Chapter 197: Strange woman
The moment I opened the door, I was caught off guard by the sight of a stunning woman whose confident gaze swept over my body from head to toe without a hint of shame.
"Hello," she said, her voice soft yet laden with authority. Her eyes traveled slowly down to my groin before returning to meet mine. "I’m Lee Hua." She extended her hand with an elegant grace, as if accustomed to being received with reverence.
I tilted my head slightly, observing her with a mix of confusion and suspicion. I was absolutely certain I had never seen her before.
My hesitation to shake her hand seemed to bother her. Her lips curved into a near-smile of impatience, and just to avoid prolonging the awkwardness, I extended my hand. Her grip was surprisingly firm, conveying a strength that didn’t match her delicate appearance.
Without waiting for an invitation, Lee Hua stepped into the room, moving as if she already owned the space. The thin heels of her sandals echoed against the floor.
Once inside, she took a deep breath, as if savoring the air of the place, and smiled with a strange satisfaction.
I felt a bit embarrassed as the woman’s cold eyes scanned my room. Evidence of recent sexual activity was still noticeable everywhere.
That said, Lee Hua didn’t seem to have a negative reaction to any of it. In fact, she licked her lips with great desire before her gaze turned back to me.
"Uh... can I help you with something?" I asked, still confused by this woman’s sudden presence.
Without answering, she moved with surprising speed, closing the distance between us. Honestly, I could have reacted in time to push her away, but I allowed her to approach because I was curious.
Her eyes remained cold, but through the thin fabric of her clothing, I could see her nipples hardening. Her nostrils flared slightly as she stopped mere inches from me, her head tilting to the side like a curious animal.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply the air around my neck and shoulders. A nearly inaudible sigh escaped her lips, and her expression tightened. For some reason, she seemed unsatisfied.
For a moment, her gaze fixed on the closed bathroom door, then drifted downward, slow and deliberate, like a predator sizing up its prey.
Her eyes locked onto the bulge beneath my shorts, and without a word, she sank into a fluid squat, her sleek thighs straining the tight fabric of her dress.
She leaned in closer, her face now just inches from my groin. Once again, she inhaled deeply.
It seemed like Lee Hua was about to tug my shorts down, but I stopped her, grabbing her hand. I wasn’t sure what she intended, so I played it safe. She didn’t push further and stood up, stepping back.
Her disappointed gaze met mine. "The size is impressive," she murmured to herself. Then she smiled and said casually, "I like your scent."
"It’s a shame you’ve already showered," she continued, her tone tinged with disappointment. "Sorry for the intrusion. Enjoy the rest of your time on the cruise."
"But..." she extended her hand to me again, her patience clearly wearing thin. "When someone introduces themselves, it’s polite to return the gesture." Her voice carried a hint of restrained irritation. "I’m Lee Hua. What’s your name?"
"I’m Liam..." I replied almost instinctively, trying not to seem out of place.
The smile she gave me next erased any trace of her earlier irritation.
"Ah... I imagine it’s going to take a lot of work to clean this room. I doubt the staff will finish before lunch," she remarked casually, as if she already knew the details of the routine.
"If you’d like, room 716 is available. The door opens with a password. I’m not sure what it is right now, the password is either 7161 or 7169. Anyway, you can change the password once you get into the room. You can stay there until the cleaning is done, or if you prefer, for the entire trip."
I frowned at her, confused. She spoke with such ease, it almost seemed like...
"Do you work here?"
"In a way," she replied with a shrug, bringing the cigarette to her lips.
The firm look she gave me made it clear she had no intention of explaining further.
I scratched the back of my neck, a little embarrassed. "Actually, I already have my own room... but it would be nice to arrange something for the two of them." I threw a quick glance at the bathroom, where Harper and Alice still were.
"No problem. In fact, I’d suggest they visit the massage parlor. It’s the best place to recover," she said, pulling an elegant card from her pocket and handing it to me. "Show this, and they’ll be moved to the front of the line."
I took the card, still not quite believing any of this was real. This woman was truly strange.
"Okay..." I answered, not very convincingly.
Without another word, she began walking toward the door with firm steps.
"Oh..." I suddenly remembered. "Can I order food with you?"
Lee Hua stopped and gave me an irritated look, almost offended by the idea.
"Uh... well, I just thought you worked here, and..." I tried to explain, stumbling over my words.
She lifted a hand to her lips, hiding a brief smile, as if amused by my clumsy excuse.
"Just ask one of the staff. Or call the kitchen." She pointed with her chin at the telephone, and her eyes, cold a moment ago, now held a faint warmth.
Calmly, she removed the glove from her right hand and slipped it into her pocket. Then she took out a lighter and lit the cigarette already resting between her lips.
She inhaled deeply, but, for some reason, exhaled the smoke outside the room, not letting the scent linger in the air.
She walked past me, the sharp sound of her heels echoing on the floor. I followed her with my eyes, noticing how her perfect huge ass pressed against the tight dress... I mean, I noticed Harper had just stepped out of the bathroom, and Lee Hua seemed to be walking straight toward her.
Wrapped only in a towel, Harper had probably come out curious about who had rung the bell. Her eyes widened the instant she saw the unfamiliar woman, and her cheeks flushed red. Before she could say anything, Lee Hua approached with complete composure.
"Pleasure to meet you," she said politely, extending her bare hand as if there were nothing odd about the situation. "My name is Lee Hua."
Harper hesitated, fumbling to keep the towel in place, but finally accepted the handshake. It was quick and timid, her face still burning with embarrassment.
"Nice to meet you, I’m Harper..."
With the same calm as before, Lee Hua released her hand, slipped the glove back on, adjusted it neatly, and without lingering, turned away.
She took another drag of her cigarette and, in silence, left the room as if she had never been there at all.
Before I could speak to Harper or make sense of what had just happened, my phone rang. It was Vanessa calling me, after all, I was there to help her with work. I hurried to grab my most formal clothes, got dressed as fast as I could, and rushed out to meet her.