19 All Set to Meet his Sister

Changying felt her mother stiffen and reached out to take her hand squeezing it and shaking her head imperceptibly. "She does have a style all her own," Chunhua smiled through gritted teeth, "but I quite like it, she is her own person, unique like her name..."

"Oh no, you don't," Changying cut her off stand up.

"What," Chunhua cried in dismay, "You have a gorgeous name I made it up myself."

Chen's eyes were alight with curiosity, "Yet another mystery, Changying. How curious you are."

Chunhua laughed, "What other mystery do you have?"

Chen warmed to gossip, and went through the whole story of thinking she had a crush on Wang and how ridiculous that was and that Chen knew she was getting laid and that Changying wouldn't tell her anything other than that there was a mystery man. Chen barely paused to take a breath.

Chunhua smirked, and leaned forward toward Chen, "I've met him, did you know? Totally dreamy, I imagine women throw themselves at him all the time. Probably why he chose her, she has a sweetness that isn't painted over by the fashion hype."

"Now let's go talk about this personal shopper thing, you think some of the other's would be interested too?" Chunhua began to steer Chen out of Changying's office walking arm in arm like bosom buddies as Chen had done to Changying earlier.

Chen stopped and turned her head speaking over her shoulder, "Wang approved your afternoon off, Changying, lucky duck!" Chunhua winked at her and continued to propel Chen away from her daughter.

Changying finished her little touches of make up now that Chunhua wasn't playing with her hair, trying not to worry about what Chunhua was telling Chen.

Deciding it was a good idea to keep some make up at work she put everything into her draw leaving the lip gloss beside her phone to take with her. Chunhua returned with an agonised expression, "Tell me that I was never that bad, or awful to you."

Changying could have, but it would be a lie. If anything Chunhua had been worse in her criticism of her daughter's looks over the last few years, than Chen had been. "Its fine Chunhua I am used to it," Changying smiled weakly, "you didn't tell her anything about um, you know who, right?"

"No way, I know her type all too well. Hell, I am her type, or was," she looked at Changying and smiled crookedly, "I am so sorry baby that I made you feel crummy about yourself, but look at you now, your gorgeous!"

"Don't you have to get back to work?" Changying blushed under her mother's unexpected praise.

Chunhua grimaced, "Yeah but that personal shopper thing sounds exciting doesn't it. I might have to investigate that, can you imagine shopping for a living, how wonderful!" Chunhua hugged her, "that dress looks great, you look great, don't let Chen get to you." She lowered her voice and whispered in her ear, "You got the guy she is after." Chunhua stepped back and nodded at Changying's stunned expression. Then laughed and left calling, "Have a great time," over her shoulder.

Changying felt as if she had wasted the whole morning at work. Trying to put the hurt she felt at Chen's careless remarks aside, began emailing herself some notes and websites to work on at home now that she had the whole afternoon off. She didn't imagine lunch would take that long. Once again she became involved in the story and it's characters as she pulled out information to be researched more thoroughly and jumped when Jack Wei flopped into the chair in front of her desk, "You scared me!"

"Aww come on little red, I'm not the big bad wolf remember," he smirked at her using the nickname he had given her when they first met.

She grinned and shook her head closing her lap top, "I'm glad to see you, how are you?"

"Great! You?" He smiled as she cleared off her desk and grabbed her bag throwing the phone in and applying a quick coat of lip gloss.

"Nervous, I didn't even know he had a sister," Changying gave a nervous half laugh.

"Hate to break this to you little red, but Wang comes from a huge family," Changying squeaked looking up at her doorway making sure no one was close enough to overhear, Jack looked around curiously and back at Changying raising an eyebrow.

"We aren't exactly announcing our relationship at work," she mumbled, "Rumours will probably fly around that you're the mystery man I am seeing, just because you're here in my office."

"I've been called worse," Jack smirked.

"Let's go before I have to explain to anyone, hopefully they are all at lunch," Changying grimaced.

Jack took her hand as she stood up and started singing the mission impossible theme softly, "Dun dun dun dun dun dun doo dedoo doo dedoo dede ... Your mission should you choose to accept it..." He laughed with her as they ran to the lift and were stalled having to wait, "You look great, by the way."