Five years passed.
Xia Yanmei was at work, reviewing her presentation when her cousin called. Her nose wrinkled knowing she was about to get some nagging once again.
"Hello cuz. Wazzup?"
"Don't wazzup me. Just because you have turned American, it doesn't mean you should continue living in the US." It was her favorite cousin, Xia Ping calling.
"Brother said, he needed help in the company. He wanted me to ask you if you can join him."
"Pfft! Haha! Are you passing responsibility now, Mr. Xia Ping?"
"Yanmei, I am a soldier. I have no plans of getting into the business. I cannot do the numbers. You know me too well. Besides, what are you still doing there? You've already finished your masters. You are only dragging your career growth."
"Excuse me, but I happen to be an assistant manager for marketing here in the company. I am just not a simple nobody. Furthermore, I am enjoying wasting my father's money!"
They both fell into laughter at the thought of her father still sending her support money. She had told Xia Zihao that she failed a few classes and she needed to continue studying.
The truth was, she also lied to her cousin. She was a mere marketing associate. It was hard to get a good position, being a foreigner in the US. Although she spoke good English, it was but natural for management to be partial to someone like her.
In the middle of their conversation, Xia Ping became silent. Then he awkwardly said, "Yanmei… Bai Han and.. and your ugly sister is getting married, by the way. I just wanted you to know that… I guess the Bai family finally accepted Yi Meixu."
Yanmei was caught off guard. The news was a surprise to her. She shook her head to awaken herself before answering, "Very good. They deserve each other and we both know it."
When she ended the call, for some reason she felt gloomy. She did not care about the wedding at all, but it irked her that her father never mentioned it. She sat back in her office chair, thinking, "Come to think of it. He barely talks to me. He just tells me if he has sent the money."
Upset, she called her best friend for four years, Garry. "Girl! I need some loving tonight! Let's drink it!"
Garry was gay, but she loved him. She could tell him anything and from happy moments to all of her sorrows and he would turn it into laughter. After living in the US for five years, she had picked up that most women backstab each other. Men only want to get laid! She ended up having more gay friends that she considered close.
They met in a pub, a mile from where she lived and as soon as she arrived, Garry was already waiting for her.
"Yanmei! Over here!" He sat right on the bar where it was easier for them to get more drinks.
They kissed each other's cheeks before she greeted him, "How are you? You look blooming today!"
"Oh, haha. I got laid last night!" His hands then opened, attempting to grab on to something while adding, "He had a fine ass!"
They both laughed before Yanmei answered, "I guess that is good for you… Who was it this time?"
"A boy -"
"I would be shocked if it was a girl!" Yanmei cut him off, and they went about laughing again. She was used to hearing his dating adventures. Although his tales could easily give her a heart attack, she found it strangely amusing.
She had to give it to Garry. He was living a life free from apprehensions. He was confident and funny, but too honest for his own good sometimes.
"What about you, Yanmei? Your V should have some activity, you know. It's going to run dry!"
"Ssshhhh! Lower your voice, will you!" Yanmei checked if the bartender was watching and thank goodness he was busy. She turned back to him and said, "You know very well, I don't have any plans of having a relationship. I don't think I will ever!"
Yanmei never dated anyone. She met a few, but the culture in the US would not meet her standards. She saw her classmates casually date just anybody. Even as she worked part-time, she heard stories from her colleagues about how they got a one-night stand.
Not that she has anything against them, it was just not how she was brought up. The Xias were traditional in many ways.
After getting some food in their stomachs, they began to indulge in some cocktails and it did not take long for them to act irrationally.
"Yanmei, how is your superior doing?" Garry asked. They have always talked about her direct supervisor, Amanda, who was kissing ass with the big boss.
"Oh, my gosh. I haven't told you yet, but, remember Alice? She was able to capture a video of Amanda and the boss making out in the office! She even shared to me the video -"
"Let me see!" Garry exclaimed.
As soon as they watched the video, Garry went screaming, describing what went on as he looked, "Oh my god! They were doing it in the conference room? Ooooh... That's hot! Oh, think his dick so big. No wonder, your supervisor is cheating on her husband!"
Y: "Pfft! They are both married! They are both cheating! Wait… what? How could you tell it's big, they weren't naked."
G: "She is holding her dick! Are you blind? Send me a copy! It's so hot!"
Y: "I thought you don't like women?!"
G: "I'm not going to look at Amanda. I am going to imagine your boss! He is super hot! Why do you even have this? It was meant to be shared and not keep as a secret!"
Y: "I was going to use it against Amanda! She has been giving me a hard time lately."
G: "Bitch! Send it to me now!"
Y: Who are you calling a bitch? You Bitch!"
They drowned in laughter again, realizing their drunkenness was getting out of hand. In the end, Yanmei gave in and sent him a copy. She was yawning and rubbing her eyes as she opened her email from her phone and carelessly did as Garry wished.
The next day, she arrived late at the office. Her head was aching terribly as she rushed through their office lobby. She noticed the receptionist gave her a frightful stare, but because she was in a hurry, she dismissed it and went to her desk.
The moment she placed her bag, her office mate, Alice said, "Yanmei, the boss wants to see you."
"What? Why? So early? Is it because I was late?" She asked, feeling a little nervous.
Base on her reaction, Alice realized Yanmei had no idea what happened. She remembered Yanmei bidding goodbye yesterday, saying she was going to drink with her friend, Garry. She gulped before telling her the bad news, "Yanmei, remember the video I took between Amanda and the boss?"
At that point, Yanmei's heart was beating faster. She wondered why this was brought up all of a sudden. It was such a coincidence that she and Garry covered this last night. "Yes, what... about that?"
"Well, you sent it to your friend, Garry… and copied all of us, Yanmei." Tears then welled in her eyes and she added, "Yanmei, please don't tell the boss that I took them. I really need this job."
Yanmei took a deep breath and told herself, "Oh, well. I guess I am going home after all."