Suddenly, the doorbell rang just as the last of the breakfast plates were being cleared away. The sound wasn't loud, but in the warm quiet of the kitchen, it carried with crystalline clarity through the morning air.
Ah Ling appeared moments later at the doorway, his posture perfectly straight, his expression carrying that particular composed quality that signaled important visitors rather than casual callers. "Madam," she said with polite formality, addressing Shuyin, "there are guests requesting an audience. They did not schedule in advance, but they've presented formal calling cards."
Shuyin wiped her fingers with a linen napkin before moving forward, her movements unhurried. Lu Yuze's gaze lifted immediately, sharp and assessing despite the casual way he leaned against the kitchen counter. "At this hour?" His tone was mild, but his eyes held the alertness of someone who'd learned to expect complications disguised as courtesy.
