21. The Innerworkings of Leo’s Mind
Chapter twenty-one
The Innerworkings of Leo’s Mind
Monique
Lei’s laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls of Lotus Blossom.
It was a strange sound, but I could see the tension behind his amusement.
And for the first time, he truly took in the setting around us—the new decor, the fresh flowers in vases, and the servants moving gracefully through the space, preparing for what he now knew would be tomorrow’s tea ceremony.
And all I could do was wonder what was going through his mind?
Was he pissed?
Would this be an unnecessary fight?
Or something that would help our relationship grow even more?
Nervous, I stood in place, just like the little girl from the story did as the dragon thunderously laughed in her face.
A minute later, Lei finally looked back at me, and just like the dragon in the story, his eyes sparkled with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. “Now I understand.”
“What?”
“It couldn’t be just one thing, Father. No. You sneaky bastard.” Lei shook his head. “I was looking at the surface of today then when he put that blade to your neck, I only considered the danger, but never did I pull back the layers of his purpose.”
“What do you mean the layers of his purpose?”
“Tell me everything you did today. Starting right from the moment my aunts woke you up.” He leaned his head to the side. “They did wake you up. Right?”
“Yes, but why do you want to know what happened right from the beginning?”
“So I can piece together the true reasoning behind all of this.”
I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts. “He wants to do a tea ceremony to welcome me to the East.”
“You must remember that when it comes to my father, even when you think you know, you still have no clue.”
“Alright. Your aunts woke me up and said that we were going to breakfast.”
“Did you ever eat?”
“No. But they were rushing. They had tons of clothes for me to pick from and they introduced me to my ladies-in-waiting.”
“How many racks of clothes?”
“Tons of them.”
Lei chuckled.
“What?”
“They’re lucky you used your wish on them because I would have given them another thirty days.”
“Why?”
“They are plotting with my father, and I need them to stop.” He came closer and took in my hands. “At least I know that all their plotting is for us. They want us to have a perfect union.”
Those words filled me with warmth.
His gaze locked onto mine. “They took you through the tunnel and out onto the garden, but did they ever tell you my father would be there?”
“Never. Oh yeah. Before we left, they wanted to make sure I was dressed nice because cameras would be capturing me.”
Lei snickered.
“What?”
“Oh no. This is too good to be true. Keep going.”
“I want to know the joke.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Moni. I’ll give you the punchline eventually.”
I took another deep breath and started from the beginning. “I was blown away by the garden—”
“I’m still mad that they took that moment from me too.”
“Lei, you showed it to me when we flew over—”
“But, I’d planned to walk you through the garden this evening.”
“We can still do that.” I smiled. “Anyway, they told me we were going to have a lovely breakfast with the most amazing tea. Apparently, it would be herbs taken straight out of the garden.”
He wore a skeptical face. “And that was supposed to be today?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“Your father talked about the tea ceremony happening today too. The reporters were—”
“What?” Lei appeared beyond humored. “Reporters were coming here ?”
“Yes. They were on their way. In fact, I think they arrived, and Uncle Song said that Chen and you got rid of them.”
“There were no reporters.”
“What?” I blinked. “No. . .”
“We fought tons of my father’s men, but there were no reporters.”
“I swore he said they were on their way—”
“If the Grand Mountain Master requests cameras to show up to Lotus Blossom, they would be there within seconds, not minutes. Not one reporter would ever keep my father waiting.”
A sick feeling twisted within my stomach. “But then. . .”
“Don’t worry. The East is weird, but allow me to help you. First, let’s test how much you should trust my aunts when my father is concerned.” He walked off. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the chef.”
“O-kay.” I followed Lei toward the hallway. My head filled with an unsettling mix of confusion and intensity.
The day that had seemed so clear and meticulously planned now felt like a tangled web of deceit and manipulation.
So. . .news reporters weren’t coming today? Why would they lie about that?
My certainty was unraveling, much like a tightly wound spool of thread suddenly set free, spinning out of control.
What the fuck is going on?
As we walked, my mind swirled with doubt and more questions. Every moment replayed itself in my head like a film reel stuck on repeat.
Had I misunderstood everything?
The uncertainty gnawed at me.
The air in the hallway was thick with the scent of fresh flowers and polished wood, but it did little to soothe the storm inside me.
I glanced at Lei’s back, his broad shoulders tense with purpose. His determination was a stark contrast to my growing anxiety.
I felt like a ship lost at sea, the once-clear horizon now obscured by dark, swirling clouds.
As we approached the kitchen, the aroma of delicious dishes wafted through the air—roasted meats, fresh herbs, and baked goods mingling together in a mouth-watering symphony.
Damn. They’re getting busy in here. Am I really going to have a chef now? My sisters and I are about to be so spoiled.
The kitchen itself was a bustling hive of activity, with chefs and cooks working on various dishes. Their hands moved with practiced precision.
Other servants polished porcelain dishes. They were careful and deliberate.
Meanwhile, the kitchen itself was a feast for the senses. The sound of sizzling pans and the clatter of utensils filled the air, accompanied by the rich, savory smells of the dishes being prepared. The warmth from the ovens and stoves added a cozy, inviting feel to the space, contrasting with the cool, refreshing scent of freshly cut herbs.
The chef, a tall man with a kind smile, spotted Lei and came over. “In addition to tomorrow’s tea ceremony, we are preparing your dinner also, Mountain Master. Your father said that you would like to have an early dinner in the garden this evening, right before the sun sets.”
Lei frowned. “Oh, did he?”
“Yes, sir.”
Lei shook his head and looked at me. “Where do you want to have dinner tonight, Moni?”
“The garden works for me.”
“Then, it will be the garden.” Lei turned back to the chef. “I have a question for you.”
“Yes, Mountain Master.”
“Did you have orders to make breakfast and do a tea ceremony for today ?”
The chef’s smile faded slightly as he considered the question. “Today?”
“Yes.”
To my shock, the chef shook his head. “Not today, sir.”
“Hmmm.” Lei glanced at me.
What the fuck? But they said it was today, and when Lei arrived we couldn’t anymore.
Lei turned back to the chef. “What did my father tell you?”
“Early this morning, the Grand Mountain Master called my phone and told me that the official tea ceremony would be tomorrow. He instructed us to spend all of today getting the house ready and that he would be around soon with the new Mountain Mistress to show her the house, but to remain quiet and focus on our duties.”
Oh shit. Leo played me?
Lei’s frown deepened. “So to get this completely straight, there were no preparations for a breakfast or tea ceremony today?”
“No, Mountain Master,” the chef confirmed. “We were only told to prepare for tomorrow’s event.”
“And how many people would be there?”
“The Grand Mountain Master explained that seven people will be seated at the main table and there should be a buffet table for the news, as they will be eating out in the garden once filling their plates.”
Seven people?
Lei ran a hand through his hair. “Thank you, chef.”
The chef nodded and returned to his work, leaving Lei and me standing there in the bustling kitchen.
“So, what does this mean?”
“It means my father had a bigger plan all along.” Lei’s voice tinged with frustration. “Even more, this entire day was a setup for something bigger. He knew the tea ceremony would never happen. His bringing you here and having time alone was to get you to guarantee that it would happen tomorrow.”
“Okay. . .so. . .what the fuck?”
“I’ll explain.” He gently took my hand and led me out of the kitchen. “So, when you were with my father, he tested your ladies-in-waiting?”
“Yes. They fought on the porch.”
“Once he was satisfied, he brought you inside?”
“Yes, but I think he wanted to fight more, but your aunts made him stop. They kept talking about time—”
“They knew I would be coming soon, not reporters and they knew there damn sure wouldn’t be a tea ceremony.”
“How would they know that?”
Lei stopped me back in front of the staircase. “Because Moni. . .the tea ceremony meant that you would be making your first pot of tea in the East.”
“Okay.”
“And. . .the act of making and sipping tea is more than just a daily ritual.” Lei took me in, dropping his gaze on my lips and raising them to my eyes. “It’s a graceful dance, a. . . silent conversation of respect, love, and harmony between the one who prepares it and the one who receives it. The first cup is a very public, yet sensual act of love.”
“Wait a minute. Your father explained it as a way of tradition whereas you’re explaining it like we’re about to fuck.”
“Now you understand.”
“No, Lei.” I shook my head. “I don’t. You’re going to have to further break it down for me.”
“I will.” He chuckled. “But, what happened next?”
“I walked in and was blown away by the house, and then he stopped me right here where we are standing now—”
“And what were the tests he gave you?”
“Hold up. How did you know he tested me?”
“Because all my life there have been tests. What was yours today?”
“He asked me if I loved you.”
Now it was his turn to blink. “You’re still alive so. . .you said yes.”
I blushed. “I did.”
He licked his lips. “I love you too.”
“You better.”
That silly grin returned to his face. “What was the other question?”
“How did you know there was another question?”
“Because I’ve known this man all my life.”
“Well. . .he asked me if I was in love with Duck.”
Lei raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re still alive, so you said no.”
“True. Then. . .that was when I noticed he had his knife out.”
“He is a fast son of a bitch that can kill you in less than a second.” Lei shook his head. “You can never be alone with him again.”
“But Lei. . .the tea ceremony.”
“Oh yes. The tea ceremony.” Lei took my hand and guided me up the stairs. “Did you hear the number of guests that the chef said would be at the table?”
“I did. He said seven.”
“So who are the seven people? You know them all.” Lei guided me toward the second floor. “And I’m assuming that since you passed the tests he brought you up here?”
“Yeah.” I began thinking about the people at the table. “I would be there and Leo too.”
“Yes. That’s two people. Who are the other five?”
“Song?”
“Of course. That’s the Grand Deputy Mountain Master.”
“And. . .your aunts.”
“That’s five. Who are the other two that my father knew would be at the tea ceremony early this morning when he made the call to the chef.” Lei got us to the second floor and then led me down the hallway. “Remember. He’s always three steps ahead.”
“Hold on.” I stopped us in the center of the hallway. “So. . .your father knew the ceremony wouldn’t be today but he told me all day it would. Why?”
“Because you needed to understand the importance of why the tea ceremony should happen.”
“Couldn’t he just tell me?”
“You still think my father is normal and straight to the point.”
“Alright. Alright.” I let go of his hand. “Hold on. We went up to the master bedroom and he told me all about our mothers—”
“Which was smart. He knew that you would have questions and knew the exact questions it would be.”
“Okay.”
“And he had to give you true answers so you would trust him. Because once you trusted him on that side, he could really put his plan into action—”
“Which was the tea ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“But why not just have the tea ceremony today?”
“Who are the other two people that are supposed to be at the ceremony tomorrow? Did you guess?” Lei put up seven fingers. “We already know the five—you, my father, Uncle Song, and my aunts. Who else?”
I widened my eyes. “You.”
Lei nodded. “And Chen, the current Deputy Mountain Master.”
Things were suddenly starting to make more sense.
Lei walked off to the next set of stairs, heading to the third floor.
I followed. “But there would be no way you would even consider doing a tea ceremony today.”
“Not at all. I would have tried to kill him like I planned to do the moment I saw him today.”
“But by the time you saw him, he had already convinced me on how important the tea ceremony would be.”
“Exactly.”
We headed up the stairs.
More puzzle pieces started coming together.
Lei continued, “And if you’re convinced that the tea ceremony is the right thing to do, then guess who you will convince to do it?”
I frowned. “I would convince you.”
“There’s always more to things with him.” Lei ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not about what he wants in a straightforward sense. It’s about control and setting the stage for something bigger.”
When we got to the master bedroom, Lei let out a small gasp and took in the space. “Wow. He changed this too.”
“He did.”
“It’s all new and. . .different. Modern. Chic.” Lei nodded. “Not bad, Father. Not bad at all.”
“Why did he change everything?”
“He wanted to impress you as well as make you happy.” Lei put his attention on me. “Are you happy?”
“Yes. . .at least. . .I think so.” I gazed around the room. “I don’t like that I was being toyed with today.”
“Welcome to the family. That is the way of the East. Nothing is exactly how it seems.”
“I don’t like that.”
He got in front of me. “Then, we’ll change it.”
“We will.” I looked up at him. “So. . .no to the tea ceremony tomorrow?”
Lei laughed. “Oh no. We are definitely doing the tea ceremony.”
I blinked. “We are?”
“Of course. It’s important.”
“Okay. Hold on.” I shook my head and stepped back. “Why are you cool with it now?”
Chuckling, he went over to my bed, and he didn’t just sit down, he collapsed onto it, pressing his back onto the soft mattress and gazing up at the ceiling.
I walked over there, got on the bed, and lay at his side. “Are you going to tell me why you’re all about the tea ceremony now?”
“First, today was a set of tests for me too, not just you.” He turned his face to me and those sexy eyes gleamed with affection. “I shouldn’t say yes to the tea ceremony because it would be playing completely into his plan. But how could I say no? Every move he made today played into my love and possessiveness over you.”
“How?”
“First, you should understand the true symbolism of a tea ceremony.”
I quirked my brows. “Okay. . .Tell me.”