Confrontation

The dazzling afternoon sunlight streamed into the dim restaurant, blindingly bright.

A chill autumn wind swept in from behind the black-and-white maid’s skirt, extinguishing the intimate candlelight. The romantic candlelit dinner instantly transformed into a stark execution ground.

Amidst the blur, a faint white light seemed to flicker almost imperceptibly within the shadowy restaurant.

Ann paid it no mind. Her gaze quickly adjusted to the dim surroundings, encompassing the entire restaurant in an instant, leaving no corner unexamined, not even the most inconspicuous.

Only three people occupied the restaurant.

One, a woman of overtly seductive allure.

Another, outwardly appearing demure, yet whose every gesture and the curves hinted beneath her loose uniform betrayed a hidden, equally alluring nature.

And then, there was…

A bald old man?

Ann Campbell: “Oh, my? Have guests arrived?”

Sally Friend: “N-no… I’m sorry, esteemed guest, but we are temporarily closed.”

Bald old man: “Ah-bah, ah-bah.”

Sweeping her gaze over the trio, Ann slightly raised her delicate, willow-leaf eyebrows.

‘The young master isn’t here?’

‘No, that can’t be right. Both my senses and my intuition point to this very restaurant.’

“My apologies, I am not here to dine.”

Ann stepped further into the restaurant.

Her back was ramrod straight, each step as precisely measured as if by a ruler.

She exuded an air of dignified grace, yet her approach carried the formidable presence of a thousand armies.

Anna Campbell had initially been curiously observing the maid entering the restaurant, even stifling a laugh when glancing sideways.

However, in that moment, as if instinctively reacting to a beast encroaching upon her territory, she too straightened her back, her narrow eyes narrowing slightly.

On the other side, Sally also seemed to sense something, her expression tightening with tension.

“I am looking for someone,” Ann stated.

“Do you have a blond man here?”

“Oh? Looking for someone? But isn’t it rather impolite to barge in so brazenly?”

Anna Campbell did not answer directly. Instead, she lifted a nearby glass of red wine and took a sip, her vibrant red lips instantly becoming as blindingly striking as if they were aflame.

“At the very least, one should knock first, shouldn’t they?”

“I imagine no one knocks when entering a restaurant.”

Ann’s gaze swept over the three again, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Or perhaps, you are engaged in something unspeakable?”

Anna Campbell returned her smile. “What we are doing has nothing to do with you, does it?”

“Indeed, it has nothing to do with me.”

Ann mused for a moment, then pulled out a photograph. “So, have any of you seen this person?”

In the photo, a blond man lay peacefully asleep, utterly serene.

Judging by his exposed arm and the prominent pectoral muscles peeking out from beneath the covers, as if a pipa half-hidden, it appeared the man was nude.

The ability to capture such an unguarded photograph of him spoke volumes of the intimacy shared with the photographer.

‘Ann—!’

‘Where did that photo even come from!’

In that instant, Ewan Campbell, transformed into a bald old man by Anna Campbell’s potion, was drenched in cold sweat before he could even process why Ann was here!

He quickly realized that as Ann’s personal maid, she could take such photos whenever she pleased. She could even arrange him into an embarrassing pose and capture an entire collection of ‘shameful play’ without issue.

But the problem was, producing such a photo at this moment was tantamount to…

“Oh, my, it seems… he might be quite the scoundrel. But unfortunately, I haven’t seen him.”

Anna Campbell gazed at the photo, her tone utterly unchanged, a soft smile still gracing her lips.

Yet, Ewan felt his legs tremble uncontrollably.

‘Why are you shaking? Don’t be so useless!’

Ewan couldn’t help but smack his thigh forcefully.

‘Senior Sister Anna didn’t care about my intimacy with Sally just now, so why would she care about such a minor thing? It’s just a photo of me sleeping, isn’t it? Senior Sister has such a broad mind, why would she mind?’

“Hmm?”

However, Ewan’s intense action seemed to draw Ann’s attention once more.

“Esteemed… old sir, you appear to be trembling all over. Are you alright?”

“I… I’m cold, I’m cold.”

Ewan squeezed his throat, his voice raspy. “When one gets old, they’re always susceptible to the cold, you see.”

“But you also seem to be sweating profusely.”

“Hot! I’m hot again!”

Ewan vigorously tugged at his collar, exclaiming, “This room is too small; it gets stuffy easily!”

“Is that so? Old sir, at your age, you should really take care of your health.”

“I will, I will!”

“However, speaking of which…”

Ann lowered her gaze, sweeping it over Ewan’s clothes with a hint of deeper meaning. “For an old gentleman of your age, your attire is quite youthful.”

Ewan’s smile instantly stiffened.

The potion could alter his appearance, but not his clothing.

Thus, Ewan was still clad in a pristine white shirt, his silver-grey jacket adorned with a fringe of gold tassels. The bespoke tailoring screamed of the frivolous and flashy style of an upper-class noble scion, creating a stark incongruity with a bald old man.

“This… my mindset is rather youthful, ha-ha-ha…”

“I see, that’s understandable. But, esteemed old sir…”

Ann twitched her nose. The room was filled with a rich perfume and another peculiar scent, masking the young master’s usual aroma, but…

“I can’t help but feel you resemble him greatly.”

“D-do I?”

“Indeed, you do. Your movements, your expressions, and even the frequency of your leg trembling when you’re scared… they all bear a resemblance.”

Ann pressed closer, step by step.

Each stride felt like a footfall directly upon Ewan’s heart.

His heart leaped into his throat. He knew that if Ann caught him on a date with a woman—or rather, with two women…

He would die!

He would surely die!

Even if he didn’t die, Ann would chain him up and keep him as a pet for the rest of his life!

‘No, not that!’

Yet, the current Ewan was powerless to do anything.

Any further action would only make exposure more likely.

The only thing he could do now was pray, pray that Ann…

“Miss.”

Just as Ewan had prayed to every deity imaginable—God, Buddha, the Jade Emperor, and even Nyarlathotep—and still failed to stop Ann’s relentless approach, he suddenly felt a soft, fragrant warmth envelop his arm.

Senior Sister Anna had leaned in, embracing Ewan’s arm, much like an intimately affectionate couple.

She looked at Ann, her lips still graced with a gentle smile.

“Are you perhaps mistaken? If your eyes are bothering you, I can call a doctor for you.”

She paused, then continued, “Look closely. How could my boyfriend possibly be the person in your photograph?”

“Your… boyfriend?”

Ann glanced at the bald old man, then back at Anna Campbell, a flicker of uncertainty entering her tone for the first time.

“You certainly have unique taste.”

“Isn’t there a saying?”

Anna Campbell tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exuding an enchanting charm. “True love can overcome anything.”