The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness - Chapter 252



30. Sharp Knife

In the lower district, Jacob’s Restaurant.

The faintly glowing pearls of night light twinkled like stars, deliberately creating a dim environment where specially designed smokeless candlelight flickered, resembling the spirits that twinkle in the deep of night.

At the very center of the restaurant, there was a very conspicuous small stage, but unfortunately, the lights were dim, and in the slightly quiet atmosphere, classical music flowed from the phonograph in the corner.

Led by a waiter, Sean and Mu En arrived at their reserved seats. Sean placed his top hat and coat on the specially prepared coat rack, glanced at the center of the restaurant, and said with relief:

“Looks like we haven’t arrived too late.”

“What do you mean too late?”

Mu En maintained a stern expression and said:

“I just came to appreciate the culinary skills of the chef who walked out of the palace; isn’t it enough to have something to eat?”

“Haha, of course.”

After inquiring about Mu En’s taste, Sean summoned the previous waiter and carefully selected the restaurant’s most famous signature dish from the menu, earnestly instructing the waiter that it must be prepared by the chef himself.

Noticing something unusual in Sean’s serious gaze, the waiter nodded earnestly and left. Sean let out a sigh of relief, turned back, and smiled as he asked:

“How does Young Master Campbell find this restaurant?”

“Just call me Mu En.”

Mu En stroked his chin, scanning the restaurant, and said:

“Not bad.”

“Not bad…”

Sean breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s great. To be honest, I’ve never sat at a table with someone of your status, Young Master… Mu En. I’m a bit nervous.”

“There’s no need to be nervous; I’m not too picky, really.”

Mu En swirled the appetizer red wine that the waiter had poured in advance, smiling as he took a small sip.

“Truly worthy of being the Duke’s son,” Sean remarked again in admiration.

“You are indeed fundamentally different from those nobles.”

“…”

So how should I explain to you that as a transmigrator, not to mention drinking this slightly inferior wine, I had even prepared to be a beggar when I thought the ending was about to be bleak?

Mu En shook his head and changed the subject:

“Speaking of which, I didn’t expect Baron Sean would book a table in such a restaurant in advance.”

“Hmm?”

“Though this may be a bit rude… but can your wallet really handle treating me to dinner?”

Mu En cast a half-smiling glance at the ill-fitting suit beside him.

Although the material of the suit was not low-grade, this obviously second-hand suit would be quite cheap at many tailoring shops.

Some fallen nobles often bought such suits to maintain appearances.

And while this restaurant might not compare to some top-tier establishments in the upper district, its prices were certainly quite steep.

At the very least, it was not something a fallen baron could afford casually.

The position of a governor wouldn’t make someone rich overnight, not to mention he had just received his appointment and hadn’t even truly taken office yet.

“I didn’t expect… to be found out.”

Having been exposed by Mu En, Sean scratched his head awkwardly and smiled wryly:

“Master Mu’en is right; tonight’s meal has directly cost me all my savings.”

“That means…”

“However.”

Sean suddenly interrupted Mu’en, speaking earnestly,

“Please rest assured, Master Mu’en, this meal is not meant to curry favor with you. In fact, I mentioned before that the table was reserved in advance. I had no idea I would encounter you before that.”

“Oh, then why…” Mu’en raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“The extra seat was reserved for my wife.”

“Wife?”

Mu’en froze for a moment, nearly jumping out of his seat,

“So, I’ve taken your wife’s…”

“No, no, no, you haven’t, Master Mu’en. Please don’t worry; you haven’t taken my wife’s seat.”

As he spoke, the middle-aged man with graying temples turned to gaze at the bouquet of roses on the table, distinct from the others, clearly placed here intentionally, revealing deep longing and sorrow.

“After all, my wife can never sit here again.”

“…”

Mu’en’s expression stiffened.

Wait, saying it like that makes me even more uncomfortable.

What does this mean?

This person has exhausted his savings to come here to commemorate his deceased wife on this special day, and here I am, shamelessly mooching off his meal?

“I think I should leave…”

“No, no, no, Master Mu’en, please… you must stay.”

Baron Sean suddenly became agitated, rising abruptly to push Mu’en back into his seat, then awkwardly withdrawing his hand, speaking anxiously:

“Your presence here, I believe, would make her very happy…”

“Why?”

Mu’en was bewildered.

It’s clearly an important day of remembrance, yet here you are having dinner with a man.

If your wife knew, would she really be happy?

Would she really not come to chat with me at night?

“Because… because being able to become the governor of the lower district, to dine with the son of the duke I admire, all signifies to her that I have worked hard for a whole decade, and finally, finally see hope.”

At this moment, Sean clenched his fist tightly, and on his seemingly prematurely aged face, a complex expression of sorrow… and hatred suddenly emerged.

“The hope of avenging her!”

“……Revenge.”

Mu En stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

Wait, this kind of development, could it be……

“That’s right, revenge.”

Sean turned his head, looking at the small stage in the center of the restaurant, his gaze somewhat dazed, as if his thoughts had crossed time, traveling back to a distant past.

He seemed to see that enchanting figure once again, standing there playing a heavenly melody, her entire being glowing, so captivating.

Then the scene shifted, and he seemed to see that figure’s face pale and swollen from the water, in his embrace, forever unable to open her eyes again.

And that highborn noble, whom he could never forget, mocked him with a sneer:

From noble mtl dot com

“A dog like you, thinks you can overturn me?”

Hatred and anger intertwined in his heart, then were pressed deep down within him, and he shook his head with a hint of self-mockery.

“I won’t ruin Young Master Mu En’s mood by discussing the specifics in this setting. I just want you to know that perhaps I do have the intention to please you, and perhaps I do indeed wish to leverage Duke’s power to achieve my goals.

But tonight, I only want you to sit here, so she can see…”

Sean placed his hands on his knees, his body trembling continuously, as if every cell was shivering.

Yet his eyes shone with a painful light, a light that pierced through life.

“Ten years, a full ten years… I finally have the right to take this first step!”

“……”

The music in the restaurant suddenly changed, becoming urgent and sharp, like a gust of wind.

Mu En quietly watched this man.

Though he said this was just the first step after ten years of effort, anyone could tell that this was by no means the last step.

And before his blood ran dry, he probably wouldn’t stop.

At this moment, Mu En finally began to understand.

The deep meaning behind His Majesty suddenly promoting this baron to the governor of the lower district.

It wasn’t just because he had sufficient ability, nor merely because he was united under the Campbell name, but also because of the unquenchable hatred in his heart.

That hatred was like a knife; if wielded well, it would ultimately stab deep into the hearts of those who thought too highly of themselves.