Villain Marrying The Heroine Is Perfectly Plausible, Right? - Chapter 118:

Chapter 118: Nima, What About My Painting?

The beauty naturally sat beside Ye Chen. In the private room, her small waist beneath the red leather jacket made Ye Chen stare without blinking.

Ye Chen smiled and asked, “What would the beauty like to drink? It’s on me.”

The red-haired beauty exhaled softly, “Same as you.”

Ye Chen chuckled, “Same as me? I’m drinking hard whisky. Gets you drunk quickly.”

The red-haired beauty leaned in with a coquettish smile, “Life is bland like water. If you don’t drink something exciting, what’s the point of living?”

Ye Chen’s eyes lit up. Looks like there’s a chance!

He immediately called the waiter and ordered a drink for the red-haired beauty. As they chatted and sipped their drinks, a news broadcast played from the TV above them, catching their attention.

“Reports say a human organ trafficking gang has recently fled to Nanjiang City. Their method involves using beautiful women to lure unsuspecting men into isolated areas, where they are drugged and have their kidneys removed. Most of the victims have been cheaters and scumbags, so it’s speculated that the gang leader may be a woman with a history of being hurt.”

Ye Chen laughed and teased the red-haired beauty, “The news said someone is stealing men’s kidneys—don’t tell me that’s you?” He tightened his collar playfully. “I’m so scared!”

The red-haired beauty pouted, “Yes, I steal from men.” She glanced at him with a flirty smile. “But not their kidneys—just their hearts.”

She reached out with a manicured finger and poked Ye Chen lightly. “Be careful not to fall in love with me!”

Ye Chen smiled inwardly. Looks like there’s definitely a chance. Bai Luobing would arrive in two hours—plenty of time to warm up with this red beauty before meeting her.

Tonight might just bring some unexpected surprises…

Just then, another news report played on the TV.

“Sources reveal that a notorious flower thief has also snuck into Nanjiang City. Several young women in the city have already fallen victim to this criminal, who is known for his ruthless methods.”

The screen switched to surveillance footage showing the flower thief in action. Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. The body movements in the video made it clear—this was someone trained in ancient martial arts.

These back-to-back news reports also drew the attention of many customers in the bar. A flower thief and a kidney thief? Was Nanjiang always this wild?

The red-haired beauty glanced at the TV, then looked at Ye Chen, mimicking his earlier expression of fake fear. “The flower thief mentioned in the news… that’s not you, is it?”

Ye Chen laughed, “Of course! I’m the flower thief!” He reached out and gently twirled a strand of her red hair. “But I only pick little red flowers.”

They both laughed, and their eyes locked with unspoken intent. Ye Chen glanced at the time—two hours remaining.

Two hours until Bai Luobing arrived.

He was just about to say a few more sweet words to lure the red-haired beauty back to his place when the next piece of news on the TV caught their attention.

“The legendary painting long held in European royal collections, with immense appreciation value, ‘The Boy with an Apple,’ has recently appeared at an overseas auction. Sources suggest it surfaced through the domestic black market. It was finally sold to an anonymous wealthy buyer for a staggering 500 million.”

Ye Chen stared at the screen and suddenly burst into laughter.

The red-haired beauty looked puzzled. “Why are you laughing?”

Ye Chen pointed at the TV, laughing so hard he almost couldn’t speak. “I’m laughing at how big-headed that rich guy is! He spent 500 million on a fake painting!”

“Five hundred million down the drain—what a joke!”

The red-haired beauty tilted her head, “How do you know it’s fake?”

Ye Chen’s expression shifted slightly. A sly smile formed on his lips as he leaned in and whispered mysteriously, “Because the real painting is in my house!”

The red-haired beauty obviously didn’t believe him and thought he was bluffing. Ye Chen explained further, “I’m serious! I paid 1.9 billion for that painting. It’s hanging on my wall right now!”

The red-haired beauty burst out laughing, “Wow, I didn’t know you were such a bragger! Nineteen billion? That’s not nineteen beef buns!”

“And someone just bought it for 500 million, and you say you spent 1.9 billion? That’s a massive brain you’ve got!”

Her sarcasm clearly hit a sore spot. Ye Chen’s smile faded slightly but quickly returned. He took out his keys and dangled them in front of her.

“Want to come to my place and see this world-famous painting for yourself?”

The red-haired beauty gave him a knowing look. “If you just want to take me back with you, say it directly. Why come up with such a weak excuse?”

Then she looked down in thought, picked up her bag, and nodded, “Let’s go.”

Ye Chen laughed inwardly. Just moments ago, he had been wondering how to get her to come back with him. Who would’ve thought the painting news would give him the perfect excuse?

Less than two hours left—that’s more than enough!

After this, he’d return and wait for Bai Luobing. Everything would connect seamlessly.

What a fulfilling night.

Ye Chen couldn’t stop imagining the red-haired beauty’s reaction once she saw the painting in his house. Just thinking about her shocked expression made him excited.

The two of them arrived at Ye Chen’s rental apartment. He quickly switched on the lights and led her into the living room. Walking straight to a large portrait of himself hanging on the wall, Ye Chen placed his hand on it and said confidently, “The Boy with an Apple—it’s right behind this picture! Are you ready to witness a world-famous masterpiece with your own eyes?”

The red-haired beauty smiled and nodded.

“Don’t be too shocked!” Ye Chen grinned. “Look!!!”

With a flourish, he lifted the full-body portrait and turned to watch her expression, expecting awe and astonishment.

Instead, she just shrugged with a puzzled look.

“…Huh?”

That wasn’t the reaction he imagined at all.

Frowning, Ye Chen turned to look behind the portrait. What greeted him was a blank white wall. No painting. Just a plain, colorless wall.

He quickly put the portrait back down, then lifted it again. Still nothing.

He rubbed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suddenly let out an earth-shattering scream, “Nima! Where the hell is my painting?!”

He stared in disbelief at the spot where the painting used to be, then looked at the wall again—same white void. He clearly remembered placing The Boy with an Apple there after the auction, even using his full-body portrait to cover it.

How could it be gone?

A storm of thoughts rushed through his mind. He recalled the moment when Xiao Hei had bailed him out from the detention center and advised him to store the painting in the bank. But he’d refused, bragging that his place was even safer than a vault.

Now? The painting was gone.

Just… gone.

No sign of when it was stolen. No clue who took it. Just one cold fact: the painting had vanished.

Behind him, the red-haired beauty raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Handsome, I already came back with you. You don’t need to keep acting.”

Later, in the bedroom, Ye Chen lay on the bed while the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. The red-haired beauty was taking a shower. Under normal circumstances, Ye Chen would’ve been thrilled. The mood had been perfect, and something definitely seemed about to happen.

But now?

He couldn’t feel any joy at all.

Judging by the news earlier, the painting that surfaced overseas and was auctioned for 500 million had to be his.

Who stole it? No idea.

When did it happen? Also unknown.

The only thing certain—by the time he realized it, the painting no longer belonged to him.

He thought about how he had spent 1.9 billion for it… and now it was gone. A wave of dizziness hit him.

At first, he thought it was just psychological—shock from the loss. But soon, he realized something was wrong.

He tried to sit up, forcing his eyes open, but the dizziness only grew stronger. His eyelids felt unbearably heavy.

Within seconds, Ye Chen collapsed back onto the bed.

And lost consciousness.