海棠书屋 - 值得收藏的宝藏文学小说阅读

At a nearby table, a young man in a slightly worn suit leaned forward, engaged in a quiet yet animated conversation with an older gentleman with a bushy beard and flushed cheeks. The young man, with his wire-rimmed glasses and nervous energy, clutched a small notebook, jotting down notes as the older man spoke with large, expressive gestures.

There were many more interesting people in the dining car. Like the elderly gentleman dressed in elegant black, seated alone by the window with a cane resting beside him, his gaze fixed outside, lost in thought. Across the aisle, three young men in finely tailored suits shared quiet laughs and exchanged knowing glances, their confident postures suggesting they were likely sons of well-to-do families, perhaps on their first grand adventure.

A few tables away, a man with a meticulously waxed mustache sipped his tea slowly, eyes moving from one passenger to another with a sharp, observant look. Nearby, a mother and her young son sat in companionable silence, the boy\'s eyes wide with wonder as he took in the opulent surroundings.

Luo Yan quietly observed the passengers, wondering which were members of team Fenghuang and which were NPCs. And among the NPCs, who might be Sherlock Holmes—or Jack the Ripper?

Remembering what Shen Ji Yun said earlier, about Sherlock Holmes\' favorite disguise, which was an old man, two people stood out in particular. But assuming who was who this early and without proper evidence was not only foolish, but also careless. They had to be careful. It would be a disaster if the person they thought was Sherlock Holmes actually turned out to be Jack the Ripper. After all, Holmes was not the only one good at disguising themselves. If the Ripper wasn\'t as good, he wouldn\'t have been able to dodge the authorities after killing five women to the point that he was never caught.

"How exceedingly kind of you to invite us for luncheon," Mrs. Winslow remarked, a gentle smile gracing her features as she regarded the older lady seated opposite.

Mrs. Thompson gave a light wave of her hand. "Nonsense, my dear. We are, after all, sharing the same cabin; it is only natural that we should dine together."

"Even so, I am most grateful that our first acquaintances on this journey are yourself and Miss Thompson," Mrs. Winslow replied, casting a tender glance toward Luo Yan. "This is my first extended journey with my daughter, you see. How fortunate we are to have encountered such gracious company."

Mrs. Thompson\'s eyes softened, and she offered a warm smile. "The pleasure is entirely ours, Mrs. Winslow. There is nothing quite as delightful as sharing one\'s journey with good company."

Luo Yan nearly winced, but quickly composed himself, holding his expression steady. Right—he had nearly forgotten how elaborately people spoke in this era. Rather than risk revealing his thoughts with a misplaced word, he lowered his gaze, adopting a bashful demeanor. He offered the mother and daughter across from him a modest and grateful smile instead.

Just then, two messages simultaneously appeared on the team channel. Experience more on мѵʟ

Moganite: [I\'ve just entered the dining car. Walking over to Luo Yan\'s table now to take your group\'s order.]

AmazingYoungMasterJin: [I\'m near the dining car as well.]

And then, as if on cue, a young \'man\' wearing a crisp white shirt with a high-collared black vest, gold buttons gleaming down the front, and a dark bow tie stood on the side of the table where Luo Yan\'s group was. \'His\' black trousers were impeccably pressed, and a neatly folded white cloth was draped over one arm.

The waiter gave a courteous nod, \'his\' posture poised and attentive. "Good afternoon, madames and young ladies. It is a pleasure to serve you today. May I present the luncheon menu for your consideration?" \'He\' offered each guest a menu, \'his\' tone warm yet impeccably formal. "Should you have any particular preferences or require recommendations, please do not hesitate to ask."

Luo Yan cast a quick glance at Su Yuqi, currently disguised as a waiter, before looking down again. That single glance was enough for him to remember her character\'s appearance.

Before any of the women at the table could answer, a slight gasp from nearby made them all turn toward the entrance of the dining cabin, where a woman in a striking red dress had just appeared.

The woman in red stood poised at the entrance, drawing every gaze with effortless charm. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, framing a face both alluring and sharp, with eyes that seemed to linger boldly on those who looked her way.

Her dress clung to her figure, deep red satin that shimmered in the light, with a neckline dipping scandalously low by society\'s standards. A single strand of pearls hung from her neck, drawing attention to the daring cut of her gown and making her look extremely enchanting. She moved with a slow, deliberate grace, aware of the stir she was causing, and seemed to delight in every second of it.

Of course, the members of Team Yunyue knew better. Inside, this "woman" was probably dying of embarrassment. But watching Luo Jin fully commit to the role of a retired courtesan, despite his obvious discomfort, was already worthy of respect.

Then, an unexpected message suddenly appeared on the team channel.

YUN: [Luo Jin, I\'m going to start flirting with you. Just play along and don\'t look surprised.]