Da Hong Pao

The question hung in the air for a minute.

Suyin's brows knitted together, immediately glancing at her companions. She had no doubts that her boss, Bo Lifen, would want them to accommodate this sir Liu Guiren's request, but she was more concerned with her friends. This was supposed to be a small gathering, especially when she barely met Chan Lee herself to gauge her comfort level. Suyin cleared her throat, turning to the young man. "Well, I don't mind but…"

"That is quite a generous offer of yours." Mei spoke up with a tilt of her head, no doubt a little surprised as Suyin currently was. On the other hand, Chan Lee was more silent—and even the sir picked up on that.

Liu Guiren's eyes lit up, his lips curling into a smile. "Then I'd like to believe that this is an acceptance of my offer?" He paused for a moment, turning to a silent figure. "We wouldn't want to impede your relaxation in this tea house, although your companion appears to be uncomfortable?"

Chan Lee blinked, as if she just came to, and then rapidly shook her head. "No. I'm fine."

Her reply was terse, that even Suyin knew that it was such a moot point. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Bo Lifen interceded with a quick bow. "If that is the case, I'll begin the preparations at once for sir Liu Guiren's regular orders then." In speed breaking record's time, the lady cleared out their table of all the tea sets and tea wares they had used earlier and then hurried out of the room.

It made Suyin realize that maybe she really was not working at the level that was expected of her. In the corner of her vision, Liu Guiren would then make his way to the opposite side of Chan Lee, smoothly and gracefully sitting down as if that spot had been clearly saved up for him after all.

"The window seat provides a lovely view, doesn't it?" Liu Guiren sighed to himself, his gaze flitting out the scenery outside. The sun had descended even more, spraying the rivers water in a lush hues of red, pink and orange. The tea ceremony they had with Bo Lifen had certainly taken ample time.

Suyin could easily surmise that it was both a rhetorical statement but also an open-ended statement that anybody could use to pick up a conversation with him. It was a child's game to guess that it was intended for Chan Lee who sat in front of him, but it was an opportunity that someone else took.

"Quite lovely." Mei nodded her head in gusto, "In addition, the river breeze is quite refreshing as well. That must be why you sat there, right Chan Lee?"

It was a well-meaning method with a bit of social tact in it, in some way. Chan Lee scratched her neck, "Well yeah… enclosed spaces can be quite suffocating."

Suyin blinked at the answer but Liu Guiren easily took the chance to speak up. "I think I understand what you're trying to infer… our presence is a bit detrimental isn't it?" A grimace marred his features.

"Not at all! Chan Lee is just a bit blunt with words." Mei intervened with a sheepish smile, "But I don't think she meant that your presence is unwanted. Although she's quite an introvert, I think the more the merrier though."

Suyin's attention sweeped to the two males still standing by the door, "What are the two of you huddling there for?" She glared at Gen and Xiaobo, the two of them acting like they were mere classmates. Did they not tell their beloved President that they also had another organization?

"Indeed, why don't the two of you take your seats?" Liu Guiren added with a smile.

The two of them shared a silent look before Gen dove for a seat in front of her. "I was worried that you'd kick us out." He gave her a laugh before his gaze looked at the table. "Now where's that menu? I'm feeling thoroughly famished." Even his choice of words were more formal.

Xiaobo silently procured the menus from underneath the table and handed one to Liu Guiren before giving another one to Gen.

"I didn't know that the Student University Council enjoyed tea gatherings," Mei once again spoke up, the only one willing to break the silence. A bright smile on her face that could thaw an icy heart. "Gen here had made it look like it was a silly affair."

"Yeah, he said that he had better places to be." Suyin didn't miss the chance to put Gen on a tight spot.

"I was kidding!" Gen laughed nervously, he elbowed the man beside him for a little saving. "Right, Xiaobo?"

"He simply used it as an excuse to leave for the meeting." Xiaobo explained things as simply as they were. A look of betrayal crossed Gen's face to which the man simply ignored or didn't even notice at all.

Mei pouted childishly, "That wasn't very nice of you."

"What do you expect with Gen here?" Suyin rolled her eyes, although she was sure that the people around them knew she was simply poking fun at the guy. Gen gave her a stink eye to which she simply smiled at. "Amusing."

A small chuckle broke the moment, "It's quite pleasant to see how Gen and Xiaobo interact with other people." Liu Guiren smiled, "I find it hard to believe that you're all simply classmates."

"Well, they seem to have missed to tell you that they're part of our Environmental Engineering and Science club." Mei explained, "Though you don't have to worry—"

"And even you, Miss?" Liu Guiren's attention shifted to Chan Lee, raising a brow.

Chan Lee shook her head. "No."

"She's a friend of mine, we were part of a research group together last year." Mei explained helpfully, as if the sudden cutting of her line was something that didn't bother her. It bothered Suyin though, the man arrogantly cutting off her friend. Now it didn't seem like he was trying to get Chan Lee to open up… now it seemed like there was something fishy.

"I see… well, apart from Gen and Xiaobo, it's the first time that I've met the three of you. It's quite a pleasure to meet you guys." Finally, it seemed like his interest with Chan Lee faded as he looked at her and Mei with more visible interest. "I'm Liu Guiren, though I think that you guys already know that."

Suyin tried not to roll her eyes, what kind of question was tha—?

"Uh, not really." Chan Lee finally spoke up. "You're peers with Gen and Xiaobo in the student council?" Out of all the moments that she chose to say more than a sentence, it had to be that.

"Pfft…" Liu Guiren held a hand over his mouth, finding the ordeal funny instead of offense."I forget that there are people who are uninterested with the news and happenings at our university. I'm Liu Guiren, student university present, a pleasure to meet you." He held a hand out to her.

A little more life flickered into Chan Lee's eyes, or recognition at that. "You're the president? Nice to meet you." She reached out for his hand and shook it.

Suyin tried not to exhale in relief, Chan Lee reminded her a bit like Mei. The two of them seemed eager to make connections with authority figures, not that there was anything wrong with that. Although sometimes they tried a little too hard, thankfully their enthusiasm was mostly reciprocated.

"Indeed, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Liu Guiren asked her, as if Mei and Suyin had not mentioned it already a while ago. Suyin tried not to make any visible reactions, except her nose wrinkled. The man clearly was trying to make a move on Chan Lee, she didn't know how to feel about that.

"It's Chan Lee."

"Ah, it sounds familiar for some reason." Liu Guiren nodded warmly, "And that's a lovely onyx bracelet. You don't look like the person who'd purchase something like that."

"Oh, it's a gift." Chan Lee ducked her hand underneath the table.

Onyx… not a real one right? Suyin paused, suspicion forming in her mind. Why would someone give her a gift? She didn't have some sort of sugar daddy or something right? 

"They must have been a thoughtful friend, the said properties of onyx—"

"He wasn't really thoughtful." Chan Lee muttered.

"Is that so?" Liu Guiren's lips twitched, "Perhaps he has a bad way with words. The meaning behind such a stone however means that he values your safety though, and I think that's very sweet."

The woman simply gave a shrug at that, "Perhaps. I'd pick someone who's a little more upfront though."

Liu Guiren nodded, "I can understand that need for transparency."

"Your Da Hong Pao tea, sir Liu." Bo Lifen had walked in the room so silently that Suyin blinked, getting a little too caught up in the interaction between the two. She knocked back against Mei.

"Suyin?" Mei frowned, pushing up her spectacles.

"Da Hong Pao?" Suyin spluttered.

Liu Guiren smiled at her fondly, "Ah, a tea connoisseur. It seems that you're quite familiar with it, would you like a cup as well?"