11 Date or Excuse (1/2)

Cai Jin frowned. The first time they met, she was assertive. The moment they were engaged, she behaved so aggressively. After meeting his family, she left him alone? Did anything happen? He asked himself.

When he went to visit yesterday, the mansion seemed to be so busy. The first time he saw them, they used to be like haggard-faced people. Not many of the residents smiled nor talked. It seemed like the General was the only bubbly one in that place. But what he recently saw made a quick impression that everyone had been replaced with high spirited souls.

The soldiers by the gate even greeted him with a more subtle expression compared to their usual aloof faces. He wondered but did not want to pry believing it might irritate a certain infamous figure of the empire. As he was about to give up like yesterday, a familiar man has spotted the young man.

Elder Jin sighed, contemplating on how he can make up for his mistake for ignoring his future lord yesterday due to the sudden summon. When the general suddenly made up a new rule in her household, the entire residence took a big change beginning from the rearrangement of the servants' quarters to the structure of their mansion's servants. Even their living conditions and wage have improved. Basic education and training were also started. Was the lady starting a small kingdom within her residence? If her enemies have heard about it, it would be like signing a death agreement with them.

Luckily, she had another clause regarding confidentiality and penalty contracts! She was still a devil in nature.

Now, to make the child relax and take a break from continuously reforming her household, having the future lord distract should be a great gift by fate.

”My lord, please don't go yet. Our general is in the study.”

But of course, Cai Jin has never been called by any title aside from a young master in his entire life. He keeps walking with a lonely back as he slowly headed back into the carriage. Thankfully, Elder Jin's has realized that issue so much to his displeasure, the old man had to toss his cane and ran after his lord in full speed.

Many who had seen him today has known the limping elder from the general's mansion from over the years. Who knew that one day, he would recover?

Nevertheless, the important person was stopped and dragged into Wei Xia Ri's office in the blink of an eye.

”My, what a great afternoon. Cai Jin, you visited me!” Today, the man wore a white robe with light-blue bamboo prints. Half of his long, silky, black hair had been tied back showing off his jawline and the sneaky collar bones peeking from underneath his robe. His handsome face also made her sigh. 'In combination with his complex personality, he is so cute!'

”General Wei, it is my pleasure.”

”Hmmm,” the woman could not resist grinning. Just as the room was getting awkward for the young man, a certain elder cleared their throat. ”Oh! Haha, I almost missed!”

When Wei Xia Ri saw that he was missing his cane, she could not help but remind him of his missing accessory. It was his 'fashion statement.'

”I mean, won't you look better without those?”

”It is better to look smarter, milady. You will soon understand this.”

”I'm fine. Anyway, please make sure they take their breaks. Tell them that I would rather have increased productivity compared to overworked people. In addition, here are my proposals for the business. Can you review this and make suggestions? Thank you.” She smiled and watched the Elder leave for his much-deserved break.

Aside from her shadow guards, the study only has her and Cai Jin. He stood not too far from her table and looked at her quietly as if expecting her to say something. It seemed like his womanizing skills were running into an error code at the moment, he couldn't say a single pick-up line.

”Oh, do you play any instruments?” she started. If she could remember, Wei Xia Ri used to read that many noble males were taught to play at least one musical instrument. For a moment, he silently remained on his feet before surrendering and walking to the window and sat on the window sill.

He takes out a simple, wooden flute and began playing a somewhat calm but tragic tone. It reminded Wei Xia Ri of the ancient OST instrumentals in Korean and Chinese dramas. Instincts and years of reading had taught her that if the male lead played such tragic music, it was either reminiscing a sad history or their past lover.

At that thought, Wei Xia Ri could not help but turn frigid. She bit her lower lip as she waited for him to finish. The wait reminded her of the planking exercises she used to do wherein just a minute felt like a lifetime.

”Cai Jin,” she called out breathlessly.

In response, the youth stopped playing as his heart started beating erratically. Was he scared? No. Was he attracted to her voice? Not really. But to Wei Xia Ri? Probably. He thought that the women at the brothel were already assertive and quite mature. Yet this wild general who basically held great power in the empire can also capture his interests.

It also surprised him to see that the woman who was seating and watching him from her desk has disappeared and reappeared near him in a blink. Without touching him fully, she leaned her cold forehead against his left collarbone. Usually, if a woman does this to him, he would push them away or he would initiate the start of a long night all together. However, he was afraid that this seasoned soldier was maybe even stronger than him. He has never practiced the ways of a sword as well.

His skin that held so much warmth let the rigid lady relax for a bit. ”Who taught you that song?”

”My mother.”

”Mother? She is such a genius.” 'But why did they keep her as a caged bird?'

”Is there anything wrong?”

When her institution calmed down, Wei Xia Ri remembered Concubine Gu's situation. It was probably tormenting her son. She closed her eyes and slowly lifted her face. But the opportunistic lady she was, a kiss on his seductive neck was the point of initiating contact!

She grins victoriously and patted his red right cheek before moving back to her desk. ”I don't know how to sing but I can hum a song I used to like when I was younger. Would it be possible for you to pick up the notes and play it?”

”I- I think I can,” he stuttered. The general is so cunning! When he agreed, Wei Xia Ri began humming Pachelbel's Canon. A strange and unique melody he had never heard of, it was so different from the regular music he heard and learnt. It was still mesmerizing. ”Did you learn this from the outside?”

'Well, I came from another world. It is outside this world.' Wei Xia Ri looked straight into his eyes, a smile playing on her lips as if inviting before she nodded with gentle, ”Yup.”

Cai Jin looked at the woman with a bit of envy. She was the general who traveled far and wide for the empire. Rumors said that she liked to bring back souvenirs from wherever. His eyes wandered around the study and saw some foreign instruments and weapons. Even the decor inside was completely different compared to his home. Her clothing and hairstyle was even a mix of their culture and a foreign touch.