A Surprise Guest

Her day was going along smoothly, unlike what Bo Lifen had said, there were actually less clients today than she expected. It meant that all of her getting dressed up was for naught, she was polishing the tables inside the unoccupied rooms.

The little kid was simply watching her, and Chan Lee found it easier to pretend that the young boy wasn't staring at her back. Silently judging her every movement.

It was light work that she could get lost into.

"Ah, we meet again~" 

Chan Lee looked up at the sight of a familiar person. A handsome face framed by dark hair that tinted into a violet hue, the young man was standing by the door frame. "Council President?"

"Liu Guiren is fine." The young man gave her a smile, letting himself inside the room. "It's funny how we keep running into each other huh?"

Her lips already found a retort. "I didn't expect that you'd be someone who'd say something like that."

Somebody coughed in the background. 

"My apologies, Sir Liu for our new employee, she's new." She could imagine the boy already bowing lowly as an apology for her words. This was seriously one demerit if someone was keeping score.

"I can see that, Bo Lei." Liu Guiren's lips quirked, his attention now on the kid behind her. "I suppose I'll do you guys a favor and train her myself."

Train?

"I...I can call my big sister!" Bo Lei protested, his calm demeanor now giving away to a more childish one. "We make sure that we always provide you the best service—"

"That will be unnecessary, I think you can get the tea tray and let Miss Chan Lee take over from here." His voice held no room for any arguments.

"I'll be back quick, sir Liu with your usual order." 

"How about you bring the ones often ordered here? I will be training her after all."

"Of course, sir!" Bo Lei sprinted out the room, his steps light and quick on the floor as he disappeared past the door.

Chan Lee gawked at him for a moment, before she shook her head. She needed to pull herself together, she offered him a seat. "Ah, please have a seat, sir Liu Guiren." 

Unlike the other day, he had no companions. He was actually even wearing more relaxed clothes, though he still looked rich even with a plain white shirt and gray sweatpants.

"I think the more correct phrase to use would be 'Would you like to take a seat?'... though I'm usually on the receiving end and forget what the attendants say." Liu Guiren took a seat, once again by the window side. "So nevermind what I said… I guess this training I had offered is more of a bluff than anything."

This guy was confusing her with too many words that she didn't know what to say next. Most of the clients here wouldn't be this chatty right? "I...I'll be your tea sommelier for this time." She had to stick with what was taught to her on social etiquette; let the customers have a seat and then introduce oneself.

A sigh escaped his lips, his eyes staring at her. "Loosen up a bit, you're nervous and it's making you stiff, Miss Chan Lee. It'd be better if you acted more natural—not repeating scripted lines."

Once again, with his words. "I apologize if I'm not able to act at a professional level." It also didn't help that this was the guy who made a calm kid who'd been poring lasers at her back fret at his sudden appearance.

Was he really that much of a big-shot?

He gave a nod, "That's why we're ironing out the kinks."

"..Thank you." She bowed for a moment, silently wondering where the kid ended up. She needed the set of tea preparations before she could sit.

"Excuse me, I have brought the instruments for the tea preparation." With another low duck of a head, Bo Lei walked in the room and placed it on his table. He then moved behind her, two steps behind her.

Liu Guiren raised a brow, "Why is there someone tailing you like a dog?" 

"Sir Liu, my big sister asked me to accompany Miss Chan Lee to assist her if something happened." Bo Lei explained with a more calmer voice than earlier.

His big sister told him to, so he wouldn't back down in anyway kind of calmness.

Liu Guiren continued. "What could happen?"

"She could accidentally pour hot tea over you, use the wrong tea set and prepare it wrong. I'm simply here to instruct her and help her out if things were to go awry, please pretend that I'm not here."

Chan Lee stopped midway from taking a seat in front of their client. The kid was already listing out case scenarios where she could mess up… how nice of him. Somehow, he was a lot like her sister. She held back a resigned sigh.

"Unfortunately, your presence is intrusive and I would like to address that I trust that Miss Chan Lee here would not cause any mishaps." He spoke up in defense of her. 

It was enough to make her feel embarrassed.

But suddenly his lips quirked once more, "And if she does, I'm more than willing to overlook them. So, do not worry of the inconsequential things and instead why not enjoy the weekend? A young boy like you should be relaxing instead of working too hard. I think you can learn a thing or two with your older brother."

Bo Lei stayed silent for a moment.

Chan Lee would have buckled at those words, but the boy simply stood amidst Liu Guiren's words—taking them all in. The man was clearly talking about something beyond the scope of client and server.

"Understood, may you enjoy your time here at Heavenly Jade Pavilion, sir Gui." The young boy quickly stepped out after that.

It left the two of them inside the room, an awkward silence in the air. She felt sorry for the boy for having to endure them.

"Ah, he's still sensitive as always. He's fond of calling me a devil." Liu Guiren shook his head.

"You were too harsh on him." She found herself frowning at her client, unable and unwilling to prepare him tea.

He stifled a chuckle but nodded, "I admit that was a bit intentional, though on my part—I wanted you to be more at ease, especially without some child trying to dismiss you. On the other hand, don't worry too much. It's fine."

"I didn't peg you as someone who'd be mean to a kid still, it's a bit…"

"A bit?"

"Maybe you should apologize, or I should." She sighed and focused on the tea set in front of her. "I don't really want to meddle into other people's business…"

Liu Guiren studied her for a moment, "Are you not put off with such 'immature' actions."

"Do you mean the child or yours? I can give a pass for the kid, he was following Elder Sister's orders to keep an eye on me but you really had to make him run off."

"In my defense I was actually just stating my opinion though, and he didn't run off crying because a client's wishes are to be considered a priority." 

"The customer is always right? Really?" She sighed as she began to prepare his tea. Though his intention was good… at least in his perspective, he really should think twice about his methods. "You could have been a bit nicer… and I'm debating with you now. Another demerit on my part as a sommelier to keep topics pleasant."

"I think you're doing fine enough for someone on their first day. I think a sommelier's prime objective is that their client should be pleased more rather than sticking with pleasant conversation."

"...and you're pleased right now? No offense, but that's a bit sadistic."

He laughed, and it wasn't the kind of laugh you'd expect from someone who seemed like a villain to her right now. It was a melodious one, a refreshing kind of laugh that would have made someone smile. "It's been awhile since I've been in good company. You remind me of someone."

"...I'm glad to be of your service." She wouldn't bother herself with such comparisons. Instead she began to pour some tea into a cup.

"However, I do have to ask you to remove such rose-colored glasses, Miss Chan Lee."

She looked up at him, "What?"

"The tea." He moved forward and tipped the teapot's spout upwards. "I suppose the boy had a point in keeping watch, you also happen to be a bit ditzy, aren't you?"

Chan Lee stared at the tea that spilled over the table and sighed. "...I guess I sort of am, ditzy that is. I'm not someone who looks at the world with a rosy hue though, I consider myself to be realistic. I don't expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter." It was a bit of an indirect jab, but he would have surely gotten it.

"Let's see, correct me if I'm wrong but you're a kind person with ideals and you expect others to do the same. But the world doesn't work according to such expectations, Miss Chan Lee. Sometimes, one's efforts will simply end in vain."