67 Glade 122
"Well I could... I just don't want to?"
Which was true, it would be really easy for Shuai to fulfill that request but for all of that it was too much work- it was actually work. His work. And while he did not mind every other request like it when it came to him, it was because they were normally interesting requests which allowed him to flex a creative mind. After all as he had learned from his teacher a sharp mind was just as good as a sharp blade. This however was just him churning out the same over and over like some line worker which was not ideal. He really could not agree and declined immediately- forget about the money or the contributions or whatever. "No, not even tha- hmmmm... but no!" The requester almost had him but Shuai felt he should not give in to his convictions and made it clear that it was not about the rewards. As it seemed like he was not getting through to the other man and he was being held up longer than he wanted he decided to end it and snapped his fingers to have "Ruborudean, can you do me a favor and see our guest out? Or if he is still interested you can just lead him to someone else. I'm sure someone over here would have what he wants." All in all the other was still a guest in the house so Shuai could not be too forceful.
Ruborudean of course was not too happy to leave Shuai's side, at least during his assigned hours but then again, just what could happen to Shuai in the family home? A quick word in the side to satisfy the bodyguard's concerns and then the guest was led out and away, no longer Shuai's problem. "Now... now... nothing. Maybe he should have taken that job after all or maybe just a little bit of it. In a sense it was one of Shuai's specialties after all but taking that one job would mean the possibility of him being led to make another, and another, and another- not to mention that given who he believed was the end user there was the chance they may try and steal his methods if he gave them too much. It came back to one of those lessons taught to him, not even as a child of a renowned family, but as tradesman; if his work was of quality and in demand he should keep a tight grip on it so that his reputation would remain intact and no one else could steal of mimic his methods.
Many weeks later after that incident; an incident he was remembering now because the other seemed to be enjoying having the chance to remind Shuai about it- he would not have expected this at all. Still that did not change a thing for him and he again denied the man. "No." But he has to? With a laugh Shuai again repeated, "no" and this time he his the base of his spear hard into the ground to accentuate his denial. The man was right though, the circumstances are quite different but at the same time, their roles were quite different as well.