When Edith arrived at the MH Headquarters, there was a little commotion going on in the lobby. A group of people gathered around, preventing her from entering the building.
Edith stood behind the group of people and tiptoed to get a clear view of what was going on. Shouting and cursing were heard coming from the direction of the entrance. Soon, a man dressed in a pale blue shirt and slack was dragged out by two policemen at the side.
"It was not me!" The man continued to shout. "I'm telling you that I was wrongfully accused. Director Feng, you cannot do this to me! I demand to see President Mo!"
"Shut up! If you got something to say, you can say it once we arrived at the station," One of the police shouted back before he shoved the man into the car.
Edith turned her head and watched the man screamed angrily behind the window as the police vehicle drove away.
From the whispering voices around her, Edith was able to find out that the man had embezzled some money and altered the accounting book. Fortunately, the higher-ups were able to find out of his misdeed and had called the police to take him away for investigation.
The crowd in front of her slowly dispersed and Edith took her chance to walked into the building. Her eyes scanned around the lobby to find the receptionist and saw that they were blocked by a group of men in their suits and tie.
"Miss Qian?"
Edith turned around upon hearing her name. A man came out from the group and walked over to her with a smile on his face. As she had seen him a few times before, Edith was quick to recognize Assistant Shawn.
"It is you." Assistant Shawn's smile widened.
"Assistant Shawn," Edith greeted him politely.
Seeing their exchange, the other directors and managers who were still discussing the disturbance earlier immediately stopped to look at Edith with curious gazes.
"You are here to see President Mo, right?" Assistant Shawn spoke. "He had instructed me to take you to his floor once you arrived."
The others heard what Assistant Shawn had said and their interest towards Edith increased. After all, to be treated politely and received by Assistant Shawn to the President's office, the others immediately guessed that Edith was an important guest.
They began to look at Edith with their scrutinizing gaze but soon found that the way she dressed did not show that she was someone's daughter from a wealthy family and it does not look like she was at the headquarter to discuss important business.
Their interest in Edith deepened, but none of them knew who she was and why Assistant Shawn was treating her politely.
"Assistant Shawn, this is," Director Cui, who could no longer tolerate the mystery, asked.
Assistant Shawn turned towards the group of men and smiled without saying anything.
Right now, Edith's identity as Hazel's teacher was only known to President Mo, Driver Tang, and him. Assistant Shawn was afraid that once the others found out that Edith was going to be hired as Hazel's caretaker, the other would try to harass the kindergarten teacher and find a way to use her.
Assistant Shawn excused himself and led Edith towards the elevator.
"Is it alright to leave them just like that?" Edith asked as she peeked towards the group of men again. It was just as she had expected. They were still staring at her. Though she was a bit uncomfortable with their gazes, Edith was aware that the group of men were curious about her identity.
"Miss Qian, you don't have to worry. We were not discussing anything important."
Edith let out a breath of relief.
The two arrived at the top floor of the building and Assistant Shawn stopped just as they arrived at the door. He rapped his knuckle on the door and turned the doorknob to enter.
"President Mo, Miss Qian is here to see you," Assistant Shawn announced.
Neil lifted his gaze off the documents on his table and expression softened. "Teacher Qian, please, come inside." He gestured towards the empty seats across him. "Take a seat."
"Teacher Qian?" Hazel looked up from her drawings. Her eyes widened upon seeing her favorite teacher stood at the door. Hazel stood up quickly and rushed over to Edith. "Teacher Qian!" Her voice was full of joy. "Why are you here?"
Edith patted at the girl's shoulder. "I came to discuss something with your uncle."
"Miss Qian, would you like to have something to drink?" Assistant Shawn asked. "Coffee? Tea?"
"Just give me a glass of water," Edith answered and she walked over to President Mo and took a seat before him.
"Hazel, I have something to discuss with your teacher first," Neil said to his niece. "Why don't you continue your drawing first?"
"Oh," The little girl watched the two adults with a curious gaze, but then turned around to her corner in the office.
Edith followed Hazel with her eyes and watched as she sat down at a carpeted area. There was a small chair, table and some toys arranged neatly on the shelf. Seeing that Neil Mo had prepared a small play area for his niece in the office, Edith could not help but smile.
"I have mentioned and discussed your offer with Headmistress Fu," Edith spoke. "As long as this job you're offering was not going to interfere with my job as a kindergarten teacher, Headmistress Fu was alright with this arrangement."
Neil nodded and was grateful that Edith had spoken to the headmistress regarding the job. At least, Headmistress Fu would not think that he was thinking to poach her teacher.
At this time, Assistant Shawn walked in with a glass of lemon water. He placed the drink on the table and left again.
"Let's discuss your terms and conditions."
Edith took a sip from the drink and spoke. "I don't have many conditions. President Mo, I can agree to look after Hazel as long as it did not interrupt my working hours with the kindergarten."
"Of course," Neil nodded. "This job as Hazel's caretaker will not disturb your job as a kindergarten teacher. I only need someone to look after Hazel and taking her with me to the office every day was not convenient for her."
"Secondly, I won't be able to accompany her on Saturday as I still have to attend classes. Moreover, if the kindergarten arranged some activities that would require me to be away, I will not be able to look after Hazel," Edith continued. "President Mo, if you are alright with this arrangement, then I will agree to accept your offer."
Neil thought over her words and nodded without hesitation. "Then, we will arrange this to follow your schedule."
Edith looked at the man and was surprised that he had agreed quickly.
"Teacher Qian, I will pay you as according to what I have offered you earlier. However, I only have one request."
"What is it?"
"Teacher Qian, my only request is for you to move in to live with Hazel and me. We will be living together."
There was a long silence in Edith's part. "President Mo, what do you mean by living together?"