"Miss Ji,how familiar are you with the Aurora Band project?" Yu Fusheng asked after a while of silence,his gaze still fixed on the iPad's screen. Ji Xian felt a little intimidated and felt like her plan of proving her worth would fail any time soon.
"It's a new health tracking device designed by the Tranquil Health Clinic. It's mostly used for tracking heart rates and oxygen levels. And...,"Ji Xian hesitated after speaking all in one go. She held her breath, anxious to hear to his response.
"Glad to know you're familiar with it,"Yu Fusheng responded placing his iPad aside.
He placed his hands on the table ,his fingers forming a steeple. His eyes stared around till they stuck on something or rather someone interesting,the person seated directly in front of him. Yu Fusheng liked to maintain eye contact; that way he was able to interact easily with the second party and his greatest strength was reading people's minds through their expressions and actions.
"Miss Ji,why are you nervous?"Yu Fusheng probed.
"I'm not nervous,"Ji Xian denied, not willing to back out of the eye contact competition they were in.
" We'll be working together a lot so I wouldn't want you to feel nervous or pressured around me. As for this project ,we have to give it our best. It might be an opportunity to change our lives. If things get intense and I find myself lashing out at you please don't be offended or you can yell back at me,"he said with reassuring smile.
Their interaction wasn't as Ji Xian had expected. She thought he would attack her with a few spiteful words to degrade her.
Just right then,the others came in one by one with Lu Shao coming in last. Without wasting time they delved into serious matters concerning the project;what would be done including the strategies to be taken and so on.
"Fusheng,do you have anything to add?"
"Yes,"Yu Fusheng said with a mischievous glint in his eyes,"As you all know, I usually shake hands when working with someone for the first time. So Miss Ji,welcome to the team,"he added extending his hand across the table towards her.
Ji Xian felt sweat instantly start forming on her palms. Everyone's gaze was on her. She lowered her gaze , staring at Yu Fusheng's long pianist fingers. She gradually raised her hand which had been on her lap the whole time and extended it meeting Yu Fusheng's hand in a firm handshake. After the handshake,the meeting was adjourned and each left the meeting room heading to their respective departments.
"Why are your shoulders so stiff?" Liu Dawei asked in a concerned voice while massaging Ji Xian that night.
She was seated at the dressing table applying facial cream after taking a shower at her boyfriend's place. Liu Dawei was a doctor at Tranquil Health Clinic. At twenty nine years,he was a well acknowledged doctor with recognizable medical achievements. He and Ji Xian had dated for a year but since they were both busy at work,they rarely met up. On Friday evenings,Ji Xian would visit him spending the entire weekend relishing their limited sweet moments as a couple.
"Have you been overworking yourself lately?"Liu Dawei questioned,his voice laced with worry.
"Not really. By the way I will come to your clinic tomorrow,"Ji Xian announced.
"To visit me?" Liu Dawei grinned.
"I was appointed to join the Aurora Band project so my colleague and I will visit your clinic."
"Which colleague? A man or a woman?"
"A man. I'm the only woman in the team."
"Huh?!"
As a protective boyfriend,he was obviously worried about her. Even in such an era,women would often end up being victims of harassment and other possible shortcomings associated with being the minority in a group.
"Don't worry my colleagues are all sensible people."
"And what time will you come?"
"In the afternoon."
"If I won't be busy then we'll see each other then," Liu Dawei concluded the conversation and pecked her on the cheek ,he picked a towel and walked out of the room.
Ji Xian slipped out of the taxi walking hurriedly in to the clinic. Tranquil Health Clinic was a large famous clinic in Beijing with ninety percent of the patients being middle class and high class patients. Although the medical fees was slightly higher,the medical services offered there were of quality and worth the fees. The doctors were well trained paying attention to every tiny detail concerning their patients.
On the first stair of the stairway leading in to the clinic's main entrance,Yu Fusheng stood there with his hands dipped in the pockets of his pants. The only slight difference in his attire was that he was wearing a T-shirt to match his suit instead of a shirt and a tie.
"Mister Yu,sorry for being late,"Ji Xian bowed apologetically panting heavily.
"Take a breath first before we head inside,"he said , twisting his lips into an almost invisible smile.
Ji Xian fanned herself using her hand and when she finally cooled down they headed inside together. The two of them walked to the clinic director's office for their scheduled meeting. They discussed a few things and had a tour around the clinic learning more about the product to be advertised in the process.
Ji Xian was disappointed though knowing she wouldn't be able to see her boyfriend who was busy with patients. Liu Dawei was adored by many regular patients so he barely took breaks and he loved dedicating his time to them. If doctors were to have a fan base,then he would have the largest one,with the patients unwilling to be treated let alone examined by other doctors.
"Miss Ji,are you okay?"Yu Fusheng asked showing concern when he examined Ji Xian's facial expression as they walked down the stairway.
"Yes I'm fine,"she replied forcing a slight smile.
They walked silently towards his car and he insisted on giving her a ride once again proving wrong one of her theories about Yu Fusheng. He was actually a gentleman disguising as a cold aloof jerk or she was the only one he had a soft spot for. Her mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts about Yu Fusheng's conduct towards her versus what she had heard about him at the office. Had she judged him wrong? She couldn't help but grow curious to find out Yu Fusheng's true nature.
"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the clinic "Liu Dawei spoke up in an apologetic tone expressing how guilty he felt knowing how disappointed Ji Xian must have been not being able to see him after delightedly revealing the previous night about her visit to the clinic.
"It's fine. I understand,"Ji Xian replied in a neutral tone.
"I heard you came with a very handsome and charming guy,"Liu Dawei smiled masking his jealousy.
Reading his facial expression,Ji Xian knew exactly what was on her boyfriend's mind. He was feeling insecure and threatened I mean what kind of man would be at ease knowing his girlfriend was hanging out with someone perfect in all aspects like Yu Fusheng? Ji Xian assured him that her relationship with Yu Fusheng was strictly professional and even mentioned Yu Fusheng's problematic behaviour making it almost impossible for any romantic feelings to spark between them.