After arriving at their designated location, Xiao Tong led Zhi Ruo through a three-story building that housed the salon's enormous space.
"I'm feeling hungry."
Zhi Ruo sighed at the thought of her still empty stomach. She kept glancing at the ground because of the people's peculiar stare on her.
It was a rare sight to see someone who looked like a kid lost in the throng of people that lined up to make a reservation.
'Why do people keep staring at me? It's not like i'm a hobo,' Zhi Ruo thought to herself.
"Here we are." Xiao Tong stopped in front of a luxurious double wooden door engraved with peach blossoms.
Zhi Ruo couldn't help but stare at the majestic door. Such a luxurious door was definitely unusual in such a place. It was a weird sight to behold in a salon.
Xiao Tong pushed open the door and peeked inside, with her following suit.
"What's up?" Zhi Ruo struggled to see inside because Xiao Tong's whole body was squished in the crack.
"Mr. Cheng! There you are, i've been looking for you."
It was that exact moment that Xiao Tong fully opened the door and hugged the man. Zhi Ruo lost her balance and tripped on her feet, falling to the floor.
"Ow."
Zhi Ruo rubbed her nose and stood up slowly. She didn't even give her a warning.
Xiao Tong released the man from the hug and smiled. She pulled him towards her and said, "Zhi Ruo, i'd like you to meet Mr. Cheng. He's my stylist and the best one i've met so far."
Mr. Cheng, who despite his old sounding name, was a man in his early thirties. Dressed in a casual shirt and slacks, he looked clean and presentable, especially his face. If she didn't look closely, she would've thought they were the same age. He didn't even look a day over thirty.
Zhi Ruo unashamedly stared at his face with a dumbstruck look. Why didn't this man just be a celebrity than be a stylist?
"She looks shocked, Tong'er. Maybe because of my charm?"
Xiao Tong patted his shoulder and shook her head. "If only that were true. If only..."
She knew herself that Zhi Ruo was not the type of person to fall in love at first sight. Nor was she the kind of person who was easily attracted by looks.
"Xiao Ruo?"
Zhi Ruo snapped out of it.
"Huh? Oh yeah. Nice to meet you," Zhi Ruo plainly spoke and shook his hand.
Mr. Cheng blinked at the lack of response. Then he couldn't help but laugh. "Of course, the pleasure is all mine."
"By the way," Zhi Ruo shifted her feet and looked at the man in curiosity. "You're very handsome. Why didn't you become a celebrity?"
Mr. Cheng smiled and glanced at Xiao Tong. His eyes seemed to be saying, 'See? She says I look very handsome.'
He coughed and replied, "Well you see—"
"I mean, you look like the type of person who likes being showered with attention," Zhi Ruo shamelessly interjected.
Xiao Tong bursted out laughing while Mr. Cheng stared blankly. He looked to be in shock. In all his 32 years of living, no one had the guts to say it to his face.
"Ahahahaha, Mr. Cheng. How about that? She said you're an attention seeker." Xiao Tong clutched her stomach in laughter.
Meanwhile, Zhi Ruo looked helplessly. She didn't mean to insult the man. It was just the way he came off to people. Such an aura that demanded attention made her a bit uncomfortable. She did not like praising others. Even if she did, she would add criticism which became insults to the eyes of others.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you. It's just the way your aura feels."
Zhi Ruo bowed.
Mr. Cheng smiled helplessly. This lady was very frank. Although it was not his first time meeting a frank woman, she was different because she made no hesitation in speaking her mind. In addition to a lack of emotion in her words, he did not feel offended but rather shocked.
"It's no problem, it's just the way I carry myself, is it not?"
Zhi Ruo nodded her head. She felt tired again. A nap right now would be great.
Xiao Tong stopped laughing but still had a small smile on her lips. She approached the two and coughed.
"So I brought you here because Mr. Cheng has offered to be your stylist. I agreed in your place and here we are. You're very lucky to be his stylist. And you can say he's a celebrity of some sort. He's been the stylist of some of the most hottest celebrities in the business."
Zhi Ruo looked at the man who had a warm smile.
"Okay."
The short response made Mr. Cheng sag his shoulders. Most people would be honored to have them styled by him. But this woman...
Regardless, Mr. Cheng did not falter and pointed at the wooden partition that was separated from the room.
"Please head over there, I will just grab my tools and attend to you soon."
Zhi Ruo nodded and wordlessly left.
Xiao Tong smiled and turned to him.
"What do you think?"
Mr. Cheng pouted.
"I don't think I can style her. She's very... frank. I can tell by the way she talks that she's no normal woman. Tell me, what's her background."
Xiao Tong's smile widened and she gestured for him to come closer. Mr. Cheng stepped closer and turned his head.
She grabbed his shoulder and whispered into his ear. "She's the Zhi family's head."
Mr. Cheng looked at her dubiously.
"No, she isn't."
Xiao Tong nodded. "Yes, she is."
Mr. Cheng widened his eyes and flapped his mouth open like a fish out of water. "B-but she—"
"I know, she's supposed to be in seclusion but that's just to the outside world. She's going to be retiring her position because she said and I quote, no longer wants to work."
"She's THAT, Qizhong's CEO? I always thought she would be older."
"I know right? Oh but that's a secret. She likes laying low."
Mr. Cheng nodded furiously. His previous impression of her changed completely. No wonder she was frank. It was her identity.
To be able to serve the person who stood at the peak of their success made Mr. Cheng smile stupidly.
"And wipe that smile off your face. She'll notice," Xiao Tong reminded him.
"Oh right, sorry."
"I'll be in the bakery next door if you need to find me. I've got to pick up her box of donuts. She might get cranky so bear with it for a bit."
He nodded and proceeded to fetch his tools.
Zhi Ruo, who settled in a nearby recliner, had already fallen asleep.
Seeing his client asleep, Mr. Cheng couldn't help but scratch his head. How will he move her without waking her?
Because he couldn't possibly carry her to change chairs, he opted to go for the manicure and pedicure first, then hair and makeover.
His assistants quickly went to work, fast but gentle enough not to wake the sleeping CEO.
...
Inside a luxurious penthouse apartment.
Mo Chou was leaning on the floor to ceiling window. His eyes trailed across the outside where the apartment granted him a grand view of the city.
The dawn was peaceful as Mo Chou sighed.
His mind was going crazy. His heart beating wildly. Her expression still vivid in his thoughts.
"You look like a child leaning like that with your forehead pressed against the glass," Chen Zhou scolded as he walked into the room.
The apartment was spacious and elegant. But the lack of furniture and color made it bland and boring. The whole space felt lonely.
Mo Chou chuckled and turned to him. "You could've knocked, you know?"
"I have a key, therefore I have the right to walk inside without permission."
Mo Chou walked towards the sofa and sat down, a sigh yet again escaping from his lips.
"What's got you down?"
Mo Chou leaned and smiled helplessly. "Maybe I rushed it too much?"
Chen Zhou furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you notice me last night?"
A look of confusion arose on his face. "Why? Where were you last night?"
Mo Chou had the urge to slap his forehead. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, which you didn't, but I was at the reunion last night."
Chen Zhou's eyes bulged open and his jaw hung open. He couldn't remember a thing last night except Xiao Tong sobering him up after the party had ended.
"You let loose didn't you?" Mo Chou asked. "Let me guess, you had another fight again with your kid?"
The man had two children. A daughter and a son. Both were currently studying in university. By the looks of it, he probably fought with his daughter but instead of being mad, he sulked while getting drunk on wine.
Chen Zhou pouted. "No fair. You know me so well. But hey, let's not talk about me for now. How was it?" He leaned, his eyes blazing with excitement.
Mo Chou couldn't say no. After all, he's been his best friend since they were ten. So roughly about 17 years now.
"I... met her."
"And then?"
"I introduced myself again..."
"Then?"
"I... got... spat on..."
Chen Zhou stared at him. He failed to catch the last two words because his voice kept getting quieter and quieter. He did not like straining his ears.
"What? I didn't hear you clearly?"
Mo Chou had a slight look of embarrassment, his cheeks tinted with a hint of red.
"I said, I got... spat on."
Silence.
Then, Chen Zhou burst out laughing. He couldn't help but clutch his stomach which began to hurt, same his cheeks.
Mo Chou's face turned dark as he waited for his friend's laughing to cease.
"Are you done?"
Chen Zhou wiped away his tears of laughter and took a deep breathe. Laughing really hurts. Although he already stopped, his face was still painted with a wide smile.
"Yes, i'm done."
Chen Zhou coughed to prevent himself from laughing again and crossed his legs. "So... What do you plan on doing now?"
Mo Chou stared outside. The sky was painted with a beautiful red and purple hue. He couldn't help but remember a particular painting.
"Well, I've got a good feeling that this definitely won't be the last time that we meet. And besides, she might hate me now, but whose to know she won't in the future, right?"
Chen Zhou nodded. It sounded good. There was no need to rush. Now that he had already settled down his company and family, all that's left was her.
"And besides, there's still the banquet being held tonight."
" Oh! I've got an invitation for that by the way. I don't know why i'm invited though? I'm not really in the business field?"
Mo Chou smiled.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime. The banquet isn't only limited to business people. Likewise, everyone is welcome. I've already invited every expert in every profession I could think of. Think of it as a gathering of the elite."
"So that means..."
Mo Chou smiled knowingly.
"You've really thought this through, didn't you?" Chen Zhou couldn't help but praise this sneaky bastard.
Such a thing was both an opportunity and an excuse to invite the most influential people in the pretense of gathering for the unveiling of Hua Conglomerate's new branch in America. Soon, a new one will open in Europe, but that's a story for another day.
"And i'm assuming you're revealing yourself then?"
Mo Chou nodded.
"Of course, I've waited for this moment for far too long."