An American knife seller? No, please acknowledge me as your godfather.

Fifth Avenue, downtown Seattle.

Le Raphael, a French restaurant.

The restaurant stands like a dazzling pearl at a prime intersection where every inch of land is precious.

The restaurant occupies a large area of ​​over a thousand square meters, with a staggering monthly rent of three hundred thousand US dollars.

The storefront is decorated with the utmost extravagance.

Hand-carved Baroque-style stone columns, a dazzling crystal chandelier, and a heavy, gilded door...

Everything about it showcases its extraordinary and noble qualities.

In Seattle's high-end dining scene, Rafael Restaurant is a symbol of top-tier style and status.

The French chefs here are said to have served European royalty.

A signature top-quality Wellington steak paired with black truffle foie gras is priced in a way that would put most people out of reach.

Therefore, those who can dine here are either very wealthy or very powerful.

The exclusive parking spaces at the entrance are occupied by either extravagantly designed limited-edition sports cars or sophisticated and luxurious Rolls-Royces or Maybach business vans.

Even the worst, and still the top-of-the-line, Bat-gate Tesla Model S.

In short, the air outside Raphael's door was filled with the alluring fragrance of money.

7 p.m. is the peak time for dining.

While other upscale restaurants in the surrounding area had long lines of waiting customers, Rafael Restaurant was deserted.

Only two top-notch concierges, dressed in sharp tailcoats and wearing white gloves, stood at their posts with smiles.

It wasn't because the restaurant was doing poorly, but because Rafael Restaurant had extremely strict rules.

We absolutely do not accept walk-in customers who come directly to the site on the same day. You must make an appointment by phone two to three days in advance to verify your funds.

呲——

Just then, a screeching sound of brakes rang out.

A dilapidated Camry, emitting a faint smell of engine oil, wobbled and stopped in front of the Rafael Restaurant.

This beat-up car, which looked like it had just come from a junkyard, stood in stark contrast to the gleaming luxury cars around it.

squeak-

With a sickening metallic scraping sound, the rusty driver's side door was violently pushed open.

Lynn got out of the car, put one hand in his pocket, glanced up at the luxurious gilded entrance, and muttered to himself:

"Rafael Restaurant... this should be it. That woman, Annie, has a good eye for picking places."

pat!

Lynn lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and strode towards the restaurant door.

"Hello, sir, parking is not allowed in front of the restaurant."

Before they even got close to the restaurant's main entrance, two concierges immediately stepped forward and blocked their way, one on each side.

Although he maintained a professional, polite smile on his face, he couldn't hide the faint disdain in his eyes.

Having worked here for so long, their eyes have long since become incredibly sharp.

The Asian man in front of me was indeed quite handsome and looked fairly neat.

But his demeanor suggested he was just an ordinary person, and it was impossible for him to have spare money to spend at Rafael Restaurant.

Most importantly, the car he drove was absolutely awful!

It's no exaggeration to say that the garbage truck that carries rotten vegetable leaves at the back door of their restaurant looks more upscale than that Camry!

"Oh?" Lynn exhaled a smoke ring and pointed to the brass sign next to him that read "Valet Parking":

"Isn't parking free here when you eat?"

"Sir, did you make an appointment in advance?"

One of the concierges maintained her smile, but the disdain in her eyes seemed even stronger: "If you haven't made a reservation in advance, our restaurant cannot accommodate you."

"Appointment? No, not at all."

Lynn flicked his cigarette ash, then said in a calm tone, "However, someone invited me here for dinner tonight at the last minute."

As soon as the words were spoken, the two concierges exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing undisguised mockery.

lie!

This is absolutely a standard lie!

Their Rafael restaurant only accepts reservations with proof of funds made three days in advance.

Only a very important person with a black gold VIP card can get a meal on a whim.

But here's the question: how could this poor kid driving a beat-up Camry possibly know such important figures?

What a joke!

Although they felt utterly contemptuous, for the sake of their image, the two suppressed the urge to kick them out and smiled:

"In that case, we would appreciate it if your companion could personally come out and escort you inside. Otherwise, we would really be in a difficult position."

Tap tap tap~

A series of rapid, crisp sounds of high heels clicking on the floor came from behind the door.

Immediately afterwards, the restaurant's heavy revolving door was pushed open forcefully.

A woman wearing ten-centimeter high heels walked out in a whirlwind.

What followed was a strong, almost pungent, perfume scent.

The woman wore black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, a very form-fitting black business suit, and sexy black stockings on her legs.

She exudes a sexy and capable aura, yet also carries a hint of worldliness.

Without a doubt, the woman's figure was extremely well-endowed.

Especially her magnificent breasts, which looked as if they were about to burst out of her chest, thanks to the tight white shirt.

It even has a naturally occurring papaya shape!

Lynn's eyes lit up slightly, and her gaze was immediately drawn to him.

Goodness, this is someone important!

Upon seeing Lynn, the woman's eyes immediately lit up, and she quickly went to greet him, her face beaming with a warm smile:

"Mr. Lin, is this you? Hello, I'm Manager Bianca. Ms. Annie has been waiting for you in the private room for quite some time, and she specifically sent me down to meet you!"

The words fell.

The expressions on the faces of the two concierges next to them froze instantly, their smiles looking more like cries.

They never expected that everything this kid in the beat-up car said was true!

Moreover, the person who received him was actually a senior manager of the restaurant!

"Open the door right now!" Bianca turned around and scolded sternly.

"Yes...yes! Manager!" The two were startled and hurriedly ran to open the door.

Lynn ignored the underlings and immediately turned and walked into the restaurant.

But after taking only two steps, Lynn suddenly stopped: "Wait!"

Then, he reached into his pocket.

Upon seeing this, the two concierges' eyes lit up, and their gazes involuntarily held a hint of anticipation.

They were all too familiar with this move.

Tipping! This is the gesture for giving a tip!

Being treated differently and still getting paid—no wonder he's a hidden tycoon; he's so generous and magnanimous!

Just as the two were about to reach out and take the money.

Lynn simply pulled out his Camry car keys and tossed them aside: "Go, park the car properly in the parking space."

Amidst the utter astonishment of the two, Lynn's lips curled into a playful smile:

"Just a heads-up, my car's steering wheel is a bit to the left, and the brakes are a bit loose, so be careful when reversing, and don't accidentally scrape my car!"

With that, Lynn turned away gracefully, leaving the concierge with his facial muscles twitching wildly in the night wind.

[Anger +5]

[Anger +5]

[Anger +5]

……

Seeing the rapidly increasing anger before him, Lynn was in a great mood.

He knew perfectly well that these two guys were expecting a tip, but he refused to give them one!

Not only will they not give it to them, they'll also try to disgust them.

This not only saved money but also earned me a bunch of emotional points for free—it was a huge win!

"Mr. Lin, I'm so sorry, smoking is not allowed inside our restaurant. Please understand."

Bianca followed half a step behind Lynn, gently reminding him in a low voice.

Before Lynn could react, he respectfully handed her the crystal ashtray with both hands, his face bearing an impeccable professional smile.

Lynn raised an eyebrow and gave Bianca, whose neckline was wide open, a deep look: "Manager Bianca's service is truly attentive."

"Not at all, it's my duty to serve such a distinguished guest as you."

Bianca smiled gently, her elbow seemingly brushing against Lynn's arm as she walked, her tone extremely soft:

"Actually... I offer even better and more in-depth private services, if Mr. Lin has time tonight..."

As she squeezed, her already impressive D-type will seemed to be breaking through its limits and transforming into an E-type will!

The sheer temptation is palpable.

However, Lynn did not respond, but simply waved his hand indifferently: "Lead the way."

He dared not easily invest in such a dubious business opportunity.

If it's warts, that would be a real problem.

"Okay, this way please."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Bianca's eyes at Lynn's coldness.

But she quickly adjusted her posture and led the way, swaying her ample waist.

Soon, we stopped in front of a relatively private dining area.

It's called a private room, but it's really just a great spot by the window with a great view.

A luxurious deep red velvet curtain was used to shield the outside, ensuring the privacy of the dining area.

However, in the heart of Rafael Restaurant, where space is extremely valuable and reservations are often required three days in advance, securing such a semi-enclosed area is already a remarkable achievement.

This is enough to prove Annie's unknown background and strength.

"Ms. Envy is inside. Please make yourself at home. Just press the bell to call me if you need anything."

After giving Lynn a suggestive look, Bianca reluctantly swayed her hips and left.

"Heh, you little rascal..."

Watching Bianca's departing figure, Lynn chuckled softly, then lifted the heavy curtain and stepped inside.

"Officer Envy, it's been a long time."

Lynn, with her usual smile on her face, was about to greet him when she froze halfway through her sentence.

His gaze was fixed on Annie, as if drawn by a powerful magnet, and he couldn't look away.

At this moment, Annie had already taken off her somewhat rigid and oppressive police uniform.

She wore a slightly sheer white cotton shirt on her upper body, and perhaps to relax, she had unbuttoned two buttons at the collar.

Under the dim, ambiguous restaurant lights, a delicate collarbone was faintly visible, along with a touch of fair skin that sparked endless imagination.

Her chestnut-brown short hair, which was usually tucked into her police cap, was now tied into a neat high ponytail.

Although the large sunglasses on her nose had been removed and placed on the table, her face was still stunningly beautiful and aloof.

It just lacked some of the cold sharpness he displayed when performing official duties, but possessed an indescribable sense of sophisticated asceticism.

This was the first time Lynn had seen Annie in casual clothes.

The stark contrast struck his heart instantly.

"Why...why are you staring at me like that?"

Feeling uncomfortable under Lynn's unabashedly intense gaze, Annie subconsciously reached out and adjusted her shirt collar.

"I just didn't expect that you would look a hundred times better in civilian clothes than in police uniform."

Lynn, regaining her senses, smiled slightly.

Although his words were somewhat greasy, his eyes were extremely sincere: "He's just like a supermodel who walked right out of Paris Fashion Week."

"real?"

Annie felt a surge of joy in her heart.

What woman doesn't like to be complimented on her beauty by a man?

Especially when praised by the man in front of her, a man she could never understand yet found inexplicably charming.

But then she frowned tightly, forcibly suppressing the upturned corners of her mouth: "I feel like what you're saying is a bit exaggerated, is it true or not?"

"Of course it's true!"

Lynn suddenly leaned closer, placing her hands on the table.

In an instant, the distance between the two shrank to less than half a meter!

Lynn looked directly into Annie's eyes, his gaze deep and his expression serious: "I'm not one to lie about beautiful things."

This sudden closeness instantly transformed the originally cool and quiet atmosphere in the private room into a romantic and ambiguous one.

At that moment, the two could even clearly hear each other's breathing.

Annie's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. Slightly flustered, she averted her gaze and pretended to look through the menu in her hand.

"Uh... let's see what you'd like to eat? This place is famous for its French food."

"Whatever, just keep an eye on things." Lynn slumped back in the soft chair, completely unconcerned.

To be honest, if Annie hadn't called him, he would never have come to such an expensive French restaurant in his life.

The plate was as big as a washbasin, but the items in the middle were smaller than the palm of your hand, yet the price was ridiculously high!

The problem is that if it tasted good, that would be fine, but the half-cooked meat had a really unpleasant smell that made it hard to swallow.

"Okay, since you have no objections, I'll order according to my taste."

Annie nodded and skillfully called over the waiter to order several signature dishes.

After the waiter left, the private room suddenly became quiet.

An awkward silence filled the air.

Noticing the suffocating atmosphere, Lynn's eyes darted around. "How about I tell you a joke?"

"Great!" Annie nodded repeatedly, wondering how to respond. "I love hearing jokes."

Lynn's lips curled into a meaningful smile: "Actually, it's not really a joke. What's the difference between a priest and Sheriff Woody from Toy Story?"

"Woody?"

Annie was clearly taken aback, and was somewhat disoriented by Lynn's train of thought.

After thinking for a moment, she tentatively answered, "Because they are all men?"

Lynn shook his head with a smile.

"Could it be... because they all have hair?"

"wrong."

"Then I can't guess."

Annie spread her hands: "The priest is a religious figure, Woody is a toy from an animated film. They're from completely different worlds, what difference could there be?"

"The difference actually lies in..."

Lynn's lips curled up sharply, and she lowered her voice to slowly deliver the answer:

Woody automatically softens up when he sees a little boy!

……

These words seemed to carry some kind of eerie silencing magic, and the room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Annie was stunned for a couple of seconds, her clear eyes filled with confusion.

But then, she immediately realized the extremely hellish metaphor behind those words...

A large blush suddenly rose on her face, extending from her neck all the way down to her fair cheeks.

Even her small earlobes turned rosy.

"Pooh!"

Annie spat under her breath, glaring at Lynn with embarrassment and anger:

"You...you're so vulgar! I thought it was some kind of serious riddle, I never expected it to be such a hellish joke!"

Lynn, however, did not restrain himself at all, and instead stared at Annie even more brazenly.

It must be said that this policewoman, who usually has a stern and cold expression, has a unique and charming contrast in her shy and annoyed demeanor at this moment.

This allure, a blend of youthful naiveté and aloofness, is unmatched by a fully mature woman like Mrs. Hill.

He felt Lynn's intensely penetrating and possessive gaze.

Annie felt a little hot and shifted uncomfortably.

"cough!"

To cover her embarrassment, Annie coughed, trying to appear calm: "That's not funny at all, it's too lame. Find something a little more normal!"

"Okay, let's choose another one."

Lynn stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and asked again, "Excuse me: what part of a Black person's body is the whitest?"

Upon hearing the question, Envy, eager to regain her composure, immediately answered, "Teeth!"

"Wrong." Lynn shook his head.

"The white part of the eye?" Annie retorted.

"Still wrong."

"Palms of hands and soles of feet?"

"Completely wrong."

After being rejected time and again, Annie was completely exasperated. She gritted her teeth and shrugged.

"So you mean the whitest part? It can't be the bones, can it? That would be too weird, I can't think of anything."

Seeing Annie's discomfiture, Lynn smiled with satisfaction and slowly revealed the answer:

"The whitest part, of course, is his owner."

"..."

"Pfft!"

Upon hearing this top-tier, racist joke, Annie couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing instantly.

Although she was taught from a young age that she shouldn't laugh at such things.

But this joke is so ridiculously funny, I just couldn't help it!

Having barely managed to suppress her laughter, Annie shook her head and retorted:

"Your answer is too far-fetched. How could a black person's owner be on a black person? It doesn't make any sense!"

Upon hearing this, Lynn's smile widened.

Not only was she completely unfazed, but she also slowly approached Annie, her expression serious as she spoke each word clearly:

"Because the master was riding on a black man."

"Puff—Goose, goose, goose, goose!"

This time, Annie completely abandoned all self-control, clutching her stomach and laughing uncontrollably, even letting out a goose-like honking.

This is truly a hellish joke, it's absolutely hellish!

With Annie's laughter, the suffocating awkwardness and restraint instantly vanished.

The air was filled with a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere.

The atmosphere between the two was also rapidly heating up...