The next morning, Duanmu sat on the stone steps in front of the door, looking like a child without a mother.
Thinking of how he had been ambushed by his boss last night, he gnawed on his fingers by the door, muttering. Cui'er watched him from in front of the building for a long time. Such a big man acting like a child was as strange as it could get.
"Are you alright? Did the shock make you go silly?"
"You're the silly one! I'm heartbroken. Has boss woken up yet?" Duanmu tilted his head, listening for a moment. There seemed to be no movement upstairs, and he began to bite his fingers again.
Who would have thought that the handsome and ruthless Young Master Duanmu would act like a spoiled child? However, he only put on this expression in front of his boss.
"Not yet. He's been feeling a chill all morning," Cui'er said disdainfully, flicking her head and walking into the building. Miss wasn't up yet, and her sleeping posture was quite terrible.
She was sprawled on the bed, limbs spread out in a starfish shape. The thin silk quilt had long since disappeared to who knows where. Cui'er tiptoed over, preparing to cover her, but then heard her miss mumble.
"Who are you talking to so early in the morning?"
"That Duanmu fellow. He's sitting by the door biting his fingers this morning, asking if Young Master Qi is up," Cui'er called her Young Master Qi when she was outside, even when no one else was around, otherwise Miss would scold her.
"Oh," Liu Liu nodded, then rolled over and sat up, stretching her arms to warm up her muscles. Her feet moved to the edge of the bed.
Cui'er immediately stepped forward and bent down to help her put on her small court boots with green satin and pink soles. Then, she took the five-colored embroidered silk robe of dark blue and silver rat fur from the hanger and helped her put it on. She tied a green embroidered knot with a long tassel around her waist, served her after she washed, and sat her down in front of the bronze mirror.
"Young Master Qi, let me help you," Cui'er folded the bedding on the bed and walked over to assist Liu Liu. She carefully applied a human skin mask to her face. This mask was a gift from Master Ming Hui to Miss.
It was said to be the result of a skillful divine doctor's life's work. It had good ventilation, was as smooth as an infant's skin, and adhered perfectly to her face without any flaws, even capturing the slightest expressions with vividness.
After Cui'er finished applying the mask, she stepped back and looked, finding no trace of a flaw, and nodded with satisfaction. She then reached for a false Adam's apple from the dressing table.
This Adam's apple was part of the same set as the human skin mask, and its craftsmanship was equally exquisite. Cui'er skillfully attached the Adam's apple, and looking at her miss again, she had transformed into a dashing young gentleman.
"Young Master Qi, are you satisfied?" Cui'er took the bronze mirror and handed it to Miss. Liu Liu glanced at it. There were indeed no flaws, and it looked much more pleasant than her own ugly face. She nodded, "Mm, let's go downstairs."
The two of them descended the stairs. As soon as Duanmu heard the movement upstairs, he had obediently stood up and waited. Liu Liu walked up to him and let out a cold, amused snort, "What is it now? Come over to give me a face-slap first thing in the morning?"
"No, I wouldn't dare to give boss a face-slap. I just missed boss so much. I didn't expect boss to knock me out," Duanmu said aggrievedly, following Liu Liu to the dining table in the courtyard.
Hearing their conversation, Chu Feng and Dai Mei also emerged from the building and sat on either side of the dining table, both looking at Duanmu.
This fellow was really troublesome. He didn't sleep in the morning and went to boss's door like a lovesick puppy. Sooner or later, he'd be taught a lesson by boss again. He had been taught a lesson so many times, yet he still hadn't learned his lesson.
"Did boss sleep well yesterday?" Dai Mei asked softly. Liu Liu smiled and nodded, glancing at Dai Mei.
After not seeing her for a few days, Dai Mei was becoming more and more vibrant. Her face was as delicate as the finest silk, and even Liu Liu, a woman, felt a pang of tenderness for her. How much more so would a man feel?
She had initially wanted Dai Mei to reform and marry a man properly, but she insisted on refusing. Perhaps her heart had been too deeply wounded, causing her to no longer trust men.
"Mei'er is becoming more and more radiant. Forget men, even women are probably attracted to you!"
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Dai Mei smiled even more enchantingly, her beauty dazzling. Her skin was like congealed fat, her eyebrows like new moons, and her eyes like deep pools. "Thank you for your compliment, boss," even her voice was captivatingly charming.
Duanmu was displeased to hear Liu Liu praise Dai Mei. He pouted and said, "Boss is too biased. Why do you only praise Dai Mei? What about me and Chu Feng? Don't you think we've become even more handsome?"
Upon hearing Duanmu's words, Dai Mei immediately shot him a cold glare. Was he still a man? He always competed with her. Boss belonged to everyone, not just him.
"Duanmu, Mei'er is a woman. Men should yield to women, you know? When will you ever learn this?" Liu Liu sighed with feigned confusion. Duanmu immediately said obsequiously, "As for women, I only listen to boss."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Feng and Dai Mei immediately closed their eyes, secretly thinking, "You idiot, you're in for it now." Sure enough, a thud echoed in their ears, and Duanmu was sent flying.
He quickly got up, not daring to let out a whimper. Who told him to violate boss's taboo again? Boss had repeatedly reminded them not to reveal that she was a woman in front of outsiders. Look at his big mouth.
"Duanmu, have you been too idle lately?" Liu Liu's expression turned grim. Chu Feng and Dai Mei quickly said cautiously, "Boss, please spare him this time. He's always been a bit dense."
Liu Liu glanced at Duanmu. The fellow knew to be afraid, so she decided to let him off this time. She snorted, "Sit down. If there's a next time, don't blame me for kicking you out of Black Street."
Duanmu immediately became as obedient as a cat. Black Street was his home, and boss was his family. Where would he go if he left here? He lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
Cui'er, meanwhile, took the breakfast from the tray held by a young maid and set it out on the dining table one by one, sneering proudly. Serves him right. Will he still laugh at this ugly girl next time?
At the table, the four of them began their breakfast. The table was laden with pastries, delicate side dishes, and porridge.
As she ate, Liu Liu softly asked her three subordinates, "Has everything been quiet on the streets lately?"
"There's nothing much happening on my end," Chu Feng spoke first. He was in charge of restaurants and teahouses, where things were usually uneventful. Moreover, Chu Feng was quite steady, so he generally didn't let things escalate.
Liu Liu nodded and looked at Dai Mei, completely ignoring Duanmu's expectant gaze. She deliberately wanted to temper his impatient personality.
Seeing Liu Liu look at her, Dai Mei quickly put down her chopsticks and said respectfully, "Something has come up on my end. A few days ago, we received an invitation stating that two influential patrons would be coming to the building to listen to music today, and we were asked to prepare. They immediately gave us fifty thousand taels of silver notes."
"Hmm, I didn't expect Black Street to become so famous. To think that listening to a piece of music would cost fifty thousand taels. I'm afraid those two have ulterior motives. You should all be careful and not be careless," Liu Liu raised her eyebrows, took the silk kerchief handed by Cui'er behind her, and wiped her hands, giving careful instructions.
Dai Mei cautiously glanced at Liu Liu, pondering whether to speak. Seeing Dai Mei's expression, Liu Liu knew she had something to say and waved her hand, "Mei'er, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Boss's zither skills are unparalleled in the world. If boss could play a piece, perhaps it could boost the fame of our 'Yan Hong Lou'!" As soon as Dai Mei finished her suggestion, she received two fiery gazes from the side, staring intently at her.
"Dai Mei, you've gone too far, actually plotting against boss!" Duanmu sternly rebuked Dai Mei with a cold face. Even the usually steady Chu Feng shook his head in disapproval, "Dai Mei, what you said is really inconsiderate."
Seeing that everyone disagreed with her idea and that boss's expression had turned frosty, Dai Mei realized she had touched a taboo for everyone. She immediately raised both hands in surrender, "Alright, I admit I was inconsiderate. I won't say anything more, okay?"
Liu Liu glanced at the stiff atmosphere at the dining table and waved her hand, saying, "Alright, you two don't blame Dai Mei. She's also dedicated to public service and wants to make 'Yan Hong Lou' successful. Her intention was good. Fine, I'll play a piece. However, this will be the only time, and not again."
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Dai Mei's eyes lit up, her face beaming. She glanced sideways at the two men opposite her, thinking, "How about that? Boss isn't angry with me, right? I did it to boost the reputation of Yan Hong Lou."
Chu Feng and Duanmu immediately spoke in disagreement, "Boss, you can't show your face. If people know that you are...? This will cause trouble."
"Alright, I won't show my face. We'll say that Dai Mei personally played a piece to welcome those two influential patrons," Liu Liu made the final decision. The others, though they had reservations, dared not say anything more.