Chase walked with Anna to the front of the hotel. "Wait here for a moment. I'll go bring the car around."
"Okay," Anna casually asked, "Is the breakfast place far from here?"
"Just a few minutes by car."
Not long after, a top-tier global sports car stopped in front of Anna. The car, a Koenigsegg, was a stunning black-and-gold masterpiece, with the primary color being black and golden lines accentuating its sleek body. The high-gloss black areas were made of raw carbon fiber, ensuring the lightest weight and maximum strength. The car's logo and the ghost emblem were made from pure 24k gold. The lines of the car flowed effortlessly, radiating a sense of dominance and power that commanded attention.
Before Anna could even approach, Chase had already rounded the front of the car, pressed a discreet button beneath the door, and gently lifted the passenger-side door with a smooth motion.
"Thank you," Anna smiled at him.
"It's the treatment a princess deserves."
Once Anna sat inside, Chase closed the door for her and returned to the driver's seat.
About five minutes later, they arrived at a breakfast spot called "Zao Xiang Feng," which had a small yet charming wooden interior, exuding a sense of traditional history. The kitchen and ingredients were visible for customers to see.
Despite it being barely six in the morning, the place was already packed.
"So many people?" Anna was surprised, thinking that at this time, there wouldn't be many people out for breakfast.
"Most of them are locals," Chase said, leading her inside. "Not many tourists know about this place."
Anna asked, "Then how did you know about it?"
They had mentioned to each other during their first meeting that both of them were from Brighton City.
Chase found a vacant seat, pulled out the chair for her, and teasingly whispered in her ear, "Because I'm not an ordinary tourist."
Anna shot him a look. "Yeah, I can see that. You're just a tourist piling up wealth."
Chase leaned lazily against the table, raising an eyebrow. "Just rich?"
Anna smiled. "And handsome?"
Chase let out a soft chuckle. "What's with the skeptical tone?"
Anna tilted her head back and said confidently, "And handsome."
"Now are you satisfied?"
Chase's smile widened, and he fought the urge to ruffle her hair.
"All right, I'm happy. Let me treat the princess to breakfast."
"What do you want to eat?"
"It's my first time here. You recommend something for me," Anna said sweetly.
"Okay, you stay here. I'll go order," Chase replied.
Soon, a variety of breakfast dishes arrived, filling the small square table between them. Noodles, seafood congee, fresh pineapple milk, crystal shrimp dumplings...
"Sorry for making you spend so much," Anna said politely.
"Breakfast doesn't cost that much," Chase replied, handing her utensils. "Try them out, see if they're to your liking."
"I'll take you to a high-end restaurant next time."
Chase served her a bowl of seafood congee, letting it cool. Anna stirred her noodles and asked with confusion, "Why?"
"Because a princess should have a refined breakfast. Eating light meals like this is fine once in a while, but not all the time."
Anna's lips curled into a sweet smile. "So, you really do see me as a princess?"
Chase raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?"
Anna fluttered her long lashes and answered confidently, "I am."
After trying a few bites of each dish, Anna set her chopsticks down. Seeing this, Chase glanced up at her. "Not to your taste?"
"No, the breakfast is great," Anna replied, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I just don't have much of an appetite."
Chase noticed the noodles still half-eaten on her plate. "Are you sure you're full?"
Anna nodded seriously. "I'm sure."
Chase didn't ask further but inquired, "Do you usually watch your diet?"
He knew dancers needed to manage their figure.
"I wouldn't say 'watching' it, just keeping it healthy and light."
"You still need to eat enough. Otherwise, you won't have the energy to dance."
Chase nodded slightly, making a mental note of what foods to get her in the future.
After they finished breakfast, the two headed back to the hotel. Chase's sports car was parked in front of the fifth villa. As they approached the car, he glanced at her. "After we get back, you should get some rest."
"Okay, you too," Anna replied. "Don't forget to send me the video from this morning."
"I won't forget," Chase said, sounding certain.
Once Anna got out of the car and walked into the villa, Chase started the engine and headed to the sixth villa.
As he drove into the villa's courtyard, he saw two people sitting outside. Upon seeing his car approach, they both looked surprised.
Ethan immediately asked, "Chase, where did you go so early in the morning?"
"What are you two doing here?" Chase pressed the lock on his car key and secured the door.
Ethan grinned. "Sounds like you're not very happy to see us. But that doesn't matter. Why are you driving off so early in the morning?"
They had knocked on his door earlier, but no one answered, so they had assumed he was still asleep.
Chase sprawled on the sofa with a lazy response. "I went for breakfast."
"What?" Ethan exclaimed in disbelief. "Chase, are you out of your mind? You had the perfect opportunity to sleep in, but you went out for breakfast instead?"
"And didn't the hotel have breakfast? Why go out?"
Since they had arrived a day later, they hadn't had time to enjoy the hotel's breakfast. If it had been any other day, they would have been in bed, not sitting around asking questions.
"Well, you wouldn't understand," Chase said, lazily squinting. "Anything else? If not, I'm going back to sleep."
Ethan snorted. "Oh, acting all mysterious. What could I possibly not understand?"
Liam gave Chase a knowing look. "I heard from Ryan that you rented out the fifth villa to a stunning beauty, a principal ballerina."
"Come on, spill. Is there something going on?"
This was the real reason they'd come straight to his villa.
"What do you think?" Chase left them with a vague reply before heading off.
Ethan and Liam stared at each other, baffled.
"I think there's definitely something fishy going on," Liam said.
Ethan added, "A hundred percent. He hates being disturbed by anyone."
That's why their team had decided to vacation here, keeping the hotel private.
Back at the villa, Anna opened Rachel's door, saw that she was still asleep, and returned to her room to rest.
When she was about to change into her sleep clothes, she realized she was still wearing Chase's shirt. She took it off, placed it on the chair, and snapped a picture to send him.
[Forgot to return your shirt~]
Her phone immediately pinged with a message.
Chase: [No worries, it's not like it's the last time we'll meet.]
Anna: [I'll wash it and return it. Can I machine wash your shirt?]
If not, she'd take it to a nearby laundry shop. She'd never do laundry herself—her hands were too well-maintained for that. Her clothes were always washed by the housekeeper. Just like her mother, who had never done housework since marrying her father. He often joked, "I married your mother to love and pamper her."
Chase replied: [I wouldn't let the princess do my laundry. Just leave it with you. I'll pick it up when I remember.]
Anna leaned back in her chair, swinging her legs.
[What if you forget?]
Chase: [If I forget, you'll have to remind me.]
Anna stared at his words on the screen. If she said this man had no ulterior motives, she wouldn't believe it. But she didn't call him out, just replied with:
[Okay.]