Seraphina chose the most luxurious private club in Sunburst City, Enchanted Petals Club, to treat Balch to a meal.
Seraphina wore a tight dark green skirt and a pair of beautiful black heels, looking like an elf in flowers.
As a waiter led her down the club restaurant's hallway, Seraphina's phone started buzzing.
The hallway was a winding path with a glass floor, surrounded by lush vegetation and unusually quiet. Rarely could she see anyone. Underneath was a deep blue lake, with the moon hanging in the sky and casting a reflection on the water, creating an incredibly romantic scene.
A clear voice came through from the other end of the phone. It was Balch.
"Sorry," he said, "some urgent work came up at the office, I'm afraid I can't make it tonight."
"Is that so..." Seraphina slowed her pace, let out a sigh, and looked ahead.
By the lake, a tall figure was leaning against the railing, lighting up a cigarette.
Probably he was a guest coming out of a nearby box for fresh air. He had no coat, only a simple white shirt on his back, his hands raised, silver cufflinks glistening at the cuffs. As he moved his hand, the silver cufflinks on his sleeves sparkled. A flick of the lighter lit up his clean, slender hands. The flickering flame revealed his deep gaze.
The lake shimmered, and the spring wind carried the dampness of the night, bringing a chill with it.
Though Seraphina was not usually bothered by the cold, and for a beauty junkie like her, the spring night breeze was nothing. But at that moment, Seraphina felt a cold shiver run down her spine, as if her blood had frozen. She couldn't help but shiver.
It took her a while to recover, then she slowly said to Balch on the other end of the phone, "Well, since I was treating you tonight, if you're not coming, then you owe me a dinner."
Balch chuckled lightly on the other end, "Alright."
Seraphina hung up, halted, and told the waiter next to her, "My friend can't make it, please cancel the reservation."
She was about to leave when she bumped into someone. He saw her and started laughing.
"Ms. Bennett?" Ike looked at her, grinning from ear to ear, "I was just thinking about when I could see you again, didn't expect it to be so soon. We must be fated."
Ike stepped forward, "Since we bumped into each other here, why not have dinner together?"
Seraphina just looked at him, not saying a word.
"What's the matter?" Ike raised an eyebrow, put his hand on Seraphina's shoulder, and playfully twirled a strand of her hair, "Are you scared I'm going to eat you up?"
Seraphina, with a challenging look in her eyes, straightened up, retrieved her hair, and said in a soft and ambiguous voice, "That depends on whether Mr. Ike has the appetite."
Ike burst into laughter, threw an arm around Seraphina's waist, and led the way forward.
After a few steps, Ike spotted the man smoking by the railings. His steps faltered for a moment, then he hurried forward, "Mr. Reynolds, what brings you out here?"
Seraphina, standing next to him, also looked at the man.
Leandro held a cigarette between his fingers. Despite this, he still exuded an icy and serious demeanor. Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, the moonlight shone on his back, making him seem timeless and devoid of warmth.
When he noticed Ike, he cracked a contemptuous smile. His gaze was still cold, "Too many people inside, I came out for some fresh air."
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