39 Let's Go To Mochi Mon

Max glanced at his newly remodeled Cartier watch; it was 3:35 pm.

"Sir, are we heading straight to the airport?" The chauffeur respectfully asked.

"Yes," Max replied. He peeked at the old woman beside him, her gray eyes twinkling at everything in the car. The high-class chauffeur, the dinted posh windows, and resilient bodyguards whom obediently lined up at the side. Her hands felt the leather seats, marveling at the sheer length of the vehicle.

"Now... this! This is a car!" She beamed, erupting a cocky yet proud laugh.

Almost as a perfunctory response, Max helplessly shook his head. It was an insignificant action that he used to console himself and the unknowing yet creeping feeling in his heart. Max didn't use something as much as words to show his dissatisfaction with how she valued money. He didn't know it himself even though he willingly gave a specific portion of his earnings to his grandma every month. Max just wished she would spend it a little bit more carefully.

"Max, didn't you say you would meet your father at that shareholder's meeting?" Grandma Wan began a lecture. "Make sure to show that you're the one worthy of the position, okay? We can't let that son of a b*tch take what is rightfully yours..."

Max bitterly smiled back, "Yes, Grandma."

Trying to divert his attention, Max recalled the high school girl Grandma Wan caused some trouble. She seemed so vulnerable, so weak. So much... like him. Max hoped she wasn't too bothered by one of Grandma Wan's antics and that she would just forget what happened today. It was better this way.

--Meanwhile

"Owner... Huo?" Yi Fei mumbled.

She gingerly tapped on his shoulder, trying to get his attention. Yi Fei was startled when Owner Huo started to cough vehemently, grabbing a neat handkerchief from his sports bag to cover his mouth. Yet his focused eyes glared at his large phone, his right hand hastily tapping left and right as the vividly colored blocks gradually dropped to a surface.

Yi Fei's curiosity aroused, gaping at how deeply invested Owner Huo was in the game. Even a gamer girl like herself didn't care as much as he did.

Yi Fei gently peeked over his shoulder, meekly watching his gameplay. A long piece appeared in the bottom left corner, notifying Owner Huo that it would come in the next turn. He tightly gritted his teeth, roughly stashing the handkerchief in his pocket so he could use the advantage of having both hands.

'Ah, he will lose soon,' Yi Fei predicted with a sort of nonchalance.

"No!"

The vibrant blocks of hues were coming closer to the subtle top line, and Owner Huo hastily pressed on the right arrow as fast as he could, trying to get the long block in a narrow space at the far end. However, it was too late as the holding block already touched the nearest block on the surface. Therefore, crossing the top line.

"You lost!" merrily appeared on the full screen, causing Owner Huo to grimace in displeasure.

'Knew it,' Yi Fei thought.

"Hm?" Owner Huo abruptly noticed Yi Fei. "You want something?"

"N-no," Yi Fei replied quickly, not thinking for a second.

"Well, then, I should get going. I was at the gym earlier and didn't finish my Thursday routine. But..."

He paused.

"You need a ride to the company? Your training starts tomorrow, so if you'd like to get a head start..."

Yi Fei was initially heading to the company, so Yi Fei did a slow nod before replying with a "yes."

"Okay, my car's nearby. Follow me," Owner Huo grabbed the keys in his pocket and started walking ahead for Yi Fei to tag along.

It was almost too natural as Yi Fei quickly followed after Owner Huo's footsteps and got in his car.

Because Yi Fei was a follower.

"Hey, is it okay if I can just call you Yi Fei?" Owner Huo spoke informally, eyeing the mirror that showed Yi Fei in the back seat.

"Yes..." Yi Fei agreed.

"Hey, so I know you're a little weak on Chinese, right?" Owner Huo spoke carefully. "Or you aren't, but you're not confident with the language, I presume."

His right hand silently worked the gear, and his slanted eyes focused on the bumpy road. His lips pursed, patiently waiting for Yi Fei's reply. He dubiously glanced at the rearview mirror.

'Why isn't she saying anything?' Owner Huo thought.

Suddenly, her murky brown eyes displayed themselves.

"I-I'm Chinese," Yi Fei spoke with unusual articulation.

"Oh..." Owner Huo mumbled back, feeling a little awkward.

Suddenly, the car got quiet. Only the vrooms and skrrts of the vehicles were heard. Yi Fei gradually stopped looking forward, purely staring at her black-and-white converse shoes.

Did she say something wrong? Was she too pompous in telling him the truth? Did she make him feel bad?

'I knew I shouldn't have spoken up...' Yi Fei thought. 'But if I didn't do it... then he would think I was Japanese forever. But was that better???'

Yi Fei bit her lip, agonizing over her two words. She barely spoke in her everyday life, so why did she choose to talk now?!

"I'm sorry for assuming," Owner Huo apologized. "I won't do it again."

'What?' Yi Fei stumbled. 'Is he.. apologizing to me?'

Owner Huo awkwardly laughed and said, "Anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"Mo, mo, mochi... m-mon," Yi Fei's face became as red as a potato. When did she become so cocky?!

-

"Mochi Mon? You want a snack from there?" He asked.

Yi Fei did a slow, embarrassed nod again, which Owner Huo only noticed because he was still glancing at the rearview mirror and the road.

"Back pocket, right seat." Owner Huo quickly said. "Grab a few."

Yi Fei was surprised that a CEO would keep his own products in the car. Plus, such pricy bakery goods were bound to spoil. Did he restock daily or something?

She struggled to pull open the back pocket and inside were about a hundred Mochi Mon gift cards! From 40 RMB to 500 RMB, Yi Fei thought she saw heaven in her grasp.

Could she take all the 500 RMB cards??

"Take any of them you want," Owner Huo managed to foretell her jumpy and hesitant thoughts. "I don't need them, anyway."

Yi Fei pursed her lips and just took three of the cheapest cards to not take advantage of Owner Huo. After all, he somewhat helped her with the angry grandma and is now courteously driving her to the company. Anyways, she could still afford some yummy macarons or sweet pastries. Yi Fei was actually a few coins away from buying a full cake.

'Owner Huo is so generous,' Yi Fei softly smiled a little.

But who knew she would think the exact opposite later?