To his side, the school beauty in her JK uniform and white stockings, embodying the pure yet seductive aesthetic.
Across from him, an alluring widow in a black dress, radiating a cool elegance.
James desired both.
But his gut told him that choosing both was a recipe for disasterâa sure way to offend both women.
What would a warrior do in this situation?
He pondered this for half a second.
Then, he took a step forward and scooped up the one he thought would be easiest to handle... Timmy.
With a smile, he asked, "Where do you want to go, Timmy? Uncle will take you, okay?"
Timmy's sweet voice replied, "Okay Timmy wants to go back and watch the grown-ups fight."
James: ...
Great, not one of them is easy to deal with.
He was out of options. To divert their attention, he suggested they go watch a movie.
Amanda nodded in agreement.
Tailsa hesitated. She wanted to watch a movie alone with James, but seeing his predicament and fearing that pushing him too hard might backfire, she reluctantly remained silent.
James took her silence as consent.
The group arrived at the mall's cinema.
The lobby was sparsely populated, with a high-end, sophisticated decor. Soft lighting from above illuminated the space, while a strip of blue neon lights highlighted the concession stand.
Several self-service ticket kiosks stood to one side, next to a display of popcorn and various snacks behind transparent glass.
Timmy, spotting the snacks, clamored for some. Amanda went with her.
Tailsa and James went to buy the tickets.
"Should we book the whole theater?"
Flush with his sixty million, James was feeling extravagant.
He had rarely been to the cinema and had never experienced booking a whole theater.
"Huh? Why book the whole place? That's a waste of money," Tailsa said, reluctant.
"I did a rough calculation. Buying all the seats would only cost around twenty thousand," James replied.
"James, twenty thousand is two months' salary for me," Tailsa said, exasperated.
"It's my money, not yours. Why are you trying to save my money?" James asked, puzzled.
Tailsa pouted, her expression akin to someone witnessing the squandering of precious resourcesâa picture of frugality.
"It's twenty thousand to book a whole theater. You might as well give me the money, and I'll let you watch in my room."
???
In her room?
James stared intently at Tailsa's profile.
Her softly curved jawline, still carrying a hint of baby fat, and her full, rosy lips pursed gently as if inviting a taste.
"Fine, here's twenty thousand. Tell me when your family's not home," James boldly accepted.
Tailsa realized she was practically inviting the wolf into her den. She shot James a furtive glance, saw the hunger in his eyes, and blushed, spitting out a retort.
"You jerk! Aren't you afraid of being killed by my parents if you come to my house?"
"If you're not scared, why should I be?" James retorted, puffing out his chest.
Tailsa quickly dropped the subject. If her parents found out, she'd be the first one to catch hell.
"If you find the regular theaters too noisy, we can get a VIP room. They're quieter, with fewer people, and the service is great," Tailsa suggested.
Regular theaters could be a nightmare if you were unlucky enough to encounter unruly kids kicking the back of your seat.
Plus, there were always those annoying people who couldn't resist showing off by spoiling the movie for everyone.
"Oh? There are VIP rooms?" James asked, intrigued.
"Of course, but they're about twice as expensive. Not really worth it for most people."
"Alright, let's book a VIP room then."
"???"
In the end, James insisted on booking a small VIP screening room.
It cost over ten thousand to book the VIP room.
But to avoid any disturbances, he felt the expense was justified.
James had never been to a VIP room before and was surprised by what he found.
They were led by a dedicated attendant to a VIP lounge to wait while their movie was being prepared.
The lounge offered a selection of pastries, cakes, and cold snacks for guests to enjoy.
There was also an unlimited supply of popcorn, fries, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
Timmy's eyes lit up at the sight of the ice cream, and sheå·å·ed for two bowls.
Amanda only allowed her one.
But James, unable to resist Timmy's puppy-dog eyes, scooped a heaping, overflowing bowl for her.
Tailsa remarked that the cinema was being shrewdânone of the snacks were individually packaged, making it impossible to sneak any into your bag.
After a short while, the attendant returned to inform them that their movie was ready.
The group of four adults and one child followed the attendant through a separate VIP entrance into the theater.
The room was small, with only about twenty seats.
Each seat was a plush, reclining sofa, with a small table between every two seats.
On the table was a menu from which guests could order food and drinks like burgers, fried chicken, coffee, and milk tea.
There was also a service button on each seat to summon an attendant at any time.
And thoughtfully, the VIP room had its own private restroom, eliminating any potential inconvenience for the guests.
The service was impeccable.
The only slight disappointment was that the movie was still a regular one, not some rare, unedited version.
James chose the couple's seats in the back row, and Tailsa naturally sat next to him, snuggling close.
Amanda and Timmy took the adjacent couple's seats.
Jay Johnson, not wanting to intrude or sit next to his boss's woman, grabbed a blanket and settled on a small stool in the corner, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
The movie started, and the lights dimmed.
The sound system was powerful, its volume rising and falling with the dramatic turns of the plot, stirring the emotions of the audience.
It was a romance film, and Timmy quickly lost interest, falling asleep not long after it began.
The adults, however, were engrossed in the movie.
As the film reached its climax, with the protagonists sharing a passionate kiss, James felt a stirring in his loins.
Especially in this intimate and dimly lit setting, with a beautiful girl nestled in his arms.
Her delicate frame pressed against his, separated only by the thin fabric of their clothes.
The subtle fragrance of her dark hair filled his senses.
His breathing grew heavier.
But with Amanda nearby, he restrained himself from making a move on Tailsa.
He was worried that Amanda's affection level might drop.
After all, he was only eleven points away from unlocking the ten bioroids.
Loyal, skilled, fearless, and immune to painâJames desperately wanted those bodyguards.
With them, he would never have to worry about being harassed or blackmailed again.
Besides, the system had indicated that hypnosis and bioroids were of similar power levels.
If hypnosis was this powerful, the bioroids had to be incredible too.
If those bioroids turned out to be based on legendary warriors, elite soldiers, or super mercenaries, who in this world could stand against him?
As these thoughts raced through his mind, his lust gradually subsided.
His gaze became focused, and he refrained from any advances on Tailsa, concentrating on the movie instead.
But while he held back, the woman in his arms did not.
Tailsa began tracing circles on his chest with her fingertips.
She deliberately exhaled warm breaths onto his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
She even planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
James shuddered, goosebumps erupting all over his skin.
Tailsa whispered teasingly in his ear, "This is your punishment for being such a flirt."