Aurelia Shaw’s expression was perfectly natural, not the least bit embarrassed at being caught buying something so "indecent."

That actually piqued the man’s curiosity.

The man raised a brow. "Buying it for your boyfriend?"

That was a very offensive question.

Yet coming out of his mouth, it somehow didn’t feel offensive.

Aurelia frowned slightly.

The man caught sight of the ring on her ring finger, the corners of his lips curling. "My apologies, I misspoke. For your husband? I didn’t expect someone as young as you to already be married."

Aurelia brushed the ring with her fingertip. She wasn’t worried this man would run around spreading rumors about her being married. Judging from his clothes—all designer—he was above doing something like that.

Even so, Aurelia didn’t like engaging too much with a stranger.

Just as she was about to take both pairs of underwear and leave, the man’s voice sounded again behind her. "Men prefer this style more."

He was pointing at a pair of boxer briefs.

"..." Aurelia felt rather offended.

She pretended not to hear him, took both styles, and went to pay.

The man only chuckled; the amusement on his face neither deepened nor faded.

After Aurelia paid, she swept a glance around from the corner of her eye. Not seeing the man anywhere, her peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly.

That man made her feel extremely... dangerous.

... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

At the same time—

The man stepped outside and got into a luxury car parked by the curb.

His assistant asked, "Boss, what took you so long?"

The man’s lips curved in a faint smile, as if he’d thought of something amusing, though not worth caring too much about. "Ran into something interesting."

From his tone, it really did sound like it was just "interesting."

The assistant lost any desire to keep asking.

——

Aurelia walked out of the mall toward the underground parking lot.

She sensed two people tailing her from behind.

Her gaze darkened for a moment, but she pretended not to notice, got in her car, and drove out.

After driving a few dozen meters, Aurelia checked the rearview mirror. Seeing the car glued to her bumper, her peach-blossom eyes narrowed, the look in them turning razor sharp.

She hadn’t offended anyone in M Nation.

The only one who barely counted as "offended" would be Robert.

But that man didn’t seem like someone who played dirty tricks behind people’s backs.

Then... Alison?

That woman did like this kind of thing.

Aurelia didn’t remember doing anything to her. Since they were only secretly following her and hadn’t made a move, they clearly weren’t planning to attack. People like that were easy to shake off; afterward, she could have Hadrian Turner check who they were.

Aurelia spun the wheel sharply and turned into a narrow alley.

The car behind followed right on her tail.

Aurelia arched a brow with some interest. She’d lived in M Nation for a few years and was very familiar with the alleys and backstreets here. Anyone who didn’t reside here long-term would never find their way so easily.

Were these people from M Nation?

The farther she drove, the more raggedly dressed people appeared on the road. Aurelia pulled a handful of bills from her wallet and tossed them out the window.

In an instant, the street behind her was packed with people scrambling for money.

The car tailing her was blocked by the crowd.

Aurelia’s lips lifted, and she stepped on the gas, speeding away.

"Bro, did she spot us? Are we going after her?"

"Chase what? Fall back. The people over there said we can’t let her realize we’re following her."

...

Aurelia drove to the hotel where Mason Nightshade was staying. Mason wasn’t at the hotel; she had deliberately chosen this time to come.

If that wolf found out she’d bought this kind of thing for him, he’d be insufferably smug about it.