Feng Xuan, of course, got intrigued. But judging from the expression on Ma Min's face, she immediately pulled back her interest and flicked her face to the other side and roughly pushed the cart so Ma Min's hand fell away from it. "I'm not interested."
Ma Min followed after her. "Aren't you a little bit curious on what it is?" she asked and Feng Xuan heard a little bit of desperation in her voice that she turned to look at the other girl.
With a hand on her hip, she asked, "Just how grave is that secret that you know?"
"It could be life-changing for you," Ma Min nodded.
Feng Xuan groaned and rolled her eyes. She started walking away from her. "This is probably how Snow White got poisoned by the evil witch. Well, I am so sorry to tell you, Ma Min. I am no princess that would fall into that kind of trick. For I am also a witch."
Ma Min sighed and walked slower, not even attempting to catch up with Feng Xuan. She raised her voice instead. "In case you want to know, you know where to find me and the cost of it. I'll tell Auntie to lower the price just a little. Maybe not a membership? How about just one kill?"
Feng Xuan's steps slowed. One dead man was not that much of a price to pay, right? she thought. I mean, it was for a groundbreaking secret… She chewed on her lip for a moment and took large bag of laundry detergent even though she didn't need it. "Ask your Auntie if she would be up for that deal. If she says yes, then come and find me again. I'll think about it."
Ma Min almost jumped for joy. She ran towards Feng Xuan. "Really?!"
Feng Xuan was surprised when Ma Min collided with the steel cart. Just what was it in her that she desperately wanted Feng Xuan to know about this secret? Perhaps the supposed target person was hard to catch or kill that they want someone like Feng Xuan to be the one to do the job? Then Ma Min would have a commission in it because she was the one that pulled Feng Xuan into their world?
Feng Xuan shook her head in her mind. She was thinking too much into it. Besides it was not like she would have to do this tomorrow. "Fine," Feng Xuan said.
It was out of character but Ma Min started dancing in front of her. Her arms were in the air and she was shaking her h.i.p.s to some beat that she could only hear.
"Is this woman bothering you?" asked someone in another language which made Ma Min stop.
Feng Xuan's head lifted up and she saw a man with pale blonde hair that was swept to the side. He was tall and lean was wearing a huge jacket that looked like it was two-sizes bigger than him, sweatpants and white sneakers. He looked young. He was foreign. His eyes were of a different shape and was in the color of green and his nose was pointed with a strong bone.
"I'm sorry," the man said with a helpless look on his face. "I know you probably don't understand me—"
"I actually do," said Feng Xuan in the same language.
"Oh!" there was a look of relief on the man's face. "Anyway, I had been hearing you talk earlier. I'm in the other aisle. Is she bothering you? Can I call security?"
"No, we're fine." She gave Ma Min a pointed look. "She was just leaving."
Ma Min rolled her eyes and started walking away. The other man was kind enough to wait for Ma Min to disappear from view before turning back to Feng Xuan. "Are you okay?"
Feng Xuan gave him a polite smile. "I am perfectly fine. Thank you for stepping in. She's a distant family member and it gets really hard to get rid of her at times."
"Okay." The man nodded and just then Feng Xuan thought about how handsome he looked now that he smiled. "That's good to hear. Are you almost done with your grocery? Can I help you get to the cashier?"
"Oh, I'm fine," Feng Xuan laughed a little. She started to imagine herself in the eyes of this man. A slim damsel who was being bothered by another girl. Maybe in his eyes she looked like someone who needed help. She decided to change the topic. "What are you buying?" she saw the clear glass of preserved sardines in his hands.
"Uhm," he said, almost shyly as he scratched his ear. "I honestly don't know. The aisles had a translation but the products do not so I don't really know what I am holding."
"You can just ask for a room service."
"Uhmm, actually I got transferred here for work. I work for a company that's starting it's branch here and enrolled us in language classes so I'll probably be fine in a few weeks."
Now, he was the one who looked helpless. "You okay with instant noodles?"
She pointed the right brands for the man and helped him pick out meat and side dishes. It all lasted around fifteen minutes before they headed to the cashier. "Thank you so much for helping me," said the man and pulled out his wallet. "Can I pay for your items?"
"Oh no!" she laughed. "I'm fine."
As if it was not enough proof. The cashier greeted Feng Xuan politely before starting to scan her items. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Qing."
"MRS. QING?" the man asked. "I see," he nodded. "You look so young I didn't think you are already married."
"I get that a lot," she said.
"And wow, you must be someone famous for people to know who you are."
"Not that much." It's just that my husband owns this hotel… her mind whispered. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
He wiped his hand on his pants before handing it to her. "The name's Mike."
"Feng Xuan," she shook his hand. As she did not buy a lot, she paid almost immediately and it was Mike's turn. "Well, I have to go," she said as Mike kindly handed her the bag of goods.
"Of course, thank you so much for the help, Mrs. Qing."
"No worries."
Feng Xuan turned away and started walking. It had not been ten feet away when she saw Qing Chen and the crowd of bodyguards he had around him. She immediately smiled at him and handed the bag to one of the men. "Are we set to go home?"
"Yeah," Qing Chen answered.
Feng Xuan entwined her arm around his. "What are you doing here anyway? You came all the way down here."
"Well, security alerted me that a woman was following you and you were helping a foreign-looking man shop. I thought I'd check it out. But I see you're both done."
"You do know I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."
Qing Chen smiled down at her. "Of course, you are."
**
Somewhere, Mike pressed a button and something turned on.