9 LENG WEILIN

The night was getting late and the car was speeding along an empty winding country road. The area looked very quiet and peaceful.

While driving alone at night, Leng Weilin couldn't help but think back to his conversation with his grandfather in the morning. He was planning to spend this vacation with his grandparents who were currently in Sydney. He worked tirelessly for several days to clear his schedule for this vacation. He was very excited to meet his two favourite people in the world after 5 months. But his plans were ruined by a single phone call from his grandfather.

He was having a morning meeting with his assistant Mr. An Yuhe and his secretary Ms. Chen Meifen, when his grandfather called on his office landline. While reading the documents, he picked up the call on speakerphone.

"Lin, I heard that you are coming to Sydney tonight." As soon as he picked up the call, he heard his grandfather's grumpy voice over the speakerphone.

Leng Weilin paused reading and put the documents down.

"Grandpa, How do you know about this? That is supposed to be a surprise." Leng Weilin felt irritated thinking that someone spoiled his plans to surprise his grandparents.

"That is not important. Are you coming alone?"

"No Grandpa, I am coming with my assistant."

"Are you dating your assistant?" Elder Leng asked instantly.

At the very moment, Leng Weilin heard his secretary gasp. Poor assistant An almost choked on his own breath while secretary Chen dropped documents in her hands all at once hearing Elder Leng's question. She covered her open mouth with her hand.

Because the man in question was her fiancé, her future husband.. Mr An Yuhe.

Leng Weilin was dumbfounded for a moment, but recovered soon.

"What are you talking grandpa? I am coming with my assistant Mr. An Yuhe", Leng Weilin deliberately emphasized the word 'Mr'.

"I know,'' Grandpa Leng said as a matter-of-fact.

"So…. Are you dating your assistant Mr. An Yuhe?" Grandpa Leng also emphasized the word 'Mr'.

Secretary Chen Meifen instantly felt her world spinning.

Her future husband and President Leng are dating??.. She looked at her fiance like he was an alien.

Assistant An was rooted on the spot. When he saw his fiancée looking at him suspiciously, he shook his head vigorously to stress that what she heard was not true.

Leng Weilin stared at the engaged couple in the room. He sensed the underlying tension between them.

There was an awkward silence in the office room.

Leng Weilin couldn't believe his own ears.

What in the world was going on here?

Why was his grandfather asking him such a ridiculous question?

In his mind, he wanted to shout ' Are you crazy Grandpa??'

But he controlled his fury. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down before answering.

"Grandpa… I… am... not .. dating … assistant An." Leng Weilin emphasized each word.

He maintained a calm voice as he continued talking to his grandfather.

"Also Assistant An is an engaged man"

He even assumed that his grandfather might not be aware of the fact that his assistant was engaged to his own secretary.

But, the words his grandfather spoke next, almost shook everyone in the room.

"So what. He might be engaged. But you are not. Moreover, he is going to spend his new year vacation with you in spite of having a fiancée. Unless he is your lover, why is he desperate to spend his new year with you? He may be getting married to cover up his true sexual orientation from others."

Assistant An's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water gasping for breath. A part of him wanted to yell out with all his might and another part of him wanted to cry and the rest of him knew that he shouldn't do anything now. His mind kept screaming that he was never desperate to spend his new year with his boss. Instead he wanted to spend it with his lovely fiancée. Following his boss was a part of his job. He didn't want to lose this job that gave him what he most wanted in life.

Secretary Chen looked like her world just ended.

Elder Leng's blabbering continued, "There's nothing wrong with being gay. We are living in the twenty-first century. It is important that you are true to yourself. What is he afraid of? He should not destroy an innocent girl's life just for hiding his secret. I am feeling sorry for that poor girl. Once I am back, I will help her to get rid of this engagement and to find a nice guy."