Song Xi didn't recall having any prior interactions with Mu Anxiao in this manner. Therefore, facing her sudden familiarity, he immediately took a disliking to her. "You're quite bold, young one. Do you know who I am to speak to me like that?" he said, walking up to Mu Anxiao.
Upon hearing Song Xi's words, Mu Anxiao realized she was merely an unknown demon. She no longer bared her white teeth arrogantly and instead offered a sheepish grin. "I don't know who you are, but I know that anyone who enters this kitchen must have a lower status than me."
Song Xi let out a soft hum. "What a statement. Is your status very high, then?"
Inside the kitchen, the First and Second Cook had recognized Song Xi the moment he started speaking. Now, listening to his questioning of Mu Anxiao, they found themselves anticipating some entertainment. Setting aside their work, they exchanged a glance and moved towards the window. "I want to hear if that kid can stay so arrogant," the First Cook whispered.
The Second Cook glanced at the First Cook and smiled helplessly. "Even if she can't stay arrogant, we still have to cook for her."
"Perhaps the Elder will chase her away later," the First Cook said lightly. (Here, they referred to Xi'er and Song Xi collectively as Elders.)
"I think it's not as simple as you imagine. That kid is quite cunning," the Second Cook replied.
Hearing this, the First Cook became displeased. "If that's the case, why aren't you preparing food for her then?"
"No," the Second Cook said in a low voice.
The First Cook looked confused. "You say she's cunning, yet you don't do as she says. You're quite contradictory."
"This territory, after all, belongs to the Elder. If he discovers us using vegetables without permission, we won't get paid this month," the Second Cook stated with remarkable clarity.
The First Cook smiled. "You little girl, I never realized you were so sharp before. If that's the case," she glanced at the stove behind them, "luckily we haven't started yet. If the Elder saw us begin, it would be terrible."
"Precisely. Let's listen first. If that kid backs down, we'll go out and complain. If not, we'll wait for the Elder to leave and then continue," the Second Cook planned meticulously.
The First Cook nodded. "Yes, always have a backup plan." With that, she shushed her and, with the Second Cook, began to observe from outside.
The Courtyard.
Mu Anxiao deliberately met Song Xi's gaze for a long while before speaking, "You are the Elder's husband, aren't you?" she said, scrutinizing Song Xi from head to toe.
Song Xi didn't understand the meaning behind Mu Anxiao's glance. Being suddenly scrutinized like that, he couldn't suppress his anger. "You don't even know our rules yet, and you're pretending..."
"That's right, I only arrived recently and have been assigned a new duty," Mu Anxiao interrupted Song Xi, her face full of arrogance.
Song Xi detested Mu Anxiao's attitude and frowned deeply. "Both Xi'er and I are Elders here. You should address me as Elder. If you continue to be so presumptuous, I will immediately turn you into a cook here." Fire sparked in his eyes.
Conversely, Mu Anxiao was unfazed. "A cook? I doubt that's something you can decide," she said, placing her hands behind her back.
Song Xi's eyes darkened. "Kid, I advise you not to be too arrogant. Do you believe me when I say I can make you a cook right now?" He was completely fed up with Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao lowered her gaze and smiled. "That would be disappointing for you. It was the Master who arranged my position. If you want me to be a cook, that's fine too," she said, winking at Song Xi. "Go talk to the Master."
"Who are you trying to fool? A mere junior who just joined, how could you instantly gain the Master's favor?" Song Xi said, narrowing his eyes. "Especially someone like you, whom the Master wouldn't even give a second glance."
Hearing Song Xi's words, the First and Second Cook became visibly tense.
"So, you know the Master very well, do you?" Mu Anxiao said calmly.
Song Xi's lips curved. "My marriage to Xi'er was arranged by the Master himself. You..."
"I remember now," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately interrupting, as she didn't want Song Xi to finish his sentence.
Song Xi's face fell. "..."
Mu Anxiao continued, "Before the Master came to the demon realm, he was under the command of the Marriage Immortal. So, his arranging your marriage to Xi'er might simply be due to his professional habit." She nodded, indicating how correct her thought was.
Song Xi let out a cold laugh. "You should say all that to the Master." With that, he raised two fingers and conjured a rope to bind Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao looked down and said calmly, "What? Are you taking me to the Master?"
"Let's go," Song Xi said, reaching out and pulling one end of the rope.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao began to struggle against him.
Thus, after they both pulled and retreated for a while, Song Xi gave up. "I've never met a demon as shameless as you," he said, sinking onto the ground, exhausted.
Mu Anxiao felt nothing. With the rope still on her, she turned to face Song Xi. "I am someone close to Mu Anxiao. In a short while, I will be entering the palace with her. If you continue to bind me like this," she said, a smile playing on her lips, "I will report you to the Lord." She knew Song Xi feared Mo Juan, and was intentionally provoking him.
As expected, the moment Mu Anxiao uttered those words, Song Xi made the rope on Mu Anxiao vanish. "You know the Lord?"
"Of course. We're even distant relatives, though the Master and the others don't know about it. If you were to speak of it," Mu Anxiao knew the two cooks inside were eavesdropping, so she deliberately raised her voice, "the Lord would surely grind you into dust. Of course, whoever hears it will have their bones ground and their ashes scattered."
Upon hearing this, Song Xi's attitude towards Mu Anxiao immediately changed. "You should have said so earlier."
"Isn't it a secret?" Mu Anxiao said, sitting down.
In the kitchen, after hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the First and Second Cook quickly got up to prepare food for her.
At this moment, Song Xi gave a sheepish laugh to Mu Anxiao and said, "By the way, what's your name?"
"Whoever knows my name dies. Are you sure you want to know?" Mu Anxiao continued to scare Song Xi.
Song Xi gave a dry laugh. "Then perhaps not." He reached out, picked up a used teacup from the table, and took a sip of the remaining cool tea. "Your tea is quite good." After saying that, he put down the teacup.
However, Mu Anxiao hadn't intentionally observed Song Xi before this. Even so, her first impression of him was that of a rather honest person. Therefore, she believed that flattery and smooth-talking had nothing to do with him. Little did she know, people are not always what they seem. Looking at Song Xi's praise for the tea, she couldn't help but laugh.