"Sorry Ma'am, but we cannot follow that request". The head maid said, a little disdain written on her face that she was trying hard to conceal behind her mask of politeness. Though that mask was not too strong to hide her reality, Li Xue still behaved like it did the work.
Her brows got raised in surprise as she asked, "Sorry, is there a problem with that, Ms. Wu? I thought the chefs here will be all capable enough to make a delicious serve of hotpot." She said as her eyes turned to look at the young chef standing at the side.
Chef Han was instantly fl.u.s.tered. His eyes raised as he looked at the woman before feeling a strenuous gaze from the man. It instantly sent shivers down his spine which made him immediately cast his gaze on the floor. "I apologize for the misunderstanding, Ma'am, but I don't have any problem in cooking hotpot. Though I can't be too sure of my capability, I can still try to cook an authentic one as per your request".
Li Xue heard him apologize but didn't say anything, instead turned to look at the head maid. "Ms. Wu, I don't see Chef Han having any issue then what problem do you see here? As far as I have understood, I have never seen any maid in the kitchen before. This area is solely managed and headed by the chefs, right?" She said. The minimal warning was evident in her tone. But she has purposefully kept her tone to be light so that it didn't feel awkward, given that it was just the first meeting they were sharing.
Since the warning was lighter in sense, the maid didn't seem to give any strong heed to it, instead, she smirked internally before feigning her care and concern to the matter. "Oh, I am sorry Ma'am. I don't really have an issue with what you eat. My concern is about the Young Master. Being trained in the Feng Personal Training Academy for Maids and Servants, we have been listed before that the Young Master of the family has always restricted himself from having spicy and oily dishes. So, I fear that hotpot may not suit his preferences".
The Head maid said, keeping her head down in respect. Though her words were kept in utmost respect, she didn't hesitate in telling how Li Xue was not aware of the man's taste and preferences.
Li Xue was quite impressed to see how impressive this maid was. Though she has heard a lot from Yi Lan about how the cunning and intelligent maids were always in a big family, she has only come to face them now. Back in Little Carnations, she guesses that Sister Margaret was more efficient to handle them on her own, that's why she never came across this issue. But since she was not there, it seems she, herself, has to be careful and diligent.
She smiled as she looked at the bowed head of the head maid and asked in complete surprise. Like it was something that she had heard of the first time and had no idea. "Really? How come your Young Master has not been so picky in eating with me? Don't say that I have brought a good influence on him. After all, being a picky eater is not a good thing. I have even let our daughter have a habit of that". Li Xue said and the maid's expression at once changed.
Her eyes shot up to look at the woman with some grudge as she opened her lips to say something but before even she could spit a syllable out, Li Xue continued her words as if before, she had never planned to give her any chance to speak. She has never allowed her to give her opinion.
"About your concern, Ms. Wu, I don't think given your position here, I need to pay any heed to it. And as your Young Master …" Li Xue paused, her smile growing deeper as she turned to look at the man before asking him straightforwardly. Her arms still looped around with him. "Do you want to have something else? If you want to have other things, you don't have to force yourself according to me, you know?"
Feng Shufen stared at her. The thing happening around was very much visible. But still, he was keeping his calm, letting her control the situation on her own. Though to others it was looking like with looped arms she was trying to be clingy with him in front of others, when he very well knew how otherwise it was.
Those hooked arms were not to act clingy, rather was to keep him calm, so he didn't overstep and fire the woman right away. With such a gesture, the woman was demanding him to let her handle the things. And since it was her demand, how could he not accept it?
"Your preference blends well with the occasion. I have no problem with it" He simply said and to his orders, the head maid's jaws hung low, but she didn't keep her expression too obvious. Trying her best to keep calm at the moment, she quickly retreated her gaze to look down on the cupped hands, down.
Li Xue has expected the response to come this way. After all, she truly hasn't seen the man having any issue with the hotpot she cooked last time. She smiled before nodding to him and turning back to the maid. "I hope it will be fine now, Ms. Wu. Your Young master doesn't have any issue with having a hotpot with us".
The head maid was instantly embarrassed. Lowering her head, she immediately soothed the situation, "I really apologize, Ma'am. I was just looking after the Young Master in the way we were trained to. My words and intentions have never been to disrespect you".
Li Xue smiled. "It's fine. I have seen your intentions very well and you were just doing the job for which you were sent here. So, don't worry, I didn't mind". She said before giving the chef some last orders before leaving the kitchen along with Feng Shufen.
Behind them, both the head chef and head maid bowed in respect. Just after they left, the chef asked in a completely surprised tone, "By the way, Ms. Wu, are you sure that this was the same President Feng about whom we have heard so many things?"
"…" The maid didn't say a thing in response, rather her eyes stared at the disappearing figure of the woman in the distance. Her gaze filled with contempt and hostility, while fists clenched at the sides to hold within the anger she was feeling inside.
"I think President Feng truly loves Madam deeply" The Chef added again but this time, the maid harshly responded.
"That's impossible. That woman is simply not capable to enter the Feng family. The future mistress of the family is already decided and a woman like her will never be able to change her."
The young Chef was all confused. Before he could even ask what does that mean, the woman turned on her heels and left at once.