3. A Burning Ice
Laurent Guillermo
And why would you not?
Matteo Serafini
Because...
Matteo Serafini
I feel like this is not supposed to be
Laurent Guillermo
Then how is this supposed to be?
Matteo Serafini
You can't just marry someone you did not know
Laurent Guillermo
I will take my time to getting to know you.
Matteo Serafini
Beside that... I-I'm still in school. How could that be okay to you?
Laurent Guillermo
I'm not touching you until you are ready then.
Matteo Serafini
N-no... that's not what I...
Laurent Guillermo
So you are okay by me touching you, but not okay about the fact that we are going to get married soon?
Laurent Guillermo
If you don't have any further question, you better go to bed now.
Laurent Guillermo
I have an important meeting tomorrow in Shanghai, and you need to go with me.
Matteo Serafini
Shanghai...?
Matteo Serafini
It's so far from here...
Laurent Guillermo
Roberto and the maids will help you prepare everything before the flight.
Laurent Guillermo
Now go to bed.
Matteo just stared at Laurent walking out of his room.
Still confused and lost, Matteo finally decided to lay down and try to sleep.
The next day, at 5:30 am.
Roberto Mancini
Good morning, Young Master.
Matteo Serafini
[blink] ... oh God... its morning already...?
Roberto Mancini
Yes. We need to prepare you now as fast as possible.
Roberto Mancini
Can you get up?
Roberto Mancini
After you finish prepare yourself, you will have a breakfast with The Majesty before the flight to Shanghai.
Roberto Mancini
Galina and the maids here will help you dressing up.
Aunt Galina
Will be on your service today, young master Matteo.
Matteo Serafini
Ah—okay... Thank you...
The maids then help Matteo clean up and change into a new, expensive-looking suit, which makes Matteo feel uncomfortable.
Matteo Serafini
Why on earth should I wear a suit in a broad daylight...
Roberto Mancini
The Majesty will attend some meetings from morning until dawn. So wearing suit at those meetings are a must.
Roberto Mancini
And later night at 8 The Majesty will meet with the boss of The China Clan. You can change your suit into a casual clothes at that time then.
Matteo Serafini
What... what should I do at those meetings? Should I say some words...?
Roberto Mancini
It is very not recommended to say anything if The Majesty do not give you a permission.
Roberto Mancini
Just do as you tell.
Roberto Mancini
Alright. Let me guide you to The Majesty's room for breakfast.
Roberto then guided Matteo to Laurent's private room which was on the right wing of the mansion.
Roberto Mancini
Here it is.
Matteo Serafini
I... go inside alone...?
Matteo Serafini
You don't come...?
Roberto Mancini
No. The Majesty said he wants to have a breakfast with only you today, Young Master Matteo
Roberto Mancini
Please go inside.
Roberto opened the door for Matteo and as soon as he entered, the door closed again with a light squeak.
Laurent Guillermo
Come sit.
Matteo Serafini
[hesitated] o-okay...
Matteo Serafini
[looking around]
Laurent Guillermo
Don't be so tense.
Laurent Guillermo
I kill people but I won't kill without reason. So you don't need to be that afraid.
Matteo Serafini
... Alright.
Laurent Guillermo
If you have something you want to know, you can ask freely.
Laurent Guillermo
I give you a token for today, so use it as much as you want.
Matteo Serafini
A token...?
Laurent Guillermo
And about your school.
Matteo Serafini
Y-yeah...?
Laurent Guillermo
It's Graham Connor High School of Fine Arts at Venice.
Laurent Guillermo
I fully fund that school and my people donate about three millions Euro a year there.
Laurent Guillermo
So basically I own that place.
Laurent Guillermo
About you not attending school for several days will not causing any problems.
Matteo Serafini
But... its my last year now.
Matteo Serafini
I still... want to go to school.
Laurent Guillermo
I did not say you can't attend school anymore.
Laurent Guillermo
I will tell Roberto to bring your teachers here, so you can continue whatever you learn.
Matteo Serafini
M-my cello...
Matteo Serafini
It's still at my house in Venice...
Laurent Guillermo
You play cello?
Matteo Serafini
I played it since I was 7.
Laurent Guillermo
Alright.
Laurent Guillermo
I will send my underlings to bring back your cello here.
Matteo Serafini
Thank you.
Laurent Guillermo
Its fine.
Laurent Guillermo
Did you finish your plate?
Laurent Guillermo
Lets go to the hangar now.
The trip to the hangar takes about half an hour.
They then flew to Shanghai and it felt like forever to Matteo.
He just sat quietly at his place by Laurent's side, seeing how the man was busy talking to Roberto who never left his side. Sometimes they spoke in Russian, which made Matteo even more wondering what the topic might be.
Laurent Guillermo
[glances at Matteo who's spacing out by the window]
Laurent Guillermo
Don't say any words to anyone when we get there.
Matteo Serafini
[look back at Laurent with questioning expression]
Laurent Guillermo
Unless if they ask you your name, you are allowed to answer only that.
Matteo Serafini
Can... I ask something to you?
Matteo Serafini
Do you planned to introduce me as someone you are going to get married with...?
Laurent Guillermo
I will not.
Laurent Guillermo
That would be too dangerous for you.
Laurent Guillermo
Just so you know, Matteo—a lot of people aiming for my head.
Laurent Guillermo
And beside that, a lot of gangsters are into young boys like you.
Laurent Guillermo
Combine those two reasons and you will understand as of why I will not introduce you as my fiancé.
Roberto Mancini
Sir, if I might interupt...
Roberto Mancini
Would not it be better if we do not bring Young Master Matteo to the meetings?
Laurent Guillermo
Of course I can not let him go inside in the meetings. He can just wait in the car.
Laurent Guillermo
Just tell some guards to keep an eye on him while we are not around.
Roberto Mancini
Yes, Your Majesty.
Matteo Serafini
And... how about the meeting later at night...?
Matteo Serafini
Should I wait in the car too...?
Laurent Guillermo
No. You can go with me.
Laurent Guillermo
The boss of the China clans is a good friend of mine.
Laurent Guillermo
We can relax around him.
When they arrived at the first meeting place, Matteo was asked to wait in the car surrounded by several guards.
It went on like that until without Matteo realizing it, he had gone through the day like a display doll. He just sat there; eats when asked, talks when asked, and even hesitated to move at certain times.
Night came faster. Laurent's car led to a glitzy luxury shopping center in downtown Shanghai.
Laurent Guillermo
You can change your clothes into causal ones now.
Laurent Guillermo
Is not it uncomfortable wearing suit all day?
Matteo Serafini
[hesitated] um... yes.
Matteo Serafini
It's actually my first time ever wearing one...
Laurent Guillermo
That sounds like a legit answer.
Laurent Guillermo
What did you wear usually then? A hoodie, jeans, and a pair of Adidas sneakers?
Upon hearing that, Matteo can not help himself but smiling faintly at Laurent's words.
Suddenly he felt like Laurent actually is not that scary at all as a person.
Matteo Serafini
Yes [chuckles], except I can't afford to buy Adidas.
Laurent Guillermo
[staring at Matteo's gummy smile]
Laurent Guillermo
Want me to buy it for you then?
Matteo Serafini
... you mean Adidas' sneakers?
Laurent Guillermo
I can buy their whole franchise here in Shanghai, too.
Matteo Serafini
No... that would not be necessary, Mr. Guillermo.
Laurent Guillermo
What did you call me just now?
Matteo Serafini
Ah—um... I-I'm...
Laurent Guillermo
It's not right for you to call me by that, Matteo.
Laurent Guillermo
Call me Laurent.
Matteo Serafini
... what...?
Matteo Serafini
But... I can't...
Laurent Guillermo
Because we basically born on a different decade?
Laurent Guillermo
Call me Laurent. We are going to get married soon.
Laurent Guillermo
And I don't really care about you being on a much younger side, anyway.
Laurent Guillermo
Difficult enough?
Matteo Serafini
... uh—um...
Laurent Guillermo
I ask you a question. So you need to answer me properly.
Matteo Serafini
[fidgeting his fingers] No... I-I will... call you Laurent from now on...
Laurent Guillermo
Perfect.
Laurent Guillermo
I guess we are arrived already.
Laurent Guillermo
Pick everything you want here, alright? Because there will probably no other time to do something like this in the future.
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