Harry was hungry again. Her new master didn't held back one bit even when he knew that she was a girl. Not that she was complaining but she wanted to sulk. Her Prince Charming was too cruel to her.
She made her way to the café and decided to have something because she was hungry. She looked around and found out that he wasn't there yet. So she stood in the line to make an order before he arrived and waited for her turn. A beautiful lady was standing in front of her wearing luxury brands from head to toe. And she was taking all the time in the world to choose her order. The salesgirl was also growing impatient but she politely waited for her to make her order.
But Harry didn't want to wait, she was exhausted and hungry.
"Excuse me, if you're going to take time, let me make an order first. I already know what I want."
The woman didn't even bother to respond to Harry but turned towards the salesgirl and said disapprovingly, "Who let this rogue in? I didn't know your establishment lets in anyone randomly. Such poor management. I ought to complaint."
"Sorry, ma'am, our establishment doesn't make distinctions when it comes to our customers. We serve everyone equally."
"Hmmph, and to think that I wasted time coming inside here just to wait for someone. What's your name? Lu Yan? Don't think you'll be working here once I make a complaint to your manager. I know him."
She arrogantly pulled out her cellphone and dialled a number and talked to someone complaining about the service of The Waving Poppies.
A young man in his late 20's came out with an ingratiating smile on his face.
" What seems to be the problem, Miss Wei? Did anyone bother you?"
So, this arrogant woman's name is Wei, Harry thought. Creating such a big problem for a silly thing. So petty. And it's because of me that the salesgirl is going to get in trouble.
"Yes, this salesgirl refuses to listen to me and took the side of this unsightly rogue here. How can you let such people in. I feel tainted. I couldn't even make an order because of his presence. I was waiting for him to get lost but he had the nerve to tell me to let him order first. I am very disappointed!"
"Lu Yan? How can you treat our customer like this. You started your work recently here. And you are already making a mess. Do you want to get fired?"
The salesgirl turned pale.
" But manager, everyone is a customer here, how could I turn out someone just based on their looks?"
"Don't talk back to me. Wait till you hear from the HR."
And then he turned to Harry and said, " Young man, this is not a place for someone like you. Know your station before you act. Please leave our hotel and learn to distinguish what is above you."
"Who is trying to fire an employee of The Waving Poppies" came a cold voice from behind them.
Standing there was Prince Charming wearing a cold expression and with a glare that could pierce through anyone.
" And who is trying to turn out my student from my hotel?"
Harry was about to speak up for the salesgirl and for herself, but her Prince Charming had to come to her rescue. And she didn't miss it when she heard "my student" and "my hotel".
All she could mouth was a big WOW.
For some seconds, the manager was confused. Clearly he was trying to get rid of a mosquito who was holding a skateboard and looked like he didn't belong. But why was the young master looking so cold and angry.
"Young master, I was simply doing my work and this young man here came in barging into the wrong place."
"The manager has clearly failed his duty by unfairly treating the customers of this hotel. Sign in your resignation and get your severance pay from the accounting section. I don't need your service anymore. How dare you treat my student in this fashion. And Lu Yan? I think it's time for you to get a promotion. You stuck to our hotel policy even when the manager didn't."
And finally turning to the lady that was standing shell-shocked on her heels.
"Ah, miss, if you don't like our customer service please leave this place. We also don't want to provide service for fake people."
Then he grabbed Harry by her hands and steered her away from the café and led her out as others who were on the café had been staring at the commotion and at him.
"Ummm professor... master, I am hungry."
He sighed and said, " I'll order food for you, come with me."
He took her an empty lounge area. And told one of the maids there to get some food and drinks.
"I am sorry about earlier. You had to go through such treatment under my roof."
She had forgotten all about her humiliation and instead said,
" This is your hotel? Wow, you are loaded. I thought you were just a musician who is good at martial arts too. You turned out to be a real Prince."
" From what I hear from grandma Jin, you are quite loaded too," he said as he smiled and sipped a glass of water finding it funny that she called her a Prince.
Dang! He knows that too. What other things does he know? She felt like she had nowhere to hide. Why is grandma telling these things to strangers.
"Hahaha... You don't need to feel so awkward. I would like to introduce myself again. I'm Zhu Hé, the youngest son of Zhu Cai, who is a cousin of your grandmother. And so we are related through your grandmother. She was the one who told me everything about you. And your master is also my master so I'm your senior."
"Wait, what? We are related?"
Oh no! And here I was thinking I had a shot with Prince Charming. Why did we have to be related? She cried inwardly.
"Why the long face? You don't want to be related to me? I assure you, I'm very resourceful. I don't think you remember me but I saw you often when you were younger before I left abroad for my studies."
The food arrived and she didn't wait for him and started gobbling them down.
" And you still haven't changed. You still can't use a chopstick well," he smiled.
She stopped when he heard this and put down her chopsticks.
"How do you know this? Is there anything grandma didn't tell you?"
"I told you, I used to see you when you were younger. You used to follow me around challenging me to fight with you. Don't you remember anything?"
She shook her head.
"You are hopeless. How did you even get into college..." he muttered looking away with hints of disappointment in his eyes.
"So, what do I address you now as? Cousin? Master? Senior? Professor?" as she dodged his comments.
"Call me sixth brother like you used to," he said provokingly.
Then it all hit her.
She remembered that there was an older boy in her childhood who used to be praised often by her master. He was the top disciple of his master even though he was the sixth disciple.
Sometimes he would visit with the master to her grandmother's place. Or when she visited her master, she would see him there.
And he was correct, she had bugged him to fight with her every time she saw him because she had heard that he was the best student and she wanted to steal that title. But he had never said yes. She didn't see him again later after some time. And she had completely forgotten about it.
" Sixth brother! That sixth brother?! You're him?! But why do you look so handsome now?'"
And he couldn't help but laughed out loud.
True when he was younger, he had insisted to cut off his hair to look like a Shaolin monk. He had even worn plain disciple robes to fit in the role. No wonder she didn't recognise him.