Tang Feng was cursing himself as a fool. He really had no idea what he was doing.
Since the time he met Lu Mian a couple of days back, Tang Feng couldn't get her out of his mind.
He had told himself hundreds of times that it was crazy. But something in him nudged him - he needed to see her again. What he wanted from the interaction, Tang Feng wasn't sure. Not yet. But he wanted to meet.
So he discreetly arranged for someone to watch the Lin family shop since yesterday. He had told them to watch out for "the most beautiful girl imaginable" and unsurprisingly, the moment they spied Lu Mian, they let him know.
Cancelling a quarterly meeting, Tang Feng left behind a group of confused employees and rushed back to the shop.
Thankfully, she stayed here for a long time. He told himself, relieved.
"I will take that" he called, walking into the shop hurriedly. Would they be friends if he gifts this as a meeting gift?
Lu Mian however, didn't acknowledge him. She politely nodded to Shopkeeper Lin and moved to pay for the jades.
Huo Moshe, on the other hand, was upset. "That's unfair, uncle. We saw this first" he protested.
Tang Feng paused, slightly unhappy. No one had blindly opposed him like this. And why "uncle"? He wasn't that old, really. Because of the uncharitable feelings, his voice came out sharper than he meant it
"Really? Life isn't fair, little kid. You saw it, but did you pay for it? But I am paying for it first - since you don't have money" he snarked. Maybe he realized how mean he sounded and Tang Feng softened his tone a bit. "I would be happy to gift it to you Miss" he nodded at Lu Mian.
"I can buy my fairy sister a gift we dont need you" Huo Moshe was furious. He could use his cheap father's money - and explain later. Huo Moshe was vehemently opposed to this dandy man condescending a gift to his sister.
"Duoduo, no need to be rude" Lu Mian corrected quietly from the side. "It's indeed true who pays first gets it, but it's also true that being polite makes you a better person" . Her reprimand was light, but razor-sharp.
"This young Master, thank you. But I cannot accept your gift" she said perfunctorily and finished paying for her jade.
Tang Feng's heart skipped. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that" he called out urgently . He had never chased a girl before, but he still knew what he had messed up.
It was this kid's fault - challenging and wrong footing him. "I just…"
"Are we very familiar with each other?"Lu Mian asked him abruptly. The question landed like cold water.
Tang Feng flushed but instinctively slipped into his icy charm.
"I am Tang Feng- the only young master of the Tang family. The last time we met it was not very ideal." he said suavely, and gestured to the needles.
"Please accept these needles as a meeting gift" he finished.
"I've met master Young Master Tang" said Lu Mian with perfect etiquette. But she did not offer her name.
"The last time we met, it indeed wasn't ideal - and it was because Young Master Tang allowed his companion to misunderstand. So Young Master Tang, if you truly want to make things better, its' better not to let that misunderstanding continue" she finished dryly.
She knew how important it was for a woman to feel secure in a relationship. Yes, that woman was brainless. But this man wasn't blameless either.
Just my luck - meeting another entitled scumbag she thought unhappily and turned to leave, nodding a final goodbye to shopkeeper Lin.
Tang Feng was shocked.
He thought Huo Yixuan was just being petty. She had picked on this girl intentionally?!
That was not the most important, however. "She's not my companion" he rushed to explain. "Come to the Nine Strings Festival with me this weekend and we can talk more."
A refined setting. Culture. Music. She'll definitely see me differently, he thought.
Lu Mian paused for a fraction of a second.
But didn't turn back. She didn't even acknowledge his statement. She merely held on to Huo Moshe's hand and the door closed behind her.
Tang Feng who noticed her pause, felt snubbed and had a surge of anger. She was clearly interested, but still playing hard to get?
"Just wait, we will see what happens at the festival" he murmured to himself annoyed.
"Young Master Tang" probed Shopkeeper Lin carefully.
"Put the Needles on my account. If she comes asking for it, tell her she needs to see me first" he ordered.
Old Lin was annoyed. That girl clearly had no background and she was being so upright. Isn't this intentionally making things difficult for her?!
"Young Master," he said politely, "the needle set alone costs one million yuan. And the Tang family has already ordered several items for Old Master Tang."
He hesitated. "I won't be able to reserve it without full payment. But if you wish to buy it outright, I'm happy to sell."
Tang Feng's face darkened. Their family had a recent downturn and they are trying to turn things around - to such an extent that they were willing to look for a marriage alliance. At this point, they wouldn't want the extra expense of buying a worthless antique. Both he and shopkeeper Lin knew that.
"Are you looking down on me?" he growled.
"Not at all Young Master," Old Lin replied evenly. "I'm only stating the terms."
Tang Feng snorted. "Very good. I'll remember this."
And he flounced away. What kind of woman can't he get - just wait, when he sees her at the Nine Strings festival, he will show her!
Huo Moshe had also noticed his sister pause when the Nine Strings festival was mentioned. "Fairy Sister, if you want to go, Duoduo can take you."
Lu Mian was touched "Our Duoduo is so capable?" she smiled.
"Yes. Grandma gets an invite every year - and takes me along too because she says it's important for me to learn and be refined. But I don;t like it." He confided in her.
Lu Mian liked that Duoduo confided in her. Maybe, with time, he would tell her more things.
"It's indeed important for you to learn Duoduo, not because you need to be refined, but because our arts and culture connect our hearts" Lu Mian told him solemnly.
"Years later," Lu Mian continued softly, slowing her steps so he had to look up at her, "it won't matter whether Duoduo becomes the best musician, or even remembers every tune. What will matter is that when the world changes too fast, when people forget who they are, you will still recognize the sound of home."
She squeezed his hand gently.
"Music is not about talent. It's about memory. As long as you remember it, the joy you share and the happy times with people doesn't disappear."
Huo Moshe stared up at his sister, dumbstruck. No one had put it like that before. Things were asked of him in the name of the family he represented - it was always a strict sense of duty. It was never about family or love.
"It doesn't matter if you can't play or sing" she told him, gently brushing back a few errant locks on his forehead. "But you can learn to appreciate it. How about this, sister can play a few simple tunes for you when we get back - just think of it as family time together" she smiled.
Huo Moshe lunged at her in a bear hug, his emotions too big and too raw for him to realize.
His sister was the best! His sister was amazing! She always made everything better!
Face full of smiles, the duo turned home.
For the first time since he could recall, he didn't miss his father in the evening - nor be resentful of his absence.
Huo Moshe thoroughly enjoyed the Guzheng his sister played and was enthralled. His laughter and a young girls' gentle music echoed through the house.
It stopped Bai Renzhou in his tracks, a faint smile hooking his lips.
When Huo Shen was away on missions, he was charged with taking care of the home. Usually, he would check in on Duoduo and help him with homework or check if everything was ok at school. With Lu Mian here, he was unsure how it would be.
Now, standing outside, it looked like everything was fine - better than they could've ever hoped for.
He quietly nodded to the old housekeeper and left the residence.
Wish you were here to see it too Boss. He thought ruefully. His Master deserved all this happiness and more. He had always wanted his Boss to find love and family. His Yinyin was the light of his life - and he wanted the same for his Boss, to find someone to cherish.
For a second, his brain conjured up an image of his boss coming back home to his happy family - with Lu Mian.
And he immediately shook his head. If his wife knew he was pairing up an underage child, he would be history.
"But she wouldn't always be a child" - a voice whispered to him. Resolutely ignoring it, he went to check on other projects.
Let his Boss come back alive from this mission. Everything else was secondary.
What he didn't know was that his boss was deep in enemy territory, adrenaline flooding his veins, every nerve ending screaming with awareness.
Blood, smoke, and gunfire sharpened his mind instead of dulling it.
Huo Shen moved forward without hesitation. They had the mole - it was time to reel him in.