She returned to her place, with sour face, and she was out-of-focus. A lot of things played in her mind right not until when she arrived at her place, she did not realise it. She stare blankly in front of her monitor, thinking about what had happened to her in CEO Zhang office.
Chen Rou Jiao tried to stick everything together, to find a suitable answer but no answer had been found, instead more questions storm into her poor mind. Even when Xie Rong knocked her office door, she did not aware about that.
Xie Rong eventually entered the chief manager's office after she got no answer from her.
She was about to send the file of Miss Yuan project but when she saw Chen Rou Jiao was out space, she wandered what was in her mind because she never saw Chen Rou Jiao acted like that since their first meeting. All she knew about her team leader, Chen Rou Jiao was a composed and alert person, even she had problems, she could still worked on current situation properly and end up with great outcome.
However, today was different. Today, the great Chen Rou Jiao was knocked down by her own thought.
"Miss Chen? Hello Miss Chen?"
Xie Rong waive her hands in front of Chen Rou Jiao face, but no respond at all.
"Chen Rou Jiao!"
Chen Rou Jiao gasped. She jumped on her seat. "Huh? Why ? What?" She looked here and there, stopped at the face of her assistant. "Why?" she asked dumbfoundedly.
Xie Rong shook her head. "Is there something that bothering you, Miss Chen?"
"Err... no..thing?" Chen Rou Jiao grinned innocently.
"Hmm?" Xie Rong raised her eyebrows. "What's with the long face earlier?"
"Err.. it's nothing. Don't mind that."
"..."
Xie Rong observed Chen Rou Jiao's face down to her hands which was on the table, "You know when you stuttered, you are hiding something from me, right?"
Xie Rong knew Chen Rou Jiao that much. She had a unique reaction when making excuses or even lying or something burden her mind. Chen Rou Jiao will started to stutter and her thumb will started scratched her point finger.
Chen Rou Jiao pouted. She was not shocked with Xie Rong's words. Out of people she meet all her life, Xie Rong was the only person could recognize that little detail of her. She only had goosebumps that that girl knew that much although they just knew each other for a year! Even her old friends for 4 years, did not care about it.
"Haih.... fine. I will tell you."
Chen Rou Jiao saw Xie Rong beamed at her after managed to defeat her chief manager. She jeered at Xie Rong for that victory.
Chen Rou Jiao sat lazily on her chair. Sighed heavily. While still mourning about her plan destroy in a blink of the eyes.
Xie Rong looked concerned about Chen Rou Jiao so she patiently waited for her respond and took a seat in front of Chen Rou Jiao.
"I promised my dad. The project with Miss Yuan was the last, and then I will take a leave."
Chen Rou Jiao stopped. She still scratching her point fingers. Xie Rong nodded at that. "Then?"
Chen Rou Jiao's eyes rolled up, looked straight into Xie Rong's eyes. "Hmmmm... Earlier, in CEO Zhang office, he told me, we will have a meeting with new client." the sense of disappointment and sadness showed clearly within her weak voice.
Xie Rong nodded again. She understood the whole situation. She leaned her towards the table, place her arms on it, and facing Chen Rou Jiao calmly.
"Have you told him about your plan?"
Chen Rou Jiao shook her head.
Xie Rong sighed deeply. "Then how come he can drop you off from the project?"
"How come I can tell him? You know who CEO Zhang is, right? He will never comprehend about it. You also have the experience."
Chen Rou Jiao reminded her about the incident 3 months ago. She wanted to take a leave to celebrate her 3rd anniversary with Yu Sheng but their boss disapproved right away without listening to her explanation.
"Is that client so important?"
Chen Rou Jiao shrugged. "I have no idea. I know nothing about the new client. All I know we will meet the client during lunch today. So.... I can't have lunch with you today. Sorry."
Xie Rong laughed on how apologetic Chen Rou Jiao's face right. Like she made a huge mistake towards her.
"Don't you worry about me. I can eat with others." Xie Rong assured her chief manager with a bright smile.
"Thank you."
"Do not mention it. We worked for a sarcastic and heartless boss, what can we do other than hang in there." Xie Rong surrendered.
"Mn." Then Chen Rou Jiao remembered something. "Hey! You want to know something weird happened when I was in his office?"
Xie Rong first looked shocked but then she grinned mischievously. "What? Did he and Miss Yuan....."
"No. I pray it's not that."
"Then what?"
"He scolded Miss Yuan!"
"WHAT?" Her eyes widened. "Is he out of his mind?"
"Right? I also think the same. And what most shocking, he defending me and threaten Miss Yuan to end their colaboration if she kept complaining about my design."
"Is he really do that?" Chen Rou Jiao nodded. "At Miss Yuan, his VIP client?" The chief manager nodded again. Xie Rong squinted her eyes, looked at Chen Rou Jiao suspiciously.
"Really." she desperately wanted her friend to believe her.
"Is he consume wrong food this morning?"
"I don't know."
Xie Rong pressed her lips tightly. Exhaled with her nose. She leaned to the chair, crossed her arms.
"Hmm... Well at least this case is settle right? Miss Yuan finally agreed with your design right?"
"Mn. But.."
"Then don't think much about it. She deserved that."
Chen Rou Jiao also thought the same, just her curiosity about his change of behaviour made her forgot the reality. She started to relax slowly, and could focus.
"Okay then. I will go back to my place first. Enjoy your date with CEO Zhang." Xie Rong had time to joking around.
"We're not going for a date." She said it firmly along with her serious expression but Xie Rong did not care about her explanation.
Xie Rong stick her tongue out and then winked before she walked out from Chen Rou Jiao office.
Chen Rou Jiao couldn't done anything about her playfulness other than shook her head and then continue with her work. Because an hour later, she will face new challenge.
***
They both headed to the Phoenix Restaurant using CEO Zhang's car. In the car, Chen Rou Jiao had no gut to talk to the her boss, she instead, stayed quiet at her place, eyes on the road. CEO Zhang also said nothing to brighten up the situation, until when they finally arrived after 20 minutes on road, he spoke up.
"Do not think seriously about the thing happened in my office earlier. I did that because she deserve it."
Chen Rou Jiao taken aback with him. She crooked her eyebrows. "But I did not.."
"Good then. I don't want you think I care about you or what. It was necessary thing to do."
Chen Rou Jiao sighed softly. "I understand, sir. No need to talk about it again."
"Okay. Now let's go. I do not want my father and the client wait for us for too long."
Zhang Ren Hao walked out for his car first, then Chen Rou Jiao who was still puzzled with him followed.
On their way to the private dining room, she was in her world. Thinking about Zhang Ren Hao right now and the him six years ago.
Yes, this cold and serious man was the same person she met at the hotel during the party six years ago. The same person but different personality. She realised he was that person since she started working in the Flamingo last year although Zhang Ren Hao did not recognised at all.
She remembered clearly how sweet and melting smile appeared on his handsome face that night. Accepting her thank you with his charming voice, plus with the cute little boy clinging on him, he looked dependable. However, when they meet again, those favourable characteristics vanished, and placed with an empty and darker expression. Seems like in those 5 years, something had happened to him that made him change.
There was no way she could know what happened with how mysterious and unapproachable man he appeared to be. And she never saw the cute little boy ever again.
Chen Rou Jiao almost bumped into him after CEO Zhang stopped in front of a close entrance. She quickly get herself together, when CEO Zhang opened the door, she caught the sight of President Zhang who sat facing the door, with someone sat facing President Zhang at the round table. Thus she couldn't recognized who he was, but she was certain he was her client.
They seems to have a great conversation by seeing how brightened President Zhang's face, but upon seeing Chen Rou Jiao entered the room, President Zhang could not be more excited. He rose from his seat and walked to her.
"Miss Chen, long time no see." he hugged the girl who he already considered as his daughter.
Chen Rou Jiao hugged him back. She also happy to meet President Zhang again. For her, the president was a kind man, took a good care for a commoner like her. Unlike his son.
They broke hug but still beaming at each other. "How are you, President Zhang?"
"I am fine. I am fine." He patted her back softly. "Come, come. I want to introduce you to someone."
Chen Rou Jiao just obeyed the president, followed him to the client.
"Mr. Li. Let me introduce you the best interior designer in Flamingo, Miss Chen Rou Jiao,"
Chen Rou Jiao was a bit embarrased when President Zhang introduce her like that, her cheeks blushing. She turned to look at the man who slowly stood up, and when hios appearance was visible for her eyes to see, her eyes widened and the her mind went blank. The smile on her rosy lips, slowly flattened.
Li Da Zhan was standing before her. Li Da Zhan, someone who she think about all these six years, right now standing before her. Like her, Li Da Zhan also startled after saw her. President Zhang voice in the background was almost couldn't be heard them as if they were in their own time and space.
"Miss Chen.. this is ..."
"Li Da Zhan?"