Amy rapped on the door unhurriedly, waiting for her boss' assent before pushing the door of the study room open. Her boss was busy scrolling on his tablet. Making her way to his desk, she cleared her throat to get his attention. But all she heard was his monologue.
"Going to the amusement park? No, the place is too crowded for her."
"Shopping? Spending money on her will not work. We might end up arguing."
"Travelling? It's too soon for that."
Amy waited and watched her boss silently as he reasoned out with whatever information he found. She angled her body to peek at what he was looking at. Reading the title, Amy instantly understood what he was doing.
"What kind of list is this?" Yun Jinghan dropped the device on his desk feeling annoyed. He went on the internet looking for suggestions on how to improve the relationship between couples.
"You should go to the movies. That's the first step." Amy suggested. She admits that her boss is very capable in running an empire but he knows nothing when it comes to having a relationship with a woman.
Glancing up, Yun Jinghan leaned his back on the swivel chair.
"It's not common for no reason. It's actually a great way to learn more about the other person. Discussing the story or the characters will help you know more about Miss Luo's preferences. On top of that, you will be sitting next to each other and hold hands. If you choose the right movie, you will be closer before the night ends."
"Don't watch action, it will be boring. Romantic films are good but the bed scenes might make you both uncomfortable. So, horror would be the best choice."
Her boss eyed her skeptically perhaps unconvinced. Amy explained, "When frightened, most women would jump to the person next to them for help. So you can hold her hand and hug her if she's scared."
Yun Jinghan rubbed his chin, thinking.
"Boss, you've never been on a real date so you don't know. But trust me on this." She tried her best to convince him.
"Fine. Get me two tickets for tomorrow." He decided he would listen to his assistant on this matter.
Amy nodded.
"Clear my schedule tomorrow."
"Done," Amy reported. Knowing that her boss scored a meal from Miss Luo, she already made changes with his itinerary. The repercussion of re-scheduling was disadvantageous on their part but promoting the two's relationship was more important than the losses. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of her lips with this thought.
"You have an update?" Yun Jinghan asked to disrupt Amy's line of thought after noticing that dreamy look on her.
Amy set down the report on his desk but he didn't look at it.
"Tell me." He crossed his arms, closing his eyes.
Amy revealed the result of the investigation, summarizing the key points.
"Dr. Xu is the daughter of CEO Xu outside his marriage. Her mother died after jumping from the top floor of Xu Pharmaceuticals when she was 8. Her father took her into custody. Two years later, she ran away and went to live with her maternal grandmother in the countryside. Her education was completed through a government scholarship."
"Did she stay in contact with the Xu Family?" Yun Jinghan wondered if the reason behind was due to the fact that their families were at odds. The Han Family and Xu Family are competing in the same business sector.
Amy responded with a shake of her head. "No. She refused help from that family. CEO Xu sends her money every month but she always deposits it back."
Amy heard no reaction, so she went on. "Dr. Xu worked for a public hospital for 2 years before she resigned. She didn't seem to work elsewhere after that. Her passport showed she'd been traveling around Europe for more than 3 years. And two weeks before Miss Luo joined GM Gen. Hospital, she started working at the Psychiatry Department."
"Was Dr. Xu scouted by Chairman Chen?"
"No. She was hired after sending her application. But something is strange."
"What is it?"
"In the case of Miss Luo, because of her good reputation, hospitals were vying to employ her. So when she was hired directly by Chairman Chen, it was given that Miss Luo didn't have to go through the tedious application process."
"Of course, my wife is a top-notch doctor." He reacted with a proud smile.
"Dr. Xu was given the same special treatment as Miss Luo. Even if Dr. Xu lacked experiences, she wasn't interviewed or required to take the exam which was an SOP for those applying as an attending. Moreover, her performance as a psychiatrist is considered sub-standard. She has the least number of cases but she was never fired."
"Check if she's associated with any of the shareholders." Yun Jinghan instructed. That's the only possible reason as to why Dr. Xu was still employed there. Uncertain of Xu Wei's motive for approaching Luo Jingyi, he added. "Send someone to follow her every move."
Amy acknowledged it with a nod.
Yun Jinghan thought of something. He felt a distaste just thinking that someone had her pictures in their home.
"Send K2 to get all those photos in her apartment. And find out who is taking them."
…..
On the other side of the city, Luo Jingyi was in her study. Because sleep evaded her, she was working on the reports her assistant submitted. When her phone rang, she pressed the answer key without checking who called.
"Did you check the files I sent you yesterday?"
"Looking at them now." Luo Jingyi answered as she waited for the files to be downloaded. Clicking on it, she found images of her stepmother meeting two men at a coffee shop.
"What is she up to?"
"They are reporters. The information she handed them had been already intercepted. Instead, I gave them a juicier piece. Have you seen the news?"
"Yes." She replied. Recalling that when she watched her stepsister's scandal on the news, it crossed her mind it was him who released the information. And the reason why Han Peng had been trying to get hold of her was to scold her. Because her stepsister most likely played the blame game again.
Knowing that she was already accused, tried and convicted before her side was expressed, a wry smile broke out her lips. 'It never changes.'
"Should I add more fuel to the fire? If we give that item, your father's political career will definitely be a goner."
"No. It's too early to use that." She refused. Trump cards should only be used in desperate situations.
"What about the other task?"
"I looked into ZK Fashion's system and found no records of it being purchased. But I have the picture of the person who delivered it to the hospital. Sending it now."
When Luo Jingyi clicked the photo, she found it was Amy, Yun Jinghan's assistant. She had a suspicion it was him.
"Should I track her down?" He asked in excitement.
"Nevermind. I know her."
There was a sigh of disappointment on the other line. It was quiet for seconds before he asked, "Do you have another task for me?"
"None. I think I'd better return you before she gets madder and kill me."
He groaned out loud with her answer. "Should I just escape to Europe?"
"Run if you think you can hide well." Luo Jingyi challenged with laughter in her voice.
"Aish! What we do there is no fun." He complained.
His frustration reminded her of the person she spoke to earlier. Sighing, Luo Jingyi gave her advice with her tone changing into a serious one. "Don't even think of running. Even before your plane lands, the immigration police would be already waiting at the tarmac ready to dump you on the next plane back. You are just giving her superiors what they wanted –another reason for her to be restrained. Just endure it. It will end in two weeks anyway. Consider it as building up your mental and physical strength."
He let out air of frustration. "Okay. I understand. I won't bolt."
Putting her phone down, Luo Jingyi pushed the chair in a sloping position and concentrated her thoughts on Wang Hua.
"Why do stepmothers always play an evil role?" She mumbled.