"We'd like to have Gaifan, steamed dumplings, malatung and Black tea" Guiren gave Meilin the chance to pick what they'd have for dinner. He thought women eat only two percent of a mans average meal, but the woman seated in front of him was one of a kind. He liked the fact that she didn't pretend. She liked food and he liked it too.
"Why are you staring?" she asked and he quickly diverted his gaze due to fast instincts. "I'm sorry, that was definitely wrong of me"
Meilin sighed "It's okay though" She said as she tapped rhythmically on the table and hummed a song.
Meilin expected a strict, rude and annoyingly bold man but her boss turned to be a timid unsure adult. She had work and grooming her boss to be a better man was one of it.
The waiter dropped the food off at their table them left them to enjoy the meal. Meilin clapped her hands a few time then said a few words of prayer before she picked up her chopsticks.
Guiren didn't know how to start a proper conversation, he didn't eat along with her. All he did was watch how she ate and whenever their eyes met, he'd look away and whistle pretending that it was a random encounter.
"Do you want to say something?" He shook his head. Meilin shrugged and continued with her meal.
"Tell me about yourself Mr Chiu" Meilin said wiping her mouth with a napkin then placed it aside.
Guiren intertwined his hands together and took a deep breath before talking. "I'm Thirty six. People say I'm supposed to be married but I'm sure I've already missed out on the love of my life. If I even had in the first place. What. about you?"
"I...sorry" she apologized for her poor manners. She already had food In her mouth so she decided to chew them before eating.
"Okay. I'm presently twenty four, a single mom. Two daughters Li Hua and Li Na. My whole life and my angels. I can't do without them in my life."
"Single? Why?"
"Let's say, a girl wanted to be a princess so badly, she thought she had a prince but it was all a lie. Being with a prince only led her to a tragic end."
Guiren didn't say more even though he had more questions to ask. He thought it would be wrong to do so, especially when it had something to do with her private life.
"Ready to go?" Guiren nodded as he waved at the waiter to have the rundown of the food they other. Luckily it was exactly the amount of food he had on him.
"It's pretty late. Where are your kids?"
"With my neighbor, don't worry much about them. It has nothing to do with you" she said with a smile and he found that quite odd but again, he didn't ask questions.
He opened the passenger seat for her and she appreciated his kind gesture before getting in.
He turned on the radio for news update but he didn't check the channel it was on. "Oh my I love this song" Meilin said singing along to her favorite Korean girl group, bangtan girls supreme.
Guiren didn't seem to be comfortable with the songs but as long as she liked it. He'd bare for the few minutes drive to wherever he was directed.
"Just drop me at the train station" He nodded and turned to the right side of the road where he parked his car and accompanied her to the check point.
She already had tickets and she was let in. Before she could wave goodbye, he already turned to leave. Her mood was darkened by what he did but she just let it slide and got in the train.
She was the only woman that went out with him for dinner. His first and probably his last because he didn't have the courage to ask one out. Meilin was the one that invited him so all he had to do was either accept or decline.
For a grown man his age, he was quite timid even though he'd spent years trying to fix that. His biggest fear was getting turned down or laughed at. That's why he avoided chances. Whether he had opportunities to succeed or not.
Meilin took her kids back home and warmed up some milk in bottles she had in the fridge. She already changed into her pjs and looked through some of her drafts to plan ahead for the economic change that was bound to happen. Anything she was doing, it was all for the company and Guiren.
Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen before answering. "Hello sir..."
"Evening Miss, How was your short trip home?"
"The same as usual. Nothing new" Guiren could hear the girls in the background. He was already getting warmed up by their soft giggles and noises.
"I hope I'll see your kids someday."
"That reminds me. Their turning one soon and I've already started making preparations for their birthday party."
"Oh, can I..."
"I'm their mom. I can handle it" Guiren noticed how her attitude changes whenever he mentions her kids. Maybe she was just being over protective for a reason. He knew how secretive she was thus no questions asked.
"Seems like your busy right now..."
"Kinda. I'm just changing diapers, nothing new" She giggled over the phone.
"Okay, I'll leave you to it. Good night" He hung up and she put her phone down.
"goodnight..." she said despite knowing he already hung up.
She shook her head and continued with her nightly routine "Stinky diapers" She said to Li na who was moving her legs around waiting to be cleaned up.
Exactly three weeks later, Meilin walked around a store with her fifty year old Neighbor that helps watch over her kids time to time. She wanted to buy toys for the children at the daycare to add to their party packs.
She also had to get the cake she ordered but Guiren was already on it. In the end it was inevitable to not have him help out. She didn't really have a choice she had a lot to do.
Guiren stopped by the store to pick her up and she put all the toys in the trunk then got in the passenger seat.
"Thanks for getting the cake."
"You're welcome" He said as he started the car. Once they got to the daycare the children cheered because they'd been waiting for the party to start.
Meilin placed the cake on the small table and decorated the table perfectly with small toys and flowers.
"Time for a picture everyone!" The kids huddled up behind the twins and screened "Cheese"
It brought so much memories of when she was younger. The older kids also loved her babies, it made her really happy on how excited they were about the birthday.
Li Hua was always looking away while Li Na was just chuckling whenever their mom tried to make Li hua concentrate.
Meilin helped then cut the cake then kissed their cheeks "Yay!!! Happy birthday angels" She clapped her hands and fed them a slice of their cake.
She had other activities for the kids but they were waiting for the mascot. Meilin received a phone call that the man she hired won't be available and that her money will be refunded.
She was a bit upset and Guiren noticed it. She had to think of a solution before the kids finish their cakes and ice cream. By then they'll be waiting for the next activity.
"What's wrong Miss?"
"The mascot isn't coming Sir!"
"Shit" He silently cussed. "Where's the costume?"
"In the trunk...why?"
"I'll be the replacement. Give me a minute" Guiren dashed out to change in his car. All he had to do was put on the anpanman costume and try his best to act as his childhood hero.
Meilin counted more than a minute but at least he came. "Look everybody! Anpanman man is here"
The kids turned back and rushed to meet him. "Awesome..."
"Amazing..."
"Yes. That's me" He placed a three year old kid on his shoulder and ran around "How does it feel to have a ride on the world greatest hero!"
The young boy screamed in excitement and the other kids followed him. He realised he had to give each and everyone of the kids a ride on his shoulders. It was work but that was the fun of it.
He moved on to the next segment of his show. The one he sucked at the most "Come on kids, let's have a magic show" The kids sat down to see what was going to happen and the adults in the back were also going to do their best to judge the scenario.
Surprisingly, it was actually funny. Meilin stood with the other adults laughing at her good he was. Guiren was only going to do basic tricks, they were kids so it wouldn't be so hard to notice how fake it was.
He did tons of things that surprisingly amazed the kids. Making his thumb disappear, the good ol card tricks, the magic box illusion, the magnetic pencil, he also levitated a card which seemed to spring up more reactions from the kids.
"Hey wait! A fat boy from Guirens audience got up " I noticed something."
"Oh really" Exactly what Guiren wanted. He made his final trick look somewhat fake because he wanted to spark up screams and impress meilin a little.
"None of the coins are in your hands. They're probably in on that tight sleeve of yours" The boy crossed his arsm feeling intelligent after spotting out Guirens error and the other kids already started murmuring but Li Na was still laughing and clapping her small hands having no idea of what was going on.
"You're right...They're not in my hands..." He opened up his hands and the kids started booing.
"Want to know where they are?" He asked the boy and he nodded.
"Right here" He pulled the coin from the back of the boys ear and the younger was left stunned. Anpanman bowed as the kid cheered for him. The fat boy hugged him "You're our anpanman."
"Group hug!" Guiren kneeled to their average height to give them all a hug.
"Time to go kids."
"No!!!" They didn't want him to go. Most of them were already crying but Li Na's cute chuckle could be heard from the back. At least she was used to a reaction.
"I'll be back, this time next year" He pointed at meilin and smiled "See that auntie over there, tell her thank you. If not for her I wouldn't be here" The kids turned back to look at her, completely adhering to anpanman's instruction "Thank you aunt."
When they turned again, he was already gone. The kids cried but Meilin ensured them he'll be back. She said she can call him whenever as long as they stopped crying. That seemed to cheer them up
Later in the afternoon after all the gift packs were shared, the kids went home with their parents and Meilin was helping clean up.
Da xia thanked Meilin for bringing over Guiren but they both waved off her gratitude.
"You never told me you were good at kiddies tricks. The last one blew my mind though. How did you do it"
"A magician never reveals his secret" he winked at meilin and she rolled her eyes "whatever."
"One more trick tho" He said and simply pulled a rose from his sleeve. Meilin looked at him with suspicion as she crossed her arms and eyed him playfully.
"Was that there the whole time?"
"It's a secret..." Meilin crossed her arms and puffed "Fine, I just plucked it from a rose bush outside" It wasn't easy for him. He was afraid of getting called out for doing so but luckily no one paid much attention to what he was doing.
"Well thanks" She softly punched his arm "Anpanman."