12 The Second Knight

The man sharing breakfast with Li Jun was nervous. He was frightened of the man sitting opposite him who looked thunderous as he speared a piece of ham with his fork. The man was obviously under a lot of strain. He could tell just by looking at the man's cheeks, which was twitching, and the way he chewed his food, which was actually a gnashing of his jaw.

The man was not really brave so he was about to stand and say his goodbyes when a girl suddenly appeared. His "wow" was uttered under his breath but the young man who was following behind the girl seemed to have sensitive ears because he scowled when he caught sight of him. The young man's wooden expression became even more wooden when his eyes alighted next on the man gnashing his teeth on another piece of ham.

The girl bounded towards him on a pair of dangerously high heels the color of canary yellow, which oddly enough complimented her ordinary outfit of pencil black pants and light yellow shirt. He was a man of particular taste, especially about things he considered works of art, so he knew the shoes were expensive but not as expensive as the pendant that hang down the girl's beautiful, long neck. That one, the diamond pendant, was priceless. He knew because he once saw a picture of it on a glossy magazine when he was twelve.

"You are Xiao He?" the girl asked, smiling pleasantly. The young man beside her was scowling, his hand on the girl's waist.

Looking at them, Xiao He actually thought that they looked good together. They were a very handsome couple. The young man, who looked vaguely familiar, was obviously gaga over the girl but the young lady had her eyes on the other man on the table, still tearing at his breakfast with quiet concentration.

"Are you okay, Jun?" she asked. The man beside her scowled so fiercely that Xiao He's breathing almost stopped. He had a psychological reaction about conflict. It scares him and makes him want to throw up at the same time. And right this moment, this good looking but very scary young man was making him ill.

"I'm okay, your majesty," the man eating breakfast said coolly, his eyes meeting the young man's eyes without expression. "Do you want anything to eat or should we go outside to talk?"

"Here will be fine," the girl said taking a chair beside Xiao He. The young man sat beside her as he signaled to a maid who nodded and went out. "By the way, my name is Fan Bao. Of course, you already know Li Jun. This is Feng Gan," the girl said, watching his reaction closely as if she was expecting something.

"Her fiancee," the young man added, his face still scrunched in a scowl.

"Glad to meet you both," Xaio He said shyly. He was a little intimidated but something had been nagging at him and he wanted an answer. "You look very familiar," he said, staring at Feng Gan. "Are you famous or something?"

Fan Bao throw her head back and laughed.

"You mean you don't recognize him?"

Xiao He gave an embarrassed smile.

"I'm not really into celebrity watch and all that stuff. Doesn't interest me. But I think I've seen him somewhere before."

"Probably a billboard or something. Wearing those skinny briefs they advertise as trunks," Fan Bao grinned, throwing a mischievous glance at the man beside her.

Li Jun gave a cough, which effectively broke the light banter between them.

Xiao He was feeling antsy again. He was antsy because the two young men were now scowling at each other over the pretty head of the impervious little girl. But his nervousness dissipated when Fan Bao unclasp the pendant from her neck and gave it to him. He held the masterful work of art reverently in his hand. The large diamond in the middle of a bed of 97 precious stones lived up to its legendary reputation. It was truly breathtaking.

"I saw your version of this design displayed on the window of your store. It was not diamond, was it? An imitation?" Fan Bao asked.

"We call it zirconia, Ms. Fan. The store couldn't afford the real South Diamond so we settled for second best."

"And you used pearls instead of precious stones."

Xiao He smiled.

"I wanted to create something more authentic, not totally copied from the original. And I happen to like pearls so...," he shrugged.

"Have you been interested in jewelry since you were a child?"

"Yes, I was. My grandfather was my first teacher. He was really good in crafting precious stones and design as well. He once told me that when he was very young, he met someone who changed his life. That person asked him to design a jewel for him which grandpa really didn't know how to do since he's never been exposed to the trade. His background was farming so diamonds and pearls were out of his league. The family was not poor but jewelry was not really part of the environment he grew up in.

"But then he saw the jewel, a large unpolished stone the size of his fist and he remembered being mesmerized by it. He didn't even think of its value. He told me he wanted to hold it in his hand and carve it in any shape he wants. It awoke something in him, he said. Like something was calling to him."

"And did he?" Fan Bao asked.

"What?"

"Carve the stone in any shape he pleased?"

"He didn't say but I think he did because he left farming and opened a jewelry store afterwards."

"Your grandfather sounds like a lovely man. What happened to him?"

"He died when I was in high school. He was kind of famous in our area. He was very good at what he did and women loved wearing the jewels he created."

"So, you have a jewelry store of your own?"

"Yes, he left me the store but I took a break from it because I wanted to pursue something like what grandpa had."

"And what's that?"

"Find an unusual stone and make my mark."

Xiao He was expecting her to laugh because his last sentence sounded boastful even to his ears but she didn't. Fan Bao smiled but kept quiet, her slim fingers playing with the antique emerald ring on her left hand.

"How do you make a living then if you've taken a break from your work?" Feng Gan, who was listening to their conversation, finally couldn't stop inserting himself in it.

"I work on a per design basis for this jeweler whom I know. He gives me the materials, I do the design and I get paid for it. Sometimes, he asks me to do repairs but I don't do that anymore since it doesn't interest me. What I really like is to create designs not for the mass market but something like what Faberge did for the Romanovs."

"That's quite a tall order," Fan Bao said, surprised. "So you want to be like him?"

"I wish I had his talent," Xiao He smiled. "But after he created those fabulous Easter eggs, his name became sort of like a Mt Olympus to the rest of us jewelers. Lovely to look at but difficult to climb."

"Does it pay well? Being a jeweller?"

"It pays enough for me to have a hobby."

"Oh? What's this hobby of yours then?"

"Archery."

Fan Bao gawked at him then laughed uproariously.

"I should have known. Not really a shock though," Fan Bao chuckled. "Did you hear that, Li Jun?" she said, turning a merry eyes towards the man who was watching them with an inscrutable expression.

"Yes, your majesty. Amazing," was the bland reply.

Fan Bao frowned.

"What's with you today? Aren't you feeling well?"

Before Li Jun could answer, Feng Gan took Fan Bao's plate and started to fill it with some food which a maid was now serving before them. He then put the plate before Fan Bao, who attacked it with gusto. A glass of orange juice followed in the plate's wake, a slice of ham, some fruits, a slice of cake, then a cup of Fan Bao's favorite ginger tea.

The three men watched her silently. Xiao He's eyes were focused on the doting smile that split Feng Gan's face. Li Jun was indifferent, drinking his cold coffee on the other side of the table.

"Aren't you eating anything?" Fan Bao asked Feng Gan, who kissed her cheek then reached for his own plate.

"How do you like to work for me, Xiao He?" Fan Bao dropped the question without preamble. "I own a pretty big store and I think you can help me brush up its reputation."

"Work for you?" Xiao He stammered. "I mean, I'm just an ordinary jeweler. And I don't have that much experience."

"It doesn't matter. I like the way you designed that choker in the window display. It was brilliant, in my opinion. If you work for me, you'll be exposed to the best materials you can ever find. And I'll nurture your talent and sell your works to a highly specialized clientele. No mainstream customers for you, Xiao He. What do you say?"

Xiao He was literally immobile from shock. When the girl from the store gave him Li Jun's card, he thought it somewhat odd. But when the girl mentioned about the card owner's companion being the owner of the original South Diamond pendant, he was almost electrified by excitement. When he called and Li Jun told him about Fan Bao, he didn't recognize the name at first. But he recognized the name of that temple of temples, Templar, and he knew wild crazy horses couldn't stop him from meeting her. He cleared his throat and was about to answer her question when two people barged into the room unannounced.

"Dad said you're going to marry Gan, how crazy is that?" said a petite girl with short dark hair. "He was pulling my leg, right?"

"Bao Bao, is it true I'm going to live here with you? Li Jun told me that might happen since he said I'm not going back to the village."

"Of course it's true," Fan Bao said. "Come and have your breakfast. Did you sleep well?"

The thin young man with glasses sat beside Li Jun and put eggs on his plate.

"I slept fine. Li Jun's room was very quiet."

"I didn't know you wore glasses."

The young man touched the rim of his glasses somewhat self-consciously.

"I do from time to time, especially if I'm exposed to the sun too much."

"Who is this person, Fan Bao?" the girl asked. Li Jun threw her an apple which she caught with her right hand. She looked at him, surprised.

"You usually eat apples in the mornings, don't you?" Li Jun asked, leisurely pouring himself another cup of coffee.

"Y..yes," she stammered. "I...I didn't...I didn't know you knew about it though," she said, pink-cheeked with pleasure.

Li Jun just smiled.

"This is Jing, Huan Jing. A friend of mine," Fan Bao said then turning to Huan Jing, she continued. "No, you're not staying here. My stepfather won't allow it. But I'm buying you a house next door to this house and you and Li Jun will live there and I'll visit you everyday. You can come visit me, too, whenever you like."

"Buying him a house?" thundered Feng Gan. One can almost see smoke coming out of his ears. "Who the heck is this guy that you'll buy a house for him. What is he to you, Fan Bao?"

"I told you, he's a friend," Fan Bao said calmly. "Did Bo Chang talk to the owners yet?" this question was directed at Li Jun.

"Mmnn."

"How can he be your friend?" raged Feng Gan. "You never go anywhere. You were always sick and stayed in your room day and night. All of a sudden, you have this...this...bodyguard here, then four-eyes, then this so-called friend. What the hell is going on?"

"Li Jun is not a bodyguard. He's my right hand man. He's here because my grandfather chose him to be here. Four eyes here is going to be the head of my creative team. He's going to make me fabulous jewelry that will make Templar the envy of everyone. And Huan Jing is the grandson of a man I once abandoned because I was a coward. Does that answer your question?"

"But...who...," sputtered poor and bewildered Feng Gan.

"Is he at it again?" Feng Xiao Ping entered the room with a lazy smile. "I told you she's going to lead you a merry dance if you married her, son."

"So it's true?" Mei Ming cried. "You are going to marry him?"

"I don't know. I remember saying no but he thought he heard yes so I guess we're getting married."

"Darling," Feng Gan said, kissing Fan Bao's hand. "You've made me the happiest bastard in the entire world."

"We've had this same drill happen before but it's no use. Fate, I guess."

"What?"

"I said I'm tired of running and you've caught me."

Feng Xiao Ping watched with a satisfied smile as Feng Gan tenderly kissed Fan Bao. He turned his head and encountered the bewildered eyes of an unfamiliar young man sitting beside his stepdaughter.

"Who might you be?" he said, taking the chair next to Li Jun.

"I'm the jeweler, sir," Xiao He said. "Xiao He."

"I'm the stepfather," Feng Xiao Ping answered. "Feng Xiao Ping. My daughter. Mei Ming."

"Glad to meet you both," Xiao He said, clearly embarrassed.

"Why can't I stay here with Fan Bao?" Huan Jing's tone was belligerent as he turned and asked Feng Xiao Ping.

"Because I say so."

Huan Jing met the other man's calm gaze with a spark of resentment in his own eyes. After a while, his eyes dropped and a dull red spread over his face.

"We've been invited to attend a dinner party at the palace this evening," Feng Xiao Ping turned to his son as if nothing had happened. "Do you want me to announce your engagement then?"

"No," Fan Bao said before Feng Gan could answer his father. "I want it announced on a special occasion just for the two of us."

"I second that," Feng Gan said happily.

"Whose birthday is it this time?" asked Mei Ming.

"Jun Ya," Feng Xiao Ping said indifferently.

"The crown prince's mistress?" Mei Ming was stunned. "What about his wife?"

"What about her?" her father said without interest.

"He's actually going to publicly acknowledge her as his mistress?"

"Seems like it."

While father and daughter were having their conversation, Fan Bao's eyes drifted to Li Jun's. He gave an imperceptible nod. Fan Bao's lips curled.

"Hey, Bao Bao. What are you going to wear?" Mei Ming's voice was a bit self-conscious. Fan Bao turned to her and her lips this time curled in a soft smile.

"Black, of course," she said, her smile white and dazzling.