II : Two Weird Men

Lin Xuan was anxious as she walked through the long narrow and seemingly unending hallway inside the mansion, in her hand was the struggling bundle of live fish.

A servant came to her and snatched the fish away. "Lady Xuan, you shouldn't have bought anything. The Mountain Master doesn't want the smell of sea in his mansion."

"I'm so sorry. I only wanted to give something back to thank him for accepting me in his home." Lin Xuan reasoned. The maid slapped her back lightly and grinned a friendly grin to her.

"Silly. You don't even know whether he's a man or a woman."

Lin Xuan stopped walking, she looked at the servant. "You mean, the Mountain Master is actually not seen?"

The servant laughed. "I'm kidding. Of course, he's a man, and yes, we don't see him. In this house, only his steward, Xun Dali, have met him personally."

"And that steward is still alive after seeing him?"

"What are you asking, silly. Of course, he's alive, he's the one who is often taking charge here because the Mountain Master is always staying in his mountain sanctuary."

***

"What's the fuss all about?" From a nearby room, a man wearing a black suit and a dark red coat walked out the door. He immediately looked at the struggling fishes and shifted his gaze back to the servant holding it. The servant got startled and the fish fell with impact to the floor, causing water to splash messily on the shiny marbled floor.

"Who said you could bring in a creature from the sea into this house?" he asked, his brows meeting in a single line, symbolizing annoyance and indifference.

Lin Xuan stepped forward. "It was I, sir. I wanted to help prepare something for the Mountain Master. I just didn't know that fish is not allowed. I'm sorry, I will bring it out right away."

She took the fishes and looked apologetically at the servant before taking a step back. The servant smiled at her.

"Wait!" it was another voice.

She looked back halfway to the end of the hallway.

"Sir?"

From the same door where the first man came out, a slender handsome man stood leaning on the door frame, looking at her with such dangerous eyes. "Do you know a good recipe for fish?"

Her face brightened up, but the servant was caught in awe, she couldn't take her eyes off the man at the door.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I am He Zun, a friend of Xun Dali. You can cook the fish for me"

Xun Dali looked at the man. "Zun, you know you can~"

"Hush, Xun Dali. The fishes are fresh, besides, throwing it will be such a waste. Right, Miss Lin?"

'Uh? How does he know my name? I haven't introduced yet!?'

"Yes, sir."

The servant came to her side in a flash, she took the bundle of fish and grabbed her hand. "We'll have it prepared, sir."

"Sure. I want it hot and delicious in this room later."

"Yes, sir."

"Let Miss Lin send it to me, aye?"

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat. 'What's going on here? Why does he want me?'