Upon receiving the compliment, Vivian Rose’s cheeks blush slightly as she bites her plump lips, and with a tone of self-pity, she says, “What’s the use of being pretty when certain people rarely visit, and even come so late on someone’s birthday.”
Faced with the seductive woman before him, a surge of desire wells up in Caelan Dwayne, especially as she looks at him with captivating eyes, showing no signs of rejection. However, his good mental composure quickly subdues his restless heart, and he replies with a calm smile, “I don’t drink and I’m not good at making women happy with words. Besides, I’m busy running my stall every day and don’t have much time.”
With a hint of melancholy, Rose glares at Dwayne and says, “Don’t give me those useless excuses here. Running a stall, running a stall, what’s so great about a broken lamb skewer stall? You work yourself to death and don’t make much money. If you want to earn money that desperately, come work as my housekeeper. I’ll pay you a hundred times more than what you make selling lamb skewers!”
Caelan Dwayne replies with a wry smile, “Sister Rose, there aren’t any men who work as housekeepers.”
”How many times have I told you, just call me Vivian. Do I sound that old?” Vivian Rose says, her almond eyes glaring at him with a hint of coquetry.
Caelan Dwayne has no choice but to concede, “Alright, Vivian, I was wrong. I just really like my current life and I’m not planning to change jobs for now.”
Undeterred, Vivian Rose continues, “Then if you won’t be my housekeeper, how about being my bodyguard? Or you could manage the bar for me. I hardly manage it myself, I let go of most of the responsibilities anyway.”
Hearing this, Caelan Dwayne feels touched, knowing that the woman before him truly cares about him. However, he has his stance; from the first day he meets Rose, he decides not to get too involved with this woman.
”Forget it, Vivian. I think selling lamb skewers is quite good, and there are many nice people at the market,” Caelan Dwayne says as he looks down and drinks some water, unwilling to discuss the topic further.
Seeing Caelan Dwayne’s stubborn demeanor, Vivian Rose frowns at him bitterly and almost murmurs under her breath, “It would be better if you were my man…”
She doesn’t realize that even though she can barely hear her own words, Caelan Dwayne hears them clearly, but he knows he has to pretend as if he hasn’t heard anything.
Although Vivian Rose’s face and figure exude an irresistible charm even in the dim light of the bar, from the moment she appears, even if someone notices her, they only dare to glance before moving on, as no one dares to linger. Some new customers might curiously ask who Rose is, but the answer they generally receive is simply, “Drink your wine and don’t court death.”
Feeling somewhat thwarted, Rose walks around to the front of the bar and sits next to Dwayne. Stretching out her hand, she pours herself a whiskey and then pours one for Dwayne as well, giving him a reproachful glance. “Stubborn man, I know you’re obstinate. But even if you refuse to stay by my side, it’s my birthday today; could you make an exception and have a drink?”
Hesitating, Caelan Dwayne is not a non-drinker; it’s just that whenever he drinks, the alcohol stirs up chaotic thoughts in his brain—too many things he prefers not to remember. Therefore, he needs to remain calm, and for him, alcohol is poison…
”Alright, but just this one drink.” Feeling somewhat guilty, Caelan Dwayne doesn’t want to leave Vivian Rose too disheartened, so he finally agrees, secretly hoping that such a small drink won’t have any effect.
Vivian Rose genuinely smiles in response, her smile like the clear skies after a light snow. Under the dim lights, her face radiates an ivory-like glow, causing Dwayne’s heart to flutter.
”Cheers.”
After the light clink of glasses, Caelan Dwayne unhesitatingly tilts his head back and drinks the cold liquid.
Rose giggles, suddenly leaning forward against Dwayne’s chest, her breath as delicate as an orchid’s. “Did you know, it’s been over ten years since I celebrated my birthday? Though there’s no cake, no candles, no gifts, and no party… but having you, this unromantic man, share a drink with me, I feel very content…”
From any angle, the woman’s figure before him is voluptuously drool-worthy. At this moment, Caelan Dwayne distinctly feels two soft mounds pressing against his thighs, the friction bringing a thrilling sensation.
Glancing down slightly, the slit of Vivian Rose’s cheongsam reveals her porcelain-white skin, subtly visible. Below the exquisite curves of her shapely legs are a pair of fiery red high heels, the intense visual impact fiercely arousing Caelan Dwayne’s masculine hormones.
The reaction of hormones and adrenaline in a man when he sees a woman is the most direct assessment of her attractiveness, and clearly, Rose scores high.
Just as Caelan Dwayne is struggling to suppress his primal reaction, Rose finally sits up slowly, giving him a mischievous smile like a fox who has succeeded in her scheme. “Well then, my little man, it seems your buddy is quite strong…”
Caelan Dwayne, giving a bitter smile, is fully aware of what Rose means, this woman, always probing even as she is drawing near.
”I see you can’t be sitting still anymore. I’ll be going to entertain the guests. If you don’t want to stay longer, you can leave,” Vivian Rose says nonchalantly as she leaves her seat and moves toward the crowd.
The patrons of the bar know the seductive charm of their hostess well, yet dare not overstep, as it has long been rumored that this woman has a complex background. Thus, Vivian Rose’s interactions with the guests seem effortless.
Although Vivian Rose’s face shows warm smiles, her extraordinary demeanor makes most men feel daunted, giving rise to the notion that she is to be admired from a distance, not frivolously approached. So, no one is making the mistake of bothering her.
Seeing Vivian Rose walking away, Caelan Dwayne is breathing a sigh of relief but also mocking himself internally. In the more than half a year since his return to this land, he has been feeling he has indeed changed a lot. In the past, faced with a woman as enticing as Vivian, who clearly has shown interest in him, he wouldn’t have allowed her to seduce him so easily; he would have taken her to bed without a second thought, just walking away afterward. However, now things are different, especially since Vivian is the first woman he can truly call a friend in Silverport City, and she holds significant importance in his heart.
Although he has only had a small drink, the alcohol is still causing mischief in his brain. Caelan Dwayne is feeling his craving for alcohol being stirred but is daring not to indulge, knowing all too well the torment of chaotic thoughts after drinking.
However, seeing the tent pitching involuntarily at his lower body, Caelan Dwayne is feeling it is time to vent some emotions, or he will truly be in trouble. Of course, turning to Vivian is out of the question; getting involved with her would make it difficult for him to extricate himself later.
Finishing a glass of water, Caelan Dwayne is leaving the ROSE bar quietly. As he departs, a hint of loss is flickering in Vivian’s eyes, who is silently watching him leave.
Stepping out of the bar, Caelan Dwayne is briefly surveying the surroundings before heading into a small bar not far away. While upscale bars have more prey, the money in Caelan Dwayne’s pocket is not enough to cover such expenses.
Since he wants to live a normal life, paying for the company of women is, of course, necessary.
