The moment the break of dawn appeared in the horizon, Zedong immediately got up from the old and cramped hut meters away from the red house.
He turned to his right and saw Gu Yun sleeping soundly with his mouth open, legs stretched open and is occupying his space on the bed. Zedong took his leg off of him and fixed himself, the sky was still dark but he got out of their hut and entered the red house.
The moment he stepped in, his nose immediately caught the faint but strong aroma of wines and perfumes all around, adding up the alluring smell of incense burner from each floor. But it was just the remains and will soon cool off when the sun rose.
The hall no longer emit the lustful red vibes leaving the plain and dead silent corners of the house.
The place closes after midnight so it's their time to enter and clean the place.
Zedong climbed upstairs to take a look on the room he initially cleaned after his duties last night.
The room was comparable to Xun Xi, big and spacious but he needs to clean the furnitures since the dusts are inevitable and he wouldn't dare to offend the musician and the Madam.
He already swept the floor last night and took some spider webs on the corners so his task for the morning was to clean everything and change the sheets of the bed and curtains before the guest arrive.
Zedong always took his time focus on his tasks so he didn't noticed that the sun finally rose from the line on the east.
He was dusting the furniture when he heard a call from the door, "The madam is asking if you're done." it was a servant
"Another two hours!" Zedong answered back with a clean cloth covering his nose and mouth.
Soon, he's done with the dust cleaning and time to change sheets and to place some aromatic candle to fill the room with pleasant smell.
He was about to light up a thick, short candle when the door of the room suddenly banged open.
He turned stiffly to it's direction and saw an unfamiliar man, he was wearing plain layered robes but it is evident on his posture and appearance that he had grace and beauty overpowering his simple clothing. His hair was tied in half and the other half were hanging beautifully on his shoulders.
His face was fair and beautiful but he's currently wearing a cold expression as he stared at Zedong who was still bending to light the candle.
"Who are you?" the man asked, frowning
Zedong was in gaze but the question made him snap and stood, "Uh, um, I'm Zedong, may I ask who are you---"
He flinched when the man suddenly took a brush by the side table near him and threw it to him.
Zedong was surprised and stared at the fair man with a stunned expression, "It's nice to meet---"
"GET OUT!!" the man flushed red in anger and yelled, "GET OUT!!" his shoulders were heaving up and down as he threw some random objects on the poor servant.
Zedong was trying catch the things he's throwing but soon gave up seeing him completely angered. He ran for the door and completely left the room.
He sighed in relief as he got out then noticed that there are people crowding outside the room.
"Hey, hey, Zedong, what did he do?" one beauty asked wearing an inner robe only, looks like got awakened from the sudden noise since the walls were only made of solid woods.
"Did he punch you or something?"
"I heard he had some temper management." they talked continuously just outside the door.
"Should we check him up?" one beauty asked but Zedong immediately lifted his both hands to stop them. He already had a hint of the man's identity so he took sympathy.
"I think that's not a good idea. He... I think he needs to be alone for now." he said softly, trying to make his voice lower
"Why? On our transfer here, did we threw some tantrum?" they both lifted their heads just to see Xun Xi on his sleeping robes. He walked closer to the room.
"I heard he didn't exchanged greetings to Madam when he arrived, he went straight to his assigned room and started yelling. What an uncultured person. Where's he?" Xun Xi stepped up to walk towards the door when Zedong stopped him.
"Xun Xi, let's leave him be for now okay? It must be a shock for him and is still adjusting." Zedong reasoned out, trying his best to minimize the talking.
Xun Xi stared at Zedong for a long time, expression cold but he soon gave up and did his signature flip of sleeves, "He better behave." he said and walked out.
As soon as Xun Xi left, all the beautys soon lost interest and went back to their rooms which made Zedong sigh in relief.
He turned his head behind to take a look on the closed shut door, he then took something on his pocket.
It was a well wrapped candy made of strawberry pieces coated in melted sugar. It costs more than a pay for one night but he willingly placed the candy on the bottom part of the door where there was enough space to slip the Candy towards the room.
He said, "Here, take this. It's delicious." he gently slipped the candy on the gap and stood.
He didn't knew when did the man took it but he was sure that when he passed by the room again, the candy is gone.
A week had passed and the business is still wildly running but since it's the mid-autumn festival, the madam placed some budget to have the house be filled with customer-attracting decors and the foods were stocked in double adding up new released liquors and sweets.
This festival was the most anticipated since everyone will have a break from their works and those who had no family to celebrate with, wastes their time in entertainment houses.
And it is in this season that the servants will have extra pay and likely to get more tips from rich customers.
"Hey, Xun Xi, won't you share half of your tips to us this evening?" Gu Yun was combing his hair
Xun Xi was putting some red powder on his cheeks as he replied, "You monkey, it's just the first night of the Festival and you're already demanding something?"
Gu Yun curled his lips. Xun Xi wasn't greedy but he surely make a big profit among any other beauties because of his skill and word-play.
Gu Yun and Xun Xi were childhood friends and was recruited at the same time in this house that's why even though Gu Yun was a servant, Xun Xi still cared for him along with the younger servant, Zedong who was hired just after them.
"Where's Zedong?" Xun Xi asked
"Tasked to scrub the floor."
The soon is already in the west and after a few more hours, the red house will open. All decorations are placed again and the stage was ready. Zedong was scrubbing the wooden floor on the second floor, trying his best to have the faint white powder markings disappear.
He almost reached Xun Xi's room and that will mark the end of his task since he started there, but the door from the room beside him opened. The madam came out from the room.
"I'll expect your full cooperation later Ah'Yan." the madam turned to the man behind her.
The beautiful man standing by the border of the door had a white loose robe, his hair were resting by his shoulders and his expression was cold but sounded gentle when he answered the madam, "I will." he said
The Madam nodded in all smile, "Then that's good. I'll call for some servants to lead you towards the stage."
The man nodded.
The Madam was about to walk away when he suddenly noticed Zedong stood frozen by the side, gazing at the man by the room.
She walked towards him and waved her hand infront of his face, "Got star struck?"
Zedong immediately snapped and finally realized things, a faint blush appeared by his cheeks as he looked away from the man.
"That's not it Madam...." he reasoned out in almost whisper
But the Madam had keen eyes, things wouldn't passed by her without her realizing, she laughed and patted Zedong turning to the man by the door, "By the way Ah'Yan, this is Zedong one of the most hard working servant we have here, he can accompany you for some time, if you want?"
Seeing that the ethereal beauty didn't made any reaction, Zedong and the Madam left in an awkward position.
The madam awkwardly laughed and turned to lean closer on Zedong, "I managed to coax him but don't get on his nerves." she whispered
During the whole week since his arrival, the man locked himself on his room where the Madam is the only one who could only enter and would talk to him patiently.
"His name is Yu Yan by the way." she said
"Well then, I have things to do goodbye for now and see you later!" the madam declared and walked away to get back on her office.
Zedong's eyeballs were somewhat trembling and awkwardly looked sideways since he didn't know if he should say goodbye too or just walk away.
"The candy...."
But Zedong stopped and lifted his head to see Yu Yan staring at him as he spoke those words. Expression still cold.
Yu Yan continued "The candy...tasted cheap." he said and immediately shut the door close leaving Zedong stood dumb on his position.
The servant was used in seeing beautys but it was the first time that he thought someone to have unrivaled beauty.
Despite the man's cold and plain expression, Yu Yan was truly unique.