Chapter 43: Station 22: Seduction

Chapter 43: Seduction Station

Eyes like tranquil lake mirrors gazed calmly at the fork.

The utensil, which had initially been pointed at Ming Yiyang, abruptly struggled to redirect itself towards Yan Qiling.

Qi Yongxin attempted to regain control of his hand, only to find it disobediently defying his will!

As the metal edge aligned with Yan Qiling, the rigid fork, under the watchful gaze of all, slowly twisted into a helix right before their eyes.

Those who had been paying attention due to the argument all wore subtle changes in their expressions, except for the blind Patland.

The blond youth felt somewhat bewildered by the sudden hush that had fallen around him, as the sounds of conversation vanished in an instant.

With trembling hands, Qi Yongxin brought the fork before his eyes, seemingly intent on verifying if this twisted fork had been tampered with or replaced.

Ada, facing this side, had a pale expression.

Unconsciously, she clutched the fabric under her plate, causing the creased cloth to inadvertently topple over the glass of red wine that she had placed beside her.

Wine spilled from the shattered glass, shattering the eerie silence with a clatter.

The waiter hurriedly stepped forward to clean up the mess and replaced Qi Yongxin's fork, who was still in a daze.

Only then did Yan Qiling finally smile gently, his tone as soothing as a spring breeze caressing one's face:

"I, along with Mr. Xiao Ming, were concerned that some clues might be destroyed over time, so we couldn't attend everyone's meeting. Our investigation has indeed yielded some results. If anyone is interested, we could find a place to synchronize information after dinner."

"If Mr. Qi has no objections to this explanation, there's no need to pursue the matter further."

Still trembling with the new fork in hand, Qi Yongxin sat across from Yan Qiling, who emphasized as if seeking confirmation:

"Mr. Qi."

"Oh?"

Roused from his stupor, Qi Yongxin lifted his head to see the other man's captivating eyes shimmering brightly, asking leisurely:

"Does Mr. Qi still have any objections?"

"…For now, that’s all."

Qi Yongxin maintained a calm tone, trying his best to appear less frightened.

Si Shuhao secretly applauded in her heart. She had long been displeased with this man's leadership style. Now, feeling inwardly delighted, she openly expressed her opinion without reservation, saying frankly,

"Their approach wasn't problematic at all. We only have three days, and the Unseen Master can freely manipulate the flow of time. Losing even an hour could cause us to miss crucial moments. There's no need for such analysis meetings; let's just synchronize information every evening instead."

Before Qi Yongxin could voice his opinion, Ming Yiyang took the initiative to speak up:

"It would be best to find a room where none of us are staying to synchronize our information, so as to avoid certain individuals tampering with others' rooms. Am I right, Mr. Qi?"

Qi Yongxin felt a mix of unease and anger from being subtly targeted repeatedly. However, the image of Yan Qiling's eerie ability to twist the fork was still fresh in his mind. Swallowing his humiliation, he managed to compose himself after a few seconds and wear a seemingly natural, harmonious smile:

"…There is logic in such arrangements. In special circumstances, we should make exceptions and prioritize everyone's convenience."

With that, he focused on his meal and refrained from causing any further trouble.

The sheer extraordinariness of the situation left him oblivious to Ji Congrong's expression standing beside him.

This woman had already directed her tender, aqueous gaze upon Yan Qiling.

Amidst the clinking of cutlery, she sought opportunities to catch a fleeting glance at him discreetly.

Finally, she seized a brief moment of eye contact.

This was a gaze she had meticulously calibrated, adjusting for the angle of light, allowing her to look boldly and without reservation.

Ji Congrong was aware that her face wasn't strikingly beautiful, but this non-threatening appearance instead lent itself to a delicate, pitiful charm.

She had tried it many times, and seldom did men resist those dewy, vulnerable looks akin to a small, defenseless animal.

If they did resist, she would try again.

Moreover, she had intentionally moistened her lips beforehand. Paired with her glistening, tender lips and the soft lighting, it would be a fatal allure for their hearts.

The man's initially calm gaze indeed shifted slightly when it met hers, revealing a hint of curiosity.

She assumed an expression of being on the verge of speaking yet holding back, inviting the man to speculate freely.

After a moment of hesitation, the man's inquiring gaze transformed into a polite smile. He then lowered his eyes to wipe his mouth, allowing the waiter to clear away the truffle-oozing egg ramekin that he had barely touched.

Very well, he didn't seem to harbor any disgust.

With a slight easing of her nerves, Ji Congrong understood that although he hadn't responded as she had anticipated, it was understandable.

A man as handsome and capable as him must have encountered numerous similar tests beforehand.

Perhaps he had developed a slight immunity to such tactics.

But it didn't matter... His lack of refusal meant that he was at least not averse to it. There would be other opportunities to try again.

As the appetizers came to an end, the waiter cleared the plates and replaced the tablecloth, smoothly serving them their main courses.

However, during this interval, the head chef personally came to their table and presented an additional dish in front of Ji Congrong.

"Lady, your dance is truly impressive. To express my gratitude for both you and this gentleman's contribution to the appetizer, I have specially prepared this Crystal Cream Soup for you. You may share this soup with this gentleman."

The woman's expression revealed a touch of bashful delight, her innocence akin to that of a small, delicate creature. Si Shuhao couldn't help but sigh at the charming lady.

The chef then turned to Yan Qiling and asked,

"Sir, I noticed you only had one bite of the appetizer. Was it not to your liking?"

Yan Qiling smiled faintly,

"I prefer fresh eggs, and I'm not particularly fond of the truffle grinding method used here. It could also be that the truffles are overripe."

To his surprise, the chef seemed apologetic,

"I see. The truffles might indeed be a bit overripe. They were delivered in February."

Yan Qiling didn't make a fuss about it,

"It's alright, don't worry about it. I'll give the rest of the dishes a try."

This insignificant incident allowed Ji Congrong to gain insight into the man's character.

Gentle, amiable, and polite, coupled with the way he dealt with Qi Yongxin just now, this man was practically the ideal temporary boyfriend straight out of a parallel universe!

After the seared foie gras appetizer was served, Ji Congrong, while everyone was engrossed in cutting their food, subtly extended the tip of her high heels, testing to move it forward slightly.

Yan Qiling sat opposite Qi Yongxin. Though diagonally apart, fortunately, the long table wasn't too spacious.

With her long legs and sharp stiletto heels, she should be able to brush against his pants without any issue.

Pretending to drop her napkin, she glanced under the table.

The legs across from her were somewhat obstructive, but it wasn't a major problem; there was still room for maneuver.

Ming Yiyang was peacefully enjoying his meal when he suddenly sensed something approaching him from under the table.

Instantly on guard, a purple glint flashed in his eyes.

And then he saw...

A woman's foot, clad in a black high heel, trembling as it tentatively reached out towards Yan Qiling's direction.

He couldn't help but glance at Yan Qiling.

The man maintained his composure, seemingly unaware of the subtle movement under the table. He was still focused on skillfully cutting the foie gras into bite-sized pieces.

He then cast a look at the woman sitting across from him.

She appeared no different from anyone else, even engaging in a quiet conversation with Qi Yongxin. There was no sign that her high heels were almost touching the edge of Yan Qiling's trousers.

Ming Yiyang: "..."

A cold sneer escaped his thoughts: Impressive, aren't they, engaging in secretive flirtation right here.

Maintaining a stoic expression, he continued slicing the foie gras with precision.

Yet, beneath the table, he nonchalantly swung his long leg, kicking away the woman's advancing foot.

With a crash, Ji Congrong, who had been peacefully eating, toppled into Si Shuhao's arms!

Si Shuhao: "..."

Ah?

-

This misunderstanding was brushed off by Ji Congrong's excuse of "not sitting steadily."

She never would have imagined that the refined and charming man, who had shown no signs of aversion, would have such an intense reaction to her leg brushing against his! He even kicked her under the table!

How infuriating! Even if he didn't like it, couldn't he have found a different way to react? She almost exposed herself! This insensitive, odious man!

Grumbling in her heart, her gaze at Yan Qiling couldn't help but carry a hint of annoyed resentment.

Smiling Yan Qiling: "..."

His inquiring gaze shifted towards Ming Yiyang.

The young man, absorbed in his food, noticed him looking and tried to act casual, but the curve of his lips betrayed his amusement. With an innocent yet mischievous expression, he asked:

"Would you like some? I haven't touched it yet."

Yan Qiling looked at the mashed foie gras on the plate and thought, "..."

He could only fold the napkin and press his lips, tactfully declining with subtlety:

"I'm fine, I'm already full."

But Ming Yiyang didn't let him off. With one hand poking at the foie gras and the other propping up his chin, he tilted his head to look at Yan with a teasing tone:

"Does Teacher Yan find me unappetizing?"

"No, it's just that young people need nutrients for growth. You should eat more."

Yan Qiling lifted his gaze, and the person beside him persisted with a teasing hum, a hint of amusement in their voice:

"You speak as if you're Chi Zihe's father. If we were to judge solely by appearances, you couldn't be much older than me."

Chi Zihe, suddenly addressed as someone's father:

"..." Please, could you argue without dragging me into it?

After an eternity of proceedings, they finally finished their extravagant dinner.

The banquet concluded amidst melodic tunes.

It felt like a last supper.

Ruman was still concerned about Di Chen's safety, but her anxiety was no longer as intense as it had been before the banquet.

Human psychology is truly fascinating.

When people believe there's still a chance to salvage a situation, even if it doesn't directly concern them, they often fall into anxiety.

But when they perceive that something is already settled, even in the face of the worst outcome, their hearts can become as calm as a tranquil lake.

So, when Ruman whispered softly,

"Di Chen hasn't returned yet. Is there still a chance he will come back..."

No one replied to her; they all stood silently for a few seconds as if in mourning.

Those who had experienced the ruthless rules knew that Di Chen was likely already dead.

"Alive or dead, we must find him."

With his hands tucked in his sleeves, Chi Zihe reminded them calmly, "Even if Di Chen has met with misfortune, we need to search for him. A corpse would at least provide us with more clues, otherwise, we'll be the next to die."

Simon, having finished his prayer with a cross in hand, nodded slightly. Qi Yongxin, however, had a different opinion:

"It's most dangerous to act at night. Instead of searching for someone whose fate is unknown, we should share the clues we've gathered before bed to prepare for any threats that might arise tonight."

"I also think we should share our clues first," Meng Liangchen suggested. "Perhaps we can analyze something. This way, we'll be safer when we venture out."

The group proceeded to Room 206 in a somber mood.

Room 206 served as a common lounge in the hotel, perfect for discussions and deliberations.

"Ahhhh! Di Chen!!!"

A woman's shrill scream pierced the air, almost shattering the eardrums of those around her!