Liuzi opened the door to find Shopkeeper Liu. He hastily invited him in, yet Liuzi always felt that Shopkeeper Liu’s smile today was a bit too deliberate, as if he had an ulterior motive.
"Shopkeeper Liu, what brings you here?" Lin Yuan wasn’t the type of fussy patron who liked to boss around the owner and little servants during her meals, so she didn’t call for Shopkeeper Liu after placing her order. Moreover, she knew that this was Shopkeeper Liu’s busiest time and preferred not to cause any unnecessary trouble.
Shopkeeper Liu coughed, struggling to suppress the smile in his heart, and bowed to everyone in the elegant room: "Well, Miss Lin, today marks the auspicious opening of Rice Flower Fragrance, and I don’t have much to offer as a gift, so I had my chef prepare a dish called ’Blooming Prosperity’ to send over to you. I wish you booming business and a life full of wealth and honor."
So he came to deliver a dish.
Lin Yuan quickly stood up, smiling as she accepted Shopkeeper Liu’s gift: "Shopkeeper Liu, you’re too kind. After all, I earned my first pot of gold at your establishment. I should be the one thanking you."
Shopkeeper Liu waved his hands urgently, saying "I wouldn’t dare" three times, before clapping his hands to signal the servant waiting outside to bring in the ’Blooming Prosperity’ dish.
As the servant passed by Liuzi with his head down, Liuzi suddenly raised an eyebrow at him, frowning deeply. Was this little servant new here? He felt as though he had never seen him before. Yet, he couldn’t shake off a feeling of familiarity with this man. Such an odd sensation.
Moreover, the hat that he was wearing on his head—Young Master had disliked it for being too sloppy and had forbidden its use last year. So why was this servant wearing it again?
It wasn’t just Liuzi who was sensitive, Lin Yuan also sensed something odd. This servant not only kept his head down, but also seemed taller; she didn’t remember any particularly tall servers among the little servants at Fuman Building.
Perhaps feeling Lin Yuan’s scrutinizing gaze, the servant bent over even more profoundly, nearly lifting the plate above his head.
Such abnormal behavior deepened Lin Yuan’s suspicions. Ever since the incident with the bandits on the road, she had become more cautious, fearing that this servant might be harboring some kind of scheme. After all, it wasn’t just her here, but her entire family as well.
Glancing at Lin Yi beside her, she noted that the usually keenly perceptive man was merely sipping his tea, cup after cup, as if he were unbearably thirsty.
However, seeing no particular reaction from him, Lin Yuan somewhat relaxed, reasoning that if even this skilled fighter hadn’t noticed anything amiss, then maybe she was just being overly paranoid.
"Miss Lin, let’s place the ’Blooming Prosperity’ before you and the master," said Shopkeeper Liu, hastily stepping to the side to block her view of the servant as he noticed Lin Yuan bending down to inspect the man again.
Lin Yuan chuckled softly and nodded, "Alright then. Thank you for the trouble, little servant."
Her words also carried a probing intent. If that little servant responded, it meant that everything was fine; if he remained silent, perhaps it was time to detain him for some serious questioning about his intentions.
The servant, holding the dish with both hands, gave an almost imperceptible shudder of his shoulders. The hat on his head shadowed over half his face with its brims.
"No trouble at all, Miss Lin."
The voice of that little servant was indeed strange, sounding like the unpleasant cackling that comes from a hen when its neck is held.
The Lin Jiaxin clan were originally enjoying their drinks without noticing anything, but now, seeing Lin Yuan’s cautious demeanor, they unconsciously turned their attention to the servant.
Hearing his voice, Xiao Linshuang, who had been preoccupied picking at her vegetables, suddenly covered her ears, moaning in discomfort, "Ah, that voice, so weird, truly unpleasant."