Sitting at the heavenly pagode to enjoy a meal, Ai was deep in thought. She made friends with some dragons of this younger generation but still she needed a way to access the inner courtyards of the noble families. Remembering her mother's teaching during those terrible years, it seemed that women's network were much more insidious and if she wanted to know what happened 15 years ago she might have a better chance of gathering information without raising suspicions through those channels.
Ai sighed. " I wonder how Mother and Uncle are faring. I hope they are not too worried."
While she was reflecting, an altercation exploded near her.
"Thief, daring to come eat here but unwilling to pay? I'll drag you to the justice office we'll see how you escape your punishment!"
While talking, the waiter of the restaurant had some of his fellow waiters dragging a beautiful girl in poor clothing out. She was looking as fragile and evanescent as a moonlight reflexion but the waiter was insensible to her charm.
"I have money!!!" The beauty replied full of confidence.
"If you have money why aren't you showing it?"
"I...lost my purse on the way. I am Mei Liu, the daughter of the Scarlet Aurora's sect lord. Don't you know who I am?" She spoke still in a very domineering fashion.
At her words, the whole restaurants looked at her shabby clothing and started laughing.
"If you are that noble, then I am the crown prince hahaha!"
"Besides who doesn't know that all the disciples of the Scarlet Aurora have a special scarlet outfit in which pearl thread were embroidered to replicate the aurora?"
The ruckus had attracted the manager out and he was quietly observing the scene.
Feeling somewhat humiliated, the girl looked very aggrieved, making people looking at her unable not to want to protect her.
The manager had to save the damsel in distress, he signed off to his waiters to wait and then on a softer voice asked gently, visibly smitten by her.
"Where is your name plate? If you are really the daughter of the scarlet aurora's daughter, we'll send your name plate to your father to pay the debt. "
"...I lost it too.."
No matter how smitten he was, the manager still had to profit somehow.
"How about this Miss? I will forget your debt if you repay me in kind." The manager had no wife or concubine and this one was so pretty!
Speaking of this girl, Mei Liu grew up sheltered in the sect and protected from the world since she was born. Her parents had pampered her, so about the real world knowledge, she was quite lacking. Furthermore, this time she escaped to experience the real world with no guidance and no companions. Thus when she heard she only had to pay him back in kind, she had no idea what it meant and assumed she would only need to repay him with an act of kindness.
"Manager, you are a very good person!" Mei Liu grabbed his hands while shaking them in gratitude. She gave him a bright smile, let go of him, turned around and started walking out.
She had giving him a compliment, that is a kind gesture, her debt should be paid no?
When people heard her answer, they gasped in shock! Was the girl a simpleton? Why did she thanked the manager when she'll need to pay back with her body? Was she a cheap girl?
The manager was beaming in happiness!
"I will not treat you badly! Since your status is low, you will become my concubine! Let's go, I will introduce you to my parents!"
He rushed to grab her shoulders but the young girl at the mention of becoming a concubine was fuming with rage.
She just said he was a good person, how did that translate into her wanting to be with him?!? She glared at him.
"What concubine! I never agreed to that! Besides, I am of noble status, there is no way in heaven I could only end up marrying an old man like you!"
The manager was in fact not old. It's just the commoner's life had made him aged faster, he also didn't know any martial art.
He was so enraged by her words he lift his hand to slap her rudely.
"I will teach you a lesson! I'm your elder, you should still treat me with respect. Noble? Peh! Peh! If you were noble, was there need to steal a meal? " The manager screamed in spite.
The young girl was not afraid. She looked at him defiantly. After all, she had a good martial art foundation, that puny ant would not be able to hurt her!
As the manager's hand was about to close on the young girl's cheek, a heavy string of coins landed on his palm with a striking force. This forced his hand away as he was trying to catch it.
"This should be enough to cover her meal and all this inconvenience no?"
The person who spoke was a young man sitting nonchalantly at a table. He was eating his meal as if nothing happened. He looked very dashing and noble though his outfit was quite simple.
"Now, can you all quiet down so that I can eat in peace? So noisy, it kept me from enjoying my meal." He added arrogantly.
The whole time he spoke he never lifted his eyes away from his plate.
The manager was initially angry but when he started counting the money, he realized the sum he received was several times more the price of the meal. He just made a big personal profit!
"Thank you young master for your patronage! May I know how should I address you, sire...?" The manager bowed deeply. He knew he couldn't win and it was better to curry favour with this young man. Who knows? If this gentleman was satisfied enough with his service maybe he could gain even more.
"Shang. Ai Shang." The tone was dry, the answer short.
"Thank you Sire Shang!"
The manager than lift his fist shaking towards the young girl. "Wench, consider yourself lucky! Today I'm not pursuing to give face to this sire. But don't let me see your face again or I can't be blame for not being polite!"
The manager then turned around and left. The young girl just mocked him. "As if I am scared, just watch me! I'll be teaching you a lesson!"
The young girl would have intervene earlier but she remembered that if she used her martial art, her parents would definitely be alerted. She left without noticing anyone, she didn't want to be dragged back and pianistes. She had barely started exploring the world.
The manager slowed down his steps and was about to come back to confront her when he felt sudden chills in his whole spine. The pressure was barely bearable. The manager gave up and walked even faster to leave the premises. He was sure it was coming from the young man. "Too scary! I better never anger this Buddha!"
The young girl sat down in front of Ai.
"Thank you big brother Ai! My name is Mei Liu but brother can call me Mei, as in beautiful!" She said with coquetry.
Ai then looked at her with cold eyes. The onyx eyes though chilling were extremely beautiful.
"Big brother is so handsome!" As Mei was about to get closer to Ai to better admire the youth's face, Ai stood up, hailed the waiter, threw some coins on the table and left the restaurant, totally ignoring Mei.
Ai could definitely tell that this young girl was a trouble magnet and she had better escaped before she get further entangled with her.
"Waaait....where are you going?" Running after the young hero, Mei tripped. She then started crying on the street.