1 Forced to Paris

8 AM, Spring Heaven Apartment.

Inside a minimalist yet luxurious three-bedroom flat, suddenly a loud bang was heard!

A young heiress with a beautiful curvy body and short black hair stormed in to a monochrome-themed bedroom.

As soon as she came in, her nose was assaulted with the smell of oil paints and a view of aesthetically painted arts decorating the wall entered her sight. Art tools and paints were clattered here and there on a messy desk, filled with rough drafts. The detailed drawings and shrewd techniques indicated that the artist high capability in this field.

"Eve, get up!" Song Biyu growled at the girl who was snuggling inside her navy velvet blanket. Even her loud voice was not enough, Biyu began pulling the blanket.

Evelyn Ru, who was sleeping, instantly frowned when she felt someone was trying to snatch her comforter. Her eyes snapped open and her clear emerald iris with a tinge of golden luster greeted Song Biyu's watery jet-black eyes.

With the sight of her best friend red and puffy eyes, Evelyn reluctantly sat up. Her long wavy dark brown hair swept the sheet beneath her, following the motion of her body movement.

"What's wrong with you?" Evelyn asked, her voice was raspy upon waking up. Obviously she sounded annoyed.

She frowned while looking at Biyu and with her natural reflex, her hand began wiping Biyu's tears.

"He dumped me! He said he has never loved me, all along he loves someone else!" Song Biyu was hysterical at the moment. She sobbed and choked on her voice as she recounted what happened last night to Evelyn. "I was just a stepping stone, Eve. Can you believe it? I feel so stupid. Fuck him and his whole family!"

Three black lines appeared on Eve's forehead as she listened to Biyu's story. Her hand stroked her back gently, trying to calm her.

"I told you his an ass. A typical rich playboy," Eve commented as she took a tissue from her bedside table. "It's okay. Wipe your tears. He's not worth it."

"What happened?!" Huang Jia Xin appeared by the doorway in her gym clothes. Among the trio, Jia Xin was the most diligent one. She was an early bird and it was a habit of hers to exercise in the morning. That explained her toned and fat-free body. Her healthy and fair complexion was the highlight of her beauty as the result of a healthy lifestyle.

Song Biyu didn't respond and just kept on crying in Evelyn's arm. Thus, Evelyn told her what happened.

"That asshole! I'm gonna bury him today!" Jia Xin was fuming. She strode to Song Biyu and stretched out her hand. "Gimme your phone."

Song Biyu immediately ceased her crying. She stared blankly at her best friend's hand. "Um, what?"

"Gimme your phone! I need his number. I'm going to whoop his ass so hard that he would no longer be able to sit. Now Give. Me. Your Phone!" Her face was dead serious as her piercing eyes glared with vengeance. At the moment, Jia Xin looked like a loan shark who was demanding for her money and was ready to kill someone if they refused.

"Pftt...hahaha..." Evelyn broke into laughter at the scene. She was immediately sober from her sleepy state. Song Biyu somehow joined in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Jia Xin was frustrated by her friend's reaction.

"Oh my god, you should try to look for a mafia group when you graduated. I think they'll accept you right away!" Evelyn exclaimed.

"Shut up!"

"Okay stop, Eve." Biyu blocked Evelyn's mouth. "By the way, I booked us a flight to Paris. The departure time is at 10.30."

A pin drop silence enveloped the monochrome bedroom. Both Evelyn and Jia Xin stared at Biyu with their eyes wide open in disbelief. Then, they looked at the digital alarm clock on the bedside table.

It was almost 9.

THIS CRAZY BITCH!

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21.30 PM, Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The trio was standing in queue for taxi. Fortunately, it was not a long line so they got into one in less than 10 minutes. Inside the car, only Song Biyu appeared fresh and excited, while Jia Xin was dazed, still felt that she was in a dream to suddenly arrived in Paris out of nowhere. Evelyn on the other hand looked haggard with black under eyes.

She was extremely irritated that a 'certain friend' had to drag her for her rebound trip. She was exhausted after finishing her art project which due yesterday. And here she was with only being able to sleep for two hours and was already dragged to Paris. Where was her beautiful holiday??

She had had planned to sleep 'till her back ached from sleeping and to laze around eating junk foods in the living room while catching up with "Victoria" TV Series that she had been watching. And when she was sick of it, she would return to her bedroom and read some novels.

Instead now, she was parading herself in her girlfriend's trip to Paris to find new love.

...the hell!

So not fair.

And on top of it all, they came here in hurry with no decent luggage. She herself was only able to bring a hand-carry with few basic T-shirts and jeans. And shoes? Only a pair of white converse which she was wearing right now. Worse of all, she actually used her usual tote bag that she carried around her college to bring her laptop, purse, passport, cellphone, charger, and power-bank.

It was a spur in the moment reflex when she was in hurry to catch the flight.

Simply incredible. It appeared that she looked 'extremely fashionable' while wearing her wrinkle black tee and white jeans, carrying her white tote bag.

Yes, she was going for a catwalk in this outfit, here, in the City of Love where fashion was highly regarded.

"C'mon stop pouting already. I was... I was just frustrated, okay? I need some girlfriend time with you guys." Song Biyu nudged both of her friends with her elbow, especially Evelyn.

"Miss Ru, I know that even your pouting face is still cute and deathly for men but I still prefer your smiling face."

Evelyn snorted in disdain. "*Oh look, we've arrived!" She led the topic away smoothly.

(*Note: Evelyn is speaking in French)

The taxi driver smiled as he heard Evelyn's French. Her pronunciation and accent was on point. "Oui, mademoiselle."

The car swiftly parked in front of the lobby of Hôtel de Crillon and a security opened the car door helping the trio got off, except Evelyn, who directly opened the door at her side and jumped off herself.

While the bellboy helped them with their luggage, the trio made their way to the receptionist. With the only one fluent in French, Evelyn was the one who spoke to the lady. However, without reservation, they couldn't get the connecting room. So they needed to separate. In the end, Evelyn volunteered to be the one on a different floor while Jia Xin and Song Biyu on the same floor.

As the heiress of Song Fashion Empire, Song Biyu was well deserved of her title as she pulled out a black card to pay for three suites!

"Are you mad? Just buy the standard one or we could huddle together in one suite." Jia Xin held on to Biyu's wrist stopping her from paying.

In return, Biyu smiled. "Don't worry. Let loose, Ladies."

With that, Biyu paid the whole thing. Evelyn only raised an eyebrow at her extravagance. Well at least now she could find some peace. As soon as they were done with the transaction, they proceeded to their rooms.

Because Evelyn was on a different floor, she was left alone now. When the elevator stopped at the fifth floor, she got out from it and in a daze, walked to her room. And just her luck, she bumped hard into someone halfway there. She staggered back and when she was about to flop onto the floor, the other person pulled her wrist and steadied her.

Evelyn's nose instantly became red due to the pain. She held on to it while she bowed to the other person. "*Je suis désolé. C'est ma faute."

(*Note: I'm sorry. It's my fault.)

"*C'est pas grave."

(*Note: It's okay/it's alright)

When Evelyn raised her head, she was stunned to be greeted by a tall and masculine figure with ink black hair and a pair of jet-black eyes, like a starry darkness of a night sky. They were alluring, yet at the same time devastating, a black pool that seemed to slowly consume her, attracting her to explore what was within the darkness.

As a smile found its way to this Adonis-like man's lips, Evelyn found his sexy smirk was exceptionally tantalizing.

She was lost in the moment upon this beautiful masterpiece.

"Mademoiselle?" His deep and magnetic voice entered her ears and woke her from her daydream.

She shook her head lightly. "You're Chinese?"

The man raised his eyebrows. "You can speak mandarin?"

"Yeah, born and grow up in China."

"Oh?" He looked a bit surprised. "Half Chinese?"

"Seems to be. I've got some Asian features on me."

"It's hard to say."

Evelyn let out a giggle. "I guess so with my hair and eye color." He smiled at her, finding her laugh refreshing like a gentle spring breeze and somehow melodic.

"What's your name?" He suddenly asked.

Feeling amused, Evelyn directly answered him, "Evelyn Ru. You?"

"Wu Chen."

Just as Evelyn was about to retort, her cellphone rang. She frowned and looked at the caller ID.

"Well, I'm going now. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ru." The way her name sounded with his voice, somehow... she liked it. For a second there, she was in a daze as if she was hypnotized by him. But soon, she snapped out of it.

Then, her moist pinkish lips curled into an enchanting smile. "Likewise."

After that, they parted ways. Evelyn answered the call as she entered her suite with her heart suddenly skipping a beat.