In her room on the second floor, Dong Xiang put down her pen, rubbed her throbbing temples, and decided to go downstairs for some fresh air.
Clear footsteps echoed in the stairwell. As soon as she reached the first floor, she saw Koma Enji and Ru Jian Xuan behind the bar, along with He Xi Qian Yu helping out on the side.
"Oh?" Dong Xiang looked confused, turning to He Xi Qian Yu. "Are you on the schedule today?"
He Xi Qian Yu looked over at the sound and shook his head gently.
Today's schedule was indeed Koma Enji and Ru Jian Xuan. Logically, he should be resting at this moment.
But he found that he actually had nothing to do.
Fueguchi Ryoko and Hinami rarely went out, Kaneki Ken was dragged out by Yongjin Hideyoshi, and Dong Xiang was holed up in her room, studying. The free time after work felt exceptionally long in this quiet coffee shop.
He tried calling his good brother Nishio Nishiki, but the other party hung up directly after a resentful, "Don't disturb my date with Kimi."
"What's with this feeling of being abandoned by everyone...?" he muttered to himself.
"...You still have me..." Slaughter's voice was low.
"Alright..." He Xi Qian Yu reluctantly twitched his lips. "Thank you for your company."
"...You're welcome..."
The coffee shop door was pushed open.
"Welcome... Oh, it's Jin Mu." He Xi Qian Yu looked up, clearly seeing who it was, and slowly said, "Had fun?"
Kaneki Ken smiled and nodded, warmth in his eyes. He was always grateful to have Yongjin Hideyoshi as a friend.
...
Just then, the crisp sound of the doorbell rang again.
The newcomer wore a bright red peak lapel suit with a dark shirt underneath, and his perfectly combed, gleaming purple hair was parted in a three-seven split.
"Truly... an intoxicating aroma..." Yue Shan Xi spread his arms, took a deep breath of the coffee shop air, and looked intoxicated. "Indeed, only here can one truly relax."
"Yue Shan Xi..." Dong Xiang's face instantly turned as cold as ice. "What are you doing here?"
"Long time no see, Miss Dong Xiang." Yue Shan Xi seemed not to hear the chill in her words, maintaining his elegant and proper smile. "Still as aloof as ever..." He shrugged slightly, looking a bit helpless.
He looked around, then his gaze firmly fixed on Kaneki Ken.
"The masked waiter..." He took a few steps closer, slowly pacing around the uneasy Kaneki Ken, examining him up and down with interest. "Are you new?"
"Uh..." Kaneki Ken felt uncomfortable under his gaze and instinctively took half a step back.
Yue Shan Xi took the opportunity to lean in closer, his nostrils flaring as he greedily inhaled the scent from Kaneki Ken's neck.
"An incredible fragrance..." His pupils suddenly contracted, and an unusual light flickered in his eyes.
He Xi Qian Yu pulled Kaneki Ken behind him.
"Sir," he said calmly, "please do not harass our staff."
He Xi Qian Yu's blunt warning reached his ears, and Yue Shan Xi's smile stiffened slightly, barely maintaining his composure.
"This gentleman also looks unfamiliar," he turned his gaze to He Xi Qian Yu, putting on a smile again. "Are you also a new waiter?"
He Xi Qian Yu gave him a cold glance, implicitly acknowledging it.
The corner of Yue Shan Xi's mouth curved into a meaningful arc. His gaze lingered on Kaneki Ken for a moment, then he left with a remark, "I look forward to tasting your coffee next time," and turned to leave.
Kaneki Ken watched Yue Shan Xi's retreating back, then looked at He Xi Qian Yu in confusion.
"Do you find him strange?" He Xi Qian Yu's lips curved slightly, then he looked seriously at Kaneki Ken, lowering his voice. "Listen, Jin Mu. In my experience, people like him are perverts nine times out of ten."
"Stay away from him," he warned sternly.
Kaneki Ken nodded, half-understanding.
...
As expected, He Xi Qian Yu's warning did not work.
Yue Shan Xi eventually managed to bridge the distance with Kaneki Ken through their shared "love" for Takatsuki Izumi's books—a trick Kamishiro Rize had also used.
He Xi Qian Yu really couldn't understand why Kaneki Ken would let down his guard around Yue Shan Xi, who clearly didn't seem like a "good person" at all.
Do Takatsuki Izumi's books have some special magic?
He Xi Qian Yu stroked his chin, starting to seriously consider whether he should read them too.
...
"So?" He Xi Qian Yu put down the sparkling clean glass. "He invited you to that restaurant?"
Kaneki Ken nodded.
"If you want to go, then go." He Xi Qian Yu's tone carried a hint of understanding, and he didn't stop him.
He knew he couldn't stop him anyway.
It was still the same old saying: there was no life-threatening danger. Kaneki Ken would learn his lesson after suffering a loss.
"Qianyu-ge," Kaneki Ken looked up and added, "Mr. Yue Shan also invited you."
"Hmm?" He Xi Qian Yu was stunned. "Why?"
His current aura was just that of an ordinary Ghoul, so why would Yue Shan Xi be interested in him?
"He said... you are a very interesting person."
"Huh?"
"...Interesting..."
"When?"
"The day after tomorrow."
He Xi Qian Yu pondered for a moment, then finally agreed.
If Yue Shan Xi behaved himself, it would just be an experience; if Yue Shan Xi had ill intentions... then it would be an extra meal for Slaughter.
...
The third day afternoon
As the Ghoul Restaurant was located in the 7th Ward, Yue Shan Xi sent his family's servant in a luxurious car specifically to the Anteiku Coffee Shop to pick up the two.
Before they left, Dong Xiang, who had learned of this, called out to He Xi Qian Yu.
"What's wrong?" He Xi Qian Yu turned back, a familiar smile on his face. "Worried about me?"
"Don't flatter yourself." Dong Xiang rolled her eyes irritably, hesitated, then added in a low voice, "...Try not to cause too much of a commotion."
"That depends on what Yue Shan Xi plans to do," He Xi Qian Yu said casually. "If he sincerely invited us, then naturally nothing unexpected will happen."
His gaze turned to Kaneki Ken beside him.
"But if he has ill intentions..." A dangerous red glow flashed in his eyes. "Then I can only act in 'self-defense'."
From the depths of those usually gentle eyes, Dong Xiang seemed to glimpse a blood-red, violent figure.
"Let's go."
She watched He Xi Qian Yu's retreating back, her lips moved, but in the end, it only turned into a soft sigh.
Dong Xiang had a premonition that Yue Shan Xi's proud Ghoul Restaurant was about to suffer.
...
7th Ward, Ghoul Restaurant
The 7th Ward was not far from the Twenty Ward, and soon, the luxurious car arrived at its destination.
Named a restaurant, but with the Yue Shan family's immense wealth, its scale was comparable to a top-tier hotel, or even surpassed it.
Looking at the magnificent, brightly lit, and enormous building before him, Kaneki Ken couldn't help but praise softly.
"It's so beautiful."
He Xi Qian Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the opulent exterior wall.
"I hope we don't tear it down later," he whispered to Slaughter in his mind.
"...So beautiful..." Slaughter's voice held a hint of anticipation. "...I look forward to it... becoming ruins..."
The Yue Shan family's servant respectfully opened the car door for them.
As soon as the two got out of the car, Yue Shan Xi, who had been waiting at the entrance, came to greet them. He was wearing his signature dark purple suit today, perfectly tailored, clearly showing how much he valued this invitation.
"Gentlemen," Yue Shan Xi said with his characteristic smile, "welcome to my restaurant."
Kaneki Ken responded a bit reservedly, while He Xi Qian Yu merely nodded slightly.
"Please follow me." Yue Shan Xi elegantly turned sideways, leading the two into the magnificent hall.