Chapter 107 - Preparations
La Grâce Academy is the most prestigious academy for the wealthy in the country. But aside from that, the academy is also popular for producing excellent talents from different areas like business, art, and the likes.
And this academy is where Xiu Mei studied in from pre-school to middle school. The day after tomorrow is when her batch is gathering for a formal party along with their teachers from the school.
"I haven’t bought a new dress for quite sometime ah." Xiu Mei mumbled while standing in front of her wardrobe. She was looking for a fitting attire to wear to the party but it seems that all she has at the moment was the last year’s designs.
If it were just a normal gathering, Xiu Mei wouldn’t need to spend so much thought about it but since she was one of the high profile alumni in the academy plus taking into account her family’s standing, Xiu Mei needs to prepare for the party well.
Especially that it’s not like her entire middle school years went pretty smoothly.
Giving one last look at her wardrobe, she deeply sighed and looked out the window.
Seeing the full moon hanging up in the sky, she felt a bit melancholic.
Is it because Lu Chen she hasn’t seen Lu Chen since yesterday?
She pulled out her phone and clicked her message exchange with Lu Chen. Since the two of them are quite busy with their own work, the two of them barely have any time to have a short call with each other especially that they’re in two different timezones.
Hence she would often update him about what she and Lu Qiang does at that time and ask him if he’s eaten or not.
Since it’s night right here, it should be morning now right there?
Finally gathering her courage, she dialed his number. It took almost ten rings before Lu Chen finally picked it up.
"Wife."
When Lu Chen picked up the call, he was in the middle of an important meeting. Seeing that it was from Xiu Mei, he firmly excused himself and found someplace quiet to answer the call.
"Chen! I... "
Finally hearing his voice, she felt elated but fl.u.s.tered at the same time. She just realized that she called him randomly without even thinking of any topic to talk about.
"How are you doing?" Lu Chen asked.
He would always get multiple reports daily on how Xiu Mei is currently doing. Since he was quite worried about her safety and mental state, he was always filled with uneasiness knowing that he wasn’t by her side at the very moment.
"Fine, I guess...though it just kinda feels empty when you’re not at home."
The two of them fell silent for a few seconds. The next thing she heard is a deep sigh from Lu Chen’s end.
"I should’ve really brought you here with me." He sounded regretful when he said that.
Xiu Mei couldn’t help but chuckle. "That’ll be impossible, Mr.Lu. I have to hold the fort here if you’re not around."
"Then I can just leave Lu Shao there in your stead."
"I’ve always been the one to act as your stand-in ever since I’ve become your secretary, remember?"
"That was before. But you’re my wife now. So I think it’s best if I bring you with me in the future."
"So are you indirectly firing me as a secretary now?"
"Of course not."
"Oh. Then I still get to stay here if you’re not around. Spare Lu Shao some work, he’s exhausted."
"...You seem to be quite worried about Lu Shao these days?"
"Who wouldn’t be?"
Xiu Mei recalled the days when Lu Shao would spend his break sleeping in the break room or refill his coffee mug multiple times a day. She couldn’t even ignore the tall pile of work just beside his table and the boxes on the ground.
Everytime she sees his working station, she would always wonder if Lu Shao still finds working with Lu Chen worth it if he’s being overworked this much. She can’t help but fill pity ah. It’s not like she can help in doing those papers since a lot of his work isn’t involved in Lu Corporation.
She would even wonder what kind of work Lu Shao does for Lu Chen that’s outside the scope of Lu Corporation.
"Just spare the guy some slack and let him take a break. I’ve taken an amazing amount of day off this year so it’s his turn to relax, right?"
"Tsk...fine."
Lu Chen gave in. It was true that ever since Xiu Mei started working for him, the one who was always left in handling the company affairs would be her instead of Lu Shao.
Lu Shao’s main work is on his underworld affairs and personal assignments that are outside of his normal work. He would often assist in some stuff related to the company but Xiu Mei is still the main person who fills as his stand-in whenever he’s not around.
He sighed in disappointment once again. Who would’ve thought that he’d regret this kind of work arrangement he set in the past?
Now he couldn’t even bring his wife to his business travels in the future unless her presence is definitely needed.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, I’ll be attending a party the day after tomorrow and it’s a really important one so I won’t be able to pick you up that day at the airport."
"That’s fine. But what kind of party is it?"
In his mind, Lu Chen was already calculating what kind of adjustment he needs to do for his wife’s security at the party.
"A middle school gathering. I’ll be with Kei and my cousin so I’ll be fine."
"That’s good."
The two of them chatted for a little while longer before Lu Chen brought up that he still has some meeting to attend to. Fl.u.s.tered that she disturbed him, she quickly bid him goodbye and finished the call.
The next day, Xiu Mei found some spare time to visit the VIP franchise of an international brand at the mall.
She was properly accommodated by the staff and was brought into a VVIP room. She casually sat on the couch while they served her a plate of cookies and tea to munch in while she’s choosing her clothes.
The staff pushed a couple of racks of clothes in the room. She nonchalantly raised her hand, signaling them to leave the room so she can comfortably choose a dress.
She was in the middle of choosing a dress when she heard a commotion outside the store.
"What do you mean I can’t come in? I’m a VIP here!" A man’s voice could be heard complaining.
"Babe, it seems like the staff here doesn’t respect you at all. Look at how they’re treating you as if you’re not the one paying them." It was a female voice this time.
The two people continued arguing with the staff for quite a while that some VIP who are in their rooms have already noticed the commotion.
Xiu Mei curiously peeked at the glass window on the door. She couldn’t see their figures very well since she was almost at the innermost part of the area where you could barely see the reception.
Xiu Mei was planning to ignore it since it’s not like this was the first time she encountered commotions like this but after listening in on for a little longer, she finally recognized the voice of the man.
It was Zhu Lin’s voice.
She contemplated for a little while behind the door before finally deciding to interfere in the situation.
Since the man delivered himself in her doorstep, though not exactly hers, why not make the most out of it since she’s planning to take her first step in escaping from the past right?
After all, it was this man’s cowardice that caused her and Ying Yue to fall into that kind of situation in the first place.
"I thought I heard some uncultured people trying to get into the store, so it was just you huh, Zhu Lin." She uttered his name with so much disgust.
The two people behind the counter raised their heads and looked at her direction. The girl was just about to burst from anger after being insulted as an uncultured person when Zhu Lin beat her to it.
"Mei’er! What a coincidence."
Xiu Mei very much wanted to say that what kind of bullshit luck she really have to bump into him again.
Zhu Lin looked happy when he saw her and was trying to approach her so she quickly took a step back and held out her hand to signal him to stop his movements.
"Oh please, can you stop calling me like that as if we’re close? The last time I checked, I told you that your mere presence disgusts me right? Or is your brain that useless that you don’t even remember that?"