Chapter 323
Melody slowly got out of the car. She confirmed with Ken, asking, “Do you actually want to go to the market?”
Ken replied, “What’s the matter? Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
He gave her a puzzled look, making Melody feel as though she had said something wrong.
She said, “Never mind. Let’s go then.”
She walked in front while Ken followed behind. The huge difference in their appearance instantly attracted the attention and discussion of passersby.
Someone commented, “This is strange. It appears to be a trend for ugly girls to be paired with handsome guys nowadays. This handsome guy’s taste is truly peculiar.”
Another person speculated, “Maybe the woman is very rich. It’s a pity. The man has such a handsome face. Won’t he be better off becoming an actor, rather than being a sugar baby?”
Yet another person lamented, “Sigh. If only I were a rich woman too. Wouldn’t it be nice to gaze at such a face every day?”
Melody and Ken clearly heard the people around talking about them.
Ken frowned and turned to approach the people who had spoken.
Melody quickly grabbed Ken’s arm and said with a big smile, “Bro, where are you going? Didn’t you say we’re going to see if there’s any fresh seafood?”
Ken’s expression froze slightly. However, when he noticed her hugging his arm intimately, he played along.
Meanwhile, the passersby who were discussing among themselves instantly changed their attitude when they heard Melody’s words.
“So she is the man’s sister.”
“We’ve misunderstood them. Let’s go.”
Soon, the sound of the crowd discussing them dissipated. Melody looked up at Ken and said, “There are many people here. It’s better to avoid trouble. Play along and we’ll be done shopping soon.”
Ken raised his eyebrows, and his lips suddenly curled into a teasing smile.
“Sis, you are right.”
As he spoke, Ken casually wrapped his right arm around Melody’s waist. He deliberately raised his voice and said, ” Quick, let’s see what we should have for lunch, Sis.”
“Sis” was clearly a very normal form of address. However, for some reason, when Ken uttered the word, it felt off and Melody felt goosebumps all over her.
She subconsciously wanted to push Ken’s hand away from her waist, but Ken stopped her.
“Didn’t you want me to play along?”
Melody was embarrassed. She shook off Ken’s hand and said, “Not like that. Hurry up and decide what you want to eat.”
She quickened her pace as she spoke, creating some distance between her and Ken.
For some reason, whenever Ken approached her, she felt her heart beating erratically.
Melody thought, ‘This feeling is bad, very bad.’
Melody calmed herself down and forced herself not to let her imagination run wild. She focused on choosing vegetables.
Melody said, “This side is the vegetable area, and that side is the seafood and cooked food area. Let’s choose the vegetables first before buying other ingredients.”
Melody turned to look at Ken.
She saw Ken looking in a certain direction with a cold expression. Although it was only for a moment, she still sensed something was wrong.
Puzzled, she approached him and asked, “What are you looking at?”
Ken retracted his gaze and pretended to choose vegetables. He whispered, “Someone is following us.
Melody asked, “Who is it? How many are there?”
Ken reported, “Not many, just one. He is not very eye-catching, probably a detective or someone in that line of work. He does not look like much of a fighter, but he is good at hiding.”
If it were not for Ken’s innate sharp senses, he would not have been able to discover the person.
Melody suggested, “Shall we head back now?”
Ken replied, “Why would we? Didn’t you need to buy groceries?”
“But didn’t you say someone is following us?”
Ken raised his chin and said, “That’s why we should buy groceries normally. Don’t let him notice that we have
noticed him. We’ll wait until fewer people are around to lure him out.”
Melody nodded. “Got it.”
The two of them cooperated well and acted normally.
After quickly buying vegetables, the two of them arrived at the seafood area.
A strong fishy smell assaulted Ken’s nose.
“What do you want to…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Ken looked as though he was about to throw up. He covered his nose and ran toward the back door of the market.
“Ken, are you alright?” Melody’s heart tightened. She asked the stall owner for some napkins and a bottle of mineral water and chased after Ken.
By the time Melody ran out of the market, Ken was nowhere to be seen.
Melody looked left and right and ran toward an alley on her right.
She had only moved a few steps when she heard a muffled groan not far behind her.
She turned around and saw Ken subduing a man in a white short-sleeved shirt on the ground.
“Let go of me.”
The man struggled strenuously, but he was clearly not as strong as Ken.
Melody walked over and looked at Ken. “So, you weren’t about to throw up.’
She thought, ‘I even got napkins and a bottle of water from the stall owner.’
Ken had an expression that said he was not that useless. As he turned to look at the man on the ground, his gaze instantly turned cold.
“Speak. Who sent you to follow us?”
“No, I’m not following you.” The man quickly explained,” Even if I had balls of steel, I wouldn’t dare to follow you, Mr. Swanson. I’m here to follow Melody Fox.”
Melody’s face darkened and she stepped on the man’s finger.
She asked, “Why? Are you picking on the weak?”
The man immediately screamed as he felt the pain from his finger.
“Ouch!”
Melody did not show him any mercy. She grabbed the man’s collar and asked, “Who ordered you to follow me?”
“I… I’m not following you.” The man instantly denied the allegation, contradicting himself.
Melody narrowed her eyes and was about to step on the man again when she saw a few bodyguards in black emerging from the shadows.
As Ken watched, the bodyguards picked up the man on the ground like the latter was a little chick.
Ken asked expressionlessly, “How long will it take for him to talk?”
A bodyguard answered, “Ten minutes.”
“Ten?” A hint of displeasure flashed past Ken’s eyes.
The bodyguard winced and quickly corrected himself. “Five minutes.”
Ken waved his hand and gestured for the bodyguards to bring the man away.
While Ken and the bodyguard were exchanging words, the man was paralyzed with fear. His face was as pale as a sheet as he shouted, “I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything. Don’t hit me.”
Ken glanced at the bodyguard. The bodyguard immediately let go of the man, kicking him in the process.
Ken ordered, “Talk.”
The man rubbed his calf in pain and swallowed hard. “I’m a private detective. My name is Jonathan Smith.”
The man stuttered. The bodyguard saw the impatience in Ken’s eyes and kicked the man again.
The bodyguard chided, “Speak up. What’s your name? John Smith, was it?”
“It’s Jonathan Smith.”
Melody frowned and asked, “Who hired you to follow me?” “I’ll tell you.” Jonathan glanced at Ken’s gloomy expression, and his entire body instantly stiffened again. He
stammered, “It was a woman called Zara who asked me to follow you. Oh right, she’s also a celebrity. She’s been quite popular recently.”
“Zara?” A look of doubt flashed past Melody’s eyes.
She thought, ‘Why would Zara send someone to follow me?’ Jonathan probably saw the suspicion in Melody’s eyes and hurriedly said, “I swear I am telling the truth. If I am lying, may the heavens strike me and my entire family down!” Melody pursed her lips. After two seconds of silence, she said, “Go back and tell Zara that if she wants to know anything about me, she can ask me directly. There’s no need to go through so much trouble. If I find someone following me again, I won’t show mercy.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Jonathan nodded repeatedly.
Melody ordered, “Get lost!”
As soon as Melody finished speaking, Jonathan immediately ran out of the alley.
Melody looked sideways at the bodyguards. “Follow him and see where he goes.”
“Yes,” the bodyguards replied and quietly chased after Jonathan.
Seeing this, Ken asked, “Do you think he’s lying?”