Tancu tea house is a small but exclusive place, they only served thirty people a day. Not like other tea houses, Tancu tea house didn't mix their guest in one room, everyone has there own private room floating above a big tranquil pond with pink lotus bloom on the surface of the water and giant colorful Koi fish makes a ripple inside the pond, every room connected by a small red bridge.
The ambiance is quiet and serene, Tancu tea house famous for there exquisite white and the unique dessert that's why a lot of people try to reserve the place beforehand but sadly the tea house has 'no reservation' rule, so everyone must to come by themselves to get the room. It doesn't matter what status you have, the guest must come personally to get the room and that's only increased the prestige of the Tincu tea house.
But still Zhao Li Xin able to have the room on last minute, something Lory doesn't realize about the prestige of the tea house, when he comes the manager of the tea house greet him with a polite smile than she lead Zhao Li Xin and Lory to one of the rooms on the middle of the pond.
Some of the regular guests surprised the manager send them to the remoted room on the middle of the pond, the room is bigger than any other room and is located farther away from other room to keep maintain the privacy, that room always vacant no one ever used that place and it prohibited for other guests, for regular people who use to come to Tiancu tea house was flabbergasted when the room suddenly opens and the servant suddenly clean up the room and prepare the food and drinks like they waiting for someone arrival.
Who knew the one who came is a very handsome man who carries a woman with an anxious face, they wonder if the woman sick but if she sick what are they doing on the tea house, they should go to a physician instead. The guest try yo bribe the servants who work at Tiancu tea house to divulged the identity of the mysterious handsome man especially a young ladies who was mesmerized by Zhao Li Xin cold beauty but unfortunately no one dare to speaks, no matter how much money they give the servants remain tight lips the guest have no chance to know who is that man is and who's the woman with him?
"Eat the soup first to ease your empty stomach, remember to eat slowly" he put Lory down on the soft mats carefully.
Lory was still on a daze 'What is happening?'
The room has no chair but a soft mat with short ledged wooden table, Zhao Li Xin scooped the soup to the small ceramic bowl for Lory. What make her confuse is why the room is full of a lot of food even before they come, he looks at Zhao Li Xin suspiciously, but who else could make a reservation in a place that didn't allow reservation if not Zhao Li Xin?
"You don't like the soup?" he saw her still not touch her spoon.
Lory snapped from her daze then she smelled the soup fragrant and her stomach grumbles even louder, Zhao Li Xin frown and Lory smiles shyly "No, the smelled is good" than she scooped the soup and sipped the soup slowly. The soup tasted even better then she thought and her eyes sparkle in delight, as notorious foodie nothing can satisfy her more than a good dish.
"You like it?" Zhao Li Xin satisfied when he saw her reaction.
Lory nods slightly with a smile "It's tasty" she happily said.
"Don't eat too fast" he reminds her again.
"Worrywart" Lory twitch her nose pretend to be annoyed.
"If not you who else I should be worried about" he smiles dotingly then he scooped another bowl of soup for himself, watching her eating with joy suddenly raised his appetite.
"I understand but you surprised me, why are you always overreacted?" Lory sigh.
Zhao Li Xin sipped her spoon than he smiles faintly at her "I can't help it, you all I had" he said with a helpless expression they're's a loneliness in his tone, his words sting Lory's heart. She lifts her head but Zhao Li Xin didn't notice her. Lory remembers Girsha once said he needed her more then Lucas, not like her brother Zhao Li Xin never accepts anyone in his heart other then Lory if he loses her how distraught he would be.
Lory avert her gaze, she looks down and scoops her soup but she doesn't realize the clenched on her spoon. She able to leaved Lucas because she knew his brother has strong heart no matter how hard the road he faces Lucas would find the way, he always did, he always been stronger then her ever be and even if he lost somehow his Archknight would lead him back to his path, she sure about that but Zhao Li Xin, could he live without her?
Lory smiles faintly before she sipped her spoon, why pretend to be strong, is not like she could live without him, she knew she couldn't handle another separation, for once she wishes the god would be merciful for her.
"I'm finished" Lory put down her spoon "I want to eat flower dumpling now" she smiles widely.
"You just finish your soup, can you wait a little longer?" he worries he would upset her stomach.
"Of course…" she tilted her head with sweet smiles.
Not long after Ming Yue Yin and Yuan Shao arrived and join their table, the room become merry with Ming Yue Yin and lory bickering to each other again, this time Yuan Shao already used to it, not like other people who like exchanged pleasantries, Lory and Ming Yue Yin likes teasing each other and they both seem enjoyed it very much.
Zhao Li Xin full with the soup as high cultivator he doesn't need as much as normal people so he leaned his back on the pile of the pillow a small table on his left with wine on the top, he back to his habit drinking wine while casually play with Lory's hair, she already got used to it so she doesn't bother by him. Only Yuan Shao who still feel awkward with Zhao Li Xin's intimated behavior towards Lory but because lory acted as if nothing happened he doesn't find them repulsive somehow he feels 'oddly natural' for the two of them acted this way.
"I can't believe you can get the room, because of the festival every place is full, this place is one of the most prestigious place in the city and I heard you can't make reservation if you don't come personally, even if you high rank official you still have to come personally and booked the room" Yuan Shao said than he raised his winecup "I believe this is one of Hei She business affiliate"
Zhao Li Xin eyes remain on Lory hair "Is one of Wu San Bo turf, I just know today too" he said lazily.
"This place is yours?" Lory stunned, she turns around and looks at Zhao Li Xin in shock.
"Half of it, not everything this is co-owner afterall," he said lazily.
"Uncle, you don't know you own this place?" Ming Yue Yin perplexed.
He shrugged his shoulder and answer lazily "How could I know every little detail, is not my job to take care Hei Shen business"
Yuan Shao frown slightly "Are you trust you're subordinated completely?" he won't believe Zhao Li Xin would be that naive.
Zhao Li Xin smiles faintly "My subordinated are smart, when it comes to disloyalty, I never gives second change" his beautiful onyx eyes stare back at him, his cold indifferent eyes send a shiver to his spine only then he understand if he worked for Zhao Li Xin he also would not dare to betray him, not like other people he have no sentimental feeling or hesitation its all just business for him, he would give trust and chance to expand as return Zhao Li Xin expect complete obedience and loyalty, that's all.
If one of his subordinated misused his trust he had no qualms to get rid of them he will not hesitate or sad about it, it is what it is and Hei Shen peoples had long understood Zhao Li Xin temperament, Zhao Li Xin is quite lenient or more likely careless with other business so Hei Shen rules are more lax compare to other Sect the rule on Hei Shen is simple, never infuriated the 'Demon Lord' and never assumed anything, do you're job and stay away from there Lord private matter. As long they do this, Hei Shen Sect could become a quite comfortable place.