27 Chapter 27- The Rockiest Paths are Lined with Good Intentions (2/2)
”You folded my clothes?”
”And put them away.”
”What?” Hao Mei's horror grew. Put them away? In drawers? Don't say she went through all the drawers in bedroom?
”Just the shirts and pants that needed hanging. The rest are folded on the end of your bed.”
”I need that key back.” He held out his hand and the girl's face fell.
”Oh... but your mum...”
”My mother doesn't live here. My spare key was given to her while she visited,; not so she could make copies of it without my knowledge.” Maybe it was wrong of him to speak that way about his mother but the lump in his stomach seemed to have turned his filter off.
The girl, Wang Fang, stared at him blankly. ”But... it was supposed to be...”
Her voice trailed off at the look on Hao Mei's face. Had she really thought breaking into a stranger's house, and cooking him dinner, folding his clothes, invading his personal space, was romantic? What sort of idiot was his mother trying to marry him off to? He looked at the food she'd cooked and blanched. Is there anything left in my fridge? There was good for a week in there!
”You know what... you can stay.”
Her face brightened but Mei cut her off before she could speak. ”I'm sure you have friends. Invite them over. You've made enough for an army- don't let the food go to waste.”
”Really? You're so sweet!” Without thinking any further, Wang Fang pulled out her phone. She was busy buzzing at her friend as Hao Mei stormed into his bedroom.
Grabbing his backpack, he shoved the folded underwear inside before reconsidering- he would swear he could smell her perfume... did she spray his underwear with something? He sniffed the cloth. Yup. They raced through the air into the dirty clothes basket. He sniffed again. The sickly sweet smell in his room was stronger than the smells coming from the kitchen and he could only suppose she'd liberally doused the room in her perfume. He'd overheard a conversation between two staff at one of his shoots, when he was still modelling, about spraying perfume in the bedroom as a feminine scent marker. The male in question would either have to completely strip the bedding and wash all clothes and sheets, or go out with a feminine fragrance still lingering; effectively advertising that he was taken.
The lump in his stomach started to heat.
When he'd overheard the conversation, he'd laughed at the poor shmuck who'd shown interest in such a predator... being on the receiving end was making him regret his laughter. Screw the clothes. I'll buy what I need. Wang Fang was leaning against the kitchen counter, still bubbling away and suggesting that whoever was on the other end of the phone needed to stop for drinks on their way.
She didn't seem to notice when he grabbed his laptop and keys and let himself out. He stopped briefly in the foyer to request that security make sure his apartment was empty in the morning. And to get a locksmith in.
Tired, frustrated, and with the hard lump burning away at his centre, Hao Mei wondered where to go. Obvious escape route was KO's place... but he wouldn't be there and Mei didn't have a key. The office? No, KO and Xiao Nai would be there working; he didn't want to disturb them with his minor domestic disturbance. Which left a hotel. Fortunately, there was one near the office and if he remembered correctly it was within walking distance of a department store: he could buy a change of clothes after he checked in. Satisfied with his plan, Hao Mei headed off. He'd deal with his mother in the morning.