After arriving back from Bihai Cangling where he had secluded for the past two weeks to gain some of his cultivation back, Donghua entered his study in Tai Chen Palace ready to peruse the reports that have been sent to him by his Sentries regarding the Qingtian Beast. He knew 3rd Prince Liansong, the head of his cabal of spies had gone personally to the Sea Kingdom to investigate what had happened to cause the seal to break and should have sent something by now. As he sat on his table, he noticed that instead of the usual pot of tea that was usually placed on the left side of his desk, there was a bowl of soup in its place. He was about to call for Chonglin to ask him why there was a change in his normal routine when he saw a small note tucked underneath the bowl.

Dear Dijun, please have some of this soup that I cooked especially for you. Steward Chonglin told me that you will be coming back today so I made sure to prepare this for you. Drink it as soon as you can so that it is still warm. It has herbs and tonics in it that is good for your cultivation and will help you keep up your strength. I hope you like it. Is your wound all healed now? If you need some more of the salve I put on it before, please let me know. Xiao Jiu.

Donghua smiled at the paper in his hands wondering how it was that even reading a note from her can make him happy. He shook his head. He was acting like a schoolboy with his first crush. He reached for the soup and placed it in front of him and as soon as he opened the lid, tendrils of smoke wafted to his nose as he smelled the delicious broth. He took a sip of it letting its comforting warmth flow through him. He drank it slowly, feeling the tenderness of her care in every sip. It must have taken her hours to make this as he could taste the intensity of the flavor in the soup.

"Chonglin greets Donghua Dijun. I apologize I was not here as soon as you came back I was detained getting some reports from the steward of Tianjun." Donghua waved off his apology. Chonglin was surprised to notice the empty soup bowl in front of him because he knew that Dijun rarely ate as he was never hungry after cultivating. He had tried to tell Xiao Jiu that Dijun did not like to drink anything but tea whenever he comes back from Bihai Cangling but Xiao Jiu had told insisted that soup was better than tea for cultivation and as Dijun's friend, she had to make sure that he was healthy all the time. Chonglin had looked at her askance not sure how to react to her claim of friendship with his Master because as far as he knew, they've only met once. However, Xiao Jiu had the ability to talk anyone into doing anything for her given enough time and soon Chonglin had agreed to allow her to serve him the soup instead of tea. "I hope the soup was still warm Dijun." he said as he arranged the reports on his desk. He had been afraid that Dijun might get angry at him for the break in routine but looking at him now, he didn't seem to be put out and he did finish the soup.  Maybe he was hungry?

"You timed it well. It was the perfect temperature." Dijun had been surprised that the soup was still warm as he had come back later than expected.

"Xiao Jiu's the one actually who has been making sure that it remains warm for you." He said wanting to give credit, where credit was due. When Dijun raised his eyebrow at him, he thought that Dijun might have forgotten who Xiao Jiu was. "Ah Xiao Jiu is the fairy maid from before with the Princess Zhi He incident.  I don't know if you remember her?" he explained.

"I know who Xiao Jiu is." Donghua said a little irritated, resisting the urge to declare that no one would ever forget Xiao Jiu once they met her. He could just imagine the look on Chonglin's face if he were to say that.

"She, ah, has been replacing the soup every half an hour. She said something about it needing to remain at the optimal level for you to get the most benefit from it. That's actually the 5th bowl of soup she's brought in." Chonglin elaborated.  It was now Donghua's turn to look surprised.  He was actually used to being catered to given the position that he had.  However, it had never been to this level of precision, to this level of care.  Suddenly, he felt keenly how much he missed her.  He wanted to talk to her and see her beautiful face.

"Can you ask her to come in here as soon as she's done with her duties. I want to thank her." he instructed Chonglin.  

"Ah, I think she's on her way back here. I met her before I came in and she said something about getting you some pastries she made when she realized you were back." As soon as he said it, they both saw Xiao Jiu enter the study, carefully balancing two plates piled high with different pastries.

"Xiao Jiu greets Donghua Dijun." she said as soon as she was near enough. She saw the empty bowl in front of him and she gave him a huge smile, so pleased that he had eaten the entire bowl. She felt more at ease with him now after that night in the open field. They had spent the whole night looking at the stars with Dijun pointing out the different star formations.  Soon, they have both fallen asleep.  She was tired from running around, while he was still recovering from his fight with the beast.  When they woke up, the sun was about to rise.  She was burrowed against him and he had his arms wrapped around her waist. But there had been no awkwardness between them astonishingly.  It was as if their conversation that night had taken down any barrier that might have existed between them.  Before they separated, she had told him that if he ever wanted to talk again he can call on her anytime as that's what friends do for each other.

"You finished it! Did you like it? I made sure to cook it in such a way that you won't taste the medicinal herbs in it. Did I succeed?" she asked as she put the plates of pastries in front of him. She was fairly bouncing with glee so happy that he was back at the Palace.  In his absence, she had decided that since she could not help carry any of the burdens of Dijun, she would just do all that she could to take care of him.  Chonglin was alarmed at the familiar way Xiao Jiu was addressing Dijun as he has never been spoken to like that, most especially by a fairy maid. He was thinking about how to signal her to tamp down her enthusiasm a little lest Dijun got annoyed with her when he saw that Dijun actually looked as far away from annoyed as someone could be. He actually looked like someone who was...pleased? Chonglin had no frame of reference because in the 200,000 years that he has been serving Dijun, he has never seen him look like this.

"You did well. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't even have known that there was medicinal herbs in it. " he acknowledged. "The soup really did taste good."  She flashed him another of her beaming smiles happy that he had praised her cooking. There was a quick stab of happiness in his heart as he felt the joy that was emanating from her.  

"I made you some pastries, too." she said taking one from the plates handing it over to him. He shook his head as he really was quite full. "Please just a bite. It's a new recipe I'm trying and I would really like someone to taste test it for me. Please? As a favor?" she said widening her eyes comically at him. She wanted him to eat more as she eyed his much too thin frame.  Although, as she examined his face, she could see that he looked more relaxed and not as exhausted as before.  She was glad that the seclusion had seem to have done him a world of good.

"I seem to be doing favors for you left and right? Come to think of it, I think you still owe me for last time." he said feigning seriousness even as he knew that he could deny her nothing if she continued to look at him with that bewitching look on her face.

"Are you ready to collect? What do you want me to do for you?" she asked cheekily. She did owe him for quite a lot.

"Teach me to cook your version of sweet and sour fish." he blurted out surprising even himself as he hadn't meant to say that. But the more he thought about it, the more he warmed to the idea. Here was his chance to spend more time with her. "I mean, you have to make up for what you did to my sweet and sour fish." he said.

"You remembered that?" she asked startled. She didn't think he would connect her with the incident in the kitchen several months ago as he's never mentioned it before.

"Of course I remember, I'm not so old that I would forget someone who tampered with my signature dish."

"Weeellll....you're kinda old. You're ten million years old, right?" she said wrinkling her nose at him, looking even more adorable, if that was possible.  He tried his best to look affronted at her impudence in calling him old but he knew he was failing miserably as all he wanted to do now was get closer to her. "Also, I, I tampered with your dish? I guess if by tamper you mean that I improved it so much that you can no longer use it as a punishment for people who displease you, then I guess I did tamper with it." she said shrugging, her smile never leaving her face.  She had heard from the grapevine that when someone displeased Dijun, they were to expect a plate of his sweet and sour fish.  Looking at her sweet face, he wanted to give her a huge grin loving the way she was casually teasing him but he settled for giving her a small smile.  So this is what it feels like to be her friend. I wonder how  much better it would be if we were more than friends? He mentally shook his head at his errant thought.  "Fine, I'll teach you how to cook, I do owe you after all. But first eat the pastry!" She lifted the pastry towards him again urging him to take it.  But instead of reaching for the pastry, he took hold of her wrist instead to steady it and bit the cake while it was still in her hands.  Her eyes widened in astonishment at his audacity.

"Delicious." he murmured because it really was.  He beckoned for her to give him another bite as if he could not resist the intimacy of eating out of her hands.  There was just something about her that made his heart race as it never had before and made him do things he would never imagine he would do.

A sudden coughing noise interrupted the moment making Xiao Jiu drop the pastry she was holding out for Dijun. They froze for a second having forgotten that they were not alone. Chonglin was coughing so hard now after having tried to swallow down the gasp he had been about to make when Dijun had eaten the pastry directly from Xiao Jiu's hand. He had been watching the interaction between them gaping the entire time.  Not that anyone noticed him.  He didn't understand what was happening. It was like he had just walked into the middle of a story with no context as to its beginning. He knew Xiao Jiu made friends easily, but Dijun did not! At least not as long as he's been serving him. When did they become friends who teased each other? Because judging from the way they were talking to each other, they had definitely become friends somewhere along the line.  He remembered the last time he was with them, the awkwardness he felt. It was exactly the same now, no, it was actually a thousand times worse this time.  Where was the stoic Dijun? Not only was he teasing her, it looked like he was blatantly flirting with her also.  Thinking about this brought about another paroxym of coughing from the normally calm Chonglin.  Xiao Jiu was now tapping his back looking concerned. She quickly went to the sideboard where a pitcher of water and some cups had been placed and poured a cup of water for Chonglin.  He gulped down the water gratefully trying to regain his composure.  "Are you all right?" she asked as she continued to tap his back.  He nodded straightening himself.  

Xiao Jiu suddenly felt embarrassed knowing that Chonglin had heard the entire conversation.  Chonglin might be used to her ways but this was still Donghua Dijun she was talking to. "Umm, Dijun if there's nothing else, I ask to be dismiss as I'm on night shift today."  she said bowing respectfully.  

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"  Donghua said before she could leave reminding her of their agreement.

"Yes, the kitchens are empty from 3-5 in the afternoon.  I'll see you then." she said.  "I mean, that is, if you're available?"  she suddenly remembered that she should not be the one dictating when they should meet.  He might be busy.  Chonglin was about to interject and remind Dijun that he was meeting with General Li Wan at that time but his master gave him a look.  A look that told him that Chonglin better reschedule the meeting with the General as Dijun was no longer available at the original time. 

"I'll see you then." Dijun said to Feng Jiu nodding at her.