Mooncakes for Xiao

Although meager in numbers, the Transient blade's disciples never failed to tend to their garden. The crimson leaves of the maple trees all around, paired with the pond of swimming koi fishes, gave the vicinity a calming milieu.

In the middle of it all was a gazebo, where Xiao was currently having tea with her unexpected guest.

"It's for you, have some." Yanmei slid a small red paper box in the middle of the table.

Xiao opened it to find a bundle of delectable looking mooncakes inside. "You didn't have to."

"Oh, but I insist. After all, we are somewhat associates now."

Yanmei's insistence along with her tone suggested that she was still wary. A bit disappointed, Xiao somewhat expected it after the events of their first meeting. Still, the fact that she was willing to sit down and have tea with her meant that the situation can be improved upon.

"Is it alright for you to leave your store just like that?"

"I've trained my employees to be able to handle such situations. Chen, my most trusted assistant, ensures that every transaction goes swimmingly."

"Most trusted."Xiao reiterated. "Does that mean she knows that you're a…"

"No." Yanmei briskly replied before Xiao could even finish her sentence. "No one else but you knows about that, I came here to ensure that it stays that way."

An awkward silence ensued. Basically, Yanmei insinuated that her visit was purely for business reasons alone. Ensure? There was no need for her to do so in the first place!

"I trust that you haven't told anyone about my secret. Do you require anything to keep that mouth of yours sealed?" Yanmei gently sipped her cup of tea.

"Is that the sole reason why you came here, only to bribe and keep tabs on me?"

A bit of Xiao's ire slipped with her question. Her voice didn't raise, but there was still a tinge of displeasure in it. She didn't mean to. It wasn't the accusation that she was someone who would babble on her most important secret that got to her, it was the fact that Xiao expected Yanmei to visit because she was…interested in her.

"Is there another reason as to why I should visit? I would like to remind you that spirit beasts like me are hunted for their cores. You're a cultivator yourself, can you guarantee that you won't turn on me?"

In business, one must always be unyielding when dealing with prospectors, lest you would find yourself in an unprofitable deal. Once Yanmei sensed her associate's irritation, it was inevitable that her bullishness as a businesswoman would rear its head just so she could get her point across. Oh, it got across to Xiao. Just not the way she had intended it to.

For a split second, the evidence of hurt on Xiao's face faded quickly as it appeared. Xiao wondered. Why is it that she was so fearless when it came to facing her enemies but she would often lose to her emotions when it came to the matters of the heart?

"I would never do that, because…"

"Because what?" Curious, Yanmei raised her brow.

"Nevermind." Xiao stood up, addressing the woman sitting in front of her with nothing but a polite tone, "You've already confirmed that your secret is safe, believe me, I intend to keep it that way. I must now cut our meeting short, I will be resuming my training."

"Wait, Xiao, don't you dare walk out on me!"

Yanmei called but Xiao didn't spare her even a glance as she walked out of the gazebo.

+++

Later that evening…

<<You are upset.>>

"How can you tell?"

<<Not that hard to figure out. You have cooped yourself up in your room instead of training, chowing down on the mooncakes that Yanmei gave you as you sulk on your desk like a rejected maiden. You haven't even confessed yet!>>

"Oh, right, how rude of me. Would you like some, teacher?"

Xiao grabbed a piece of mooncake and offered to push it into the mask.

<<I appreciate the gesture, but as you can see. I currently have no mouth.>>

Zhen sighed. Her role was to guide Xiao to become strong enough to brave the perilous trials ahead of her; she didn't take her under her wing just so she could become her personal love advisor. She was old enough to take care of that herself. Still, she couldn't help but give her student a piece of her mind.

<<You should have told her. Are you afraid she will reject you?>>

Biting another mooncake, its tender crust along with the filling melted into Xiao's mouth. It was sweet. Just like the memory of the painfully short moment of intimacy she shared with Yanmei.

"I'm not. I didn't want to because it felt like I would be pleading if I confessed back then."

<<That is how YOU felt, for all we know your confession might actually make Yanmei open up to you, or it will make you aware of the fact that she does not see you in that light. Then there would be no other course than to move on and remain as acquaintances. Either way, we will never know unless you tell her how you feel. Now go train, it will help you forget that heartbreak of yours.>>

And it wasn't like Yanmei was faultless with all things considered. Zhen internally scoffed, a Huli Jing who charms is having a hard time recognizing genuine affection. Ironic.

Heeding her master's advice, Xiao took the Mannequin of Reflection out on the sect's training ground for a bit of evening training.

+++

"Did I miss anything while I was out yesterday, Chen?"

Inside her office, Yanmei perused the ledger of transactions from the day before. Her question was intended to the person who presented such ledger.

"A cultivator dropped by, selling shells of giant turtle alligators. Our sinensis roots stock has been delivered. Those two were mostly it."

The young short haired woman wearing green robes answered. Suddenly, her boss clicked her tongue. She wasn't prone to lashing out in anger at her employees, but she can be vicious when it came to disciplining them for their mistakes. As would any other employers.

"Is there something wrong with the transactions, madam?"

Maybe she shouldn't have bought the turtle alligator shells? That wasn't it, it's a bonafide favorite among cultivators due to its defense enhancing capabilities.

Even though Yanmei's eyes scoured the ledger's content meticulously, her mind can help to wander off to yesterday's events. The gall of that woman to cut their meeting short! She traveled two long hours just for her! What could have she said that set Xiao off like that? Was she expecting Yanmei to trust her just like that when they hardly knew each other? Trust is something you earn, not something that you must easily give out. It boggles Yanmei that Xiao was expecting some sort of instant connection between them.

(My student would like to get to know you.) Yanmei remembered the words of Xiao's hidden master. Making all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. How could she have been so blind!?

Yanmei closed the ledger, "You've done well, Chen. I will be leaving again later in the afternoon, I will leave the store in your capable hands once again."

"As you wish, leave it to me, madam." With a bow, Chen left the office.

Her paranoia got the better of her and might have been too overbearing when she dealt with Xiao. Since the blunder lies with Yanmei, she believes she owes Xiao another visit. Not for business, but for the pleasure of getting to know each other.

+++