Commander Cui's Secret Mission

*** A/N: Written for DelaliaBlah🌻 (@lilistillstrong).

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed it. :)

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A new tea house had just opened on one of the liveliest streets in Daxing City. It was a two-story building, looking bright and pleasant with all the pretty decorations adorning the exterior, making the shop an immediate eye-catcher to whoever was walking past the street. The first floor was a spacious area for general customers. On the second floor, there were private rooms for guests who came in groups and wished to be separated from the crowd.

The tea house became an instant spot of interest for the locals and visitors alike from the first day it was opened. For as long as the shop's door wasn't closed, there would always be an influx of customers pouring in throughout the day. Some were weary travelers looking for a brief moment of respite, some were dwellers of Daxing City who simply wished to enjoy a cup of tea and light meals. There were also groups of people from all kinds of walks of life booking the private rooms for various occasions, be it official ones or casual celebrations.

But the most popular thing about the tea house was that they had special tables on the balcony of the second floor directly overlooking the city view below, where one could sit leisurely while watching the bustling activities of the town's inhabitants. As it was the most-sought spot by the majority of customers, the tea house made a rule that one could only get a seat there through a prior reservation.

Feng Xiao stood a mere few steps away from the tea house. He saw the vibrant decorations at the front door, a young waiter cheerfully inviting passersby in, and the never-ending visitors coming and leaving the shop. The place looked pleasant and Feng Xiao had, on several occasions, tasted for himself some of their best delicacies, but the Jiejian Bureau's Commander was now looking at it with mixed feelings bothering his heart; a rare frown put a slight blemish on his otherwise exceptionally dashing visage.

After all, who wouldn't be dispirited after having their good-willed invitations rejected multiple times in a row?

The story was as such.

The great Commander Feng of the Jiejian Bureau had a certain someone dear to his heart. Having discovered a new place where they could spend a pleasant time together, naturally, the good Commander's first thought was that he wanted to invite that certain someone and treat him to the shop's popular specialties. How unfortunate it was that their fate would be so star-crossed; despite the numerous arrangements Commander Feng had proposed, his dearest someone had been unable to reciprocate his invitations, for the other person was, at the moment, too occupied by official duties to spare time for leisurely activities.

Today was the umpteenth time the Commander's invitation had been refused. Therefore, to soothe his somewhat broken heart, Commander Feng decided to go and enjoy the tea by himself.

Not that he would ever admit that he was brokenhearted.

The tea shop's waiter beamed at once upon noticing such a venerable-looking person approaching their way. He gleefully escorted Feng Xiao into the shop, directing him to the stairs toward the second floor after finding out that he already had a reservation made for a seat on the balcony. Feng Xiao disregarded—or at least pretended to disregard—the looks of admiration he received from the other guests as he strolled among the crowds. He didn't ask to be born with such unparalleled beauty. If these mediocre-looking commoners found his elegance astonishing, there was nothing he could do but let them witness his refined appearance in its full glory, right?

But this peerless elegance of Commander Feng very nearly shattered as soon as he arrived at the second floor, with his left foot tripping over the hem of his own robe. Had it not been for his sharpened reflexes, he would've fallen flat with his face on the floor. And the cause of the Commander's accidental undignified conduct was none other than the sight of a certain familiar figure occupying the best seat on the balcony.