Chapter 5: Wallet Man

"Hello, this is Jessica Ahn speaking," 

"Jessica!" Lijuan spoke over the phone and her assistant quickly replied.

"Miss Lijuan?! Why aren't you at the office? You're late for the board meeting. Your father is expecting you"

"I got the time schedule wrong and I can't make it today." 

"What, why? You're the heir. You should attend once, so you'd know a thing or two?" 

"I don't really see the point in that anymore. I'd still lose this all one day. Well, I don't want to, but with the way things are heading, Fu Hong will surely take over." 

"there's no other way to avoid this now, is there?" 

"There is. I'm going to find a man by myself."

"What? How? Who? Where? Are you sure?" 

"Yes, I've finally decided. It's going to be the man that gave me back my wallet."

"Sorry but WHAT?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND LIJUAN? YOU'RE JOKING RIGHT? PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE!" 

"I know it's bizarre, but I'm simply making due with my last alternative." 

"We don't even know anything about this guy!" 

"You can get information about him, right?"

"I still have a bad feeling about this Lijuan. We can organise a party for celebrities only."

"You know how most of them are, don't you? More Fu Hong wannabes. It truly nauseates me."

Jessica sighed "where are you even going to find that weirdo?" 

"The place I left my wallet, Darba. It's early and people only stop by the bar later in the day. I might get information from the bartender." 

"Should I come along to help you?" 

"No, you shouldn't skip out on work because of me. I'll take responsibility for my actions alone." 

"Well, I guess I'll see you later. In case I find information regarding him, I'll send them all to you. So, be careful alright."

"Certainly" She hung up prior to slipping her phone into her tote. She opened the door to her room and bumped into her mother, who was also heading out.

"Morning mom" Lijuan greeted. 

"Good day" Her mother said coldly before hasting away.  Lijuan sighed. All she could do was prove her mother wrong, but she wasn't certain she could do that. She wondered if the 'wallet man' would win her mother's approval or not.

"Take me to Darba. It's over at Mapel Lane. You should be familiar with the place, right?" Lijuan asked the new driver that she hired the day before nodded.

"Darba is like home to me." 

"Oh, really? That's nice." 

While driving he fought back the need to ask why she wanted to go to Darba. A woman like her was too good to set foot into a place like that. Once they arrived, she headed for the entrance that was left open. 

She took off her shades and looked around for anyone. Her eyes settled on a man at a corner wiping dirt off the seats around him. 

Xin had seen the woman before. As she approached, it finally clicked in his head that she was the same woman on Lunar Magazine. Why was she at his bar again?

"Excuse me, how can I help you?" The bar wasn't open. It was too early for it to be. 

"Are you the bartender or the cleaner?" 

"I'm everything here. I haven't employed anyone yet, and the thought has never crossed my mind." 

"Very well. If you're the bartender have you seen me around her before?" 

"I'm not sure, but I think so. Two or three nights back? I believe you also sat by the counter that day."

"Indeed, that was me."

"Well, I'm honored to have a celebrity come here." 

"It was by accident, but maybe it was also a good thing. I'm looking for someone." 

Xin knew precisely who she was looking for. He titled his head, acting like he didn't have a clue of who she was referring to "And who might that be?" 

"I don't remember his name, but he returned my Wallet. I'm sure he must've been in this bar, but he didn't want to confront me because of my bodyguards." 

"Most likely." 

"Is there any chance that you might know who that man is?" 

"Can you describe him, please?" 

"Well… he has brown hair. I'm not so sure about the color of his eyes, but I think they're likely hazel. He's slightly muscular and he should be about my height."

"Then he's not that tall" 

"True" she agreed, then a brief laugh escaped from Xin's lips. 

"I'm sorry," He cleared his throat. "It's not easy to know who this person could be from your hazy description, but I do know someone that picked up your wallet as soon as you left."

"That might be him!" 

"People here call him Wu? Chan...Chang Wu," He snapped his finger "Chang Wu is his name." 

"That's it!" Lijuan remembered "That's his name" Finding him was easier than she thought. 

"Do you know where I can find him? Who he is?" 

"Unfortunately, I don't" There was no way he'd tell her his friend lives in a pitiful loft where he has issues with the landowner. He had to act like he barely knew him.

"From what I've heard others say, he's a decent man, and he's rumored to be one of those few wealthy people that find comfort in the midst of others in a lower class. Quite strange if you ask me." 

Lijuan's brows knotted. That was unusual, but he did say they were rumours. It was left for her to find out by herself. 

"I think you should leave your phone number in case he comes around." 

Lijuan nodded and gave him her business card "I'd prefer to converse with as soon as possible, so instruct him to call the number the second he gets the card. Goodbye." 

"Yes, ma'am" He raised his hand in salute before turning his attention to the card "I'm such a good friend" Xin praised himself. 

The young man pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed Chang Wu's number. He was currently unemployed, so he had no reason whatsoever to not answer calls during the day.

"What's up, Xin?" Wu asked. 

"So I have her number." 

"Huh? Who?"

"Miss Qin Lijuan." 

Chang Wu clicked his tongue "Did you call just to prank me? Not cool bro" there was no way Chang Wu would believe that. Lijuan would be the last person to give out her number. 

"It's not exactly her number, but it's probably her landline. Something you can contact her with." 

"I can't even tell if you're serious right now." 

"Oh well, your loss, man. I guess I'll burn it, or maybe I'll go out with her in your stead. Moreover, she said you're not that tall." 

"Shut up! Six foot one isn't so bad" 

"Yeah right," Xin rolled his eyes "So are you coming to the bar or not?" 

"Well, you'd never lie to me, but lie for me so I definitely will show up later around six."

"It's a date then."

"Bye." 

Xin hung up then placed his hand in his pocket once again. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it before drawing in the smoke "I might as well hire someone. A college chick will do." 

***

"So did you find anything?" Once Lijuan was dropped off in front of her father's skyscraper, she took the elevator and stopped by the fiftieth floor, where Jessica's station was. 

"Y-yes, I mean n-no" Jessica who was drowning herself in cute pictures of cats was startled by her friend's unexpected arrival. She quickly put her phone aside then cleared her throat, composing herself like the classy woman she thought she was.

"I looked into every little thing about him when you messaged me his name. However, nothing appeared. No friendbook data, no blog profiles, there were basically no online media pages about him, nor were there any news sections about what his identity is or what he does. I've inferred that person is a helpless nobody that actually eats from his perishing mother's pensions." 

"You actually need to control your words, Jessica." 

"I'm so sorry." 

"I'm not really the one you should apologize to, but I guess since he's not here we should just drop the topic. I left him with my card so I might get a mail from him at least later in the day." 

"Okay ma'am" Jessica waved as Lijuan left then her smile was wiped clean from her face "If only she knew" the woman placed a hand on her chest then sighed.