I answered Seraphina Bloom's call and asked her what's up.
She's a decisive person, doesn't beat around the bush, and gets straight to the point: "Are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner!"
I was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Didn't you say you're not in the mood?"
"I'm not in the mood, so I want a drink. Can you handle alcohol?"
"I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up with me," I chuckled.
"Alright, it's settled then. Let's meet at the night market on Seventh Street at seven tonight."
I agreed and hung up the phone, surprised that she was so familiar with these old night market areas.
An hour later, I arrived at Seventh Street. After calling Seraphina Bloom, she told me she'd be there soon.
So I waited at the entrance of the night market street. Though it wasn't completely dark yet, neon lights illuminated the street, giving it a lively atmosphere.
As I smoked a cigarette, I saw Seraphina Bloom's Maserati President approaching. She rolled down the window and asked me, "Where can I park around here?"
I was quite familiar with the area, so I got into her car and directed her to a nearby free parking lot.
Curious, Seraphina Bloom asked why I was so familiar.
I smiled and said, "Don't forget, I used to deliver takeout. I know these places like the back of my hand. I could find them blindfolded."
Seraphina Bloom gave me a playful glare and called me a chatterbox.
She looked quite attractive tonight, still wearing daytime attire but with her hair let down, making her even more charming.
After parking, we walked into the night market street together. Seraphina Bloom attracted the attention of many passersby, seeming unfazed by the attention.
She asked me, "Do you know any good restaurants around here?"
I shook my head, saying I hadn't eaten around here before, and asked for her opinion.
Surprisingly, she hadn't been here either, only hearing that the food in this area was good.
So I suggested, "How about this? Since neither of us knows where to go, let's play a game."
"What game?" She stopped and looked at me with curiosity.
"What's your lucky number?"
Seraphina Bloom furrowed her brows slightly, "Lucky number? I don't have one."
"Then just pick a number."
"Six," she said after some thought.
"Alright, let's walk ahead and count five shops from here. We'll eat at the sixth."
"Isn't that too arbitrary?"
"Don't you think it's fun?"
Though she didn't answer, she started counting earnestly.
We stopped at the sixth shop and went in without hesitation.
The waiter warmly greeted us and asked for the number of people. When we said two, he frowned slightly, seeming a bit unhappy, but still led us to our seats.
Knowing Seraphina Bloom couldn't handle too much spice, we ordered dishes with mild spice along with some beer.
Seraphina Bloom looked out the window; the view was splendid. You could see the Yangtze River and the famous Qiansimen Bridge.
The neon lights outside shone on Seraphina Bloom's face, making her even more captivating.
It had been a while since I felt so infatuated with someone, even feeling my heartbeat quicken noticeably.
As we ate and drank, I asked her, "From your accent, you're not a local, are you?"
Seraphina Bloom gave me a curious look and replied, "Why do you think I'm not a local?"
"Your Mandarin is so standard, unlike a local's."
Seraphina Bloom smiled faintly and said, "I am a local, but I grew up abroad and only recently returned."
She adjusted her hair behind her ear and focused on eating the freshly cooked dishes.
Watching her gentle demeanor, I felt entranced. My wife and everyone around me were usually straightforward, but Seraphina Bloom exuded a refined charm, effortlessly.
After a bite of food, she looked up and said, "I'm sorry about today."
I smiled and said, "It's alright; I got paid anyway."
"I know it's not about the money for you; you want to establish yourself in this industry again, right?"
She was right, and I didn't argue, just nodded and poured myself a drink.
She suddenly said, "There will be more opportunities in the future. You have to persevere. I think you're very talented."
I smiled wryly and said, "I'm thirty years old, experienced company bankruptcy, and my wife cheated on me. Do you think I still have the courage to carry on?"
"That's when you need to persevere even more! If you give up now, you'll be a complete failure!"
I smiled and didn't say anything more, just drank another glass of wine, and she accompanied me.
Then she asked, "You haven't divorced your wife yet, have you?"
"Not yet. I don't have enough evidence to prove her infidelity. I must catch that adulterer; otherwise, I won't be able to move on."
Seraphina Bloom was very discerning; she said, "Let's not talk about these things anymore to avoid ruining your mood."
I laughed and said, "It's alright; I've come to terms with it."
Then she brought up the matter of the house in my hometown, saying, "Haven't you always wanted to know how I planned your old family house?"
"Yeah, do you have any other plans for it?"
Seraphina Bloom shook her head and said, "Not really. I know you're hesitant about whether to demolish it or not, right?"
I was surprised; how did she know what I was thinking?
Seeing my astonished expression, Seraphina Bloom continued, "You don't have to be surprised; I can see it. That's why I came up with a win-win solution."
"What solution?" I asked, curious and hopeful.
"This time, the development plan for your village is aimed at building a beautiful countryside. It's not just us, Orlan International, that won the bid; other companies did too. We're only responsible for the original residential planning and future tourism planning."
I nodded, then asked, "So, what's your plan for my old house?"
"To turn it into an inn. What do you think?"
"An inn?!" I was surprised, then laughed, "We don't have any tourist attractions around there. Will this business work?"
"Not having them now doesn't mean we won't in the future. The government is already promoting it vigorously. Your area is positioned as a quaint rural area, and in six months, your village will undergo a tremendous transformation."
I didn't know why, but I believed Seraphina Bloom's words. I felt like I could trust anything she said.
So I asked her, "Does this mean I won't get compensation for demolition?"
"You can! Think about it this way; technically, it's still a demolition, but you can use the compensation to invest. This way, you'll preserve your old family house, right?"
Seraphina Bloom paused after saying this, as if afraid I hadn't understood, and added, "Simply put, the house will still be included in the demolition plan, but you can use the compensation for investment. This way, you'll keep your old family house."