Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 229: Men’s Flower Arrangement (12)

Dragon Raja 3

It was almost closing time, and after an entire night of drinking, the sound of bottle after bottle being opened echoed through the room, with golden liquor swirling in chilled wine glasses. Under the guidance of this manager, the host club seemed to uphold a philosophy similar to Iserlohn Fortress in Legend of the Galactic Heroes—living by the code of “chivalry in intoxication.” The hosts came over to shake hands with the newcomers, celebrating the induction of three fresh members into this harmonious, loving family.

At some point, the manager had slipped away from the crowd.

Two high-backed sofas were placed side by side. In the shadows, figures swirled their glasses of crimson wine, observing the champagne party through the shimmering blue water.

A graceful silver arowana swam slowly by, and a small cluster of bubbles rose lazily from the seaweed. The aquarium wall was actually a hidden observation window; the back was one-way glass. The people in the hidden room could see everything happening in the hall, while those in the hall couldn’t see the luxurious room behind it. This hidden room was the manager’s real office. The crystal chandelier reflected off the marble floor, and the walls were covered with portraits of legendary hosts from over the years, showcasing Takamagahara’s glorious history. From the antique furniture to the old-fashioned gramophone playing Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the room exuded opulence. In this space, the man known as the “Humpback Whale” could only stand respectfully behind the sofa, a white towel draped over his arm to symbolize his role as a server.

Only the true bosses could sit, and they did so with an air of authority.

To the left sat a forest fairy-like girl with long, fresh hair, while the girl to the right was stunningly seductive, her hair styled in a high, jet-black bun adorned with a red ribbon. Both wore black leather jackets and skirts, black stockings, and knee-high patent leather boots, their silver heels sharp enough to be deadly weapons.

“Why do we have to dress like this?” Mai tugged at her skirt, which was so short she worried about flashing everyone when she sat down. “We’re the owners of this host club, but we’re dressed like we’re about to go out and sell ourselves.”

“This outfit is so cool!” Su Enxi twisted her shoulders. “I heard we’re playing yakuza today, so I bought it specifically for that. The clothes in my suitcase—white shirts, business suits—would all make me look like a finance manager.”

“Right now, you look like a finance manager who’s turned into a delinquent,” Mai shook her head. “You can change your clothes, but it’s not that easy to change your vibe.”

“Who cares! Life is short, gotta be sexy!” Su Enxi excitedly slapped her thigh.

“Hold on, slapping your thigh like that isn’t sexy at all—it’s like you’re a guy watching the European Cup,” Mai teased.

Su Enxi glanced at her reflection in the glass and sheepishly toned down her exaggerated posture. Running a host club was way too entertaining—someone usually so calm and indifferent, with an air of dignity in everything she did, was finally showing her true nature.

“Su-san, are you satisfied with today’s interviews?” ‘Humpback Whale’ asked respectfully.

“Satisfied? Not quite. It was definitely eye-opening, though. Is this how you’ve always interviewed hosts? Trying to be a philosopher?” Su Enxi teased with a smile.

“Philosophy, art, and history are all projections of the heart. The men selected this way are the most perfect. A flower blooms from within them,” Humpback Whale said proudly.

“What’s the use of a flower blooming in their hearts? Women come to host clubs to buy time with handsome men. They want to drink with them, flirt a little, touch their firm muscles, play games that push the boundaries, and the men can’t fight back. Maybe even have a ‘special moment’ in the end. I’m a woman, okay? I know what women are thinking,” Su Enxi retorted.

Humpback Whale hesitated for a few seconds. “Appreciation of men is like the appreciation of fine wine—it improves over time. At first, you admire their physical beauty, but eventually, you’ll start to appreciate their souls. The highest form of sensuality is unrelated to mere lust; it’s about the heartbeat shared between two people.”

“He’s saying your taste in men is too shallow, Enxi,” Mai added a playful jab.

“What the—? My taste in men is shallow? Me? Shallow?” Su Enxi’s voice started rising.

“A woman with no romantic experience tends to get quieter when talking about these things,” Mai patted the now-flustered Su Enxi. “But I do believe what this Whale says. Some women fall in love with men just for the hollow shadows they project from within.”

She curiously observed Lu Mingfei. The other hosts were gathered around, toasting frequently. As the fastest in Takamagahara’s history to collect flower tickets, Basara King and Ukyo had earned the approval of all the hosts. But Lu Mingfei crouched by the aquarium, making faces at Mai. Though he couldn’t see her, only the silver fish in the tank, he tried to scare it by pressing his face flat against the glass. His nose squished against the surface, making him look utterly ridiculous.

The room was filled with handsome, devilishly charming faces, but Mai’s gaze lingered on this silly, bored face as he wandered aimlessly, like a quail lost at a peacock party.

“Are you interested in our little Sakura?” Su Enxi teased, putting on a fawning tone. “He’s the most popular one here!”

“I just find it amusing, like watching a silkworm slowly spinning its own cocoon, only to trap itself in the end,” Mai said wistfully.

“By the way, those three questions you asked were really something. Was it true, as that sumo guy said, that there were no standard answers?” Su Enxi asked, growing curious.

“When it comes to a man’s ‘flower path,’ I never speak a single lie. There are no standard answers to my three questions. I simply read their hearts, delicate as flower branches, from their responses,” Humpback Whale replied reverently.

“Oh? Let’s hear it then. What kind of flower blossoms in Caesar Gattuso’s heart? A self-important nobleman like him—shouldn’t it be something like a rose?” Su Enxi asked, her interest piqued.

“No, actually, Caesar’s flower is the same as Little Sakura’s. The flower that blossoms in his heart is a cherry blossom,” Humpback Whale replied.

“You’d say that about Chu Zihang, and I’d believe you, but Caesar? He’s so flamboyant, nothing like a cherry blossom,” Su Enxi said, unconvinced.

“The cherry blossom is actually a man’s flower—splendid yet steadfast. The bloom lasts only a week, reaching its peak in that short time, and then, it falls in one night. In that fleeting moment of falling, it is at its most beautiful. Like the great generals of ancient times who, while alive, lived glorious lives, but upon their fall, laid down their swords and wrote solitary Zen poems. Basara King is such a man. His answer was less about his respect or love for women and more about his own nobility and resolve. He is the kind of man who stands high above, overlooking the world in absolute beauty. He would never allow something beautiful to be tainted, nor would he allow himself to be. His resolve is as sharp as a samurai’s sword, and his fall will be as beautiful as a cherry blossom,” Humpback Whale explained poetically.

Series Navigation

<< Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 228: Men’s Flower Arrangement (11)Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 230: Men’s Flower Arrangement (13) >>