At the Dragon Bay bar, Linda Hostin was still staring at the now-empty S03 booth, lost in thought.
Ever since the man upstairs ordered twelve bottles of Ace of Spades, she had been watching him.
He seemed a bit younger than she was, with eyes hinting at wisdom beyond his years and a handsome face to boot.
When surrounded by women, a slight awkwardness appeared on his face.
It was just so endearing.
To a woman like her, nearing thirty, such a "wolf pup" had a deadly charm.
Most importantly, he ordered two sets of the Grand Dragon, indicating he was quite wealthy.
Linda Hostin's heart skipped a beat, wanting to approach him.
Confident in her looks, she rarely faced rejection.
But upon seeing those two stunning women already with him, she hesitated.
Good men always have women vying for them.
She'd been burned before and didn't want to compete with younger, bolder women.
When she thought all hope was lost with the handsome stranger, he had someone bring over Ace of Spades, specifically asking for her number.
Feeling elated, she believed he was smitten by her beauty, experiencing love at first sight.
Amidst her two companions' envious glances, Linda Hostin handed over her number eagerly.
She fantasized about how he might approach her, unsure whether to present herself as a sweet girl or a worldly older sister.
Sitting and daydreaming, phone in hand, Linda Hostin waited for it to ring, repeatedly checking WhatsApp for new friend requests.
Her two companions went off dancing and flirting with men.
She stayed behind, foolishly waiting.
Several men approached her, but Linda Hostin ignored them all.
She wanted the S03 handsome stranger to see her reserved side.
Glancing up after waiting so long, she was shocked.
No one was there anymore.
Who asks for a woman's number only to leave silently?
She felt deeply disappointed.
As she thought she'd been played, the woman who had sat at the S03 booth returned.
Sitting alone, drinking, seemingly waiting for someone.
Linda Hostin hoped the man would return, foolishly joining in the wait...
After waiting a long time, her friends came over, urging her to grab some barbecue, but the handsome stranger never returned.
She gradually lost hope.
...
After seeing James off, Amanda returned to the booth to help keep things lively.
She noticed the girl downstairs repeatedly glancing her way.
It left her puzzled. What's she looking at when I'm just managing the place?
...
Meanwhile, in the presidential suite, James lay in bed, holding the bare-skinned Tailsa, oblivious to those still thinking of him.
Breathing in the scent of her hair, he gently stroked her soft skin.
Their bodies pressed closely together, eyes locking.
Tailsa's eyes brimmed with affection, her bashful demeanor full of longing.
James, unable to resist, felt a surge of excitement.
They indulged again.
Post-intimacy.
They talked about their school days.
Tailsa spoke of her life post-graduation, how her mom pushed her into blind dates, with men who were all odd, insisting on splitting the bill when dining out.
Reluctant to spend on her, unlike her generous, thoughtful "big brother".
He was the best guy she'd ever known.
Her words brimmed with flattery.
James found them intoxicating.
Men loved hearing such things.
Though she drifted off, likely exhausted from the day, before James had enough of her stories.
Feeling wide awake, James gently slipped his arm from under Tailsa and headed to the balcony alone, settling into a rocking chair.
Beside him, a table held a fruit platter, snacks, and drinks.
Night was deep and silent.
The breeze cool.
He fished his phone from the robe pocket and flipped through his album, recalling the night's highlights at the bar.
Photos showed him with the bunny girls, their smiling, retouched faces gathered around James, radiating joy.
And James, amidst them, wore a calm, almost indifferent smile, reminiscent of someone of high status.
Choosing two photos, including one taken of the night view from the hotel room, James posted them on Instagram.
Accompanying them with: "The transformation from boy to manâit's a big pressure. Can I handle it?"
His Instagram had no relatives, just some classmates and friends, so he posted whatever he liked without a care.
The post had no deep meaning, just marking his loss of innocence.
Afterward, James laughed off his immaturity.
No longer a boy, it was time to face things with calm, without making a fuss.
Sneering at himself a bit, James opened WhatsApp, looking to chat with Amanda about feelings.
Bio-engineered bodyguards were too enticing; though Amanda seemed a challenge, he still wanted to give it a try.
He started with, "Are you still busy?"
Her reply was quick.
"Almost done, not too busy now."
James replied: "Must be tiring, working so late."
Amanda responded: "Gotta earn a living, you get used to it."
Amanda added: "Isn't King with his girlfriend? How come you have time to message me?"
Glancing at Tailsa, soundly asleep on the bed, James initially thought to say she was asleep.
But then it struck himâif he were in the girl's shoes, hearing such a comment from a guy, she'd likely block him.
He replied vaguely: "Just alone outside enjoying the breeze."
Amanda, suspecting he wanted to meet up, knowing how to deal with such clients, offered:
"Where are you? I can send a few pretty friends to keep you company."
James was truly done for today, fearing exhaustion if any more women came.
Nor could he abandon Tailsa and sneak out to play.
Tailsa, having drunk, slept soundly.
If her relationship count went up upon return, with her none the wiser as to how, James couldn't handle it.
He declined: "No need, just wanted to chat with you."
Amanda teased in a voice message, "Won't your girlfriend get mad if she catches you secretly chatting?"
Yet another coquettish lady.
James smiledâapparently, charming women were naturally skilled in the art of flirtation.
Recalling novels he'd read, he adopted a scoundrel's tone:
"She's very obedient."
Scoundrels deserve to pair with teasers.
Amanda hinted slyly, "But I'm not obedient; if my husband dared stray, I'd have him dealt with."
James was shocked, asking: "You have a husband?"
Seeing he was only typing, Amanda followed suit:
"Yes, I'll be 28 by New Year's. Isn't having a husband normal?"
James felt disheartened.
He aimed to be a scoundrel, not a homewrecker.
With her married, he couldn't make a move.
It would take a man like Cao Cao to get excited by married women.
Imagining Amanda's rewardâten loyal super soldiersâslipping away, pained him. Speaking further felt needless.
Amanda chuckled at scaring him off.
Even though a client like him might boost business greatly, she didn't want influential men's attention.
They were ruthless, disposable, wielding money like power.
She didn't want to be their toy.
And she truly had a husband, except he'd passed nearly four years ago.