novelraw Chapter 48: So It Was a Hongmen Banquet After All
Chapter 48: So It Was a Hongmen Banquet After All
After stepping out of the private room, Leon let out a long breath, feeling a long-lost sense of peace and relief.
He liked to think of himself as a thick-skinned social misfit, but put him in a dinner gathering where every other person was a woman, and the inexplicable pressure was something only those who had experienced it could truly understand.
Especially when there was a mischief-maker on the side grinning like an indulgent aunt. As the poor soul on the receiving end of that smile, Leon felt the weight double.
Thankfully, he could temporarily escape the situation with the excuse of a bathroom break. Not that he actually intended to go. Instead, Leon decided to use the opportunity to head to the counter and look for Gus.
“Well, look who’s here. Hahaha, I didn’t expect you to be so popular. You even managed to slip into Jodi’s girls’ night. Youth sure has its perks,” Gus chuckled warmly, polishing a glass as he teased Leon.
“It’s just a favor exchange from that time I treated Jodi to a drink,” Leon waved his hand, taking a seat on the stool at Gus’s bar to explain.
“I get it. Jodi’s got a big heart, and since it’s rare for us to have new faces in Pelican Town, she’s just trying to keep you around,” Gus said with a nod.
“So this is her plan to seduce me?” Leon joked with a wry smile.
“Seduc… what?” Gus blinked, not quite grasping the odd term.
“It means using a pretty girl to tie down my heart so I won’t want to leave,” Leon explained, realizing that Gus either didn’t know or that this world simply lacked that bit of Eastern culture.“There might be some truth to that. But it’s not all for you,” Gus said with a grin, lowering his voice. “This is actually a two-way mixer.”
“What do you mean?” Leon asked, curious.
Gus glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before leaning in to speak softly.
“I’ve been in Pelican Town a long time. Aside from Leah and Elliott, who came later, the rest of these kids grew up right in front of me. There are plenty of young folks in town, but the standouts are only a handful. Among the girls, it’s basically the ones you saw today. As for the guys, it’s about the same number. By all rights, these childhood friends should’ve paired up long ago, but it didn’t happen like us old-timers expected.”
“Oh? That’s news to me.” Leon was surprised. After all, in the game, the player was an outsider, and the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes of Pelican Town had “official” pairings in the background.
While no relationships were locked in, it was natural for them to have mutual affection. The player’s arrival meant they could pursue any of these would-be couples before things turned official.
So why was it different here in reality?
“Maybe they know each other too well. Or maybe the boys are just too rebellious. From what I’ve seen, it’s more that they just can’t stand each other.”
Gus lowered his voice even more. “Love comes from mystery and the attraction between each other’s flaws. These kids grew up together, they know each other inside out. That kind of familiarity lets them be friends, sure, but partners? Not so much.”
He sighed. “When you can list someone’s flaws by heart, it’s hard to spark romance. Most of the boys already have someone they like. But these girls? Still single. That’s why I say this is a two-way mixer.”
“I see.” Leon could understand that. It was like having a childhood friend of the opposite sex—most of the time, you end up as sworn buddies rather than married couples, with rare exceptions.
Rabbits don’t eat the grass by their burrow. Home flowers can’t beat wild ones. Those old sayings weren’t just for show.
“So don’t hold back, kid. Those girls may have their quirks, but they’re all good people. If you like one, go for it. That way, you won’t waste Jodi’s good intentions.”
With that, Gus waved him off like he was shooing a stray chicken. “Right now, you shouldn’t be chatting with an old man like me. Go back and join their conversation, you hear?”
“Alright, I’ll head back.”
After chatting for a while, Leon knew it was getting awkward to stay outside, so he bid Gus farewell and returned to the private room.
“You were gone so long, I thought you’d gone to pay the bill,” Jodi teased with a smile when he came back.
“Oh, right, I forgot about that. Should I head out again? Let’s pretend I never came back,” Leon said, startled, before realizing what she meant.
Jodi shook her head and pushed him into his seat. “Don’t bother. I already paid ahead of time. Even if you’d offered, Gus wouldn’t have let you.”
Leon thought of Jodi’s situation—raising two kids alone while her husband was at the frontlines—and guessed this dinner might leave her strapped for cash for a while.
Just as he was about to speak, Jodi leaned close and whispered, “Don’t worry about the cost. I didn’t pay for it all myself. Others pitched in too. My own share wasn’t much.”
“How so?” Leon asked softly.
“You went to see Gus, didn’t you? I bet he told you a lot. And with me giving you this hint, you still can’t figure it out?” Jodi said with a playful glint.
“I get it now.” Leon realized immediately—Jodi wasn’t the only organizer. Others were in on it too. Gus for sure, and maybe even Lewis.
Which meant Gus had been right. This really was a premeditated Hongmen Banquet.
Still, compared to the semi-official matchmaking setup, Leon was more curious about how Jodi knew he hadn’t gone to the restroom.
Following his principle of always asking when in doubt, he posed the question. Jodi wasn’t one to play guessing games.
“You didn’t go to the restroom because you don’t know it’s right outside the door to the right. You went left.”
“So that’s it.” Leon finally understood. The reason was simple, but deadly. Thank goodness he hadn’t done anything shady—otherwise, that little slip could have landed him in real trouble.