"Your father is campaigning right? If it's successful and he becomes the Mayor, then my dear you will have nothing to worry about..." Cui Yao continued.
Shiya smiled. Who doesn't love praises? Well, she does.
"Now, now. Why don't you spare us some of your time? I and Nuannuan wants to invite you out. We planned on a dinner date, at the Tourist Garden hotel... I hope you will make it."
"Okay. I will think about it."
"Yaya, what is there to think about? It's tonight. Please be there... Please?"
"Alright, alright. I will be there."
Cui Yao stood up, smiling at Shiya. She nodded, "I will be leaving then,"
Shiya murmured an hmm.
Cui Yao left. Let's catch some fun, tonight.
*****
Zhaolin and his assistant arrived at the airport and Riuwen went over to pick them.
He drove straight to the Xing Manor.
At the door the butler opened the door and saw it was the young master. He bowed immediately and moved to the side to let him in.
Xiaocan and Rongbo sat in the living room sipping tea. When Xiaocan heard who came to visit she was stunned. Zhaolin came over himself to pick Zhihao up... She thought he would send Riuwen to do that since he was the one that dropped Zhihao off at the restaurant the day Zhaolin travelled. But knowing her son came personally she was overjoyed.
She jumped up from the couch and went over to the door immediately, "Zhaozhao? How are you my child?"
Seeing her reaction at his arrival he couldn't help but smile. He turned to the butler, "Go invite Riuwen in."
Thankfully they had sent Secretary Jiang back. Or he'd have to wait for them.
"You came over with Riuwen? Alright, alright. That's good. Come on, in..." Xiaocan urged Zhaolin into the house.
"Dad," he greeted his father.
The man smiled and nodded.
"Have you had anything to eat? I will cook you something... Tell me, what do you want to eat?" Xiaocan inquired.
"Anything will do ma,"
"No, not anything. Tell me what you want to eat."
Rongbo smiled, "There's no such thing as anything. You have to specify it." He raised an eyebrow and dropped it.
The maid came down at this moment, "Welcome Young Master."
Zhaolin smiled, "Thank you," he said. "Where's Zhihao."
"Little Young Master has gone to bed."
He nodded in understanding and she turned around and left.
"Now, tell me what you want to eat son." Xiaocan pleaded.
"Okay, I want chicken rice."
"Okay, it's late at night, I will bring soup too."
Riuwen came in and Xiaocan turned to him, "And you, Riu?" She asked.
"The same as Zhaolin." Riuwen replied.
Xiaocan beamed and left for the kitchen.
"Grandma and Grandpa has gone to bed." Zhaolin said instead of asking.
"Yes, yes." Rongbo replied, with a light smile on his face.
The three chatted for awhile before Xiaocan came back to the living room telling Zhaolin and Riuwen that food was ready.
They followed her to the dinning area, and upon their arrival the scent permeated the air.
"The scent is enough to fill me," Riuwen joked.
"Good," Xiaocan chuckled. "You two will spend the night here, so I have already sent the maids to go make the arrangements."
The two nodded and started eating.
*****
At The Tourist Garden International Hotel.
Cui Yao, Chen Qing and Shiya sat in a private room.
A waitress arrived and they all made their order. As the waitress was leaving, Cui Yao followed behind her, when she caught up with the waitress. She said. "Hi,"
The waitress smiled, "Ma'am, do you need something else?"
"Yes. Make her deliver the food." Cui Yao said, and passed the woman a note.
When the woman looked down on it, she frowned and looked up back at Cui Yao. "Sorry ma'am, but who is this? She doesn't work here."
"Are you mistaken? She works in this hotel."
"Certainly not, ma'am. I assure you this person doesn't work here."
She doesn't work here? But she said she does... Don't tell me that she lied to me? How dare that fool?
"Excuse me," the waitress excused herself and left.
Cui Yao closed her eyes and sighed deeply. That fool tried to trick me? But... Wait, the waitress might not know her. I will just ask the manager.
She called the customer service and told them that she needed to see the manager without specifying which of them she wanted.
A man in his middle forties arrived and bowed to her, "Hello Miss, you requested to see the manager."
Her happiness was visible on her face, she smiled triumphantly and cleared her throat. She passed the man the same note she just gave to the waitress some minutes ago.
The man looked at the note, it only had three words. And it was a person's name. Bai Xueyan.
He looked up at her, "Who is this ma'am?"
"What do you mean by that?" She queried.
The man looked a little bit confused. "Who is this person ma'am?" He asked again.
"You are asking me? Don't you know how many employees you have here? She's a worker here in this hotel and would like it if she served the food."
"Ma'am, you might be mistaken. There's no one with that name here." His voice firm without shaking.
She had stopped smiling by now. Unhappiness written all over her face. Xueyan told me she works here... Did she decieve me? F*ck. I will slap the heck out of her!
She fumed internally but couldn't say it. "Ok, it's ok."
She turned around and stormed back into their private room.
When she came in Qingnuan and Shiya shared a look. The both looked back at her. Cui Yao couldn't possibly hide her unhappiness. How come her perfect plan just went down the drain? She wanted to have some fun time tonight. But now, she is not even in the mood to eat anything.
"Are you alright?" Qingnuan asked.
Cui Yao opened her mouth to say something but no word formed. She closed them then, nodded.
"Sure?" Shiya besought.
Cui Yao nodded again. She shared a look with Qingnuan and the latter understood what she meant.
"Excuse me," they both recited.
Shiya's lips went down into an oh really? Carry on, then.
The two then, left, leaving Shiya alone to think about Zhaolin. He didn't inform her when he left and won't obviously tell her when he will return.
She hated the fact she was meant to stay home alone. So going home wasn't her plan. She'd rather spend time with her friends and sleep in the hotel than go back home. In that big lonely house.