The Blue Sea and Azure Sky Gourmet House can undoubtedly rival the most expensive establishment in the East District, the Palace of the Duke, though the former specializes solely in culinary delights, while the latter offers a more diversified experience.
However, when it comes to truly exquisite flavors, the clear favorite is, of course, the Blue Sea and Azure Sky. Xiang Ri was completely oblivious to these nuances; his insistence on dining here stemmed from some recent intelligence he had acquired regarding a significant individual who had been seen frequently in the company of another.
At this moment, in a relatively quiet corner of the bustling hall:
"Hey, must you wear such a glum expression while treating me to a meal?" Xiang Ri complained, eyeing the beautiful police officer seated across from him.
"If you were dining with an insufferable companion of the opposite sex, would you find it easy to smile?" Tie Wan shot back, her gaze icy.
"Are you implying that I am that insufferable companion?" Xiang Ri asked, pointing to his own nose.
"At least you possess a shred of self-awareness!" Tie Wan scoffed.
"If I'm such a nuisance, why not just leave?"
"Fine, since you've suggested it! Don't blame me for being impolite!" Tie Wan grabbed her small bag from the chair and stood to leave.
Xiang Ri leaned back casually in his chair, seemingly recounting an unremarkable incident: "Some people, when they haven't eaten, lose their composure and can't help but blabber on."
"Touché!" Tie Wan had just begun to move when his words, laced with unmistakable menace, made her plop back down onto her seat.
"Exactly, we are acquaintances after all, and given that I have helped you before, it seems a bit unreasonable to harbor such hostility towards your benefactor, don't you think?"
"If you bring that Desert Eagle to the precinct, then I might just consider you an acquaintance!" Tie Wan retorted, her teeth clenched.
"Never mind, it appears we have nothing in common. But seriously, there's a particular part of you that exhibits remarkable elasticity," Xiang Ri smirked suggestively.
"Damn it! If you utter another word, I'll have you arrested for the crime of molesting a woman," Tie Wan threatened, venom lacing her tone.
"Why be so impulsive? Don't you want to know why I called you here?" Xiang Ri remained unfazed by her fierce expression, speaking at a measured pace.
"Speak your mind; I'm listening," Tie Wan feigned calmness, though she was internally puzzled by his uncharacteristic demeanor.
"If I told you that a major drug lord is about to make an appearance here, would you believe me?" Xiang Ri began to weave his deception; rather than act directly, he preferred to have this ambitious young woman investigate, allowing him to follow in her wake to uncover the puppet master behind the scenes.
"I believe someone is sitting right in front of me," Tie Wan retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't be so coy; I'm serious. I imagine your infiltration at the Financial University is also to track that drug source, right? Our goals align perfectly." As for how he knew about Tie Wan's undercover mission, the morning's dossier had mentioned it, and he secretly admired the author of that report for their keen analysis—even police actions could be scrutinized so meticulously; such talent was rare and deserving of an introduction to his contact, Monkey. As for why he hadn't connected the dots to Monkey or his subordinates, that was simple—he couldn't believe that a filthy man who hadn't bathed in months could possess such sophisticated deductive reasoning.
"How do I know you're not trying to infiltrate the police yourself?" Tie Wan's caution flared; she wondered how he had discovered her secret.
"With the mayor's guarantee, I shouldn't have any issues, right?" Xiang Ri invoked a certain old acquaintance to assuage her concerns.
"Hmph, don't think you can intimidate me with the mayor's name. I'm not falling for that. However, with his assurance, I'll trust you for now, but you must share any intelligence you have with us, and I insist that you surrender that Desert Eagle to the police." Tie Wan remained fixated on that formidable weapon.
"I can share information, but the gun is off the table; after all, I went to great lengths to acquire it," Xiang Ri replied, not about to relinquish his firearm.
"Do you understand the potential harm that weapon could inflict on the citizens if it remains in your possession?" Tie Wan admonished earnestly.
"Please, let's get one thing clear: I'm not using it to commit murder or arson, so how does that jeopardize public safety?" Xiang Ri scoffed, rolling his eyes as if she were naive.
"In any case—"
"Alright, I know what to do now."
"You agree?" Tie Wan asked, incredulous.
"I think I should consider finding a new partner; perhaps those drug lords are more interested in the police's movements."
"What do you mean by that? Are you opposing the state? I warn you, I can have you locked up at any moment."
"Honestly, I've found the outside world rather dull lately. I thought I might take a stroll in that little house to clear my head. Just indulge me, won't you?" Xiang Ri said nonchalantly, clearly unfazed by the threat.
"Don't think I won't act! Fine, you may keep the gun, but you mustn't use it to harm innocent citizens, and be sure to contact us with any new developments," Tie Wan gritted her teeth, finally conceding.
"If you'd said that from the start, we wouldn't have wasted so much breath. Now, could you call that waiter over? I'd like to order," Xiang Ri waved to a distant server.
"Yes, sir, what would you like to order?" The waiter approached quickly, courteous and attentive.
"Anything that can quench my thirst."
"I'm sorry, sir, could you be more specific? For instance, what type of beverage do you prefer?"
"I don't have a particular favorite! Oh, then I'll have two bottles of '86 red wine; I've heard it's quite refreshing," Xiang Ri declared without shame.
The waiter's face fell, processing the absurdity. "Sir, I apologize! I believe there are many beverages that quench thirst, like water or juice... Are you sure you want red wine? If you insist, I'll bring it right away." He needed to confirm that this man wasn't joking.
"Just go ahead and bring it! By the way, do you have any couple's specials?" Xiang Ri cast a suggestive glance at the policewoman across from him.
"We do, sir! How fortuitous! Today, we've launched a special 'Eternal Love and Unbreakable Bonds' heart-shaped steak, perfectly paired with the red wine you ordered." The waiter delivered the lines seamlessly, without a hitch.
"I'll take two of that 'Eternal Love' special; it sounds delightful," Xiang Ri said, stroking his clean-shaven chin.
"Very well, sir, please wait a moment; it will be ready shortly." The waiter bowed and left.
As the waiter walked away, Tie Wan's veins were visibly pulsing with indignation. "Do you think money grows on trees? '86 red wine? Do you know how expensive that is? Do you realize it would take me a month's salary to afford that? Do you know how many children that could send to school? Do you know how many tents that could provide for disaster victims?"
"I only know that I'm not paying for it," Xiang Ri shot back, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Tie Wan turned away in frustration, but then suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?" Her tone filled with surprise.
"Just noticing now?" Xiang Ri sneered, having already spotted two men seated at a table several tables away. One was the bear of the Hungry Wolf Gang, whose photo Xiang Ri had seen; even sitting down, his height of over two meters was quite intimidating. The other was a tall, slender man wearing sunglasses; judging by the pristine nature of his jawline, he couldn't be very old. Clearly, the sunglasses were meant to obscure his identity.
"Bear and Buck," Tie Wan said solemnly, naming the two.
"Buck? Who is he?" Xiang Ri looked at the man in sunglasses with curiosity; from the muscularity of his arms, he seemed like someone not to be trifled with.
"Third-in-command of the number one drug trafficking organization in the Golden Triangle, the Eighteen-Winged Fallen Angels. I can't believe he's here, and collaborating with the Hungry Wolf Gang no less," Tie Wan's eyes glimmered with realization.
"With such a dangerous individual around, why not just arrest him?"
"Do you think I wouldn't want to? But without evidence, how can I make an arrest? And if I do catch him, it wouldn't be long before the precinct receives countless inexplicable bombs."
"So you have that concern, huh? Just kill him, then!"
"Not to mention he's quite the fighter; just his entourage of bodyguards is no fewer than twenty. Can you spot them? Those hidden in the shadows might well be aiming sniper rifles at us."
"Then it seems quite troublesome." To be honest, Xiang Ri didn't regard the man in sunglasses as a significant threat; he feared firearms. Though his strength had fully recovered and he could handle handguns of low caliber, facing a sniper rifle meant courting death; he had no desire to engage with that.
"Keep your distance; don't stare too long. Buck has eluded the
grasp of numerous Interpol agents for years; he undoubtedly possesses counter-surveillance skills. We mustn't let him notice us," Tie Wan advised quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I know! Do you think my intelligence matches yours?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you insulting me?" Tie Wan was about to launch into a tirade when she suddenly spotted someone familiar behind Xiang Ri, a smirk playing on his lips, his expression complicated.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing! Just pitying those who can't even keep their own girlfriend, how sad!"
"Are you insane?" Xiang Ri desperately wanted to raise his middle finger at her, but he restrained himself for the sake of his image. However, he followed her gaze and turned to look behind.
At a nearby dining table sat a young couple; the man was strikingly handsome, exuding an inexplicable charm with every gesture, while the woman was delicate and lovely, though a subtle pallor hinted at an underlying frailty.
A surge of anger erupted within Xiang Ri; the pale-faced beauty was none other than his disciple! And that man dared to stare at her for so long—damn it, I'll make him pay!