The Shop Assistant and the Great Deviless - Chapter 3

Fu Yunmo attended to the ladies of the Tianyuan Sect with utmost diligence, pouring tea and hovering about. Her golden hair swayed as she moved, quite nearly dazzling the youngest disciple.

“Um… Waiter, why is your hair gold?”

The girl had seen people from the Western Regions before. Though Fu Yunmo’s hair was golden, she still had dark eyes. Her features were beautiful—stunning, even—but they lacked the deep, sharp contours typical of Westerners. Thus, she knew Fu Yunmo wasn’t a foreigner.

“Uh… well… this? It’s hair dye,” Fu Yunmo stammered.

She could hardly explain that she’d gone for a professional color and perm to give her audience a “fresh look.” Wait! I’m not an actress anymore, she reminded herself. I’m just a lowly waiter.

“What kind of miraculous dye is that? Isn’t dye just for fabric? Besides, our bodies are gifts from our parents; how can you just change it like that?”

A barrage of questions followed, giving Fu Yunmo a slight headache. Suddenly, a memory from the novel flickered through her mind.

Zhuge Tian’er: The junior disciple and personal apprentice of Mo Lixi. Sixteen years old, quirky, and incredibly inquisitive. Her catchphrases were always “Why?” and “What?” She had watery eyes, pale pink lips, and a face as delicate as jade. Her weapon was the Blue Whale, a silver sword with a sapphire hilt.

Beside her was Wen Ruoxian, Mo Lixi’s senior disciple. Her face combined masculine gallantry with feminine grace, making her exceptionally handsome. She was traditional and strict with etiquette, often appearing aloof, but she was fiercely protective of her junior sister.

“Hehe… might these two heroines be the famous Lady Zhuge and Lady Wen of the Tianyuan Sect?” Fu Yunmo asked, desperately changing the subject. She didn’t want to answer Zhuge Tian’er’s philosophical questions.

“How do you know us? Am I already that famous? Senior Sister, did you hear that? She knows us!”

Typical kid, was Fu Yunmo’s only assessment.

“Mm,” Wen Ruoxian hummed, clearly not wanting to dwell on it. Si Hai Restaurant was the “Martial Arts Hub”; its staff were expected to have sharp eyes and recognize important figures. “Junior Sister, finish your meal. We have arrangements to make.”

Wen Ruoxian noticed that while Fu Yunmo wore a smile, there was a hint of helplessness in it. Realizing Tian’er was being a nuisance again, she silenced the girl.

“Alright! Once Sister Mo arrives, I can finally get a good night’s sleep!” Zhuge Tian’er chirped, completely forgetting her curiosity as she ran to Manager Li to settle their rooms.

“My sister was impolite just now. I apologize on her behalf,” Wen Ruoxian said, bowing with her hands clasped.

Fu Yunmo waved her hands frantically. “No, no! Not at all! Lady Zhuge is quite charming.”

Fu Yunmo couldn’t believe she was receiving a bow from such a high-ranking character. In the novel, Wen Ruoxian was described as a stickler for rules, but seeing her in person, she was also someone who treated commoners with equal respect. It was impossible to dislike her.

“I see… that is good.” Wen Ruoxian looked at Fu Yunmo’s hair, opened her mouth as if to ask something, but then thought better of it and followed Tian’er upstairs.

Aha! A closet curious-cat! Fu Yunmo thought. She wanted to know about the hair too!

“Xiao Mo! What are you standing there for? Get back to the tea!”

Zhang the Pockmarked’s voice shattered the moment. Fu Yunmo was an actress—a method actress, at that.

“Coming, Brother Pockmark!” she chirped with a beaming smile. As the saying goes, “one does not strike a smiling face.” Even if Zhang wanted to make her life difficult, he couldn’t bring himself to do more than nag when met with such a radiant expression.

Gossip and Plots

During her break, Fu Yunmo sat with Chef Chen, Little Jade, and Old Lin, the assistant chef.

“So, the Tianyuan Sect arrived today?” Chef Chen asked. At Si Hai Restaurant, the staff didn’t gossip about the weather; they gossiped about the Jianghu.

“Yes… it seems they intend to demand an explanation at this year’s Assembly,” Old Lin added. He was a veteran of the restaurant and knew the pulse of the martial world.

Fu Yunmo’s memory kicked in. In the novel, during the first Assembly after the protagonist Nan Kunlun arrived, the Tianyuan Sect caused a stir. Rumor had it that a Tianyuan disciple had been drugged at an inn, and everyone blamed the Cangyun Sect.

But Fu Yunmo knew better. It wasn’t the Cangyun Sect; it was the Young Master of Yueluo Manor. That place is a nest of hypocrites—a lecherous father and a moronic son.

“The Yueluo Manor is going to make a fool of itself,” Fu Yunmo muttered before slurping her noodles.

“Wasn’t it the Cangyun Sect?” Little Jade asked.

Fu Yunmo choked on her noodles. Cough! Cough! She had forgotten—at this point in the story, everyone still blamed Cangyun.

“Right, right! I meant Cangyun. My mistake!” she said quickly, drinking some tea to recover. She decided to keep her “prophetic” mouth shut to avoid trouble.

The Arrival of the Fairy

During the busy noon rush, Fu Yunmo was running back and forth. A new customer appeared at the door.

“Welcome! Will you be dining or staying the night?”

Wow… what a scent…

Fu Yunmo was bowed low out of habit and exhaustion. Smelling an exquisite fragrance, she looked up.

A woman in flowing white stood there. Her eyes were as clear as water, her skin like polished jade. Though she wore a veil, one could see the faint, red curve of her lips in a ghost of a smile. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet her gaze was soft and kind.

“Excuse me… Miss,” the woman said, her voice cool and gentle, like a breeze that left Fu Yunmo’s ears tingling. “Have disciples from the Tianyuan Sect checked in here?”

Mo Lixi watched the dazed look on the waiter’s face. She felt a slight urge to laugh but restrained herself. The waiter’s face suddenly transformed into a professional, beaming mask—faster than a stage performer changing roles.

“Yes, yes! They are in the Premium Second and Third rooms!”

Based on her grace, voice, and the question, Fu Yunmo knew exactly who this was: Mo Lixi, the “Fairy Mo,” Sect Leader of Tianyuan and one of the Five Great Experts.

“Thank you,” Mo Lixi nodded and headed upstairs.

Fu Yunmo shook her head vigorously. My god… that woman is criminally beautiful. And so gentle! She thought of the protagonist. Nan Kunlun, you lucky dog!

As she reached the top of the stairs, Mo Lixi paused and looked back at Fu Yunmo. She was struck by the waiter’s golden hair and the clean, beautiful face she had glimpsed for a moment. It was the first time she had ever seen a female waiter, and she made a mental note of her.

“Xiao Mo! Come here!”

It was Manager Li. Fu Yunmo hurried over. “Yes, Boss? What’s the word?”

“You know the Tianyuan Sect is composed entirely of women,” the manager whispered, stroking his mustache. “Lady Wen requested that a woman wait on them. Since there are only three of them, I’m putting you in charge of their needs. Don’t mess it up! Those other boys are already drooling over them.”

He looked at her as if he were granting her a grand favor. In reality, he realized having a female waiter was a great business move for high-profile female guests.

Fu Yunmo couldn’t refuse. Getting close to the female lead? Maybe she could even learn a martial arts move or two!

“What are you giggling about? Is that a yes?”

“Yes, Boss! Leave it to me!”

Fu Yunmo puffed out her chest confidently. She didn’t realize it yet, but this was the moment her destiny truly began to shift—though, arguably, it had already shifted the moment she woke up in this world.