The encounter

I wake up with tears in my eyes. My heart is beating a mile a minute.

I sit up in bed.

It's all over. The dream's over, I didn't have to be afraid. I breathe in and out slowly.

Then I get up from my bed, still a little feverish. Before I realized that new clothes were lying next to my bed, along with a towel and toiletries.

Now that I was paying attention, I was sweating. And a good shower would do me a world of good.

So I went into the bathroom to shower. I spotted a bar of soap on the sink. I open it and smell it.

It smells like caramel, my favorite scent.

I pick it up and place it on the floor in the shower cubicle. I then place the towel and sanitary products on the sink before undressing to get into the shower.

Once I've finished showering, I put my dirty things in a basket where it says to put dirty things. Then I hang my towel on the door to dry.

I then leave the bathroom. Next to the bed is a pair of beige slippers, which I decide to wear.

I then tidy up my bed before leaving my room.

I look around curiously before descending the stairs.

The decorations are really pretty, I thought.

At the bottom, I hesitate, seeing no workers. So I decide to go into the dining room. I turn on the light.

I notice a sleeping figure on the table. I think the light is bothering him because I can see him waking up.

Damn, if I'd known someone was resting there, I wouldn't have turned on the light, I thought.

- Uh...hello," I said hesitantly.

- Prepare me some fried noodles with vegetables, please," he says, rubbing his eyes.

I freeze for a second before answering quickly.

- Okay, I'll hurry.

I leave quickly for the kitchen. Even though I don't work here, he saved my life, so I owe him that.

I enter the kitchen in the next room.

I start looking for the ingredients and arrange them on my worktop.

-The kitchen skill is activated °-

I start making the vegetable noodles he asked for. So I arrange my vegetables, noodles and sauces on my work surface.

I chop all my vegetables before starting to prepare the meal.

The meal takes about fifteen minutes to prepare. Once ready, I arrange it on a plate.

Then I take it to Monsieur. I should thank him for saving my life.

Once in the dining room, I place the plate in front of him.

- I forgot the cutlery," I tell him quickly.

I quickly go and get it before giving it to him.

- Thank you," he says.

I decide to go out into the corridor to let him eat.

I hear footsteps coming from behind me. I turn around and see another man and a cute little boy.

- You are?" I asked curiously.

- Yuan Xie, Shang Xie's brother, and the little guy's name is Joshua, Shang Xie's son," he explains.

- I'm Ruby, thank you for saving my life in a way," I tell him gratefully.

- I'd like to say you're welcome, but I didn't do it. It was my brother who saved your life," he confessed.

- All right, I'll go and thank him," I said.

Then I lean over to the child and take him in my arms.

- Sorry, you must have been scared on the boat," I say in a remorseful voice.

The child shakes his head before nodding.

- Okay, I get it, you mean you were scared at first, but then you weren't scared anymore, right?

He nods with a cute little baby face and chubby little cheeks.

- I'm hungry," he says hoarsely.

I stroke his head.

- I'll make you some : Khao Niao Ma Mouang," I say, smiling at him.

- Glutinous rice with mango and coconut milk," Yuan Xie exclaimed.

- Yes, why," I asked, puzzled.

- Can I have some? he asked excitedly

- You'll have the same noodles as your brother," I replied casually.

- Why?" he asked shocked.

- Because I only do it for cute, well-behaved kids," I replied, stroking Joshua's head again.

His hair is so soft!

- But I'm cute and well-behaved," he contradicts me.

I roll my eyes before smiling at Joshua.

- I'll bring it right back," I say.

- He replies

- Hey, you didn't answer me," Yuan Xie takes offense, sulking.

I quickly headed for the kitchen. I didn't want to waste my time in a one-sided discussion. And I start cooking.

I prepare Joshua's dish first so that it has time to cool. Then I quickly prepare Yuan Xie's dish.

Once both dishes are ready, I take them back to the dining room.

- It smells delicious," says Yuan Xie.

I place the mango glutinous rice in front of Joshua and the vegetable fried noodles in front of Yuan Xie.

- Next time, Shang Xie chooses a better dish," says Yuan Xie.

- Huh?" replies Shang Xie at a loss.

- By the way, you're working Ruby, the girl who saved your life, aren't you ashamed? added Yuan Xie, glaring at him.

He raises his head and looks at me astonished. I think he mistakenly thought I was working for him because of the uniform I was given.

- It doesn't matter anyway, I owe you one," I add quickly.

- I'm sorry, I mistakenly thought you were hired here," he apologized in a soft tone.

- No worries, I tell him

- In any case, you cook very well," he complimented.

- Thank you," I replied, smiling.

- How long have you been cooking? he asked.

- Ever since I was little, I've been cooking with my mother," I confessed.

- Your mother must be really good in the kitchen for you to cook like that," he said.

- Yeah, she cooks really well," I replied.

- It's really good," said Joshua, his cheeks all puffed out from the food in his mouth.

- Thanks," I replied, addicted to his cute face.

His cute expression literally melted me.

- If one day you're looking for a job, we'll hire you," says Yuan Xie as he devours his meal.

Shang Xie pats his head gently.

- Stop talking nonsense, she'll find a better job, so don't say that," says Shang Xie, sighing.

I smile at their interaction. It was cute.