"Do you really not remember me, Little M?" the strange, handsome man asked as he slowly drank his tea while staring at me. I shook my head and blinked my eyes numerous times, as if that would some how help bring back any memories. The room was filled with an awkward silence that hung between us, thickening with each passing second.
"Sir Handsome," Lin interjected, her expression shifting to one of understanding. She cocked her head slightly, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Some things have happened, and her memories are a bit haywire, so she really doesn't remember you." With a graceful motion, she poured another cup of tea for him as a gesture of gratitude, her actions smooth and deliberate.
"However," she continued, "we are still thankful that you helped minimize our time explaining the culprit. Ultimately, the truth would have come to light; that dog and her herd of sheep would have been caught, and justice would have prevail." At this, she let out a hearty laugh, her eyes sparkling as she took a delicate sip from her glass of wine, the rich red liquid reflecting the warm light around us. Sir Handsome couldn't help but join in the laughter. He looked between us with an infectious smile, his charm filling the room.
He stood up suddenly, slamming his hand playfully on the table, causing our cups to clink together. "Well, Little M, until next time," he declared, his tone light-hearted yet meaningful. I couldn't help but smile back at him, giving a slight nod in acknowledgment of his presence. In an unexpected display of grace, he soared off the balcony, leaving no trace but the lingering warmth of his departure.
"Wait!" Lin called out, her voice sharp with surprise as she realized the situation. "You didn't pay for your tab!" she huffed, irritation creeping into her tone as she crossed her arms, clearly annoyed at the sudden disappearance of our nonpaying guest.
A well-dressed servant emerged gracefully from behind the ornate screen, his demeanor polished and professional. "The bill has been paid," he announced with a slight bow. "You may leave whenever you wish." After delivering the news, he turned and exited our private room, leaving us pleasantly surprised.
"Wow, not only is he handsome, but he has manners too," she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm as she continued eating the food on the table, seemingly unconcerned about the bill from earlier. "Can you believe it? Not to mention he might be really rich. This restaurant is leagues above Mister Baldies!" Lin pondered aloud, a mouthful of food making her words slightly muffled. "What's the name of this place again?"
I grinned and replied, "I think it's called 'The Handsome Guy's Restaurant.'"
Lin abruptly choked on her food, her laughter quickly transforming into coughs. She patted her chest, trying to calm herself as her eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of name is that?" she managed to say between giggles, bursting into laughter again and slapping her thighs in amusement as she caught her breath. "Oh well, at least we got to try their delicious food, and most importantly... it's free!" she declared triumphantly, her eyes gleaming with delight. The ambiance around us, filled with the aroma of exquisite cuisine, only added to the enjoyment of the moment.
Once Lin finished her meal, we walked out together. She turned to me, a hint of concern in her eyes, and said, "You didn't eat much, Meimei. What's wrong?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain. Finally, I opted for a small white lie. "Maybe it's because I'm still recovering," I said softly. "I don't seem to have much of an appetite for food yet."
Lin nodded, accepting my explanation. "That's true," she replied sympathetically, recalling the advice Doctor Yun had given me. "He did say to eat lightly and stick to plain food for now." With that, she wrapped her arm around my shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry! I'll eat your portion for you, okay? We can't have the food feeling neglected just because you're not up for it." Her light-hearted joke made me smile, breaking through the heaviness I felt inside.
"Steam bun, you feel neglected? Don't worry, I'll eat you too! Oh no, wonton, you can't escape my mouth either! Mooncake, not you too! Come on, get in my mouth!" Lin animatedly pretended to devour each item as we walked back toward the guild, her laughter ringing out like music in the night. As she chattered on about which snacks we should buy for a late-night treat, I found my mind drifting. My thoughts wandered to my mother's mashed potatoes, rich with gravy, and her infamous meatloaf, which was often the source of family debates. I remembered my dad's comforting chicken pot pie, filled with tender chicken and vegetables baked under a golden crust.
Just as I was lost in those warm memories, Lin abruptly grabbed my arm, pulling me back to reality. "Meimie, be careful," she said, her voice tinged with worry. "Damn," Lin muttered, her worry turning to irritation. "We can't catch a break from that wild dog, can we?"
Sulie stood confidently at the entrance of the guild, her group of followers fanning themselves dramatically with ornate hand fans, their expressions a mix of disdain and amusement as they blocked our path. The air around them was charged with tension as if they were eagerly anticipating our arrival.
With irritation bubbling beneath the surface, Lin marched up to Sulie without hesitation. Her voice was sharp and unwavering as she declared, "Move out of the way, or I'll give you another slap to match the one on the other cheek!"
Sulie narrowed her eyes at Lin, irritation flickering across her face like a flame. She then turned her gaze toward me, her expression twisted with malicious intent. "If you want to get inside, you'll have to pay me 100 copper coins," she huffed, her followers echoing her demand with a chorus of agreement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Lin scoffed, her confidence unshaken. "Tsk! That's a ridiculous demand, you wild dog!" she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You broke those items at the restaurant on your own. Haven't you heard the saying? You break it, you buy it! Hahaha!" Her laughter rang out, mocking Sulie and her group.
Undeterred, Sulie and her followers formed a solid wall, their bodies poised in preparation for a potential confrontation. They stood firm, the weight of their hostility palpable in the air, and refused to let us pass.
Sulie's laughter echoed mockingly as she regarded us, her gaze sharp enough to pierce. I felt a knot of confusion in my stomach, wondering to myself, "What is she scheming now?"
Before I could gather my thoughts, Big Back rushed out from behind their human wall, his presence an imposing force. The members of Sulie's group parted to allow him through, as if this had been part of their plan all along. He lunged forward and, with surprising strength, grabbed Lin by the throat, lifting her off the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as she gasped for breath, the situation suddenly growing far more serious and dangerous than I had anticipated.
Sulie and her lackey leaned against the wall, their laughter echoing like a chorus of cackling hyenas, relishing Lin's state. Despite being cornered by Big Back, Lin summoned her courage. With a fierce determination, she dug her fingernails into his hands and arms, gasping for air as she fought against his grip. Big Back, clearly caught off guard, stumbled past the sneering Sulie and her lackey before tripping over his own feet and crashing back onto the guild property. In a final desperate attempt to regain his balance, he awkwardly planted his foot to steady himself.
Fueled by a mix of fury and protectiveness, I stepped forward, unleashing my alpha command on Big Back, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Release her."
The authority in my tone sent a jolt of fear through him, and his grip slackened immediately, allowing Lin to slump to the cold floor, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath, struggling to arise from her position. With purposeful strides, I approached Big Back, my presence radiating authority and confidence while I bypassed Sulie and her lackey, whose laughter began to falter under the weight of my glare.
"Big Back," I asserted, my eyes narrowing as I looked up at him, towering two heads above me, his hulking figure imposing yet fragile in the face of my determination. "I don't know what these 'little girls' promised you in exchange for your help, but you need to remember Madam Song's rules." My voice was steady and commanding. "You should understand just how valuable we are to her."
"She said the rules changed," Big Back muttered, his bravado faltering as he scrambled away from the scene, bolting into the bustling street as if trying to escape the consequences of his actions.
Turning back to Sulie, I saw her flinch, her bravado dissolving under my cold, penetrating stare. "She hit me first!" she squeaked, desperation creeping into her voice, while her lackey hurried to echo her, both trying to deflect blame.
"Child's play among us is acceptable," I replied, my voice dripping with disdain as I locked eyes with Sulie, ignoring her lackey entirely. "But this, what you did, is unacceptable for those who aren't one of us."
As my words sank in, they recoiled, visibly shaken, stumbling as they scrambled backwards and tripping over themselves onto the sidewalk, fear etched across their faces. Satisfied with the intimidation I had imparted, I turned away, striding back into the guild and closing the imposing door behind me with a heavy thud, locking it securely.
"Wow," Lin said, her eyes wide with admiration and a hint of awe. "How do you do that with your eyes? It's like you can command them without saying a word."
A smile tugged at my lips, though I remained silent, reaching down to help her stand up from the hard floor. "I can't believe she would stoop so low as to ask for help from outsiders," Lin continued, a mix of disbelief and humor in her tone as we made our way back to my room. Her laughter filled the space with warmth, providing a much-needed relief from the earlier tension.
"Madam Song is going to be furious—of course, not at us," she added, her voice bubbling with mischievous delight. "Just look at how scared they were! They didn't even realize it was past curfew, and now they're locked outside the guild. Karma is a real thing, you know."
Her laughter was infectious, and as we finally reached my room, her lightheartedness was a welcome distraction from the earlier confrontation. I lit the oil lamp on my vanity desk, the soft glow illuminating the room and revealing the red marks on Lin's neck.
I opened the wooden drawers of my ornate vanity, filled with various beauty products and essentials. My fingers brushed across the cool surface of the healing balm I had tucked away, specifically designed for soothing bruises. A wave of sorrow washed over me as I glanced at Lin's neck, where an angry mark stood out starkly against her skin.
"Does it hurt?" I inquired softly, my voice barely above a whisper, as I began to apply the balm gently to her bruised neck. The soothing scent of the ointment filled the small space between us.
"It looks worse than it feels," Lin replied nonchalantly, remaining perfectly still as I spread the balm across her skin. She met my gaze with a faint smile.
"Don't you remember what Madam Song warned us about? Some clients can be a bit rough, and we've been prepared for these kinds of 'activities'," she added matter-of-factly. There was a resigned quality in her voice, as if she had become accustomed to this reality. "Honestly, this is much less than I've experienced before. That's exactly why we all keep this balm in our vanities."
"Oh..." I murmured, feeling a slight pang of guilt. "My memory can be a bit foggy from time to time."
Lin chuckled lightly, her laughter brightening the somber atmosphere. She playfully flicked my forehead with her fingers, a gesture that felt both familiar and comforting. "I'm going to take a bath and get ready for bed now. I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?" she said, her voice cheerful as she stood up and headed toward the door.
As the door closed behind her, I found myself alone in the dim light of the room. I gazed around, feeling a sense of unease settle over me. "What is this place?" I whispered to myself, the question hanging heavy in the silence.