"What is going on?! Why are you at the company?!"
Slender fingers bury in dark strands of hair as Jian Zuoqing pulls with an almost crazed holler towards the roof of the car.
The solemnness, arrogance, and calm that this young man usually exhibits all shattered into a single roar of frustration.
Frightening the driver whose trembling arms almost swerved towards the side of the busy road with a jolt.
Anxious sights raise in an instant to stare through the rear view mirror.
First at his exploding boss on the left then to the quiet cleaning lady on the right.
The scene was strange to say the least as one side is like the start of an apocalypse while the other, a land of tranquil paradise. Only a mere mop held in between acted as the boundary between these two extremes.
Driver: "... …"
Locking his eyes back to the road, the nervous driver huddled closer towards the steering wheel in silence. Hoping that no one would notice his presence despite being one out of the three in the car.
Moments later…
Jiang Zuoqing raked his messy hair back in place with renewed tranquility before releasing a fatigued sigh. Leaning back on the leather seating of the car, the young man closed his eyes to calm the rest of his boiling emotions.
Chest stuffy as if a rock were pressing against him along each difficult breath.
Time ticked in quietness occasionally ruined by the loud beep of horns or excited shouts of people outside.
Ten prolonged minutes later.
The youth finally opened his sights with a sudden lean towards his right, turning towards the silent woman in restrained inquiry once more.
"Why were you-"
Only to make intimate contact with the end of a wet mop.
Driver: "?!!"
Jiang Zuoqing: "?!!!"
Yan Beiqing: "...?"
Oh, the scene is one filled with salty affections tinge with a dash of bitterness and sour leftovers of bathroom stains.
It was the first time the driver ever saw a person french kiss a mop.
Not because his boss stuck out his tongue in greeting but because the mop head fell straight into Jiang Zuoqing's open mouth!
A rush of sour water poured into the young man's mouth as he struggled to push the mop away.
Arms flailing at the same juncture akin to a cat about to touch water, duck about to drown. You trying to find a clean toilet when about to- either way, our president tried hard to save himself from the attack.
"Oh sorry."
Yan Beiqing repositioned the item in hand then laid it to rest on her side of the windowsill. Allowing the head of the mop to retreat from the cavity of gagging youth.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Ugh!"
"Are you okay?"
Bright irises blinked at the trembling man as she reached a hand out in an attempt to pat Jiang Zuoqing's back.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Stop the car!"
Screech!!
The young man jumped out of the car as he heaved everything in his stomach out with tears in almond eyes.
[I swear…]
Jiang Zuoqing proceeds to retch onto the ground while hugging the nearby tree.
[Yan Beiqing! I won't let you get away with this!!]
"Ugh!"
Twenty minutes later…
Seeing that the young president seems to have finished emptying his bowels, Yan Beiqing handed the youth a bottle of water.
"Here, you can use this to rinse the mouth."
Jiang Zuoqing: "... …"
No further words were said as the young man snatched the bottle away with a rough twist and lift. Allowing the cool liquid to fill the cavity of his mouth before spitting out the contents with a disgusted furrow of brows.
"... …"
In spite of finishing a whole container of water, the sour aftertaste still seems to linger.
Whether it's only a figment of imagination or something else, Jiang Zuoqing does not want to ponder further as he motions to leave.
"Are you feeling better?"
The young woman inquired after taking a furtive glance at the man who looked pale and weak from the sudden ordeal.
This question however, was met with a piercing glare from the youth as Jiang Zuoqing turned to stalk towards his awaiting car.
He needs to leave this place immediately!
I'm not staying here for even a minute longer!
_____
Sometimes though, fate likes to play tricks on a person who is already feeling their worst.
Jiang Zuoqing: "...?"
"Is this your car?"
Jiang Zuoqing and Yan Beiqing halted a few steps away to the scene of the driver being criticized by the traffic police.
Traffic Police A: "Don't you know that it's a violation to park here!?"
One of the men scolds while looking at the driver's ID.
Traffic Police B: "You're blocking the road, can't you see the signs over there?"
The other policemen asked while writing down the license on the car.
Traffic Police A: "I'm leaving you off with a warning this time since it seems that this is your first violation. Remember to pay for this ticket on time."
The policemen left shortly after under the tearful gaze of the driver, trembling fingers holding onto a fluttering piece of pink paper.
"President Jiang…"
The driver directed his watery vision towards his boss as quivering lips asked with a faint sob. "Can you reimburse me for this?"
Jiang Zuoqing: "...I'll pay you back double."
Therefore, the driver regained his smile while the male and female lead continued on their… way?
Driver: "President Jiang, are we still going to the business meeting?"
Taking a quick glance at the watch around his wrist, the young man nodded in acknowledgement.
"We are, take me to the hotel and ask secretary Zhang to arrange a new set of clothes for me to change there. I need to take a shower first and as for you…"
The man's sharp glare shot at the young woman who stared back with the same look of nonchalance.
Lips pinched into a thin line, the young man looked away with a huff before commanding in a muffled tone. "Stay in the hotel room for me. I need to have a serious conversation with you."
_____
Eventually, day turns into night.
It is time for the couple to have their first real conversation.
Jiang Zuoqing opened the door to the hotel room with a nervous sense of palpitation. Heart beating with irregular thumps so much to the point that there was a split second thought of wanting to flee.
However, the young man knew that escape was not the option.
After a few nights of deep pondering, Jiang Zuoqing had already begun to accept the idea that his grandparents really are from another plane. Despite the ridiculous story, there is a part of him that believes in this tomfoolery nonetheless.
There were many times in the past when he was young that Jiang Zuoqing recalled the look of his grandparents' faces when looking out at the sea of people walking past. That expression of loneliness mixed with tinges of anticipation as if searching for an acquaintance in the crowd.
Jiang Zuoqing suddenly recalled that day when his grandparents reunited with Yan Beiqing.
The look of those sparkling irises and wide curves on wrinkled lips. Arched back of many years straightened like an arrow about to fire.
Steps swift without its usual drag and nonchalance, regaining a sense of confidence unseen before.
Expressions as well as body movement all emitting the single thought of joy so different from when they were with him.
The two elderly were akin to firm believers meeting their faith.
"... …"
Jiang Zuoqing released a helpless breath.
No matter who they are or where they came from, Grandpa and Grandma Jiang are still his family. That has not changed.
Jiang Zuoqing entered the chamber with a raise of his gaze only to freeze at the sight of Yan Beiqing.
The young woman is seated on the couch of the hotel room, mop leaning against the furniture with its dried head on the ground.
Jiang Zuoqing: "Why do you still have that thing?"
"It comes with the uniform." The young woman replied in a tranquil voice as if this is the most natural of things.
"Throw it away." The young man demanded through clenched teeth. Mind recalling that sour and putrid smell that wraps around his nose and mouth.
"I'm afraid that would not be possible. I don't want to get fired on my first day of work." Yan Beiqing rejected the man with a look that almost seemed to say, "behave."
"Why were you at the company!"
Recalling the spark that started all this, the young president stride across the room with a deathly glare. Palm slammed against the expanse of the marble table beside the couch with restrained anger.
[Ouch!]
Mouth twitched from the pain on his palm, but our boss refuses to show any sign of weakness to the woman in front!
"... …"
A brow raised in amusement at the display, Yan Beiqing began to explain in a few simple sentences.
"I needed knowledge about this world and how it works so I requested the Jiang's to arrange a place for me to work."
"And my grandparents chose to stick you into my company?! Why would you be a cleaning lady?"
With the way those two are treating this woman. It's no surprise if they asked him to step down while Yan Beiqing steps up to become the new CEO.
"This is what I wanted." The young woman explained without much disturbance in facial expression. "The higher a person stands, the less they can see, especially when clouds are the only thing in reach when you stand at the apex."
"Only when I truly stand on the same ground as my subjects could I fully understand their thoughts."
This is how Yan Beiqing often operated even in the past when she was the emperor. Disguising herself while taking on odd jobs here and there while listening to gossip of the common people.
That was how the young emperor was able to understand and change the structures of the kingdom. Reforming the land and leading everyone into the golden ages.
Jiang Zuoqing: "... …"
Almond eyes widened after hearing the words Yan Beiqing spoke. It was at this moment in time that Jiang Zuoqing felt a sudden thread of respect for this person.
"You really are an emperor, huh?"
"...?" The young woman tilted her head in confusion, "but I am?"
Interest surfaced in the young man's mind as he pulled a chair to sit close while asking. "Since you were an emperor, does that mean you also have a harem? How many beautiful women do you have in the palace?"
"I do not have any." Yan Beiqing widened her eyes in bewilderment at this sudden question, "there are only men inside."