Book 4: Chapter 66:2: A Dragon and Tigress’s “Friendly” Exchange, Part 2
“I say, rice noodle roll dragon. You didn’t call me here to curse at you, right?”
“Can’t you see for yourself? I’m having my future read.” Ch’en pointed to Chen Heng’s stall.
“Love consultant? Rice noodle roll dragon, your brain hasn’t turned into mush, right? Or are you finally in heat after growing a little older and want a boyfriend to accompany you? Pardon my bluntness, but no one can handle you, rice noodle roll dragon.”
“Char siu cat, just shut up. This fortuneteller can read more than just love. He is the real deal. You can try if you don’t believe it.”
“Rice noodle roll dragon, it looks like your brain has indeed turned into mush. How about you resign from your Special Inspection Unit Chief position and go home to rest for a few days?”nove(l)bi(n.)com
“Char siu cat, let him read your future if you dare. I’ll pay for it.”
“It’s just a try; bring it on. Oy! Fortuneteller, read my future!” Swire sat across from Chen Heng with arms crossed. Although she sat down and told him to read her future, she appeared skeptical.
“This miss, what future would you like me to read?”
“Isn’t this for love divination?”
“I can divine other things apart from love. Love divination is one LMD each time, but the others depend on my mood. If it is cheap, it might be just one LMD, but if it is expensive, it could be more expensive than that piano.”
“I say, rice noodle roll dragon, don’t tell me you asked me about the piano because you wanted your future read?” Swire did not answer Chen Heng’s question. Instead, she turned her head to face Ch’en.
“Cut the crap and quickly get your future read.”
“Tsk! Fortuneteller, read what I will have for dinner.”
“If nothing unexpected happens, you will go to the Western restaurant you made a reservation for to have steak, but...”
“But what?” Chen Heng’s answer startled Swire, as she had made a reservation for steak at a Western restaurant. Her communicator had strong security on it, and she had told no one of her plans for tonight.
“After you drive there, you won’t be able to get home.”
“Will someone come to assassinate me?” Swire entered deep thought. Which faction can it be?
17-Year-Old Beautiful Young Lady: He was like a cute newbie when he just joined the group. Unfortunately, he learned the wrong things.
He Who Knows Fate: ...Then guess why I learned the wrong things?
Queen of Ice and Snow: Who knows?
Solomon: Merlin! It must be Merlin!
Magus of Flowers: Damn! I’m not bearing the blame for this. It’s really not my fault this time!
I Have a Strong Presence: But you are the most likely!
Faillen Angel Gabriel: Right.
God Sai: Based on my observation of you over the past few days, it is so.
Chen Heng wanted to say it was indeed not Merlin, but... Never mind. Let Merlin bear the blame this once. After all, when you’re covered with lice, you don’t itch; when you’re up to your ears in debt, you stop worrying. He will get used to bearing the blame.
“Miss Swire, can you move away from the customer’s seat? I’m receiving customers. You can use this stool. Just find a spot to sit.”
Chen Heng pulled out another stool, similar to Ch’en’s, and placed it behind him.
Ch’en eyed the yellow-cloth-covered table with extreme suspicion. Then she could not help lifting a corner of the yellow cloth, which trailed to the ground.
Smack! Ch’en had just started lifting the cloth when Chen Heng smacked her hand.
“There are business secrets in there. You cannot look.”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Is there something under the table?” Swire looked around and noticed someone walking towards the stall, so she stood up and transferred to the stool Chen Heng had prepared for her.
“I looked precisely because I don’t know. This fortuneteller already took out two stools and a plate of snacks from under the table.”
“To think this stool is made of red sandalwood! Furthermore, it seems to be of significant age. It has to be extremely expensive! Such a thing could already be considered an antique, right?” When Swire was about to sit on the stool, she suddenly noticed it was no mere stool.
[TL Note: Red sandalwood is a hardwood historically valued in China. The tree it comes from is currently classified as endangered (Near Threatened), and exports of it are highly controlled. The tree is slow-growing, and its rarity makes furniture made from it expensive and difficult to find. This wood was so highly prized that it was used to make chairs for the Qing dynasty emperors. Here is the Wikipedia entry on the tree: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterocarpus_santalinus.]