The entire expansive space was encased in incredibly thick, crystal-clear glass, providing an absolutely stunning 360-degree view of the living ocean surrounding them on all sides. Brilliantly colored tropical fish swam past in schools, elaborate coral formations created natural underwater artwork, and the filtered sunlight streaming down from far above created an ethereal, dreamlike aquatic atmosphere unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
It was utterly breathtaking, like dining inside an aquarium, except they were the ones in the tank.
"This way, please," the professional host said with obvious pride in the establishnt, leading them expertly to a premium private table that had apparently been hastily prepared the very mont word reached staff that the owner had arrived on the island. It was positioned in the absolute best location, offering the most spectacular unobstructed views of the underwater world.
Huo Ting Cheng pulled out Tang Fei’s chair for her with old-fashioned courtesy before taking his own seat across from her. "I need to use the restroom briefly," he said. "Order whatever appeals to you. I’ll be right back." He kissed her on the forehead.
He stood and followed an attentive staff mber toward the facilities, leaving Tang Fei temporarily alone at the prominently positioned table.
At first, Tang Fei was far too entranced by her magical surroundings to notice much else happening in the restaurant.
She watched utterly srized as a large school of brilliantly colored tropical fish swam past her window in perfect synchronized formation, marveling at their colors, at this peaceful underwater world so dramatically different from the chaos and violence of life above the surface.
But gradually, inevitably, she beca increasingly aware of voices carrying through the restaurant, not imdiately close to her, but sohow carrying clearly in the unique acoustics of the underwater space. And they were definitely speaking about her.
"Did you see that woman? Coming to an establishnt like this in a bikini? How utterly cheap and classless."
"Probably so hired escort brought by one of the young masters. Another shaless gold digger trying desperately to snag herself a rich husband."
"Absolutely no sha at all. This is a fine dining establishnt with standards, not so casual beach club."
The cutting comnts were being made in English and French, languages Tang Fei understood with perfect fluency from her previous life as an international assassin who’d operated across multiple countries, though the current Tang Fei was not supposed to possess any knowledge of foreign languages.
She felt her cheeks heat with a mixture of embarrassnt and rising anger. She looked down at herself critically, still wearing only her bikini, the towel now draped over her chair back. Had she been completely wrong to co here dressed like this? But Huo Ting Cheng had specifically said it was fine, had chosen this outfit himself...
A young waitress approached their table, pretty, professionally made up, but wearing a disdainful expression she didn’t bother attempting to hide. She looked Tang Fei up and down with an obvious judgntal assessnt.
"Can I help you?" the waitress asked in Mandarin, her tone making it crystal clear she considered Tang Fei far beneath her station.
"I’m waiting for soone," Tang Fei replied as quietly and politely as possible.
"I’m sure you are," the waitress responded with a barely concealed smirk full of implications. "Let know when your... companion... returns. In the anti, perhaps you’d be more comfortable waiting at the bar upstairs. This particular section is reserved for actual dining guests."
Tang Fei felt her face fla hot with humiliation. "I am a dining guest."
The waitress looked openly skeptical but didn’t push the confrontation further, turning away with obvious dismissiveness to attend to other tables, all of whose occupants were dressed appropriately in expensive evening wear suitable for fine dining.
The cruel murmuring continued around her, growing progressively bolder now.
"Look at her skin though, absolutely flawless. Must spend a fortune on maintenance and treatnts."
"Pretty face too. If I weren’t here with my girlfriend, I’d definitely approach her."
"Please, she’s obviously here with soone. Probably waiting for so disgusting old rich man who can afford her rates."
So of the foreign n, wealthy heirs and international businessn who were guests at the exclusive resort, were now openly staring at her, their gazes traveling slowly over Tang Fei’s exposed body with undisguised interest and speculation.
She was undeniably beautiful, and the minimal bikini left very little to anyone’s imagination.
Another waitress walked directly past their table without even acknowledging Tang Fei’s presence. Then another did the sa.
It was becoming painfully clear that the staff mbers who didn’t know her true identity had collectively decided she wasn’t worth their professional attention, just so woman of questionable morals who’d sohow gotten onto the island.
The uncomfortable situation was escalating by the minute. More people were noticing her now, and more comnts were being made in multiple languages.
So in languages they foolishly assud she couldn’t understand, others in stage whispers they thought she couldn’t hear.
Tang Fei felt genuine tears of humiliation pricking at her eyes. Where was Huo Ting Cheng? Why was he taking so long?
Finally, she saw him returning through the restaurant, and overwhelming relief flooded through her entire body.
The mont he was close enough, she stood abruptly, tears now clearly visible on her cheeks. She lunged into his arms, tears pouring.
"What happened?" The last thing he needed was to see his woman cry.
"Ting Cheng," she said, her voice breaking slightly with distress. "They’re saying terrible things about . Calling cheap, saying I’m an escort, treating like I don’t belong here. The waitresses are deliberately ignoring , the guests are staring..."
Huo Ting Cheng’s expression transford instantly and dramatically.
The relaxed, content man from the beach vanished completely, replaced by sothing cold and genuinely dangerous. His dark eyes swept the restaurant systematically, taking in everything, the stares, the whispers, the staff mbers who were suddenly looking very nervous indeed as they recognized an impending disaster.
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