Chapter 5 Behind the Mask

Tension is all over the well-lit and decorated banquet room of the Su Mansion when the guest and the Lady of the mansion who was still clad in a man's suit, finally stood face-to-face.

"It's you!"

"It's you!"

Both said in chorus. All eyes are on the "two gentlemen". Disgust and anger were screaming in their both faces. Their eyes exchanged daggers of fierce emotions.

She never expected to see him again. Clearly, because she does not want to crosses paths with him again. But look how fate made fun of her, she even poured all her energy just to prepare a nice meal for him.

Her blood boils at the thought of him. How much more that he is now standing in front of him, with her brothers. She wanted to shout and throw at him all that's near her because she knows she can't easily dispatch him now that her brothers might already know what happened.

"You were the man disguised in the forest last night!" The guest furiously pointed at her.

"What about the forest?" asks Guan.

"Well, this young man here pulled some tricks last night which could stir suspicions if he chooses not to cooperate." Hwa Jin answered confidently.

She couldn't stand him anymore and tapped the young man's finger to cut him off. This is her abode. She is the Lady of this Mansion and he was just a guest. He has no right to defame nor disrespect her!

"Watch your words, young man. You don't even have shreds of evidence to prove your accusations, do you?" She replied with an arched eyebrow.

The guest was taken aback. He caught everyone's attention. Truly, nobody from this house saw them and could help him prove that she was really the culprit. He pursed his lips into a thin straight line.

"Indeed, nobody saw us. But don't you think you still have responsibilities after getting the whole mansion into trouble for escaping at night?" he jabbed, taunting her.

Her knees suddenly went jelly after hearing him. 'Damn it!'

"You suddenly became silent..." Hwa Jin walked towards her. She could only step back. "Because it's true right?"

Then she felt the cold walls on her back. He even trapped her between his arms. She could already smell his manly scent.

'Damn you!' that all she could speak to her mind.

They had only separated from each other when Guan cleared his throat.

"So, this is the reason why you've brought some dates." It wasn't a question. It was a statement that worsened her uneasiness.

She unconsciously bit her lower lip which made the guest couldn't resist staring at her. Despite the tension and panic, she has felt, she still managed to look irresistibly hot.

But the guest shook his head and looked away. She is still wearing a man's clothes anyway so she looks like a man.

"And you were told to dress nicely, right?" Wan Ni, the second born added, smirking.

Rong could definitely not know what to do. She does not want to be defamed again in front of this barbaric guest. She doesn't want to be punished by her brothers either. But before she could make a decision, Guan's voice echoed in the four corners of the room like a rumble of thunder.

"Why are you so stubborn, Rong'er?" Guan stepped and leaned towards her. "I told you a thousand times not to roam around and wear clothes inappropriate for your gender!"

"Don't you think we would have not known what you did? What would have happened when you stumble on a different person and harm you instead?"

"How could you not think of your safety when what we always think is you!"

The face of his angry brother concluded that he could nowhere be tamed at this moment. She was feeling guilty now. But she has to do something.

"I...─" It was the last word she uttered before everything on her sight went black. She collapsed. Wan Ni who was standing next to her immediately scooped her and carried her.

"Rong'er! Are you alright?" Guan asked at the unresponsive Rong. Lim Tan and Eno Tang came over worriedly.

The guest was stunned at what happened. He was not able to grasp and connect all that's happened.

"Is he a she?" The guest was left in doubt when everyone rushed the patient to her chamber.

***

Rong wakes up with a smile on her face the next morning. The room was filled with the earthly smell of herbs, lavenders, and incense that satisfied her nostrils. Still, with her eyes closed, she stretched her arms one last time before deciding to get up.

As she finally opened her eyes while sitting on the bed, she immediately saw Chui Yuan who was carrying a small basin of water.

"My Lady, you are finally awake!" the servant walked towards her and checked her. "How are you feeling? Does your head still hurt?"

She then remembered what happened last night. The unexpected meeting of her and the man at the restaurant, Guan's angry face, most especially her mischievous plan.

Wan Ni quickly laid her down to a soft surfaced piece of furniture. With her eyes closed, she assumed it was her bed as she smelled the familiar scent of the room.

After she was positioned properly, Wan Ni checked her pulse on the wrist and temperature on the forehead.

"How is she?" Asked Guan. Worry is visible in his voice.

"She only had fatigue due to an exhausting day. I bet, no one really helped her in the kitchen earlier." Wan Ni diagnoses.

"Why didn't you help your sister, Tan'er?" it was Guan.

"I was still at the restaurant. How could I help her?"

"And how about you Tang'er?"

"I fetched Tan'er just as you ordered. Besides, she still wouldn't accept any help in the kitchen especially when she knew that there will be a banquet."

Her brothers kept arguing and made her so bored that she forgot to wake up after they leave the room. She has had drifted to sleep.

She looked at her attendant who was so worried at her too. She beamed at her.

"Did you really got scared last night?" She laughingly asked the poor attendant. She could only get a nod from her. "Don't be fooled! I'm fine, alright?"

Her shoulders are shaking as she prevents herself to laugh. She still remembers the chili she bit last night. It helped her have the symptoms of her staged illness.

She shakes her head sideways and asks her attendant a saucer.

Although confused, Chui Yuan obliged diligently.

Once the servant handed her the saucer, she spits the crushed and tasteless chili. Chui Yuan's eyes widened.

"My Lady, that is a─" She cut her off.

"Yes, it is. And now that you already know, I expect the same level of confidentiality from you." The servant nodded in astonishment.

"Very cunning, My Lady." Chui Yuan slyly grinned. Rong gave her a narcissistic smirk.

"Now prepare my clothes. I will now take a nice warm bath."

"As you wish, My Lady." The servant bowed and left.