1 Phoenix Necklace

In a busy suburb of a city there lies a corporation which is currently having overtime right now due to some rushed projects.

'Tic. Tack. Tic'

The time is clicking and its hand points in seven in the evening.

'Tap. Click. Tap.'

Mouse clicking and typing on keyboard are the only sounds heard inside this office building as everyone wants to finish early and go back to their home now. Then, slowly as a lot of people finished their work the number of workers inside the building dwindles and by seven thirty in the evening only one woman remains.

A woman wearing round eyeglasses and clothed in office attire looking like a strict librarian is currently focused on her computer to finish her designs as it is due tomorrow. You might be wondering why she is not yet done when her co-workers are now heading home. Well, that's exactly the reason *sigh*, this woman is too compassionate and some of her officemates dump their work to her making tons of excuses for them to go home early.

Well, this woman is too naive to believe it. This woman is called Feng Mei and currently twenty-five years old and a part of NBSB group, short for No Boyfriend since Birth group. In short, she is a spinster.

At past eight in the evening, the woman finished her works which should have been done early but due to her 'considerate' workmates she has to work late 'again'.

"Hooh! Thank you Lord my work is finished and I can go home now!", the woman exclaimed loudly knowing that she is alone in the design department.

She takes her bag and walkout of the building. Since, it's already eight-thirty, it's difficult for her to get a cab and so she has to walk a little bit until there would be a taxi for her to take. While she was walking, she saw an old woman sitting by the side walk wearing ragged clothes. She felt pity for her and thought, 'How could her family be so cruel as to let her be alone and beg for alms to eat?'

She walk towards her and gave her fifty RMB. "Grandma, do you have any place to stay right now?", she asked the woman as she is worried that she might get sick due to cold temperature if she slept on the street.

"It's alright dear. I am only waiting for someone", the old woman said while smiling warmly at her then give back her money.

"Oh? Sorry for misunderstanding you grandma. If you want I could stay here with you until that someone comes", Feng Mei said then smiled at the woman.

"It's alright dear, you could go home now. Your family is waiting for you", the old woman replied softly to her.

"It's alright grandma. I could stay here for a few minutes", Feng Mei said then smiled.

The old woman liked Feng Mei. Although she looks hard on the outside due to her strict librarian attire but she really is very compassionate and kind on the inside. The woman take out some kind of necklace carved out from wood with a phoenix design.

"Here my dear is my humble gift for you because of your pure heart please take it", the old woman said to her and give her the necklace.

"But grandma, I cannot take this! It seems important for you", Feng Mei said while she gives back the necklace to the old woman.

"Nonsense, this old woman will not be able to take this material thing in another world anyway. So please, accept my humble gift my dear", the old woman said pleadingly while she puts the necklace back to Leila's hand.

Feng Mei reluctantly received the necklace but she can't bear to hurt the old woman's feeling if she rejects her again.

"You should go home now my dear as it is already late. Be careful on your way home", the old woman said to her while smiling warmly.

"Okay grandma, but if you need anything you can contact me with this number and here I will leave this with you", Feng Mei reluctantly accepts but still heeds the old woman's guidance and so she left behind her contact number and gave her one hundred RMB double of what she gave earlier then walked away fast from the old woman as she is afraid that the woman would give back to her, her money.

"*sigh* she is really cute. I like this woman for my son. Jing An, arrange for her transportation tonight", the old woman said and her wrinkled face disappeared and what appears is a lady nearing her fifties which looks a decade younger than her age and wearing an ancient clothing.

"Yes, Madam", the servant named Jing An replied. Then, slowly those two people disappeared like nothing happened.