Chapter 163: The Painting Had Been Collected

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Painting Had Been Collected

Truth be told, when Erik had first taken on this account months ago, he had briefly harboured a crazy suspicion that Qiao Meixia herself might actually be Master M. However, after witnessing a sample painting she had casually presented to him in the past, he had instantly discarded that wild theory.

Her amateurish, clumsy brushwork back then was night and day compared to the refined, flawless execution of Master M. In his logical mind, there was simply zero possibility that she could be the same person.

What Erik failed to realise was that Qiao Meixia had deliberately painted that earlier sample terribly on purpose, specifically to throw him off her scent.

She had intentionally ensured that the terrible art piece he saw was completely devoid of her true, master-level technique. That way, Erik would never in a million years suspect that the quiet, unassuming teenage girl standing casually before him was actually the mysterious, world-renowned "Master M" he worshipped so intensely.

Erik promptly instructed his dedicated crew to pack the newly finished masterpiece with the utmost care. They handled the precious artwork with extreme caution, ensuring it was tightly wrapped and fully protected against any potential damage before loading it into the transport vehicle. Thirty minutes later, every crate was secured, and it was finally time for Erik and his team to depart.

"Miss Qiao, see you next time." Erik said with a warm, respectful smile.

"Hmm," Qiao Meixia nodded quietly.

With that, Erik and his team drove off into the afternoon traffic with the carefully wrapped canvas.

Since all her business at the apartment was settled, it was time for Qiao Meixia to head back to the Jiang Residence. She descended to the garage, straddled her heavy superbike, and roared out onto the highway.

Halfway through her journey, a charming roadside dessert shop caught her eye. Her gaze lingered on the inviting storefront for a moment, and after brief consideration, she pulled over to the curb.

Stepping inside the shop, she was immediately greeted by the rich, comforting aroma of freshly baked pastries and sugary confections. Shelves and glass display cases were neatly lined with an assortment of cakes, tarts, and delicate treats.

However, a sudden reality check hit her. She was riding her superbike. Buying a massive haul of fragile sweets was entirely out of the question, given the limited space she had to transport them safely.

Just as she was about to turn around and leave empty-handed, inspiration struck.

There was a delivery app.

She whipped out her phone, opened her preferred food delivery application, and searched for the dessert shop. To her satisfaction, the establishment was fully integrated into the local delivery network.

Without a second thought, she opted to place her order digitally through the app. After tapping through her selections and finalising the online payment, Qiao Meixia walked out of the shop empty-handed.

Inside the store, the staff watched her exit with bewildered expressions. Some of the employees quietly assumed the young girl had walked out because she could not afford their high-end menu items, given their steep pricing and exclusive clientele.

Their assumption shattered instantly, however, when they peered out the window and caught sight of the multi-million-dollar superbike parked outside. No one riding a machine of that calibre would be short on cash. That theory made zero sense.

The mystery was finally solved when the restaurant’s merchant tablet chimed with a brand-new digital order notification. It was an enormous, multi-item purchase. Furthermore, the specific desserts listed in the incoming ticket matched precisely with the items the girl had been examining moments earlier.

The assistant shopkeeper finally understood the clever strategy. The girl had not left because of her budget. She had simply used the physical shop as a showroom to pick out her treats before routing the purchase through a delivery courier.

Naturally, carrying a towering stack of pastry boxes on a high-speed racing bike was an impossible task.

Realizing what had happened, the staff immediately sprang into action, carefully boxing up the fresh pastries.

Meanwhile, Qiao Meixia had not departed the area yet. She intended to loiter nearby until the courier arrived to pick up her package, ensuring a smooth handoff before she made her final push back to the estate. She kept her eyes glued to the delivery app tracking interface. Within minutes, the status updated to show that the rider had arrived at the merchant’s location.

Seeing the courier pull away, Qiao Meixia fired up her own engine.

The superbike let out a deep, thunderous roar that instantly commanded the attention of everyone on the block. Several onlookers whipped out their phones, desperate to snap a photo of the stunning rider and her high-end machine.

Qiao Meixia paid them no mind. She twisted the throttle and vanished down the asphalt, leaving the gawking crowd behind as she cruised toward the upscale residential enclave of the Jiang Residence.

Upon reaching the outer security gates, she slowed to a stop. Instead of rolling straight through the entrance, she pulled off to the side of the road, keeping one eye on the gate and the other on her phone’s live GPS delivery tracker.

The residential guards immediately recognized her, having seen her frequent the neighborhood over the past few weeks since her return. Even so, they exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why she was loitering outside the perimeter instead of heading straight home.

Qiao Meixia remained completely indifferent to their curious stares. She had a delivery rendezvous to manage, and nothing else mattered.

A few moments later, her target arrived. She kicked up her kickstand and prepped her bike. The approaching vehicle was none other than the food delivery rider carrying her precious desserts.

As the rider reached the security checkpoint, the gate guard stepped out to block his path, demanding to know his destination. Just as the courier began explaining his errand, Qiao Meixia calmly wheeled her bike forward.

"He is delivering an order to me." Qiao Meixia stated plainly to the guards.

"Huh?" The delivery rider blinked, staring at her in utter astonishment.

To clear up the confusion, Qiao Meixia unlocked her phone, opened the app’s active order screen, and displayed the digital receipt.

The courier checked the order number and address, confirming her identity. He gave a firm nod of validation.

"Since you are right here at the gate, why don’t you just take the bag from me now?" The rider suggested helpfully.

"No... I can’t manage this box while riding that." Qiao Meixia replied, tilting her head toward the massive superbike.

The rider turned his gaze to the aggressive racing machine and let out a breathless laugh. ’Ah, that explains it.’

The puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. Now he understood why she had not asked him to buzz her apartment directly. Navigating a heavy, awkward box of pastries while balancing on a beast of a superbike was a recipe for disaster. He grinned in understanding.

"Just follow my lead through the gate." Qiao Meixia instructed quietly.

She swung her leg back over the seat, fired up the engine, and glided past the security arm, leading the delivery scooter deep into the wealthy neighbourhood.

It took only a few minutes to reach the grand driveway of the Jiang Residence.

Pulling to a halt by the front steps, the rider unstrapped the packaging and handed the pristine dessert box over to her.

"Thank you." Qiao Meixia said, securing the box.

"Have a good day!" The rider nodded politely before turning his scooter around to exit the estate.

As he drove away, the courier could not help reflecting on the unusual customer he had just served.

Initially, upon seeing her casual attire and knowing she resided in a multi-million-dollar mansion, he had pegged her as a spoiled, arrogant young heiress who would treat service workers with disdain. He had braced himself for a cold, entitled attitude. Instead, he was floored by her calm politeness. She had not spoken down to him once, nor had she exhibited any haughtiness.

The logic behind her quirky delivery method, ordering via an app simply because her vehicle could not accommodate a pastry box, was bizarre, yet it made total sense once you saw her ride.

Meanwhile, Qiao Meixia carried her precious cargo through the grand double doors of the mansion. Stepping into the main foyer, she was immediately met by a circle of unfamiliar faces lounging in the formal living room.

The group turned their heads in unison as her footsteps echoed across the marble floor.

They were Feng Lan’s wealthy socialite friends, who had dropped by for an afternoon visit and were currently chatting away.

"Feng Lan, is that..." One of the women trailed off, eyeing Qiao Meixia up and down with harsh scrutiny.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***