Chapter Thirty-Four: Madame Almond Milk

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After the women onstage finished their energetic dance, several young men in top hats came out to perform a “play.”

“George, did you pass your final examinations?”

“No. I took them twice and failed both times.”

“Then you can become vice president of the Literary Society... Let me ask you this: Can you follow a conversation about Cicero and Tibullus and contribute a few lines?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, then you can become president of the Literary Society!”

The young men onstage performed with exaggerated theatricality.

“Parisian sketches are rather biting these days.”

Chen Lai found it quite amusing. Every era had its own comedy. Just then, a waitress came over with some drinks. Without even looking, he accepted a glass and prepared to drink.

“Hmm, but they’re still not as hot as the skirts the girls just swished up... Wait!”

As Peerless Fierce Tiger was speaking, he suddenly reached out and seized Chen Lai by the wrist. The glass in Chen Lai’s hand rocked twice, spilling fruit syrup onto his trouser leg.

Chen Lai instinctively spread his legs and patted the liquid from his thigh. At last, his gaze shifted from the stage to the drink. The instant he saw it, he understood what Peerless Fierce Tiger meant.

[Almond Drink (Ordinary): Drink this, and you will become her puppet. Value: 5,000 yuan.]

“What a fine thing.”

In the dim light, Peerless Fierce Tiger’s face took on a deeply significant expression.

“Yes, a fine thing indeed.”

Chen Lai set the glass aside instead of drinking it, then began surveying the people present from the corner of his eye.

After looking around for a while, he seemed to remember something behind him. Bracing one hand on his walking cane, he twisted around in his seat and looked back, only to see the retreating figure of a woman wearing a lace bonnet.

At the Merry Shepherdess Entertainment House, one might see women without hats or women wearing tall top hats, but never one wearing a lace bonnet. This was a place where men came to seek pleasure—what would a wealthy married lady in a lace bonnet be doing here?

A wealthy married lady... How many such women did he know? Could one of them actually be a supernatural being?

Chen Lai was about to stand and follow the figure when Peerless Fierce Tiger pulled him back down.

“You won’t catch her. The entertainment house has several passageways. Sit down and watch the show. When the time comes, everything will become clear.”

“Since when did you become so philosophical?” Chen Lai asked, somewhat astonished. This was hardly like Peerless Fierce Tiger.

“There are three hundred people in my livestream right now. They want to see the exciting performance coming up...”

“Oh.”

Chen Lai understood at once.

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Meanwhile, Mrs. Walter forced her way out of the entertainment house through the crowded throng, gnashing her teeth in frustration.

She had seen it clearly. Chen Lai had been just about to drink that “carefully prepared” almond drink, but his companion had meddled and ruined everything at the last moment!

Mr. Walter was already gravely ill. Yesterday, he had gone by carriage to recuperate at their country estate, and Mrs. Walter had seized the opportunity to look for a suitable husband in Paris. This time, she had no intention of making sacrifices for anyone. Marrying a Jew had already caused her more than enough suffering!

“Perhaps I need the bishop’s help... This potion is far too difficult to swallow!” she muttered to herself before disappearing into Paris’s gentle night.

...

After the Parisian comedy performance came the period of free activity—a time the men present had been anticipating more than any other.

The Merry Shepherdess Entertainment House certainly did make money by selling women’s company, but it did so in a relatively refined manner. There was no question of violating a woman’s wishes. This was how it worked:

First, the shepherdesses would stroll throughout the hall, boldly and suggestively appraising the men before them. If one caught their fancy, they might say something like:

“Look at that handsome young fellow. If he were willing to pay ten louis for me, I’d certainly be happy to go with him.”

Peerless Fierce Tiger had once been lured away in precisely this fashion. To be honest, he felt that life in the game was far more interesting than reality. The Deep Sea Game let people earn money while living entirely different lives. Otherwise, why would everyone be so fond of playing it?

After turning away several shepherdesses who had shown an interest in Chen Lai, Peerless Fierce Tiger grew somewhat dejected. Why were those bold girls unwilling to choose him today?

“Come on, let’s go outside for some air. I’m a little thirsty anyway.”

Supporting himself with his walking cane, Chen Lai left the private room. By “outside,” he did not mean the street, but rather the entertainment house’s own rest area. In a courtyard stood two rough stone pools beneath an awning, with a few yew trees and arborvitae planted nearby. That was the standard resting place.

The moment the two of them sat down, several young women approached. Fanning themselves, they smiled coquettishly at Chen Lai.

“Sir, might you buy me a glass of fruit syrup?”

“I can buy you a glass of clear water from the pool.”

“Get lost. How rude.”

The woman, having received no encouragement, turned and left on her own.

The livestream comments witnessing it all began flying again.

“Dragon of Pure-Blood Sigma.”

“This guy is totally putting on an act. If he doesn’t want to play, why did he come here?”

“Ahem.”

Peerless Fierce Tiger was somewhat embarrassed. He tapped the table, still holding the glass containing the last few drops of [Almond Drink].

“Isn’t there anyone you like?”

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Chen Lai had just been about to answer when a rather voluptuous blonde woman entered the courtyard. He immediately closed his mouth. This was more to his taste; the women before had all been far too slight.

The blonde had a clear objective. She walked straight over and sat beside Chen Lai, then waved to the waiter and ordered two glasses of pomegranate syrup.

“How audacious,” Peerless Fierce Tiger said, raising an eyebrow.

“The one who has captured my heart is your tall and gallant friend. He is truly the picture of elegance. For his sake, I fear there is nothing I would not do.”

The blonde tossed her abundant waves of hair and leaned forward, bringing herself very close to him.

Chen Lai said nothing. He merely stroked his handsome mustache.

When the pomegranate syrup arrived, Chen Lai raised his glass, and the woman deftly hooked her arm through his and drank with him.

“Thank you, my little kitten. You really are a man of few words.”

She lightly tapped Chen Lai’s arm three times with her fan, then sashayed away.

“What did she mean?” Peerless Fierce Tiger asked, bewildered.

Chen Lai said nothing. He simply drew three gold louis that Lorena had given him from inside his coat, clasped them in his palm, and rose with imposing dignity.

“Something urgent has come up. I’ll be leaving first.”

With that, he leaned on his walking cane and hurried away from the table, leaving Peerless Fierce Tiger sitting there in a daze.

He still had no idea what had happened, but the experienced veterans in the livestream comments had already figured it out.

“Back then, the Patriarch Bodhi tapped Sun Wukong on the head three times, signaling him to enter the school at the third watch of the night. Today, a blonde with a generous bosom gives Dragon of Pure-Blood Sigma three fan taps—the price has already been agreed upon.”

“Six hundred and sixty-six. That’s quite an entrance.”

“Three gold louis can really buy a blonde beauty like that? Anyone in Paris who knows the business care to discuss whether it’s good value?”

“Enjoy the character model, brother. Enjoy the character model.”

Only after reading the comments did Peerless Fierce Tiger suddenly understand.

Damn it—Chen Lai was even more experienced than he was. He acted like a paragon of propriety every single day!