Hidden Management Department, 2nd floor.
Tea room.
Luo Shu led Ai Hayasaka into the room.
The tea room was moderately sized, roughly 35 square metres, with one wall entirely lined with glass cabinets displaying various teas, coffees, and even some medicinal brews. Opposite the cabinets stood a rosewood tea table, the entire space leaning towards a Chinese aesthetic.
"So many teas..."
Ai Hayasaka was slightly taken aback upon seeing such an extensive collection. Even the Shinomiya household didn't keep this many varieties at home—it resembled a museum exhibit, clearly maintained by dedicated staff.
"Black tea is on the first shelf of the first cabinet. Since it's frequently consumed here, there are quite a few options. Take your time choosing."
After informing Ai, Luo Shu casually retrieved some milk tea powder from a nearby cabinet, pressed the hot water button on the tea table, and sat down. He then picked up the kettle to pour two cups of boiled water before finally glancing up at Ai's slender figure as she deliberated over the black tea selection.
Ai had already spotted Kaguya Shinomiya's usual black tea blend but deliberately avoided it, pretending to struggle with the choices as she lingered before the cabinet:
"Oh dear, there are too many varieties—I can't decide what to pick. Mr Luo, any recommendations?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu took a sip of boiled water and glanced at her before replying:
"Lapsang Souchong—third from the left on the first shelf. You might like that. Alternatively, the second one's Ceylon tea, preferably with a dash of whisky."
The first was Luo Shu's regular choice, while the second was Natsuki Minamiya's favourite. Having been forced to drink it often, Luo Shu had grown to appreciate the flavour.
At the mention of whisky, Ai turned her head with an exasperated smile. "Mr Luo, all the girls present are underage!"
"But I'm 18."
Luo Shu responded offhandedly before suddenly remembering Chika Fujiwara's request. He walked to the fridge nearby and retrieved a can of coconut water.
Grabbing two cans of coconut water, some ice cubes, and a few glasses from the crockery cabinet, Luo Shu opened the cans, poured the contents into the glasses, added five or six small ice cubes, and thus prepared Chika's beverage. Turning back to the still-hesitant Ai, he asked:
"Not much experience brewing black tea, Hayasaka-san?"
Even he didn't believe that, but asking outright if she had decision paralysis seemed impolite—directly labelling it as a 'condition' struck him as inappropriate.
"I can manage some basics—it was covered in maid training." Ai stuck out her tongue playfully. "Though I always got scolded by the instructor."
This was a lie.
Ai had aced her maid studies with straight A's, earning praise from her teachers as the 'perfect maid'. Scoldings? Not a single one.
But such perfection didn't suit the persona she was currently crafting. After all, in Japan, slightly ditzy girls tended to be more popular with boys.
"This is tricky... too many options, hard to choose..."
Ai surveyed the glass cabinet before cheerfully exclaiming, "Aha!" and retrieving the Lapsang Souchong tea.
"Then I'll have the tea recommended by Mr Luo Shu."
"Surely Luo Shu wouldn't trick me?"
"If you get tricked, that's not my problem." Luo Shu calmly sipped his boiled water.
"How could you say that!"
Watching the girl's lively demeanour, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly.
From Ai Hayasaka's behaviour, he could detect elements of performance and see the word "seduction" written all over it.
Thinking about the arranged marriage he'd just heard about from Utau Hoshina, Luo Shu couldn't help but speculate.
Could it be... that Kaguya Shinomiya was also being forced into an arranged marriage by her family, but disagreed with it herself, choosing Pokémon mode by shouting "Go, Ai Hayasaka!"?
If that were the case, then Kaguya, you really understand me - I do like the Ai Hayasaka type!
Carrying the black tea to the table, the vivacious Ai Hayasaka hugged her cup and sat directly to Luo Shu's left. While waiting for the water to boil, she asked curiously:
"This might be a bit presumptuous... but may I ask you a question?"
Seeing that cautious yet somewhat innocent girlish face, Luo Shu nodded slightly:
"Go ahead."
"Really? That's great!" Ai said gratefully before looking curiously at Luo Shu. "Does Luo Shu-kun often have many visitors here?"
The sudden switch to using "-kun" would certainly catch the attention of a normal Japanese person, but unfortunately for Ai, the man before her was a pure-blooded Chinese who wasn't sensitive to such honorifics.
"The second floor here combines a restaurant, café and entertainment facilities, so people from the department often come to relax."
Seeing Luo Shu's calm explanation, Ai was slightly surprised at not getting the reaction she'd anticipated, but quickly moved past it to ask instead:
"Department? So does that mean this is Luo Shu's company?"
"Indeed."
Luo Shu gave Ai a meaningful look, not bothering to conceal anything as he smiled and said:
"Did the Shinomiya family give you any intelligence support at all?"
Ai blinked, then declared righteously:
"Absolutely... none at all."
Her mind raced as she wondered where she'd slipped up, but outwardly she maintained natural conversation:
"The Shinomiya family only mentioned that the male host here might become a potential marriage candidate for Lady Kaguya, but didn't explain anything else."
This was the absolute truth.
After all, to Oko Shinomiya, whether Kaguya succeeded or not was irrelevant - success would be good, but failure was acceptable as long as there were no negative repercussions.
As Kaguya's accessory, a mere support staff, Oko wouldn't bother explaining anything to Ai.
Especially not to a member of the defeated Hayasaka family - Oko would never explain mystic side matters to them, wanting to avoid unnecessary backlash risks.
As for Kaguya, she genuinely didn't realise Ai was unaware of Luo Shu's circumstances.
In Kaguya's eyes, Ai should know far more than she did - it never occurred to her that Oko would withhold mystic side information from the Hayasaka family.
So for Ai, she truly didn't know much about Luo Shu, only that Oko considered him someone worth recruiting through his sister.
Thus, faced with Ai Hayasaka's honest answer, Luo Shu nodded in understanding:
"So Kaguya Shinomiya is also here for an arranged marriage meeting?"
After saying this, Luo Shu suddenly changed his tone, speaking in a faintly teasing manner:
"But somehow, I feel that compared to Kaguya, you're actually the cuter one, Ai."