At the office
The board welcomed Eric and discussed the expansion Cheng Ze proposed. Eric thought it was a good idea and he was more than willing to play a part of the whole thing. Cheng Ze reminded him about the dinner he set up for later, but Eric refused and told him that he just wanted to be with his wife and daughter.
At around 5:00 PM, Li Wei was waiting for Cheng Ze outside his office. As soon as he spotted Cheng Ze, he walked towards him, "Boss there is something you must know." Li Wei blurted in a hurry as they walked together.
"Hmm..." to acknowledge that he heard him, "Let's talk inside, I'm feeling a bit tired." he walked straight inside his office as he massaged his temples.
Li Wei followed him and as soon as the door was shut, he started to act a little weird and blurted, "Boss you have to cancel your business with Mr Lewis."
Cheng Ze looked at him in disbelief, "Are you crazy? Why will I do that? As far as I know, he is the best person to do business with!"
"Boss it will bring you trouble! He is bad news! Him and his wife!" Panic was evident in his face and voice.
"What are you trying to say, Li Wei? Just say it! Damn it! You're giving more headache!" Cheng Ze got frustrated with Li Wei's behaviour because it's not like him. "This better be something important!"
"Ji An... She is... here!"
His tiredness suddenly vanished and there was no more trace of his headache, "What did you just say?" eyebrows creased. "What do you mean? Where is she?" Those questions came out one after the other. "Cancel the dinner tonight and tell me where she is!" he demanded.
"No! Don't! Don't cancel! You must go to dinner. She'll come for you!"
"So what is the bad news?"
Li Wei almost shouted, "She is Mr Lewis' wife!" he sighed in frustration as he walked back and forth in front of Cheng Ze, "Now I know why he looked familiar. There's another thing..." his phone rang, it was his girlfriend, "Boss I have to take this call it's my girlfriend, I think it's important."
"Hmm, go ahead." he understood him as his girlfriend doesn't usually bother him at work. 'So his wife is Ji An and they have a kid together huh.' That thought pained his heart.
"Boss my apologise, I have to go. My girlfriend is in a bit of trouble. You have to go to that dinner. You have to! She has a daughter. You must see her!" and he left quickly as he said that.
'See them? To kill me more? It's better not to go.' he shut his eyes and uttered, "They'll only be here for a week, I just have to avoid meeting and seeing her." He rested his back on his chair and swivelled it to face the massive window behind him.
Ji An got ready and prepared herself and Sofia for dinner. Eric called her a few times but she didn't answer. She wants to talk to him in person. It's better if he doesn't know where she is.
Renaissance Wangfujing Hotel
Meiling arranged a car and assigned a driver for her so her daughter can go to her prior arrangements. As the pair arrived at Renaissance, she held Sofia's hand and went in. The waitress led them to their reserved table. Ji An thought that they must have arrived early as Eric was not there and so as his new business partner.
Sofia asked her mother if she can go to the toilet. Ji An wanted to go with her but little Sofia told her that she's a big girl and she can do it by herself. The toilet was not that far but she can't see much from where their table is. As Sofia walked to the toilet, she bumped into a tall man's leg. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't see you Mr."
The man knelt down so they can be on the same level. "Why are you alone? Little girls like you should have their mother to help them. It's dangerous to go on your own. Do you know that?"
"Oh! You speak English!" she said excitedly. "My mummy is there and I don't want her to help me. I'm a big girl now you see." she smiled sweetly as she stared at the handsome man in front of her.
"Didn't your mummy warned you not to talk to strangers?"
"Well, I bumped into you, so I must apologise! Besides, you are handsome and you seemed nice." she blushed a little and act shyly.
Her behaviour made him laugh, "Okay, then I'll take you to your mummy when you're done! I'll wait here for you. Is that okay young miss?" Sofia nodded in agreement and went inside.
When Sofia came out, she tugged him in his sleeves, "Mr, I'm done. Please kindly walk with me to see my mummy!" she cheekily said and grinned at him.
He couldn't help it he laughed, "You are so cute. What is your name?" they started to walk slowly.
"Sofia. I'm 5! I'm a big girl. How about you Mr?"
"I'm Cheng Ze. So which table are you in?"
"My mummy's there. That pretty lady over there!" she excitedly pointed to Ji An who was looking out the window.
Cheng Ze looked where she was pointing and to his surprise, it was Ji An, "Is she your mummy?" his face went serious and his body stiffened.
"Isn't she pretty, handsome Mr?" she smiled sweetly as she admired her own mother.
As they arrived at the table, Ji An looked at them and at their hands. For a moment it felt like time stopped and she was in a dream.
"Mummy! I met someone near the toilet. I bumped into him and I already apologised. Isn't he handsome? He is kind and took me back because I was alone, but I already told him I'm a big girl and I don't need help—"
"Sofia... When have you become so talkative? I cannot say a single word." Ji An cut her words as she wore a smile on her face.
"I'm sorry mummy." But Sofia's mouth just couldn't shut up as she was too excited, "His name is Cheng Ze. Should I call him Uncle?"