CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272: THE DESIRED FREELOADER LIFE

Godfery Shaw is someone with a very strong sense of territoriality.

His personal space doesn’t allow others to come close, even trusted aides like Hailey Smith and Basil Smith are mindful of this taboo.

Of course, Godfery Shaw is quite intimidating, so ordinary people don’t dare to enter that dangerous zone.

But Nancy Allen just entered casually, and even caused some disturbance.

At this moment, the quilt curled up into a ball still carried some residual warmth.

Godfery Shaw blushed.

...

After leaving Cloudglow, Nancy Allen didn’t return to Ink Manor but went to the flower shop instead.

The past couple of days, she had almost forgotten she owned a flower shop. She hadn’t been there, and feared the flowers inside were nearly ruined, possibly needing someone to clean up.

When Nancy Allen arrived at the flower shop, she found everything in perfect order. The flowers were fresh and neatly arranged, with Frank reading a book by the counter.

Nancy Allen instantly knew it was Frank who came over to help.

Having previously agreed to occasionally have Frank help out, Nancy Allen had given him a spare key.

Nancy Allen walked over, picked up a notepad, and wrote: "Frank, you don’t need to come and watch the shop for me."

It was only then that Frank, absorbed in his book, noticed Nancy Allen had arrived. He quickly put down the book, stood up, and said with a smile, "Nancy Allen, you’re here. I’m not busy, there’s not much schoolwork in the first year. I come by when I’m free, and I’ll be leaving soon."

Nancy Allen wrote: "You should go take care of your mother, I’m not running the shop for the money, it’s just to pass the time. You don’t need to come often."

Frank was taken aback, wondering how Nancy Allen knew he needed to see his mother.

Nancy Allen could tell from Frank’s eyes that his claim of not being busy was a lie.

There were signs of fatigue from lack of sleep in his eyes, he was reading subject-related books, and there was a package of post-surgery medication in the bar.

At just the right age of a freshman, he had to balance his studies, take care of his post-operative mother, and still come to help at the flower shop—how could he not be busy?

Frank nodded, "Alright then, I’ll head out first. Goodbye, Nancy Allen."

Frank thought about it and realized Nancy Allen didn’t seem like someone who needed money. If he came too often, it might make Nancy Allen feel burdened.

After Frank left, Nancy Allen had some hot water and then picked a comic book from the nearby bookshelf, curling up in the hanging chair by the door to read.

The flower shop had a small bookshelf containing novels and comics with themes like domineering presidents falling for someone, with no literary books in sight.

Nancy Allen had never read such books before.

In her previous life, she was busy with painting and learning various skills.

After her rebirth, she was busy seeking revenge.

She had no time to read novels or comics, and even if she did, she felt back then that reading them was a waste of time.

But now it’s different; now she planned to be a relaxed freeloader.

No need for a job or a clock-in, no need for hard studying, and no one arranging anything for her. She could lie down and sleep when tired, read these mindless novels and comics, freely waste time, and do whatever she wanted.

Nancy Allen lay back happily looking at the comics.

Occasionally, someone would enter the shop to select flowers, secretly glancing at the shop owner lounging in the hanging chair, then whispering with their companions.

"The owner of the flower shop in the backstreet is such a celestial beauty."

"When we look at her, she doesn’t get angry, but she never speaks."

"Maybe she’s mute. After all, when God gives such beauty, he might close a door for her."

"What nonsense are you saying? You’re the mute one! Why would a fairy speak to you mortals?"

Nancy Allen, nestled in the hanging chair and out of the sunlight, didn’t wear a hat. Her stunning beauty was always a powerful draw, so news about her quickly spread through the backstreet.

When Nancy Allen got tired of reading comics, she would nap.

Seeing her fall asleep, more people came under the pretense of buying flowers, sneaking peeks.

Like a precious cat in that hanging chair, curious people wanted to see her.

While there, they would buy a bouquet, which was affordable. So, unknowingly, half of the prepared bouquets in the flower shop were gone.

Frank had delivered medicine to his mother and chatted with her. On his way back to school, he dropped by the flower shop for a look and exclaimed, "Heavens, was there a burglary? Are flowers something people steal these days?"

Nancy Allen, disturbed by his exclamation, opened her eyes and looked at Frank in confusion.

Frank immediately checked the shop’s sales records, bewildered—had everything been sold?

He had stayed in the shop for a long time without selling many flowers.

And within just two or three hours, half the shop’s inventory was gone.

He asked in disbelief, "Nancy Allen, did all these really get sold?"

Still a bit sleepy, Nancy Allen took out her small notebook and wrote, "I don’t know, I was asleep."

Frank raised his hand to his forehead, seeing that long list of sales records, sighing internally—it truly is a world that favors appearances.

Nancy Allen, awakened and checking the time, wrote, "It’s so late already, I’m closing up and heading home."

Still dazed, Frank nodded, "Okay, I’m heading back to school too."

Watching Nancy Allen’s silhouette, Frank suddenly felt she wasn’t there to run the shop; she was just there to read comics and take a nap.

Frank was inexplicably somewhat envious. He was busy like a dog all day long. He too longed for such a life.

Nancy Allen didn’t return to Ink Manor; she went to pick up Godfery Shaw from work.

This time, no one in the lobby stopped her. The receptionist wanted to greet her, but she ignored them, merely waving at the security guard Thomas Carter, and went straight to the elevator.

She navigated her way to the top floor effortlessly.

The top-floor receptionist and a few assistants all pretended not to notice, not daring to look or speak.

Nancy Allen headed towards Godfery Shaw’s office.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Nancy Allen pushed the door open and entered.

The participants in Godfery Shaw’s video conference suddenly couldn’t hear him.

Nancy Allen quickly wrote a note and handed it to Godfery Shaw.

Godfery Shaw glanced at the elegant handwriting that read: "You finish up, I’m here to pick you up from work."

Godfery Shaw’s breath hitched.

Picking him up from work?

Someone’s here to pick him up?

He instinctively wanted to stand up.

Nancy Allen shook her head, pointing to the computer in front of him, and handed him another small note: "You’re still in a meeting, go on, I’m not in a hurry."

Godfery Shaw continued with the business discussion. Those in the video conference only noticed that his voice had softened, much like the meeting at noon.

They wondered whether their boss had lost interest in speaking with them, leaving them worried and nervous.

The middle-aged manager speaking grew increasingly tense, his nervousness apparent even through the screen as sweat formed on his forehead: "Boss, the tender investment exceeded estimates, and our division would like to apply for a further fifty million in revolving funds."

Tender bidding errors are grave missteps, but leaving losses unaddressed would be worse, so the manager had no choice but to brace himself and apply for funds.

Godfery Shaw said nothing, unable to help glancing at Nancy Allen, while the manager onscreen was so nervous his legs trembled.

Nancy Allen noted this and gestured towards the screen, signaling for Godfery Shaw to pay attention to the matter at hand.

Godfery Shaw shifted his focus back to the screen and instructed, "Approve the funds for him. Let’s conclude today’s meeting here."

With that, Godfery Shaw ended the call.

Leaving his subordinates looking at each other, confused.

Was the boss pleased or displeased? If displeased, why approve the funds, and if pleased, why end the meeting so abruptly?