SIATOWITF Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Extravagant Frenchmen, A Touch of Red Hidden Beneath the Gilded Surface…

“So high.”

Inside the constantly ascending glass scenic elevator, Xuan Bai craned his neck to look down, his eyes occasionally squinting from the dazzling sunlight reflected off the adjacent buildings.

“Yes, sir. Xin Yao Tower was built in 1998 and reaches a total height of 321 meters. It is the first ultra-high sightseeing tower in the southern region. Our restaurant, Floating Light, is located at the top of the tower. We have now reached the ninety-seventh floor,” the hostess standing beside him immediately introduced with a smile.

“We’re here.” Seeing the floor number on the elevator finally reach three digits, Ji Mo An manually pulled Xuan Bai out of the elevator.

“Mr. Ji, this way, please.” The restaurant manager was already waiting in front of the elevator, leading the way diligently.

“What’s this?” Walking on the luxurious carpet, Xuan Bai suddenly curiously touched the nose of a golden deer head embedded in the wall.

“Don’t mess a…” Ji Mo An turned his head at the sound and saw the tip of Xuan Bai’s finger turning golden.

“Touched…”

Wait, did that thing just shed color?

The corridor suddenly fell silent.

“This, sir…” The restaurant manager was visibly flustered.

“This… how could it shed color?”

“Alright, go wash it off quickly.” Ji Mo An looked at the manager, who was so embarrassed he looked like he wanted to dig himself an apartment with his toes, and wordlessly patted Xuan Bai’s wrist.

Why did this snake have to get fidgety at a time like this…

“Sir, please come with me. The restroom is this way,” the hostess immediately stepped forward with a smile.

“Go ahead.” It was just washing his hands, so Ji Mo An didn’t think much of it.

“Mr. Ji, we’ve launched a new menu today. Take a look,” said the blonde, blue-eyed chef, personally holding out a black and gold menu to Ji Mo An.

“Alright.” Ji Mo An glanced at the dishes. “Change all the wine to juice.”

“Of course, sir.” The chef bowed slightly. “But that will cause our dishes to lose a hint of flavor.”

“Wine is just icing on the cake, isn’t it?”

“You’re right, sir.” The chef smiled and took the menu away.

—–

“…”

Xuan Bai walked into the resplendent restroom and immediately found a stall to hide in.

Gold powder…

In that small space without surveillance, his eyes turned gold in an instant, the round pupils rapidly narrowing and becoming elongated.

This wasn’t gold powder at all…

He pulled out a piece of paper and gently wiped it across his fingertip. Along with the gold, there was also a striking red smear.

Xuan Bai didn’t know when or how Ji Mo An had booked this restaurant, but he was certain that someone had guided him here.

And…

【……】 Xuan Bai tilted his head slightly, pressing the bloodied finger to his brow, speaking in a language that belonged to no country.

He seemed to be talking to himself, yet also seemed to be in conversation with someone.

Too high.

The restaurant was located on the one hundred and first floor—too high, so high that his body was already beginning to be affected.

He needed to be even more careful.

Xuan Bai took a deep breath and unbuttoned his shirt.

His pale skin was covered in dense “red lines.”

With his movements, several round droplets of blood squeezed out from the “red lines.” Just as they were about to stain his clothes red, black scales rapidly flipped out from his skin, covering his entire body.

The clothes were given to him by Ji Mo An, so he couldn’t get them dirty…

—–

“What took you so long?” When Xuan Bai returned, the first dish had already been served on the table.

Ji Mo An impatiently swirled the goblet filled with orange juice.

“Brother, afraid of heights.” Xuan Bai blinked, using the back of his shoe to rub against Ji Mo An’s ankle under the cover of the tablecloth.

“…” Afraid of heights, my foot. If you were afraid of heights, you wouldn’t have been looking out of the scenic elevator the entire time.

Ji Mo An resisted the urge to roll his eyes and stepped on Xuan Bai’s foot.

At that moment, the chef brought up the second dish.

“What a big plate,” Xuan Bai commented.

“That’s how French cuisine is.” Ji Mo An used his fork to pick up a piece of foie gras and put it in his mouth. “Xuan Bai, don’t flip it over with your fork.”

“…” Xuan Bai looked at the dish, which was smaller than the palm of his hand, and hesitated to take a bite.

He had a phobia of French cuisine.

In a dungeon, a certain French boss loved to use food to eliminate players, and the scenes were disgusting.

Like foie gras stuffed with worms, or a finger soaking in mushroom cream soup…

“Doesn’t suit your taste?” Ji Mo An raised an eyebrow.

“No.” After hesitating for a long time, Xuan Bai forked a small green leaf that was decorating the foie gras.

“…Xuan Bai, don’t eat the garnish.” Ji Mo An finally realized the problem. “I’ll find someone to teach you the etiquette of eating different cuisines when we get back.”

This snake ate Western food with style, but as soon as it came to French food, he revealed his true colors…

“Since you want to follow me, then in the future, entering places like this will just be commonplace.” He picked up the goblet and tilted it slightly.

“Cheers.”

“…” Xuan Bai picked up his goblet, filled with three-quarters juice, and gently touched it against the other’s glass in the same manner.

“Not bad.” Ji Mo An nodded. “But when drinking with me, your glass should be slightly lower than mine.”

He used a little force, pressing Xuan Bai’s glass down a bit.

“And then, you have to look at me.”

“…” Xuan Bai raised his eyes and looked forward seriously.

There was a smile in Ji Mo An’s eyes.

He wanted to cuddle… He blinked, and the hand hidden under the table gently tugged at his jacket, completely covering the small section of shirt that was soaked in red with the black fabric.

—–

However,

A perfect dining experience was matched by a less than perfect aftermath.

“Hey, darling, even if your little boyfriend didn’t get gold powder on him, I’d be happy to comp your meal.”

In the lobby, the card that Ji Mo An took out was firmly pressed down by the person opposite him, unable to be pulled out even a little.

“…You, stay away from me.” If there weren’t so many people around, Ji Mo An would have wanted to kick him to death.

“And he’s just my model.”

“Model? Are you sure?” The Parisian, with his brown eyes, gave him a flirtatious wink. “Oh, An, does that mean I still have a chance?”

“Seriously, I just had a bit of jet lag and was a little late to Yan’s exhibition. I didn’t expect to miss you by a hair’s breadth~” He dramatically clutched his forehead.

“Oh, God, if I hadn’t overslept, then I would have been the one introducing you to this restaurant instead of dear Yan.”

“It’s alright.” Ji Mo An snatched back his card. “If you introduced it, I wouldn’t have come either. I hate extravagant Frenchmen.”

“Oh, heavens. Your words are as sharp as ever.” The Frenchman clicked his tongue. “Please don’t blame Yan. I didn’t tell her that I was the owner of Floating Light. After all, it’s quite unbelievable that a lawyer would open a restaurant…”

“We have other plans for the afternoon. I’ll have my secretary wire you the payment,” Ji Mo An interrupted him, taking Xuan Bai and heading out.

Passing the deer head, he reached out and touched it.

His fingertips were still rosy and didn’t have a speck of gold powder on them.

Such a coincidence, could it have been intentional… He rubbed his fingertips together and pushed the Xuan Bai, who was about to explode, into the elevator.

…

“I’m sorry, Mr. Autry. I don’t know why the deer head suddenly shed color. We wiped it this morning…” The manager nervously explained to the boss.

“Strengthen management. I don’t want my guests to have their dining experience affected by unnecessary problems,” Autry loosened the collar of his shirt and swaggered into the private room. “Bring me another serving of what he just ordered.”

“Yes, sir.” The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed slightly before leaving.

“Ha…” Listening to the footsteps outside fade away, Autry wandered around the private room, opened the drawers, lifted the curtains, and carefully checked everything before sitting down in the chair at the dining table.

Then he propped up a black board on the table.

“Good afternoon, Commander.”

Looking at the gradually clearer figure on the board, Autry showed a charming smile again.

“…” The figure on the board seemed to be talking, but no sound came out. Only the Frenchman could be heard speaking fluent Chinese in the room.

“Yes, I saw him. It wasn’t in vain that I came to China in person.”

“…”

“No, I didn’t place any surveillance. That would be too easy to expose.”

“…”

“Yes, that’s right. Black hair, very tall, a beauty, but I still prefer An.”

“…”

“What, I can take a vacation now? Then can I pursue An?”

“…”

“Okay, that’s a shame. I thought our status as fellow patients would allow us to cherish each other~”

“Then, farewell.”