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墨書 Inktalez
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, close to the center of Bangkok, and has a history spanning 129 years since its establishment in 1876.
Zhou Xiaxia was brought to the restaurant on the forty-ninth floor. As soon as she entered, her eyes widened in surprise; she momentarily forgot her fear. Was that… Labor Minister Gritsada Jisada?
She felt uncertain, but he looked just like the man she had seen frequently on television and in recent news.
Although it was Zhou Xiaxia's first time at this hotel, she had heard of its grandeur. The hotel had hosted numerous high-ranking officials from both Thailand and abroad.
Even as the daughter of Zhou Yaohui, Zhou Xiaxia's life was no different from that of an ordinary child. She led a simple and unpretentious life, never enjoying any so-called privileges or indulging in extravagant spending.
Because of this, she became one of the most inconspicuous and ordinary figures in the crowd.
At this moment, however, several pairs of eyes were on her. She was a guest here, but more importantly, she stood beside Zhou Yinkun—a man whose presence exuded a blend of rogue charm and noble air, strikingly handsome and tall enough to be impossible to ignore.
Even Labor Minister Gritsada Jisada, who had just stepped out, glanced over before entering the elevator. The respectful yet curious gazes made Zhou Xiaxia feel quite uncomfortable.
She wanted to pull her hand away.
A slight pressure came from her palm, as if struggling against her desire to withdraw. Zhou Yinkun shot her a glance; instead of letting go, he pulled her along as if she were a small dog, leading her to the best table in the restaurant.
At the window on the forty-ninth floor, they faced the Chao Phraya River and the Bangkok peninsula. The sunlight was filtered just right—not blinding—and offered a breathtaking view of the city. If it weren't for the intimidating man sitting across from her, it would have been an enjoyable experience for Zhou Xiaxia.
"Brother Kun, it's been a while since you last came," said a man in a suit and tie as he approached with a smile, presenting them with the menu.
Zhou Yinkun tilted his chin slightly, indicating for the menu to be handed to his companion across the table.
The man respectfully placed the menu in front of the girl, stealing a glance at her. She appeared to be just a high school student, but she was quite pretty, especially with those large, sparkling eyes that were clear and bright. However, there was an air of confusion about her.
It was understandable; Zhou Yinkun had a temper that could change in an instant, and he could turn hostile with just a single wrong word. It made one wonder when he had developed such a penchant for this kind of interaction.
In just a few seconds, Zhou Xiaxia took another look at the man. His name tag read "GM," indicating he was neither a waiter nor a dining manager. Her gaze fell on his wrist, and although she wasn't well-versed in luxury brands, she recognized that it was a Rolex. He wasn't just any staff member; he was the hotel’s general manager.
It was surprising that he would personally hand over the menu like an ordinary waiter.
Zhou Xiaxia couldn't tell if this hotel truly embodied the motto "the customer is king" to such an extent or if it was because... she glanced at Zhou Yinkun, whose gaze was fixed on her.
She quickly lowered her head and began flipping through the menu. Less than a minute later, she looked up again.
She had no idea what to order; all she knew was that every dish was expensive, and some were listed only by their English names, leaving her unable to imagine what they might be.
"Would you like to try the signature dish?" the manager offered. "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"Oh, no, none at all." Zhou Xiaxia felt relieved by his timely suggestion as she returned the menu. "Thank you."
Suddenly remembering something, she tentatively looked at Zhou Yinkun and asked, "Is that okay?"
Seeing his half-smiling expression made her inexplicably anxious. If she ordered something unappetizing, would he become displeased and chop off her fingers right here?
The manager stood by, waiting for his opinion. Zhou Yinkun smiled and waved his hand dismissively, signaling that it was fine.
He didn't care at all about what she chose; what amused him was how she could be so nervous about ordering a dish. The way she tentatively sought his approval reminded him of a little dog wagging its tail, hoping for food from him—exactly the same.
Upon receiving the instruction, the manager immediately nodded and left.
Now, only the two of them remained.
Zhou Xiaxia sat across from him, feeling anxious. Zhou Yinkun, however, remained silent, as if he wanted her to speak first. Zhou Xiaxia gripped the sides of her chair tightly, taking a deep breath as if to muster her courage. Finally, she gathered enough bravery to look up at Zhou Yinkun.
"Uncle."
"Mm?"
"After dinner... can we go home?"
The man's long fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. He replied, "What else would we do?"
Zhou Xiaxia let out a sigh of relief.
"You can go home once you finish eating," he kindly reiterated.
"Then..." Zhou Xiaxia ventured cautiously, "you shouldn't... be going anywhere, right?"
Zhou Yinkun's fingers paused.
Zhou Xiaxia's heart skipped a beat.
A chilling and numbing fear gradually spread from her spine throughout her body. She tightened her grip on the edge of the chair. Fortunately, at that moment, the waiter arrived with dishes, one after another, gradually filling the entire table.
Zhou Xiaxia finally realized that the signature dish the manager mentioned was not just one dish, but a luxurious set meal that included more than a dozen dishes.
The waiter opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Zhou Yinkun. As for Zhou Xiaxia, sitting across from him, it was obvious she was underage and wouldn't be served the same drink. Instead, a glass of freshly squeezed juice sat beside her.
"Go ahead and eat. Once you're done, we can go home," he said.
He didn't deny the question from earlier, which filled Zhou Xiaxia's heart with joy. Listening to him, she glanced at the table piled high with dishes. Biting her lip, she felt it might be a bit difficult to finish everything, but she obediently picked up her fork.
She had already eaten quite a bit at Grandpa Song En's birthday banquet earlier. Although she had been startled and consumed quite a bit of energy after meeting Zhou Yinkun, she still wasn't hungry enough to eat this much. But he had said they could go home once they finished eating.
She could always just push through it.
It was her first time at such a famous hotel, enjoying such expensive food; she decided to treat it as a kind of indulgence.
As she comforted herself, she began to take bites of the dishes.
Zhou Yinkun only drank wine and didn't touch any food. Rather than them having a meal together, it felt more like he was watching her eat. Her small mouth could hold quite a bit; as she ate, her cheeks puffed up, transforming her delicate oval face into a rounder shape.
After taking a few bites, she would occasionally glance up at him, as if asking why he wasn't eating or saying, "Look, I'm almost done."
Zhou Yinkun tilted his head and smiled mischievously. Children were just children; they were so easy to fool.
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