Invitation

Xiajun grabbed a casual blue jacket from his closet and figured he's grab a coffee and this week's newspaper from The Elysium's restaurant. He felt stifled in his room and thought some air would do him good.

Just as he rounded the corner, he bumped into someone and stood back so he could apologize. Turns out this 'someone' was none other than the Lin Francis who's pictures he had just looked at on the internet, barely ten minutes ago.

"What a coincidence," Xiajun muttered to himself as the girl, clad in a shiny yellow evening gown, brushed herself off and turned to stare at Xiajun. At once, her expression turned from one of irritation to that of realization and joy.

"Hey!" she exclaimed with a smile. "D-Do you remember me?"

Xiajun frowned. He did not. But he figured it wouldn't hurt him to be a bit charming at the present moment and get himself on the good side of Lin Francis, for he just might receive an invitation to her birthday.

"I'm afraid," Xiajun said as he took the girl's hand and kissed it, "I may have forgotten everything the moment I set eyes upon your beautiful face."

The girl blushed. "W-We met at the bar a few weeks ago, don't you recall? Golden Ale House, was it? I asked you for a drink and you turned me down."

Xiajun smiled charmingly while his mind sifted through several past memories, eventually coming to set on one at the Golden Ale House, where he had gotten Shao arrested. But he didn't remember meeting Lin there, but if she says they did, who was he to disagree.

"Ah, I remember now," he said, leaning down to her. "I must have been a fool to turn you down, then. Say, why don't we grab a drink if you're free?"

She grinned widely. "I would love to!"

She took a hold of Xiajun's hand and pulled him down the corridor towards the direction of the hotel bar. Xiajun followed obligingly, though he'd much rather be doing something else.

****

"So, Mister Li Xiajun, tell me a bit about yourself."

Xiajun sipped his martini and smacked his lips. "Well, I'm a. . ." he thought about lying for a second but he knew if he'd get recognized later, that would be embarrassing. "I'm a private detective."

The girl raised her eyebrows with interest. "Which agency do you work under?"

"AIM Investigations."

She nodded. "Ahh. . . so are you working on a case at the moment? How come you're in Hong Kong?"

Xiajun shook his head. "No, I just came here to tour the city. Hong Kong has a lot of tourist sights, I hear."

"Of course." Lin nodded. "It's so beautiful, maybe that's why father decided I hold my party here."

Xiajun swirled the martini in his glass as if hearing about this 'party' for the first time. "A party?"

"Yes, for my birthday." Her eyes glowed. "You should definitely attend! I'm in need of a plus one. Would you mind standing in? It's the day after tomorrow, 7p.m.. We can even grab a meal some other time, if you'd like."

Xiajun took her hand. "It would be my pleasure. I hear your brother would also be attending?"

"My. . .brother?" She cocked her head, confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I'm just a fan of his work." Xiajun didn't even remember what the bast*rd did for work.

"I see. Not many people know he writes on the side, but he mainly works at the embassy under our father. How did you come across his books?"

"Just. . .on the internet, I suppose." Xiajun pressed Lin's hand. "Now tell me about yourself. What do you do for a living?"

The girl blushed. "I draw."

Xiajun nodded before downing his drink. "Well, I guess my martini's finished, so I'll probably be seeing you outside your room before your party. What's your room number?"

Lin blinked as if she didn't know what just happened. "Uh, Room 41."

Xiajun got up and walked away as if he hadn't even met her. Lin sat on the stool near the bar and watched him walk out, uncertainty written all over her face. Then she turned to the bar man and ordered a second tequila.