Seeing that Fu Hua had placed her hand on his arm, the older gentleman fiercely gazed at her. He tugged his arm and freed himself. "Little girl, what do you mean stop right there? I am older than you, why are you not talking to me with a respectful tone?" he scolded her.
"Hmph!" Fu Hua rolled her eyes at him. Respect? Not him!
"Give it back." She put her hands out in front of the guy. Everyone around started to whisper. They were all talking about her. Talking about a drunk Fu Hua acting up in front of an innocent person. They were embarrassed for her.
"Tsk. What do you mean? I didn't steal anything. Did anyone see?" he looked around and no one said anything. No one had seen anything. He then turned and pointed at Fu Hua. "Young lady, you better sit back and enjoy your meal before I call your parents. Are you even old enough to be out here?"
Manager Man Tao sensed the situation was getting out of hand. He stood up and held lightly onto Fu Hua's arm. "I'm sorry. My subordinate is too drunk. Please forgive her." He apologized.
"Young people these days." The angry man rolled his eyes. He was ready to leave when Fu Hua grabbed his arm one more time. This time she was the one to give him a fierce gaze.
"Oh? What's with that look? Do you want me to teach you a lesson?" the man was ready to raise his hand at her. Fu Hua quickly used her other hand to grab his wrist and twist it behind his back. She did it so fast that everyone around was mesmerized for a second.
"Ahhh, ahhh! Let go." He grunted painfully. Fu Hua wasn't fazed by his grunts. She reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather wallet. She held it out in front of his face. "You stole this." She pushed him a few steps back.
He looked around. People were whispering again. But this time it was to scold him. "I did not. That is clearly my wallet."
Another older gentleman at the very same corner searched inside his coat jacket to find that his wallet was gone. "That's my wallet." He anxiously walked over. The thief started to get anxious as he was being stared at.
"Earlier you bumped into this person and pickpocketed his wallet. You dare say it's yours?"
"I…I…" the man looked around as everyone was scolding and pointing their fingers at him even more now.
He dashed.
Fu Hua wanted to run after him but Manager Man Tao held her back. "Fu Hua, he has already fled. Let it go." He tried to calm her down.
Fu Hua turned to look at the elder man. He looked to be around his late 40's. It was no wonder the thief stole from him. From head to toe, the man looked rich. But it was none of her problems.
"Uncle, this is yours." She smiled as she placed the wallet in his hand.
"Thank you little lady. I don't know how to repay you." He genuinely held her hand. Fu Hua placed her palm on top of his and once again let out a genuine smile. "Uncle (referring to an elder gentleman), there are many bad people out there. Be careful around this time."
"You are right. There are many bad people but there are also good people. I'm glad there are still good people like you around. Young yet upright." After exchanging a few words, Ming Ming started to complain that it was too hot in her drunken state.
"Take care uncle." Fu Hua bid him goodbye before grabbing onto Ming Ming. "You are truly deserving of the name Yi Fu Hua." Man Tian earnestly praised as he gave her a thumbs up. Fu Hua could only laugh in disbelief as they left the tent.
"Yi Fu Hua…" the elder man muttered. That name sounded so familiar.
***
The year was finally over. No more end of the year accounting stress. Fu Hua could relax again. Her parents were out of the country on vacation, which left only her in the house for the next month. She had just finished brushing her teeth when the doorbell rang. She puckered her brows. It was the weekend. Who would be visiting her this early in the morning?
"Uncle?" Fu Hua was surprised when the surprised visitor was none other than the man from the tent the other day. "How did you find me?"
"So you live here? I've been looking for you." he said pleasingly. Her house wasn't very big but it was homely, set in a small neighborhood.
Fu Hua invited him in. A cup of tea was placed in front. She felt embarrassed. She had not done her grocery shopping yet, thus there was nothing to offer the man in the suit. Just by looking at his appearance, her guess about him being rich was further confirmed.
The rich man waited until she sat down to speak.
"Is your parent's enjoying their trip in Switzerland?"
This was getting weird. Fu Hua started to get suspicious. How did he know her parents were in Switzerland? The man could tell she was getting creeped out. He chuckled lightly. "Do not worry. Your father and I are actually good buddies back then." Turns out, he and her father went way back. They were friends since middle school. They only lost contact 5 years ago after her father's friend went to America to further his business. Fu Hua couldn't believe that her father's good friend was actually the president of the biggest technology company TechStar Corporation, Li Huang He.
"Mr. Li, I apologize that you had to make a trip when my father is not here. But I'll make sure to let him know you visited when he returns." Fu Hua sincerely apologized. She had already liked this Li Huang He in the last 30 minutes that she had met him.
"I didn't come here to see your father. I came here to see you."
"Me?"
To be continued...