The date

Though never in her life did she take a single acting class, Su Fei thought she could certainly pull off something. So, she hid her mood behind a clueless smile and played the role of the brainless idiot. Anything was fine if she could smear her father's name. Not like these people's opinions mattered to her anyway.

She was, obviously, not as good actress as she thought herself to be, for her anger could still be discerned. However, it had, for the two other people, another meaning. Jealousy. The man's ego could reach the roof as his lips lifted in an arrogant sneer. He was handsome, one had to give him that, and seeing the fancy restaurant, he was evidently wealthy as well -or knew how to fake it, that was good too-; though, there was something in his hairstyle that didn't sit right with her. He had drowned his brown hair in gel, that he had styled in a curly fringe. Maybe, what made her uncomfortable was the fact that it was her father's most favorite hairstyle.

The man pulled the sole chair left empty and Su Fei sat, thanking him in her native tongue. He introduced himself then, as he sat back to his place.

"Remembered me? I am Asa Copperlied and this is Lindira Inisia, my friend. She'll help understand each other tonight."

She gave them a smile, tilting her head, and the woman, a delicate looking one with frameless glasses, effectively translated in her native tongue what he just said. Su Fei smiled politely, thanking her and introduced herself too.

In her vague memory of this man, what Su Fei remembered most, was that he would always talk in his own language. The only time he attempted using hers, it was a disaster. Su Fei herself wasn't interested in continuing to see him, so she persistently pretended not to understand whatever he said. The man was even more persistent though and in the end, they exchanged some brief words via messages. A chance for him she supposed, that machine translations were easily available. What she failed to understand right now was what was the peacoat doing here in place of her father. Was that man really trying to play it like this? Finally managing to have her come in this country all to, in the end, thrust a fiancé her way? Damn him!

As she was fighting her growing temper, the sole man at the table rung the bell, a waiter came and Su Fei looked on as he rudely passed a command at her place, not even letting her the chance to do so. He even dared to criticize her along with it.

"It's alright," he said in a smile to his translator when the latter had protested, "she doesn't understand a wink of our language. And isn't it how it's done in those romantic films? She'll like the gesture!"

He could make an excellent actor, Su Fei thought. His deceptive manner didn't betray his words at all. If she really couldn't understand, then she would be fooled! The second woman at this table still had her morale in place though and seemed quite bothered by his manners. Lindira turned to Su Fei, and said pleasantly,

'Mr. Copperlied wants you to taste the best dish of this restaurant, he asks that you excuse his rudeness but he is sure you will be satisfied. I hope you're not offended he took the lead for you.'

Quite a gentlewoman indeed. She smiled brightly but her anxiety was belied by the eyes that wouldn't meet Su Fei's. She really shouldn't be embarrassed by another person's wrongs.

Still deep in her pretense, Su Fei bowed her head lightly and even thanked the man. It was her first night that she had to lie so much. For a time, the table was silent, no one talking. Until he disrupted it, that is.

While the man charmingly looked at her, the words coming from his mouth were anything but pleasant.

"See what I was telling Vernon? She has no conversation. Apart from her face she really is not worthy, is she?" he asked his friend. Actually, his manner of being was as if he was talking to Su Fei, so it could be quite misleading. "Well, at the very least, with her by my side, Mr. Su will sponsor us. God knows we deserve it!"

By now, the translator had regained her calm and seemed, now that she was certain the woman in front of her really couldn't understand them, more at ease which didn't mean that the hand she used to drink her glass of water was shaking any less. Lindira rearranged her glasses on her nose again after that, and translated for Su Fei,

'You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and that dress suits you perfectly. It was really my honor that your father, after persistent efforts, gave his consent to dating you.'

Su Fei's mouth twitched, had she had something in her mouth she would have unceremoniously spat it.

'Is that so? I'm very flattered; tell him that he too is quite handsome. The honor is mine, certainly, to have gotten a man like that; I must have done something right in my last life to be rewarded like this!'

Lindira relayed her exact words and Su Fei looked on as the man's lips moved in happiness.

"It seems like we would acquire that money more easily than we thought."

In your dreams!

Su Fei gave him a smile while clenching her fists under the table and turned to the translator to hear her sweet lies. One had to recognize that she was good! Definitely a diplomat!

The conversation as it followed, was mainly nonsensical nonsense and in the end, the one who was really trying her hardest was Lindira. What exactly did her father see in this man, she really couldn't understand. Though they have fought over the phone the last time about him giving her personal contacts to strangers to contact her, it didn't mean she rather see them in real life!

Not long after, the dishes were served. Spicy ones. Not something Su Fei was fond of.

Clumsily –or maybe not- the hand she extended to serve some soup for herself, knocked the soup tureen and it accidentally fell all over the man's suit.

'Oh dear,' she exclaimed hastily getting up to help him wipe the stain but he brusquely shouted to not touch him. Su Fei was quite proud of her performance as she attempted an embarrassed face, repeating 'sorry'.

The sounds had alerted a waiter who came to see what was happening. And the scene he saw was one petite girl helping an angry man clean his cloth, while another woman had her head bowed in shame.

"What an idiot," was repeating the man.

Brycen, seeing the soup on the floor and the man's clothes while his glares were directed at the sitting woman, could understand what happened. He proposed for the man to come to the toilet with him, other pants would be offered. Before going, he apologized in the name of the restaurant for the inconvenience and tried asking if someone else was stained, his gaze on the sitting woman.

"Can't you see she's fine? What are you dilly-dallying for, it's not like she understands!" snapped sharply the arrogant man, ordering the worker to get it on with his pants.

Lindira was beside herself with anxiety. Didn't her brother, Vernon, said that it was going to be an easy job? How come helping this business partner of him became such a challenge? And what a dick! Even if he was just trying to swindle this girl out of her money couldn't he at least pretend? Gritting her teeth, she tried smiling warmly at this golden pot,

'They are going to give him new clothes, you shouldn't worry. Mr. Copperfield asked that we enjoy ourselves, no need to wait for him.'

Now she was actually taking Su Fei for an idiot, wasn't she? Nevertheless, Su Fei liked her quite a bit so, after apologizing once more she attempted to appear both embarrassed and confused,

'Say, is he really a kind person? His gaze just now was so scary. In his messages, he had always been a gentleman to me... I...I... was that all pretense?'

Lindira beamed at her -or she tried.

'He was genuine.', she reassured, too forcefully for it to sound true and realizing that she tried once more, 'It's just that he got burned that's all. But don't worry, it's just that today was a rough day... he usually doesn't lose his temper like this."

Brycen who came back to wipe the stains and changed the napkin and the cutlery froze. His mouth twitched. He was working in this restaurant for two months now and actually, that man was quite famous here for losing his temper easily. Well, it wasn't his place to talk anyway. Like the diligent worker he was, he relayed the message he had been told to relay,

"Mr. Copperfield asks that I tell you he couldn't stay. Something came up." Actually, the man's exact words were, 'damn it, she ruined my Stuart Hughes Diamond. Who does that? The bitch! It cost nearly a million!' and he then stormed off uttering more profanities.

Lindira's smile wavered, she tightly gripped her hands under the table before smiling more confidently.

"Is that so? Thank you for the message." Then she turned to Su Fei, "It seems that Mr. Copperfield's burns were quite severe, he went to the hospital."

Su Fei had a panicked expression on, trying to get up,

"Oh my God, we should hurry-"

"No… euh…" Lindira took out her phone, "He messaged, he said it was going to be alright. He apologized but would like to report the date. Please enjoy yourself, I'm going to see how he is."

Then, before Su Fei could say anything else, she collected her things and nearly ran away.

When she was sure that the woman was far away, Su Fei broke into a fit of laughter. The waiter who was still cleaning looked at her, puzzled.

She turned to him in a satisfied smile, "Say, was he really burnt?"

The man was taken aback.

"You…" You can actually talk our language? Now he couldn't understand anymore.

She didn't have the time to mind his bewilderment, she was far too impatient,

"Come on tell me, tell me-" she urged.

The man with a sun-kissed skin finally answered her,

"Euh, no but he was quite pissed that his suit was stained."

"Damn! Should've aimed better… "

She stood up, looking at the untouched foods, "You can put the note on his tablet!"

She then exited the place, her phone on her ear, calling for the driver, leaving behind a still uncomprehending Brycen.