Interstellar Pharmacist Chapter 3
The Negotiation
As they were making preparations, Tang Xin asked the butler about the guards. She found out that they are all orphans who were living nomadically for one reason or another. The Tang family had taken them in since they were very young – the ones with good genes were trained as warriors, whereas the smart ones were sent to manage the stores.
When the Tang family took them in, they signed a contract for 50 years of labor. If anyone dares to betray the family, they will be hunted down and killed no matter which planet they escape to – a fearsome fate. So, from the moment they agreed to stay, they’re basically in bondage to the Tang family.
And if any of the young Tangs chooses one of them as their guard, the contract will be transferred. Instead of allegiance to the family, the guard will now pledge allegiance to their personal master. A term of 50 years is very rare; most of these contracts are for life.
After preparing the contract transfer, the butler paused, “Eighth Miss, is there anything else you’d like to consider?”
Tang Xin replied with her actions instead of words. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she swiftly signed her name on the contract.
That was the butler’s cue to say no more. He turned his attention to another matter, “About the warehouse…?”
“I’ll go there later in the evening. I’m tired now from all the work. Going to head back to my room for a rest. I’ll come find you later,” said Tang Xin as she turned around to leave.
Yan Hao followed her silently. The butler glanced after them, a mirthless smile playing upon his lips.
Tang Xin speed-walked all the way to her room without stopping for a break. She seemed extremely impatient.
Yan Hao, solemn-faced and fists clenched tight, was struck by an ineffable thought: sudden arousal…?
Back in her room, Tang Xin sat down and motioned for him to close the door. Yan Hao obeyed, but was careful to leave it slightly ajar, so he could make a quick escape in case something happened.
Tang Xin poured herself a cup of tea and mulled over how to broach the subject to him. When she glanced up, she was surprised to find him still by the door, “Why are you standing so far away?”
“To avoid arousing suspicion,” Yan Hao replied coldly.
“There’s only the two of us here. What’s there to be suspicious about?” she asked, confused.
Exactly! It’s dangerous because there’s only the two of us in here, thought Yan Hao, as he stood bolted to the floor.
“Whatever, suit yourself,” Tang Xin couldn’t be bothered with this nonsense. She had hurried back for a reason, “I’ll be straight with you – I know your secret. Let’s make a deal: After leaving this place, you’ll protect my safety. Don’t double-cross me. In exchange, I’ll release you before your contract ends.”
“I don’t follow your meaning, Miss,” Yan Hao replied, his face stony as ever.
“Fennel, crow-dipper, fairy grass, …” without pausing, Tang Xin listed off seven or eight herb names in one breath. “Get it now?” she asked, smiling.
At last, a crack began to appear in Yan Hao’s icy veneer.
Tang Xin took a sip of her tea. The herbal fragrance on his body was faint, but it didn’t escape her nose. If not for the fact that they had different names in this world, she would’ve been able to name all eighteen herbs in the concoction. The ones she listed happened to be ones she saw earlier in the warehouse; the rest of the herbs she only knew by their names in her world.
Straining to maintain his composure, Yan Hao insisted, “I don’t understand, Miss. Please clarify.”
Tang Xin was amused. The cat was all but out of the bag at this point. What was the point of playing dumb?
“What I mean is, you’re a type A, level 5 warrior. You took a potion to hide your skills and prevent people from finding out your true status. But I found out anyway. Do you understand now?”
Ignoring Yan Hao’s solemn expression, she prattled on, “You signed a 50-year contract with the Tang family. When the time is up, you’ll be free. Although you’ll be old by then, you’ll at least be taken care of. However, if anyone finds out you’re a type A, I think you know the consequences as well as I do.”
Gazing straight at him, she uttered those words that struck fear into his heart: “You will be a slave to the Tang family for the rest of your life.”
Yan Hao mentally plotted to murder her and hide the body. “Why should I believe you? Can anyone in your family even be trusted? You all say we are free to choose if we want to sign the contract. But in reality, anyone with talent pretty much has their thumbs forced onto the dotted line,” he said.
“Because I chose you,” Tang Xin replied without skipping a beat. “I signed a contract with you on behalf of the Tang family. If I wanted, I could terminate it at any moment. I’ve seen the contract: You came here when you were six, now you’re twenty-six. Which means you still have another thirty years to go. However, if you serve me diligently, I will set you free in three years. I’ll tell my family you died in battle. You can go wherever you want after that.”
Yan Hao was tempted, but he kept his guard up nonetheless, “Why would you do that? The type-A gene is a rarity – less than five percent of the population has it. You’re willing to just let me go like that?”
Tang Xin thought to herself: Type-A gene? So what! In three years’ time, she will be known as the top pharmacist in all the land. Never mind type-A genes – even type-S genes will come bowing down to her and licking her boots, asking her for favors and prescriptions. She was no stranger to this kind of thing in her previous life.
Besides, once she concocts her self-defense potion, she won’t need someone else to protect her. She will be invincible.
She only chose Yan Hao because he was the best choice for now. He can buy her time.
“You want freedom. I want someone to fully protect me for the time being,” Tang Xin replied, choosing her words carefully. “I may have signed a contract, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra-careful. I promised to release you after three years. But if something happens before then, you have to risk your life to save me. Because if I die, then the contract defaults back to the original.”
“So you’re doing me this huge favor in exchange for a little security?” Yan Hao couldn’t help but feel this might be a trap.
“What can I say? My life is very valuable. If setting you free can guarantee three years of safety for me, I think that’s a good bargain.”
After a long deliberation, Yan Hao finally agreed. He figured, if she really wanted to screw him over, she could’ve simply revealed his secret to the family. She didn’t have to risk her life to make this deal with him.
“There’s one problem though: Tang Ningyi,” Tang Xin sounded worried as she changed the subject. “I suspect he knows your secret. That’s why he pre-selected you. But he’s afraid that if he reveals the truth, someone else will choose you first. So he’s been keeping quiet. But now that I’ve snatched you up, he might get angry and go running to Father for help.”
Yan Hao didn’t reply. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her that, actually, Tang Ningyi has merely fallen for his good looks. The only person who knows his secret is Tang Xin.
Tang Xin was deep in thought then the door suddenly burst open.
A man barged in angrily, yelling, “Yan Hao, you are mine! I won’t let you leave with her!”
“….” Tang Xin scratched her chin wordlessly. Although she knew this is a talent grab, his choice of words was bold and could easily lend itself to misunderstandings.
Yan Hao bowed slightly in greeting, “Good afternoon, Tenth Young Master.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? No need to be so formal with me,” the young man replied, frowning. “Call me ‘Ningyi.’”
“As your subordinate, I’d rather not.”
Yan Hao’s business-like tone rubbed Tang Ningyi the wrong way. So he turned to Tang Xin instead.
“Tang Xin, I had my eye on Yan Hao first. Give him back to me and we’re good,” Tang Ningyi pouted.
What a rude little shit, addressing me directly by my name like that. “Too late, I already signed the contract,” Tang Xin said as she shrugged nonchalantly.
“Then choose someone else and sign another contract,” Tang Ningyi replied without hesitation.
His entitled attitude was grating on her nerves. Who peed in your cereal this morning, kiddo? she thought. It was the first time that someone had been this rude to her – usually, they were on the receiving end of her wrath.
Tang Xin started to lose her cool, “Nothing in the family rules says I need to forfeit my choice. Besides, you’re just an underaged kid.”
This was a deliberate dig on her part. Conventionally, people are considered adults once they turn eighteen. But in the Tang family, adulthood comes when one leaves the family home at twenty.
“Wha—” Tang Ningyi was at a loss for words. He wasn’t expecting her to be this rude.
“As an underaged kid, you can’t even choose a guard. And yet you won’t let other people choose theirs. If you’re not going to take a dump, then don’t hog the toilet stall,” at this point, Tang Xin was deliberately antagonizing him for pissing her off.
“How dare you speak to me like this!!” Tang Ningyi had never felt so insulted in his life. As a gifted child, it’s been taken for granted that he will be the future head of the household, and he is used to being flattered by everyone. Tang Xin’s attitude was a shock to his system.
“Who do you think you are, kiddo? The current head of the household? I can speak to you any way I like,” Tang Xin said coolly, sipping her tea.
In a fit of rage, Tang Ningyi smacked the teacup out of her hand.
The teacup landed on the table and shattered into pieces. One of the shards sliced Tang Xin’s finger open, sending blood splattering everywhere.
Seeing the cut on her hand, Tang Xin became livid.
“Serves you right!” said Tang Ningyi gloatingly, oblivious to her change of mood.
From an early age, Tang Xin knew that nobody had her back. The only way to deal with bullies is through revenge. Suffering in silence will only spur them on. Fighting back – even when it’s unsuccessful – shows that she’s not an easy target. Then, she would learn from her mistakes and refine her strategy the next time round.
Perhaps the members of the Tang family will be ambushing one another once they leave home. But for now, fighting is strictly forbidden. That was why Tang Ningyi only smacked her teacup instead of openly attacking her.
“I knew you were useless. Only a level 2, and you want to snatch my guy from me? Give me a break,” Tang Ningyi looked pleased with himself.
His words made Tang Xin pause. From the way he kept talking about her “snatching his guy,” … is it possible that he’s only after Yan Hao’s looks and doesn’t know about his secret?
After a while, she went up to Yan Hao and held his chin between her fingers, feigning seductiveness.
“??” Yan Hao knew she was only doing this to provoke Tang Ningyi. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but mentally recoil in horror.
Tang Ningyi looked on, speechless.
“Now that I’ve signed the contract, you’re officially my personal attendant. Let’s hear you call me ‘Miss.’”
“…Miss,” Yan Hao said coldly, fighting to suppress his embarrassment.
“Tang Xin!” Tang Ningyi was beside himself with anger now.
She ignored him. “Such a pretty face. It’s a shame to waste it all on fighting. Since you’re my personal attendant, why don’t you ‘attend’ to me in ‘personal’ matters too? Come, let’s practice on my bed,” she crooned, stroking Yan Hao’s face.
Yan Hao played along. “Shall I call you ‘Miss’ while waiting by your bed?” he asked in complete seriousness.
Tang Ningyi had had enough. With a thunderous slam of the door, he stormed out of the room.
Once he was gone, Tang Xin quickly withdrew her hand. “You’re no match for me, kiddo,” she sneered at the closed door.
A worried Yan Hao said a silent prayer for his future with this new boss.
Twice in one day, she had touched him out of the blue: the first time to sniff his wrist, the second time to caress his chin. Wh…what’s next?
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS:
Note:
There’s been a change to Chapter 2. Originally, I wanted the contract to be a death pact – if she dies, he has to die, too. But I changed it later because it didn’t fit with the genre and theme of the novel.
Bonus drama:
Tang Xin: (⊙０⊙) Can’t believe I accidentally saved you chastity.
Yan Hao: What’s the difference? I’m just going from one bed to another (＞﹏＜)
Author: One of these days, you will be crying and begging to jump into bed with her (￣︶￣) ↗
