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Kaveh, who had been fully absorbed in choosing from the menu, was startled by the sudden greeting. He lifted his head, his gaze falling upon the unfamiliar man standing before him.
Shao Yun stood with a bright smile and an upright posture—confident, composed, and completely unfamiliar to Kaveh.
Kaveh blinked, momentarily taken aback, as his mind raced to recall whether he had ever met this person before. But no matter how hard he tried to remember, he could not place him.
After a brief pause, Kaveh composed himself and responded politely, "Hello. Forgive my curiosity, but have we met before? And… how do you know my name?"
Shao Yun placed both hands lightly on the table and replied in an easygoing tone, "You may not know me, but I know you—the pride of the Kshahrewar Darshan, the best architectural designer in all of Sumeru. Am I wrong?"
At those words, Faruzan, seated beside Kaveh, glanced over with amused interest, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Well, well, Kaveh," she teased, giving him a playful wink. "Looks like you've got yourself quite the fan here."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Faruzan's expression dimmed, and she muttered under her breath, "Sigh… why don't I have admirers like this anymore? Has everyone forgotten me just because I'm older now? Oh dear…"
She shook her head softly, a faint melancholy crossing her face.
With a friendly smile, Shao Yun said to her, "If I ever come across some puzzle or ancient mechanism I can't figure out, I'll definitely seek your help, Miss Faruzan!"
Faruzan's calm expression immediately gave way to surprise. Her eyes widened slightly as she thought, 'How does this stranger know my name? And even what I specialize in?'
But her instincts warned her—things that seem too perfect usually aren't.
Her eyes narrowed cautiously as she asked, "You… know me? That's rather unexpected."
Shao Yun simply shrugged with a modest smile. "Not too well, Miss Faruzan—just a little here and there."
His words sounded polite enough, but they only deepened Faruzan's suspicion.
She studied him carefully, eyes half-lidded and sharp. "You seem to know quite a bit. Honestly, that's rather unusual."
Yet Shao Yun's composure never faltered. He met her gaze calmly, his demeanor unshaken, and spoke with an affable smile.
"Miss Faruzan, someone as distinguished as you—anyone in Sumeru City could easily learn of your brilliant career with a few inquiries."
"The Sumeru Puzzle Society Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ruins Mechanism Research Conference Lifetime Honor—you're practically a celebrity."
At first, Faruzan kept her guard up, scrutinizing his every word and gesture for deception. But as his compliments continued, a proud, warm smile slowly spread across her face, softening her entire demeanor.
Unknowingly, her suspicion began to melt away.
"Haha, such a smooth talker. But I prefer it when people call me Senior."
Shao Yun chuckled. "To me, calling you Miss Faruzan feels far more fitting than Senior!"
Her lips curved upward with a pleased expression as she nodded. "Oh? So you're saying I look young, aren't you?"
"Even at my age, it's still lovely to be called youthful."
Clearly, Faruzan was in a fine mood now, thoroughly delighted by Shao Yun's flattery.
Seeing this, Shao Yun knew the moment was right. He glanced toward Kaveh, signaling him subtly—time to get down to business.
Kaveh looked puzzled. "Um… excuse me, sir. Was there something you needed from us?"
Shao Yun cleared his throat before introducing himself.
"Well, allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Taci— uh… never mind that. Just call me Shao Yun."
He had been about to use a false name for discretion, but at the last second, he changed his mind.
Using an alias might drag Candace into unnecessary trouble—and that, he wanted to avoid.
So, honesty it was.
But the moment Faruzan and Kaveh heard the name Shao Yun, their expressions shifted dramatically. The lighthearted mood evaporated in an instant.
Noticing their reaction, Shao Yun raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, that's quite a… peculiar look you've both got there."
Faruzan's composed expression vanished entirely, replaced by visible tension.
She swallowed hard, then abruptly stood from her seat, fumbling for an excuse to leave.
"Ah! Well then… Kaveh, since this gentleman came looking for you, I'll just… go buy some drinks!"
Without waiting for a reply, she hurried off—and within seconds, she was gone from sight.
Watching her retreat, Kaveh felt a twinge of panic.
After a brief hesitation, he too stood up quickly, calling out, "Professor Faruzan! Wait for me!"
But before he could move, a strong arm extended in front of him, blocking his way.
Kaveh froze—it was Shao Yun.
Caught between frustration and helplessness, Kaveh could only watch as Faruzan disappeared completely beyond the doorway.
"Senior, don't leave me here alone…" he muttered under his breath, though she was far too gone to hear.
Shao Yun pressed a firm hand on Kaveh's shoulder, guiding him back into his seat.
Then, taking Faruzan's vacated chair, he sat down across from Kaveh, meeting his eyes.
"Alright," Shao Yun said evenly. "Now it's just the two of us."
"Let's talk business—about your next commission. Architecture should be right up your alley, after all."
At the mention of a commission, Kaveh's anxiety deepened.
He nervously bit his lip before replying, voice trembling slightly, "Um… I'm terribly sorry, but I've been quite busy with other projects lately, so I'm afraid I don't have the time to take on new work right now…"
Shao Yun didn't let him finish. He cut him off with three crisp words:
"I have money."
Kaveh immediately waved his hands, flustered. "No, no, it's not about the money!"
But Shao Yun wasn't interested in debating. He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning direct and firm.
"Listen carefully. Miss Candace from Aaru Village asked me to find you. She wants you to design and oversee the construction of a library for the village."
Then, pointing a finger at Kaveh, he added with a sharp edge to his voice, "You will accept this—whether you agree or not."
"I can tie you up and drag you to Aaru Village if I have to, and you'll still design that library for the children."
"But I'd much rather we settle this peacefully. No need to make things unpleasant, right?"
He had expected Kaveh to panic or stammer at such bluntness—but instead, the man's eyes went wide for another reason entirely.
"Wait—what did you just say? Aaru Village? You're building a library there?!"
Shao Yun remained calm. "That's right. A library for the children of Aaru Village. My diction was quite clear, wasn't it?"
Kaveh, still doubting his ears, repeated it carefully. "So… you want me to handle the design for a children's library in Aaru Village?"
Shao Yun nodded. "Exactly. And I imagine Setaria will be teaching the desert kids there once it's complete."
Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Actually, I was thinking we should build a proper school too—might as well do it all at once."
Kaveh, who had been reluctant moments ago, suddenly sat up straighter. His hesitation vanished, replaced by eager determination.
"No problem! I'll do it. I'll make time to go to Aaru Village—within a day or two, at most. Does that work for you?"
Shao Yun blinked. "You changed your mind fast."
Kaveh looked slightly embarrassed. "Well, you see…"
But Shao Yun waved him off before he could finish.
"Don't bother explaining. Just talk to Candace once you're there. That's all I came to tell you."
He paused, then added, "As for your design fee—send the invoice to Mr. Tacitus Kilgore at the Adventurers' Guild."
The moment Kaveh heard "design fee," he shook his head quickly. "No need! This is a charitable project—I'll design it for free."
Shao Yun, however, brushed it off casually, fiddling with his fingers. "Nonsense. You'll charge your usual rate. Don't get all humble on me—clients as generous as me don't come often!"
Kaveh pursed his lips, clearly torn, trying to find another way to refuse.
"But… it's a public welfare project. I really can't accept—"
Before he could finish, Shao Yun frowned slightly, his tone firm and serious.
"Listen, you're entitled to your payment. What you do with it afterward is up to you—donate it, spend it, whatever. But if you don't take it, that becomes my problem."
"Don't make me unhappy. I know where you live. I don't want to bury you under a mountain of Mora, understand?"
"So take what's yours. Not a single coin less."
Faced with that unyielding stare, Kaveh instinctively swallowed hard and nodded rapidly. "Got it! I'll make sure the bill goes to Mr. Tacitus Kilgore at the Adventurers' Guild!"
Seeing one of his tasks now completed, Shao Yun stood up and reminded him, "Go to Aaru Village as soon as you can. The sooner it's done, the better."
Then his gaze drifted toward a pile of crates not far away.
Behind them—hiding—was none other than Faruzan.
Shao Yun raised a hand and waved lightly. "And you, Miss Faruzan—no need to hide. Relax, I don't bite."
With that, Shao Yun turned and walked out of the Djafar Tavern.