce will be abandoned by men, you know~” He smiled wickedly, awakening the hurt within her, his mocking gaze seeming to declare he knew everything about her.

“Who are you, really?” Mai Xijun asked warily. From the moment he appeared, he had never treated her as a stranger. The memory of that night in Venice flashed through her mind—could he be that man?

“Me? I’m Shen Yanlie, Chief Executive President of Eurasia Trade, one of the invited companies for the jewelry conference organized by Lov Planning. And…” He drew closer, her brows knitted tightly, her body tilting away, yet the more she retreated, the closer their bodies pressed.

Letting him approach with mischievous intent, Mai Xijun’s puzzled eyes seemed to search through him.

“…I’m an admirer of the designer behind Dreamway.” He finished with a low hum by her ear, the tingling sensation spreading around them.

The warm breath sent Mai Xijun scrambling away, blinking repeatedly. The more she tried to calm her heart, the more it surged with unrest.

She had seen men before, yet whenever he drew near, her heart raced uncontrollably. The world seemed still, save for his measured breathing and the pounding of her own heart. It was as silent as that night in Venice, both of them wide-eyed, desperate to discern each other’s features.

“Have we… met before?” Mai Xijun ventured tentatively, prompting him to raise one eyebrow in amusement. “I think I’ve seen you more than once.”

She was left without a clear answer, and in that moment, the faint scent of tobacco on him reached her, so reminiscent of the man she met in Venice. And his physique—tall and slender, a natural clothes hanger.

“Have you been to Italy recently?” Mai Xijun pressed, changing from passive to active, trailing behind Shen Yanlie toward the bar.

She didn’t even know why she asked, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she’d given herself to for the first time. Or perhaps she wished never to cross paths with that man again.

“What would you like to drink?” Shen Yanlie did not answer directly, placing a glass on the circular bar.

“I asked you—have you been to Italy lately?” Mai Xijun sounded impatient, nearly barring his next move, reaching swiftly to grab his wrist. If she remembered correctly, Shen Yanlie had once asked her, “Where is my property?”

She didn’t know him at all. Though she was somewhat renowned in the jewelry world, true admirers were rare, and one like him even rarer. He was an imperial president—what kind of woman couldn’t he have? He wasn’t seeking a mistress or a casual affair. With that certainty, her suspicion grew ever stronger.

Yet her heart could not settle.