Aesthetic Standards

"Here!" Feng Shufen said as he brought the woman back to the world from her thoughts.

Until the man has not pulled out the chair for the woman, none has noticed that an empty chair has been kept there near his chair all this while. Who can they blame for their own ignorance? It was their fault for not to notice it before.

All this time they were coupling Ms. Kim Ryan with the President, totaling ignoring the fact of indifference present in between them. They had taken their President's indifference as compulsory behavioral traits that can never be abandoned. But now seeing him behaving so tenderly around this woman they came to know that their thoughts were very biased and monotonous.

When asked to take the seat, Li Xue moved forward and got herself settled. She looked at the man and made her mind to help him out for this time, not only because that put an end to the sincere gratitude game they were playing but also her little girl likes him truly dearly.

"Thank You!" she said in a manner of gratitude. The man smiled at her and then went to take his seat, gesturing to everyone to start the course of meal. The waiters instantly mobilized themselves, serving the dishes.

All this while CEO Kim who has got everything in front of his eyes looked at his daughter and felt her pain. This was one of the pain he never wanted her to feel.

If it was some other business elite, instead of Feng Shufen then he would have made him give in as per his dear daughter demands. But it was not any man here, she has stubbornly taken an impossible man as the male lead of her life story. How can he, being her father help her when the man she was demanding was out of everyone's league?

He looked at the Feng Shufen and said, "Congratulation! I never knew Mr. Feng has some woman this dear to his heart. But now seeing the lady, I feel this has been the reason why you have got your work life so stressed". Mr. Kim did not want to sound rough with his words but his words got coarse on its own, maybe because he loved his daughter very dearly that he wasn't able to restrain his emotions.

Apart from calling the woman as his distraction, the man has also been a little insultive with his words. That tone was so evident that it has almost caught everyone's attention. Ryan also felt that her father has uselessly made the situation go worse. Though she knew it was out of his love for her but still she can't let her father offend the man, she loves. That will only make her way to reach him tougher than before.

Li Xue's eyes also widened at those words. Was she being blamed for bringing work interruption in the man's life.? Baah! She has not been in his acquaintance for more than twenty – four hours, how can she be his distraction. She looked at the man with her eyes filled with pity. As she looked, she waited for his words. She knew that Mr. Beelzebub is not a person to take people's intentions to insult less talk about such direct attack.

And as she had expected, the man was the same. He turned his head to look at the old man, his eyes held a playful amusement which looked more like some slight mockery directed to his enemy. "Mr. Kim is right! It's been really hard to pamper my woman, so I need to take my work quick and then head back to her. No time to look at other not so important things"

Hearing his words, people around almost spit out blood. They never thought that their President was capable of such words. CEO Kim got the retaliation of insult back. He never thought that the young man would be so blatant with his words. He has accepted his words like it was some kind of honor for him.

But can he blame him for the insults? No, he cannot because he has started it. He thought that way he would be able to insult him. He took it as a retaliation for his daughter's insult but at the end it has been them, being insulted. Now he could only smile.

Li Xue was impressed. Without her knowing, an appreciative smile got over her lips. She really liked it when he talked like that. It makes her feel like there is no one else like him. A man who could be this sharp and great with words. To her this was the most charming quality he has in himself that can even surpass his looks.

Feng Shufen caught that smile on her lips. A wave of satisfaction was sent to his heart, filling it smug. He never cared for anyone's appreciation until he caught that expression of her. Swiftly cutting the meat pieces, he placed it on her plate.  The woman thought of rejecting his gesture of love and kindness but then suddenly she remembered that at this moment she was playing the role of his girlfriend.

Ryan who has seen this small exchange between the man and woman wasn't able to digest the food. Now looking at the food was giving her no appetite. The woman who has been sitting in front of her has become an eyesore. That smile on her lips irked her like nothing in this world. An urge to wipe off that smile surfaced her heart.

Looking at them she said veiling her dejection inside, "President Feng, won't you introduce her to me? After all I have been with you for so many years, I deserve to know her better." Her words clearly showed the evil intent in it.

The woman can feel it too but she can also see the pain in her eyes. A pain of rejection. So she didn't bother to increase that pain either. It was not like that her relationship with this Mr. Beelzebub was real where she should feel offended when some other woman is showing their right on her man. So she has decided not to react unless the criticism is made on her.

Gracefully she responded with a smile as she turned to look at the man who did not care to react. This man was surely a heartbreaker. She can see the endless love in the woman's eyes, there was no way this man wouldn't have known it unless his emotion quotient runs down in negative.

Ryan felt more insulted when she did not find the man responding to her words. She was about to make another persistent effort but then suddenly, Feng Shufen said plainly. His eyes focused at Li Xue as if he was giving her some explanation that wasn't at all needed, "She is Ms. Kim Ryan. A college acquaintance, known for 7 years and now here for the collaboration"

His words felt like a sharp slap. He has not called her a friend rather an acquaintance. Was this the distance he has drawn in between them because of this woman? When thought like this, she felt her heart getting more and more bitter at Li Xue. She looked at her and made a determination to not go easy on her.

Li Xue caught her venomous eyes too. She smiled and said, "It's really nice to meet you, Ms. Kim?"

"Ah! sure. Looking at you I got the meaning of the words, 'From Ugly Betty to Monica Bellucci'. You were just the dessert chef moments before and now here you are … Oh sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought we should be on healthy friendly terms. Please don't feel offended", Ryan said meaningfully.

Feng Shufen's fists curled up in anger but he didn't say anything. He wanted to test another skill of this woman. For some reasons he felt that the woman that has caught his interest would never be a damsel – in – distress waiting for a man to come at her rescue. Not after knowing her brief tough personality history in the fashion industry.

Ryan felt that she had won the battle of today. She felt that a mere dessert chef won't be able to match her but the next moment her thoughts were proven wrong when a soft melodious laughter rang in the room.

"Ms. Kim, I was really planning to take some inspiration from you. You looked more and more like a powerful businesswoman in that beautiful attire. But never thought that your thoughts will be as shallow as your aesthetic standards. It's not my style to make myself look fancy at my workplace. I believe that's a place that deserves my dedicated efforts more than my looks"

Her words were soft but also sharp enough to pierce the woman's pride and ego. Feng Shufen was pleased. This was exactly what he had expected from her.