Chapter 2: The New Gardener

Lisa was quiet for a moment.

"Madam!" the young man said again.

"Who are you! How do you know my name?" Lisa said. She surprised at how the man knew her name.

"I have never seen you before. How do you know me...!" She asked.

"I have been working here about a month now, Madam. And I got to know all about the owner family members here.!"

"How come I don't know that! By the way, what is your job here!"

"I'm a gardener!"

Lisa was surprised. She had been living in here for two months and she did not get to recognise this guy. Well, there were many workers around here so how could she remembered all!!

"You play the violin good..I thought you were one of the musicians invited tonight!"

The young man cheeks turned a little pink.

He just say.."Thank you madam!"

Lisa did not know why she was comfortable with this complete stranger she just met. She wanted to talk him more. But they were interrupted by a voice.

"Hey....Tuan...the party will be over soon and the guests are starting to leave. Let's help clean up the place. "

It was another gardener.

"Alright ..I'm coming.!" Then Tuan turned to Lisa. "Excuse me, madam!"

Lisa just watched the two men walked away from her.

***************

The next morning came. The sun rose up. Chou Micky, the young son of Chou Simon, ran out from the Chou Mansion into one part of the garden. In his hand, he was holding a toy gun (which uses small stone for shooting.)

Micky had been learning at primary school in Boston alongside with his older sister who was learning her master. But after she graduated, he came back home to Taipei and registered at Taipei International Middle School.

In a one space that was free from plantation within the garden, it was a place for Micky to practice his shooting.

Micky put some heavy tin bottles on high stand table. He took a few steps away and lit his toy gun and shoot. It did not hit any bottles. He tried several times more but could not could not succeed. He tried one more time, this time one bottle lay down. Micky was disappointed again. He called out.

"Heyy...I know you are behind. Come out now!"

There was silent.

Micky called out again. "Hey....come out now or I will make the workers look for you."

Then a young came out from the bushes behind.

"Tuan... whatever are you doing here. Why are you watching me from behind!"

"I I.. I also like guns when I was young too. So it just make nostalgic and feel good to see other play it. !"

Tuan replied.

"So why you throw stone at my bottle."

At this, Tuan did not know how to reply.

"Master Chou...I I..I just wanna ...!"

"Nevermind...well if you wanna help me don't throw from my behind. Come and teach me now.!"

Then, the two enjoyed playing the guns and that made Micky shooting much progress that day.

In that morning, Lisa could that whole thing because she was enjoying fresh morning air at the balcony from her room.

Lisa got to know about Tuan more although she did not much know about the people residing at Chou Mansion apart from Chou family. But now she knew that Tuan a new gardener to replace the old one who resigned a month ago. Madam Chou good friend, Dong Yi Eun recommended Tuan. And it was the right choice. He was known to be a hard worker and skillful garden.

Lisa found herself thinking about Tuan whenever she walked around the garden. He sometimes bow and smiled at her whenever they met. She found that Tuan and her youngest cousin were now very friendly as if they were friends. Micky was also befriended her cousin Lisa and sometimes Lisa found herself playing around with Micky and Tuan.

Nevertheless, Lisa could noticed one thing that Tuan seemed interested in her cousin, Tzuyu and whenever she left for university in the morning, he would look at her from a little far away. That made Lisa doubt if he was in love with her.

Tzuyu was more at home now because she resigned from her old university and registered at university nearby so she did not have to go live at the dormitory anymore.

Tuan especially seemed satisfied when he was to substitute a driver who drove Tzuyu to university for contemporary time when the driver took long term days off to visit his family back in small town.

Lisa was somehow sure Tuan was interested in her cousin now. But what will actually happen?