CHAPTER 360: SEA KING IN TRAINING

The door of the Royal Dragon Pavilion swung open, releasing the warm aroma of roasted duck, spiced broth, and fresh lotus tea into the air. Inside, lanterns glowed soft gold, and silk draperies swayed faintly with the stir of passing servers.

The hostess at the entrance straightened immediately when she spotted Micah. She had come to know him over the past few weeks. The boss and his friends were so fond of this handsome young man. Well, who wouldn’t? The young man was polite and easy-going, not at all like those haughty, arrogant young masters who ordered them around and looked at them like they were dirt.

"Welcome, young master," The hostess greeted Micah warmly.

Micah returned the smile. "Is the Lotus room available?"

"Of course, please follow me," she said, stepping aside with a graceful gesture. That room was arranged to be solely for the Boss’s friends.

Micah turned back briefly to the Edwoods’ family, motioning for them to follow. To the hostess, he added quietly. "Is Boss Lin in today?"

"Boss Lin is with a distinguished guest at the moment," she replied. "Shall I inform him you have arrived?"

"No, no," Micah waved a hand. "Don’t trouble him."

"Please," The hostess stopped in front it a sliding wooden door, slid it open, and bowed slightly.

Micah waited for Flora to enter first and followed them.

Nora glanced around, her eyes wide. "Wow! It looks just like one of those TV dramas! I feel like I just travelled back in time!"

The Lotus room lived up to its name: pale green screen painted with lotus blooms lined the walls, and low tables gleamed under lacquered polish. Cushions embroidered with silk thread were set neatly around them.

"Yeah. I really like this room." Micah agreed.

Darcy gracefully guided Flora down onto one of the cushions and asked, "I thought this place belonged to Mr Clyde?"

Micah flinched slightly, fingers tightened on the menu he had just picked up. "Nope. It’s his friend’s place," he said, opening the menu as though suddenly engrossed in the text. He didn’t like to talk about Clyde with Darcy. The subject made his shoulder stiff, his throat oddly tight.

"Oh wow! I don’t know what half of these are!" Nora gasped. "These names are too sophisticated! What is ’Eight Treasure Duck? And what about this ’Sweet Eight Treasure Rice Pudding’?"

"They are traditional dishes," Darcy explained. "The ’Eight Treasure’ usually means a combination of eight or more symbolic ingredients, things like lotus seeds, dates, nuts. They represent good luck, wealth, harmony, and happiness."

Micah raised an eyebrow. His gaze lingered on Darcy. This was the meaning of being the top scorer?

Darcy caught the look. "I told you, didn’t I? I used to work in a tea shop. The hostess there taught me a lot more than making tea."

Nora closed the menu. "Handsome brother, you decide. I don’t know what’s good anyway."

Micah looked at Flora. "Same." she smiled. "I’ll trust your choice."

Darcy also nodded.

"Fine. I’ll be right back." Micah stood up and left the room.

Truthfully, he wanted a second opinion. He wasn’t sure what dishes were best suited for Flora’s condition. He hoped to catch Uncle Lin. This was their first outing, and Micah didn’t want to end up making his biological mother sick.

He had only taken two steps when he spotted Lin Heye.

"Brother Lin," Micah called.

Lin Heye turned, surprise flickering across his face. Walking beside him was Soha.

"Oh, sister Soha is here as well." Micah’s smile grew wider.

Lin Heye’s brows furrowed. "Didn’t you say you’d come on Sunday? Why are you here today instead?"

"I’m accompanying my friend’s family today," Micah said. "By the way, where is grandpa Lin? I had a question I wanted to ask him."

Lin Heye hesitated before answering. "He is out of town. But you can ask me. I know a thing or two."

Micah didn’t think much of it. "Aunty has an autoimmune disease. What dishes would be best for her?"

Lin Heye began to suggest a few dishes, relieved that Micah didn’t ask more questions. After they left Ramsy’s mansion, his father received a call, a clue about where the master whom Clyde was searching for was. Both men had already left Isatic City. Lin Heye never expected he would run to Micah so soon afterwards.

Micah returned to the Lotus room to find Mother and son sitting in complete silence. Micah took his seat and looked at Darcy. "Where is Nora?"

"Restroom," Darcy replied.

The awkward silence stretched inside the room. Micah didn’t know what to talk about. He shifted slightly looking around. Flora was too quiet. And Darcy was just sipping his tea.

Thankfully, the clink of porcelain broke the quiet as servers brought in trays of fragrant dishes.

Micah frowned. "Why isn’t she back yet?"

Flora sighed softly. "Don’t tell me she’s gotten lost again."

"Why don’t you try calling her?"

Flora shook her head. "It’s hopeless."

Micah’s lips twitched. "Is she bad with direction too?"

Darcy nodded. "Yeah. I’d better go find her," he said and began to rise, but Micah quickly stood first.

He didn’t want to be alone with Flora. He wasn’t ready for that. "Sit down, I’ll go. The food will get cold. You two should start."

Micah bolted out of the room before Darcy could object.

Micah first checked the restroom, but there was no sign of Nora. He walked briskly down the hallway, looking left and right until he stumbled to the back garden.

Nora stood under the arch, her phone lifted high as she tried to capture a picture.

"Nora, what are you doing?"

Nora turned her head. "Ah, I got lost and ended up here. But look! Isn’t this garden beautiful? I have never seen so many of these flowers before."

"Yeah, yeah. It’s pretty. But the food is getting cold. Let’s go." Micah said, pushing her toward the door.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, something caught him. A wall thick with jasmine flowers, their delicate yellow blooms glowing against the green.

Micah walked toward it and reached out. His fingers brushed along the clustered petals. His lips curled into a smile. Clyde, that bastard. Had he plucked those flowers for his birthday from here?

He leaned forward and plucked a bloom, biting lightly at the stem. The faint sweetness spread across his tongue. He chuckled under his breath.

A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. Pulling out his phone, he snapped a picture of the jasmine wall and returned toward Nora. He opened WeChat and typed.

RogueOverLord: Stumble on the source. No need for a bunch of dried old ones anymore. Maybe it’s a sign. Tonight’s the night! 😎

He attached the picture and hit post, satisfied as the caption joined his Moments.

Micah was still irritated by Clyde’s sudden trip. The man needed to know he couldn’t just vanish without warning. What if someone else snatched him away?

Hmph. They hadn’t even gone on a proper date yet, and Clyde had slipped off like a fish escaping a net.

Micah’s eyelids twitched. Maybe he had really become some kind of sea king, trying to raise a slippery, elusive fish.