Chapter 14 - Crazy Girl

"What are we staring at over here?" The escort asked as she stared at the induction stoves in the kitchen.

All Chao Xiang could do was sigh with his clenched teeth and glance at the high ceilings of his penthouse, asking Budhha or his Ancestors for help, but all he could see was the decorative embellishments and the night light designs of his penthouse suite.

But there wasn't any answer, so he gave up on that.

"Don't disturb me, babe."

He forgot what to do, and it was embarrassing!

Perhaps, it was his mere imagination when Chao Xiang bragged that he can fry an egg when he, in fact, forgot how the electric induction stove worked.

When he returned his gaze on the midnight black rectangle at the cooking zone, he couldn't see any buttons to press that would turn it on so that it would start heating up.

Cocking his head to the side, Chao Xiang stared at the induction stove with an intensity that if he was a born magician, his gaze alone could switch them on.

No, it would be much easier to turn the escort on than this induction stove.

"What are you doing?" The escort glanced up at him as her brows furrowed in confusion. But then she repeatedly snapped her fingers in her face as if a lightning bulb flashed across her not-so-brilliant mind. "This felt like a shamanic ritual to me where we are intensely staring at something, praying, until what we desired will manifest in this thin black box." She nodded her head as she explained grimly. "Yes, I swear this is it. A magic black box in the modern times. Mm-mm." She muttered to herself and Chao Xiang raised an eyebrow at her. "This must be the new thing to pray for the Ancestral Spirits instead of a wild bonfire which can almost reach the sky."

"What are you talking about?" Chao Xiang's scowl fell to her kissable mouth by accident and when he brought it back to her dark brown eyes full of childlike innocence---

A little surprised, he bit his lip to keep himself from laughing because he was tempted—really tempted--instead of blowing up steam with frustration which was the right reaction for her absurdity. He managed a grimace and his voice was loud when he said, "This isn't a shamanic ritual!"

If only her suggestion were that easy, but the escort wasn't right in the head, living in her beautiful fantasy lands with rainbows and unicorns.

There was a short pause as she squinted at him for half a minute.

She did that vexing yet adorable head-tilt again—the way a Golden Retriever would if it heard that high pitched whistle a toy would make if it was squeezed. "It isn't?"

Why did this girl keep insisting on shamanic stuff?

This 'shaman-who-like-to -curse people' roleplay was taking too long.

When would she switch to a more interesting character?

Like a dominatrix wearing nothing but a fishnet stocking who held a flogger?

A nurse who was going to check his naked body if something wasn't working properly?

Or better yet, a policewoman outfit who twirled handcuffs on her finger?

He knew for sure that this girl had a cosplay kink, and he was alright with that.

But why did she have to insist on playing the role of a shaman tonight out of all nights?!

Chao Xiang inhaled deeply and exhaled through his mouth, summoning all the patience in the world. "I'm trying to figure out how to turn it on but every time you speak, I get distracted." He gave her a sideways glance before he pressed the clean dark surface of the induction stove but nothing happened. He fought a groan of frustration—not just because of this damned stove but also a sexual one—and he cleared his throat before he growled. "Don't talk to me yet."

Unfortunately, Chao Xiang wasn't a magician so all he can do was examine the entire area until he figured its mechanism.

At that point, the escort might have died in hunger which he would have preferred so that this situation would end.

He hated feeling stupid.

No matter how many times he rubbed his chin in contemplation, Chao Xiang could only watch the escort and the stove back and forth until the sun came up.

There would be no sex.

And another thing.

Even if he can turn this induction stove on, Chao Xiang couldn't distinguish the specific pots and pans which contained magnetic components needed so that the electric currents could pass through and heat the food up.

Chao Xiang was a mess.

Why did he even offer to cook for the escort when it had been a long time since he last cooked a meal or snack for himself?

The cooking lady he hired on weekends had taught him how to use the induction stove but that was a long time ago and when he meant long time ago, it meant last six months.

For the life of him, he couldn't didn't remember no matter how hard he tried or shake his head or rack his brain and turn it upside down.

Chao Xiang's brain worked in mysterious ways.

If there was new information presenting itself to him that didn't involve with his academic achievements, his specific role as the second son of a Hotel and Resorts mogul—a prominent figure in China--or his job as the CFO which was preparing him to be the future CEO of Li Hotel and Resorts International, Chao Xiang only had to hear the instructions once.

It would be deeply ingrained in his memories for the rest of his life. But simple stuff as this… Chao Xiang shook his head in regret as he stared blankly at the largest dark circle on the stove.

He can excel at his university bachelor and master's degree from any career his father chose for him but this…. something simple as this—such as turning the induction stove on—was his kryptonite. Should he call his hired cook at eleven in the evening when the grandma was probably catching her beauty sleep for this escort whom he should be throwing on the bed to have his wicked way instead of trying to figure out how to cook?

Leaning closer, the escort covered her mouth with the back of her hand, whispering, as if she was bestowing top-secret information. "There must be a rule from the Heavens whispering in your ear right now. How many hours will it take for the food to appear and fall from the sky as blessings from the gods?"