Chapter 83: One Bite, One Silence

Taking orders is minor; the mission is major.

Ma Ma Zhaodi calmly handled Selina's ordering, while Bruce barely spoke. Although Ma Ma Zhaodi didn't know if Bruce was usually this taciturn, he certainly dared not ask, for he feared Bruce might realize he knew Bruce's true identity.

As for whether Selina had realized he knew her identity, Ma Ma Zhaodi had no idea, but even if she had, it didn't matter. In all of Gotham City, only one person loved digging to the bottom of things and making contingency plans for teammates; Selina, by contrast, acted almost entirely on impulse.

Fortunately, several fortunate points were all in place—this was a restaurant, it was Valentine's Day, Bruce happened to have a young lady by his side, and she seemed quite taken with him.

Holidays have always been the best opportunity for sales.

"Miss, Sir, your ordered dishes have arrived. Please enjoy them slowly."

Having served the dishes, Ma Ma Zhaodi stood by on standby. At this moment, Catwoman smiled at Bruce beside her and began to stir up trouble.

"Sir, I seem to have met you somewhere before."

"Miss, I am new to this restaurant. You may be mistaken—"

"No, no, I am quite sure. Previously, at the Red—"

"Ahem, excuse me, Miss." Ma Ma Zhaodi hurriedly interrupted Selina's words: "Your next dish must be ready soon. I will go to the kitchen immediately."

"I take my leave."

If she mentioned his past experience working at the Red Dragon, his undercover career at Maroni's restaurant would surely come to an end.

Fortunately, he had covered it up with a louder voice.

This playful Selina, even when not on duty, still displayed a cat-like personality, but Ma Ma Zhaodi was not a ball of yarn; he truly did not want to be pawed at. A single dog also has human rights; there was no reason to be forcibly kept at a couple's love display to eat that dog food.

Besides, he wasn't hungry.

"What? Who has arrived?"

Hearing the news from the front hall, Maroni in the kitchen was momentarily stunned. He threw down his newspaper, walked out of the kitchen to personally meet Young Master Wayne and Miss Selina, and was then sent back to the kitchen by two cold faces.

It was obvious that Maroni, who had been thriving in Gotham City, was not well-liked by these two. It could be seen that as Gotham's second-largest criminal family, he seemed to often suffer such grievances. In a fit of anger, he got angry, then picked up his newspaper and started flipping through it again.

There was no way; he dared not and did not want to offend the playboy young master of the Wayne Group, nor could he target his female companion at this moment, so he could only exercise the same skill of enduring humiliation he always used when facing Falcone, sitting here alone in a sulk.

Ma Ma Zhaodi silently sympathized with Maroni in his heart, then continued serving dishes for the two, but he knew clearly that directly pushing out the chocolate would most likely not work, so he could only change his method to get Bruce to eat it.

And the atmosphere in the restaurant returned to normal five minutes later. After Maroni was rejected, those around who wanted to climb high branches and connect with the Wayne family did not intend to use their warm faces to stick to cold buttocks. Seeing that Bruce seemed unwilling to be disturbed tonight, they might as well eat quietly and enjoy this Valentine's Day.

This peaceful time lasted until the meal was nearly over.

"Bruce, why haven't you said much today?"

Seeing that Bruce had shown no reaction despite her pulling Ma Ma Zhaodi into conversation for a long time, Selina's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a cat-like sense of distance.

"Selina, I—"

Bruce always felt his state seemed a bit off, but he couldn't say exactly where it was off. He only felt his brain seemed a bit foggy, yet his body was very clear. He neither wanted to say unnecessary words nor consider unnecessary matters. Except for that comfortable, addictive green expanse before his eyes, he had lost his usual interest in most things.

"I feel a bit tired."

Seeing the dazed expression on Bruce's face, the coldness in Selina's eyes dissipated again. She sighed, gently stroking Bruce's large hand. Although he had not shown the expected possessiveness and jealousy just now, it was indeed the first time she had seen him look so weak.

Perhaps he really was tired.

Thinking back to how she had chased and danced with him in the snow at Gotham Cemetery earlier, Selina's lips curled slightly. She decided to take that dance just now as his Valentine's Day gift to her. Although a bit disappointed, she decided to let him go back and rest properly.

"Alright, Bruce. This is your loss. And remember, you owe me a perfect Valentine's Day."

Bruce nodded stiffly, his face showing little emotional fluctuation.

"Ahem, Mr. Bruce, Miss Selina, perhaps a perfect Valentine's Day is just lacking a delicious chocolate?"

Selina and Bruce turned their gaze to the side. Before they could see the waiter, they first saw the white chocolate dessert he was holding.

"A dessert specially prepared for distinguished guests by the restaurant: Snowy Valentine. Please enjoy."

The rich scent of milk and the smell of heated, melted chocolate drifted into their noses. Looking at this dessert, Selina subconsciously touched her waist. Since taking on night work, she had become much stricter with her body management. According to her original thoughts, chocolate desserts were absolutely not on tonight's menu.

But this dessert... seemed very delicious.

Standing beside the two, Ma Ma Zhaodi saw the slightly wavering expressions on Selina and Bruce's faces and couldn't help but show a proud smile on his face. Mastered high-level cooking skills plus milk from the Block World, supplemented by the chocolate recipe bought in Shangcheng; I don't believe you won't fall for it.

【Exclusive Chocolate Recipe

Price: 3000 USD

Note: Candy doesn't need to have meaning; that's why it's called candy! — Charlie Bucket】

A chocolate recipe reaching 3000 asset points purely on quality undoubtedly had its unique merits.

Bruce's feelings were even more complex. When he smelled the chocolate, his calm, obsessed state began to become somewhat chaotic, and his brain started to regain a bit of thinking ability.

My state seems a bit off.

What exactly is this layer of green before my eyes?

In the past, have I ever seen a green world like this?

He could not arrive at an answer, but the instinct of a genius and a warrior led him to make the most correct choice.

Relying on the little reason he had just regained, he gently picked up the knife and fork, putting the milk chocolate from the plate into his mouth as quickly as possible. With every bite, the confusion in his eyes lessened by a fraction; with every bite, the green barrier before his eyes cracked a little more.

After finishing the entire plate of chocolate, the vibrant, beautiful rose he had put away immediately withered and fell, turning into a withered branch.

(End of Chapter)