After finishing breakfast, Old Lin kindly handed over a handkerchief.
Hanni, who was wiping her mouth with the back of her left hand, looked at the pure white silk handkerchief in front of her. She reached out with her right hand to take it and said softly, "Thank you, Old Lin."
Old Lin showed a kind expression toward Hanni. Then he looked up and changed his expression, ordering toward the door, "Someone come in."
Immediately, a young servant boy walked in. He looked very young, just a teenager.
Without Old Lin saying more, the boy quickly began to clean the dining table.
From the moment the boy came in, Hanni stopped wiping her mouth. She looked up at the door, then turned her head to look at the boy, then back at the door, then at the boy again, repeating this several times.
When Old Lin came in earlier, he did not close the door. Hanni's seat faced directly toward the door. So, who had been waiting outside all this time?
Hanni felt confused.
She knew she had more than two hundred degrees of nearsightedness, and she couldn't tell people from animals more than 100 meters away, but she should have noticed someone this close to the door.
Suddenly, Hanni remembered the novels she had read. Big wealthy families often had secret bodyguards or assassins. Since she had traveled to this world, it seemed nothing was impossible here.
The more she thought, the more nervous she became. She didn't notice that she was biting the handkerchief while wiping her mouth.
Watching the boy efficiently cleaning the table, Hanni thought something was wrong. A cold-blooded killer would not be assigned to wipe tables. That was impossible.
Also, the boy was thin and clean-looking. If he had any special features, it was that he looked a little handsome.
After finishing cleaning, the boy picked up the tray and left without saying a word. He was very efficient and did not waste time.
"What is the young master looking at?" Old Lin's voice came beside her ear.
Only then did Hanni realize she almost ate the handkerchief by mistake. She looked apologetic at Old Lin and said, "Sorry, should I wash it and return it to you?"
Old Lin replied calmly, "No need. After use, it is meant to be thrown away."
Old Lin's natural words left Hanni speechless. She looked down at the handkerchief in her hand. It was clearly made of high-quality silk, soft and smooth to the touch. So they used silk as a napkin? This made Hanni see the huge wealth gap in this world. The books were right.
Luxury brings waste.
She was like a poor person nearly freezing to death by the roadside.
Hanni liked some traditional objects, so she held the handkerchief tightly, feeling torn.
What should she do? She really liked this handkerchief.
She was poor and didn't want to throw it away.
Old Lin watched Hanni become very emotional over a used handkerchief.
Old Lin wondered what was wrong with this child.
Old Lin said, "Young master?"
Hanni came back to reality and saw Old Lin still had something to say. She stood up.
Old Lin would not sit while talking. It was a matter of respect, and Hanni felt it was not right to sit in front of an elder.
Since Old Lin would not sit, she would stand while talking. What was difficult about that?
Besides, this person might be her lifesaver.
Hanni stood in front of Old Lin. She clasped her hands together and imitated a pose from TV shows, bowing deeply three times. Though she did not understand the world's etiquette, this was the best way she could think of to show respect. She hoped he could feel it.
After finishing the bows, she stood up and put her hands down. She then spoke carefully, imitating old-fashioned speech: "My name is Hanni. Last night I accidentally became homeless and didn't know where to go. Luckily, you helped me, or I would have frozen on the street. I will remember this kindness forever."
While Hanni spoke passionately, she did not notice Old Lin's expression change. After she finished, his mouth twitched and he said, "Though you say that, young master..."
Hanni said, "You can just call me Hanni, Old Lin."
Old Lin took a deep breath and asked, "Hanni, why did you suddenly perform this disciple ceremony for me? And why do you call me teacher?"
After speaking, Old Lin frowned and put the back of his hand behind his back, as if he was thinking about something.
Hanni: "..." Huh?
Things she really didn't understand were better not to pretend to know. She had only said a simple thank you before.
How was she supposed to know that in this world, this kind of bow was a way to become a disciple?
If there was a misunderstanding, it must be explained. If not now, then when?
Hanni: "Old Lin, I..."
Old Lin: "Let me think."
Hanni: "I'm not..."
Old Lin: "Let me think some more."
Hanni: "I didn't..."
Old Lin showed some authority: "I already said let me think carefully. Taking a disciple is not easy. Don't be so rude, kid."
So... scary.
Hanni timidly nodded: "...Okay."
Actually, sometimes misunderstandings didn't have to be explained, right?
Even without explaining clearly, Hanni, being young and small, didn't think the other person would accept her as a disciple.
"By the way, Hanni, you were wrong about something earlier."
Old Lin continued, "The one who saved you was my young master. The person you should really thank is my young master."
Seeing Hanni staring blankly at him, still unwilling to give up on becoming his disciple, Old Lin added, "Last night you were unconscious at the gate. My young master just happened to come home and found you, so he brought you back. Any other questions?"
Hanni: "Yes."
Old Lin: "Ask."
Hanni sincerely asked, "My young master... uh, your young master, is he good-looking?"
When she heard she was picked up by a noble young master, her heart suddenly skipped a beat. But Old Lin kept saying "my young master," which confused her.
Old Lin: "..."
What a clever child, but why say such a reckless thing right away?
There are many handsome men in this world, but our young master is rare to find.
"Our young master's beauty belongs only in heaven. On earth, it's hard to see even once," Old Lin said seriously, with some pride.
This was a way to back off while showing strength. He indirectly warned Hanni not to think about his young master.
After all, he raised this young master from a baby. Although the young master is already twenty and not engaged, he is the only young master in the family, so the family line cannot be broken.
Since she hadn't met him, Hanni couldn't imagine how handsome the young master really was. She just felt he must be someone so handsome she would fall in love at first sight.
After all, the original story said she would fall for the noble young master who rescued her and eventually grow old alone for him.
After stumbling all night, she had just stepped onto the original story path.
Hanni: "..."
She was one day closer to growing old alone.