The next day.
Shawn was humming a little tune as he wiped down the counter, his eyes occasionally glancing toward Simon, who was intently calibrating the coffee grinder. He watched with a smile, not like he was infatuated, but more like... he was looking at a walking vault.
System, my good system, what's the next mission? Hurry up and issue it! I'm ready to dedicate myself to money... ah, no, to becoming a succubus!
To outsiders, although Simon looked like the boy next door, he always exuded a faint sense of distance. But now, in Shawn's eyes, Simon seemed to be sparkling. He even felt that Simon's entire being radiated an "I'm very expensive" aura.
Shawn grumbled to himself, Could this Simon be a rich kid just like Eric, just here to experience life?
But Shawn couldn't be bothered with that. His mind was busy calculating how much money the next mission would bring.
"Boss, an iced Americano!"
Jessica burst into the shop like a summer breeze, bringing with her laughter and sunshine. She was wearing a simple pair of overalls today, her hair casually tied in a ponytail, looking lively and playful.
"What are you doing?" Simon frowned, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Just bored, killing time, came to hang out with you guys. What, not welcome?" Jessica teased.
At that moment, she turned her head slightly toward Shawn. "Babe will definitely welcome me, right?"
Shawn's face instantly turned red.
She naturally leaned in next to the tablet that was playing music and said to Shawn, "Wow, you like Chappell Roan too? Come, come, this song is amazing!"
As she spoke, she unceremoniously stuck one of her Bluetooth earbuds into Shawn's ear. The music started; it was the familiar tune of "The Subway."
In order to hear the music clearly, the two of them unconsciously leaned very close, their heads almost touching. Jessica even started tapping lightly on Shawn's shoulder to the rhythm with her fingers.
Shawn's Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously.
Shawn could feel a murderous glare coming from the other end of the counter. But he didn't want to deal with it right now.
"I love this one too!" Shawn said excitedly. "Especially the chorus!"
"Right? Right!" Jessica had found a kindred spirit, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "Simon just doesn't get it at all. The songs he listens to are all so old-fashioned, I can't stand it."
Bang!
A loud noise interrupted their conversation.
The two of them turned their heads to see Simon, with a dark expression... banging on the poor espresso machine.
"Uh... is the machine broken?" Shawn asked cautiously.
"It's fine," Simon squeezed the two words out through his teeth, then picked up a cloth and began to forcefully and repeatedly wipe the already sparkling clean counter, with so much force it was as if he wanted to scrub a hole through it.
Shawn looked at him, his heart filled with confusion.
Isn't this machine the latest model? How could it break down so quickly?
Jessica watched Simon's jealous fit, and the corner of her mouth curved into a very faint arc. The light in her eyes brightened for an instant, but then immediately dimmed, like a fleeting shooting star.
She took a deep breath, put a bright smile back on her face, and then turned to Shawn.
"Shawn, help me out. My hair tie seems to have come loose. Can you help me tighten it?"
"Oh, sure," Shawn said without much thought, walking around behind her and starting to fix her hair tie.
It was a perfectly normal request, but in the coffee shop at that moment, it created a subtle atmosphere. Shawn's fingers inevitably brushed against the ends of Jessica's hair, and even her skin. He could smell the faint floral scent of her shampoo.
Shawn couldn't help but marvel, Wow, Jessica's looks are already unfair, but how can her hair smell so good and be so soft too?
With her looks, she could definitely be a huge influencer. If I had what Jessica has, I'd become an influencer!
Just as he was marveling, the whirring of the coffee machine behind him suddenly became sharp and piercing, like a screeching scream.
Jessica, through the reflection on the metal surface of the counter, clearly saw Simon abruptly turn his back to them. He was pouring the coffee extract into a cup, but his face was all pouty.
The smile on her face didn't change, but deep in her eyes, a trace of a sour sense of grievance that she herself didn't notice flashed by.
Shawn finally finished tying her hair. He clapped his hands, completely unaware that he had just been a part of a major drama. Just then, Simon walked over, placed an iced Americano in front of Jessica, and said, "Your Highness, your iced Americano is ready."
"And what song are you two listening to that you're calling me old-fashioned? I'd like to see just how trendy you are," he said, reaching for Jessica's earbud.
"Go get Shawn's!"
"I'm not giving it to you either!"
The three of them started a battle for the headphones right there in the coffee shop.
After some fooling around, Jessica suggested, "Ah, we must all be tired after a long day, right? My parents are out tonight. Why don't the three of us go out for dinner? My treat!"
Shawn's eyes lit up at the mention of a free dinner, and he immediately nodded like he was pounding garlic.
Simon, however, frowned slightly. "I have something to do tonight. Why don't you two go?"
"Don't be like that," Jessica immediately linked her arm with his and said flirtatiously, "What could be more important than eating? Just think of it as a staff dinner, to build some team spirit." As she spoke, she even gave Shawn a wink.
Simon's gaze swept over Shawn's face, which was written all over with "please say yes, it's a free feast," and the corner of his mouth curved up slightly. He was silent for a few seconds, as if weighing something, and finally let out a barely audible sigh and said, "...Alright."
The restaurant Jessica chose was an Italian place hidden in a basement, called "Torrisi." As they pushed open the door, a warm soundscape instantly enveloped them—the low murmur of diners, the soft clinking of cutlery, and the retro brick walls paired with warm lighting created an extremely romantic and private atmosphere. The air was filled with the aroma of garlic, basil, and slow-simmered tomato sauce, making one unconsciously relax.
The warm atmosphere clearly worked, and everyone cheerfully sat down and ordered.
The first appetizer was a classic Tortellini Pomodoro. The handmade little dumplings were filled with a rich Parmesan cheese filling and served with the chef's secret tomato-basil sauce. The balance of sweet and sour was perfect, and with every bite, you could feel the softness of the pasta and the richness of the filling.
"Oh my god, this is so delicious! The sweet and sour is just right," Jessica was the first to praise. Shawn nodded vigorously in agreement beside her. Simon also gave a sincere nod, the first crack appearing in his reserved shell.
As the main courses arrived, the atmosphere became even more lively. Jessica ordered the exquisite Cavatelli with Jamaican Beef Ragu, the spiral pasta served with a beef sauce stewed with Jamaican spices, a fusion of cinnamon, cloves, and other aromas, with a mild spiciness and complex layers. Shawn chose the same dish; he had no resistance to such a richly layered delicacy.
Simon's choice, however, was a feast—a Florentine T-bone steak. The waiter first brought a raw steak, a good three or four fingers thick, to the table for them to see, then sent it to the kitchen to be grilled over a high-heat charcoal fire. When the steak returned to the table with a "sizzle," the waiter carved it tableside, revealing the perfect pink interior.
Simon proactively shared the sliced steak with Jessica and Shawn. The three of them ate and chatted, the atmosphere relaxed and harmonious.
However, just as Shawn picked up his fork, ready to enjoy the Cavatelli with Jamaican Beef Ragu on his plate, the familiar, cold electronic voice sounded in his mind.
[Succubus Mission: Hold a noodle in your mouth, personally feed it to Simon, and command him to "open your mouth."] [Reward: $3,000.] [Failure Penalty: All clothing explodes.]
The pasta Shawn had just put in his mouth flew out in a spray.
Ex... explosion?! Is there something wrong with this system! It's really out to get me!
He glanced at Simon, who was across the table, head down, cutting his steak, then at the Cavatelli with Jamaican Beef Ragu on his own plate. He felt a little conflicted. But the temptation of three thousand dollars was great, and the threat of a clothing explosion was even greater. There was no choice.
He took a deep breath, steeled his heart, and made his decision.
Under Jessica's slightly curious gaze, Shawn speared a piece of the spiral pasta with his fork, and then... under Jessica's watch, he slowly put it in his own mouth. But he didn't chew. He just gently held the edge of the food with his lips.
He lifted his eyes and met Simon's questioning gaze.
Shawn's heart was pounding like a drum, but he threw caution to the wind. He leaned his body forward slightly, across the table, and brought the food from his mouth to Simon's lips.
Jessica's smile froze on her face, her knife and fork suspended in mid-air, a look of utter shock on her face.
Simon looked at the close-up Shawn, at the spiral pasta on his lips, and at his eyes, which held a look that was seventy percent desperation and thirty percent provocation, and fell into even greater confusion. Looking into Shawn's eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
Shawn's cheeks were burning, but he knew he had to complete the mission. He raised his eyebrows slightly and, in a low, breathy voice that only the two of them could hear, with a commanding tone, he said, "Hurry up! Open your mouth!"
In that instant, Shawn's gaze became sharp.
Under Jessica's incredulous stare, Simon struggled internally. He tightened his grip on his knife and fork, but in the end, he put them down.
He slowly, almost obediently, opened his mouth and took the bite of food, his lips also very lightly brushing against Shawn's. But his gaze was locked onto Shawn's face, and the color drained from Jessica's face, bit by bit.
Shawn's heart, on the other hand, was pounding. He felt like he had made the moneybags unhappy.
"Ding, congratulations, host, on completing the mission."
Then, a text message notification for the deposit came through on his phone.
But unlike the usual excitement, the atmosphere today was a bit oppressive.
The three of them silently finished the grand meal.
As they walked out of the restaurant, Jessica announced that she had something to do and was going home first.
At that moment, Simon clamped Shawn's neck with his arm. "You embarrassed me so much today. You're coming with me somewhere tonight."
Jessica froze for a second, then got into the back seat of a car, smiled, and waved goodbye to Shawn and Simon. Shawn, on the other hand, was restrained by the neck like a little chick and forced to walk forward by Simon. Shawn struggled a few times, but he was trapped under simon 45cm's arm, and Shawn couldn't break free at all.