"How is she?"
"She is fine now."
"Why did she faint in the first place?"
"Uh… erhm… She fainted due to tiredness and…"
"Tiredness? Don't you give them day off? You should always give them day off. Do you want them to die because they work for the hotel? You want them to lose their precious lives."
It beeped thrice before she could discover herself.
Manager Fu looked down on the phone in her hand then sighed.
He said I can give them day off… But how am I going to do it? I can't give them all day off, or can I?
She stood up and headed to the workers room.
*****
"Sir, everything's been settled. She's been given the day off to go rest."
"Have you gotten all that I asked of?" The man asked with a booming voice.
"Yes sir,"
Zhaolin looked away from the document he was reading and stood up. "Let's go."
Riuwen nodded and followed behind him.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived at a very cool environment. The sun shone down on them both as they strode into the mansion.
"Welcome sir," the guards at the door greeted.
Zhaolin nodded in response.
Inside the mansion, Yuxi turned and turned with her mouth wide open. She examined the beautiful sitting room and her eyes popped more.
What in the world is this? Am I still on Earth? How come I don't know about this family riches? Oh my, they are so wealthy… And because of that, the old woman is still so strong, money makes people young! Oh yes, it does!
"Yuxi?" The old woman called, "come sit over here! And check out these dresses."
The door opened and two men in suit strode in.
"Zhaolin!" The old woman exclaimed with excitement. "Linlin, how are you child?"
"I'm…" Zhaolin paused and looked straight at Yuxi. "What are you doing here?"
The footsteps coming from up the stairs seemed to had halted.
Yuxi seemed surprised but still answered, "I'm Shen's new secretary." The moment the answer came out the maids turned to see who dared called the young master with his name.
She eyed Riuwen. "Riuwen?"
Zhaolin turned a bit to take a look at Riuwen. Riuwen didn't have any reaction on his face, "Yes miss."
"Are you…"
"Do you know each other?" The old woman interrupted Yuxi. "Do you know these two?" She asked Yuxi.
"Yes. I know Riuwen and this young master… Xing Zhaolin."
Old woman: "How come?" She asked excitedly. If Shen doesn't want her… I will keep her for Zhaolin.
"No granny." Zhaolin started. "Stop imagining things. Why did you leave the house so early in the morning?"
The smile on her face vanished. Her thoughts had been read aloud by Zhaolin. "I went out empty handed but came back with her… Don't you see? I need to go out more often. I will find one assistant for you, too. This one here is for Shen."
Zhaolin looked away from the old woman to the stairs… He had heard footsteps.
At that instant, Shen came down. Dressed in stripped pants and hoodie. He looked nothing like the man on guaze mask.
Yuxi mouth dropped. "So you are Shen? Woah! You are handsome just like Zhao…"
"Young master Zhao," the head maid corrected instantly.
Yuxi pouted then smiled. "I'm sorry,"
The old woman giggled, "It's alright."
Zhaolin and Shen shared a look for some moments before Shen looked away.
Qiangshen strode straight to the door without saying hi to Zhaolin.
At the door, "Are you not my assistant? What are you still doing standing there? You are meant to follow me."
The old woman's jaw dropped. "Yes, she is but she can't start today."
"Today or never!" Qiangshen said and strode out.
Yuxi was left in the middle. He has such a nasty character… Now, do I follow him or wait till tomorrow?
"Go along." Zhaolin said. He feels unsecured. He smiled.
Yuxi couldn't take all the dresses that the woman got for her as she rushed towards the car.
"Bye," granny waved at Yuxi. "Where to you on her from?" The old woman turned to Zhaolin. She no longer looked like the same always smiling old woman. Her eyes sharp and directed at Zhaolin. "If you want, I can call her back. She can become your assistance…"
"No granny! It's okay."
"Really?" She asked then turned to Riuwen. "Who is that promising young lady? Do you have his set for her?"
Riuwen jaws dropped. Now me? Oh my. "No granny. I just happened to know her and that's all."
Five minutes later, the car came to a stop in front of a very rough looking building. It looked deserted and lonely. Yuxi stared with her mouth open, "where are we?" She couldn't help but ask.
The driver got down and opened the door for his master, he walked over to open Yuxi's.
Yuxi looked up at the driver, "is this some mad house?"
"Step down, miss."
She got down and walked around to Shen's side, because she had her eyes on the building, she didn't see a little pothole and stepped into it. Yuxi lost her balance instantly. "Ahhh!"
"Watch out!" The driver shouted.
Yuxi closed her eyes waiting to reach the interlocked ground.
Qiangshen made a smooth move and caught her just in time.
Yuxi peeked, then opened her eyes fully. Him? "Thank you," she stood up immediately but bumped head with Qiangshen. "Ahh!" She growled in pain. "Oh my, I'm sorry! Really sorry!"
He didn't have any reaction on his face. He let her go and walked away into the dark elevator.
Yuxi rushed forward, towards him.
They both used the elevator.
After some seconds the elevator beeped and parted ways for them to come out.
Qiangshen unlocked one of the doors and turned on the light.
A studio? What is it for? Yuxi wondered. There was no much thing inside but it contained a sofa, a chair for the tune setter, a microphone and a headphone.
"What are we doing here?"
He said nothing but turned to her.
Those striking black pupils looking straight at Yuxi made her swallow her saliva for some moments. "I… I shouldn't have asked."
"You don't know me, do you?" Qiangshen asked.
"No," Yuxi replied without thinking.
He smiled, "You're so useless then."
"Hunh?"
He said nothing again then sat on the sofa with his phone in hand, he dialled a number. "Come take her home."
"Hunh?" Yuxi asked again. "Come take her home. Who? I hope it aren't me because I'm not going anywhere!"
He hung up, not sparing her a single look and went into the isolation room, picked up the sheets, then he started studying them closely.
Yuxi watched him with her face scrunched up.