Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 196: Morally Blackmailed by Mirene
’She’s been giving me the cold shoulder every time I’ve come to the restaurant these past few days. It must be because my sister bullied her.’
’Today, I came specifically to apologize for my sister, and I even brought a gift.’
’Females... they all like receiving gifts.’
’If I smooth things over with a gift and give Bai Su a graceful way out, she’ll naturally accept me.’
Mirene stared at the screen, his gaze fixed on Bai Su’s soft figure and the fair skin left exposed by her clothes. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
’My sister was right. I’m the most beautiful male in the Sea Clan. No female can resist me, and Bai Su is no exception.’
He sent another 1,000 Carnivals to Bai Su, attaching a message: [Can you fulfill your promise tonight and have dinner with me?]
After sending it, he stared at Bai Su on the livestream, his eyes filled with anticipation.
The bullet comments exploded with hype: [Woohoo! I knew it! Prince Mirene is about to become Susu’s third Beast Husband!]
[No wonder the Prince has been showing up at the restaurant lately.]
[The Prince is so devoted! Bai Su is so lucky!]
[Hold on, does anyone care if our President Li lives or dies? He still hasn’t secured the spot as the third Beast Husband, and now Prince Mirene pops up?]
The woman on screen froze for a moment. Her red lips parted slightly, her face a mask of surprise. "When did I ever make you a promise?"
Now it was Mirene’s turn to be stunned. ’She doesn’t remember?’
’No, that can’t be right. How could anyone forget a promise they made to me? I’m the Prince of the Sea Clan, the most beautiful male in the entire ocean.’
He looked at Bai Su on the screen and guessed she was probably just too embarrassed to admit it in front of everyone.
He tried a different approach, sending another 1,000 Carnivals: [Then can we have dinner together tonight?]
「In the kitchen.」
Bai Su frowned as she watched the chat’s excited teasing. "Please don’t hype this up, everyone. I don’t know Prince Mirene well, and this will just cause trouble for him."
She then looked at the camera. "Your Highness, I’m very busy tonight. I don’t have time to go out for dinner."
Mirene: [Why? You don’t even have time to eat with me? You promised! It’s me, Mirene!]
Bai Su found this bizarre. "When did I ever agree to have dinner with you?"
’So what if he’s Mirene?’
’Even if Wen Lan Yelias himself showed up, the answer would still be no!’
’I promised Li Chenlin I’d go on a private date with him tonight.’
Mirene: [You’re really going back on your word? I said I’d come to the Imperial City to find you, and you clearly said you remembered that comment.]
Bai Su was speechless. "I just said I remembered the comment. I never said I’d have dinner with you. Those are two completely different things."
Mirene: [Susu, I’ve been waiting at your restaurant for days just to have dinner with you.]
[Isn’t that enough? What do I have to do to get you to have dinner with me?]
[I’ve prepared a gift. If you need roses, or if you want me to arrange for a public Sea Clan conch-blowing honor guard, I can arrange it all in advance.]
Bai Su felt a prickle of annoyance. ’What does he mean, "if you need"?’
’He makes it sound like I’m only refusing because his invitation isn’t grand enough.’
Bai Su’s voice grew colder. "I’m sorry. As I’ve said, we don’t know each other well. Please call me Miss Bai, or Boss."
"Furthermore, I never agreed to have dinner with you. Please stop asking me out. I will not go out with you, no matter what."
’I’m already being more than polite to this Prince.’
’He’s been coming to my restaurant every day for the past few days, and everyone here is just watching the show.’
’Everyone’s teasing me and placing bets on when I’ll finally accept the Prince, but not a single person has bothered to ask if I even like this fish.’
’The way Mirene acts, it’s as if he thinks it’s impossible for me to refuse him. As if rejecting him would be some kind of crime.’
It made her deeply uncomfortable.
Bai Su ignored Mirene’s comments and focused on her cooking livestream.
After the stream ended, she took the kitchen elevator directly to the third floor. She went into her private lounge to wash up, then changed her clothes before heading back downstairs.
It was her habit to always shower after cooking, freshening up and changing into a clean outfit.
The thought of her date with Li Chenlin tonight finally lifted Bai Su’s spirits.
She chose a cream-white spaghetti-strap slip dress that fell to her ankles.
She paired it with a loose, pink, hooded knit sweater.
It was perfect for the current weather.
The slip dress was faintly visible beneath the loose, pink knit sweater.
Bai Su dried her hair and stood before the mirror, looking at her reflection with satisfaction.
Because she always put her long hair up while cooking, it now fell in natural, voluminous waves. Dressed in pink and white, she looked exceptionally gentle.
It perfectly suited the feeling of spring.
In high spirits, Bai Su went downstairs, only to be met by Mirene, who was walking right up to her.
She frowned slightly. "Prince Mirene."
Mirene’s face was filled with awe. "Susu... you’re so beautiful. I swear, you’re the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen."
In person, Bai Su was even more beautiful than on the livestream. Her fair skin had a faint pinkish hue that complemented her sweater perfectly, making her look like a sweet, soft little rabbit.
Up close, Mirene could even smell the faint, sweet scent of peach wafting from her.
He swallowed unconsciously, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
He’d been exceptionally thirsty ever since arriving on land, but whenever he was near her, smelling her scent, he felt as if he were soaking in a sweet nectar, a feeling even more pleasant than being back in the ocean.
Bai Su said nothing. She had no desire to be complimented by him.
A shy smile appeared on Mirene’s face, and the fins on his ears turned pink with bashfulness. "Let’s go."
Bai Su was baffled. "Go where?"
Mirene chuckled as if the answer were obvious. "To dinner, of course."
Bai Su took a deep breath, feeling like he was incapable of understanding plain language. "Your Highness, I already rejected you during the stream."
Mirene met her gaze. Face to face, he could see the expression in her eyes far more clearly than through a screen.
The smile on Mirene’s lips slowly faded. "You’re really rejecting me?"
Bai Su stared at him. "...What do you think?"
Mirene was confused. "But if you were going to reject me, why did you get all dressed up and make yourself look so beautiful?"
Bai Su could only stare in disbelief. "...?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
Mirene pressed on. "You reject me, yet you dress up like this, as if you’re going on a date. Are you doing this on purpose? Giving me hope just to disappoint me?"
"Susu, you don’t have to play these games to lead me on. I’ve already declared my feelings for you. You just have to beckon, and I will submit to you."
Bai Su was mentally exhausted. "I don’t need your submission, and I don’t need your declarations of love. Please, move aside."
A hurt expression flashed across Mirene’s face. "Susu, why are you being so cruel to me? I’m only trying to court you."
The people nearby couldn’t help but start whispering among themselves.
"Wow, the Boss can say such cruel things to a male that beautiful. It’s a bit harsh."
"Oh, come on, the Prince is so wonderful! Just give in to him!"
"Besides, the Boss only has two Beast Husbands. Her family is so small, she could use a few more people."
"This would solve the Boss’s problem perfectly, so why is she rejecting him?"
’Of course,’ Bai Su thought bitterly. ’It doesn’t matter what world you’re in, crowds are all the same. They love to meddle in things like this.’
’It’s as if just because a suitor makes a grand, heartfelt, passionate, and sincere display of affection, the person being pursued is obligated to accept. As if saying no is a crime.’
Bai Su had initially just felt indifferent, but now, looking into Mirene’s eyes, her own gaze was tinged with disgust. "I said, move aside."
A wounded look appeared on Mirene’s face. "Susu, you can’t do this..."
Bai Su pressed her lips into a thin line. She took a deep breath and stared directly at Mirene. "You like me? You’re pursuing me?"
Mirene’s eyes lit up. "Yes!"
Bai Su said flatly, "That’s a shame. Because I don’t like you. And I don’t like the way you’re pursuing me."
"Your pursuit is disrupting my life."
"If you keep pestering me, then I’m sorry, but not only will I never like you, I will start to find your pursuit utterly disgusting and repulsive."
She stood on the stairs, looking down with cold indifference at the pale, helpless Mirene at the foot of the staircase. "Do you understand?"
