Wu Lan Ling

"Meeting adjourned."

"Mr.Wu, will you attended the dinner tonight?" asked my personal assistant.

I looked at my watch. But for some reason, I preferred to be at home today.

"No, I will go home." I, Wu Lan Ling, the Third generation successor of the Prosper group.

The new project is tiring with so much to consider with the building of the new residential project. Finalizing the architectural designs has been a challenge. As the new project needs to be luxurious and be suitable for sustainable energy. Three architectural designs have been proposed, but still, I feel something was missing.

After about an hour's drive, I was at home. I live in my father's family mansion near the beach. I love the peacefulness of this home with the beach where I find my happy place. It's a relief to be away from the busyness of the nightlife and daily busyness from work. If necessary I spend some days at my penthouse near the office to get my work done quickly.

"Lan"

"Yes dad" he called me as soon as I got home.

"How was the design meeting, going on son?"

My dad had an accident about a year ago at the construction site which made me take over the company as soon as I returned from abroad. Doctors had warned him to take things slow and not to stress too much.

"Well dad, I have got three proposals but I am not still satisfied with them. I am thinking of asking Yìchén to do a design for a change."

"Hmm... I have seen Yìchén's designs and I like what he has done so far."

Yìchén is my brother from another mother, he's a leading architect with many awards under his name. We have been best buddies since high school.

"So are you ok with me giving a chance to Yìchén?" I asked Dad while eating some home-baked cookies by Mom.

"Yes, sure. Ask him to give it a try," said Dad.

I went to my room, which is big as a hotel suite, looking at the sea in front of me drinking my tea. It's about to sunset. The beach in front was always peaceful and the bench by the beach was always unoccupied.

I called Yìchén,

"Hi, bro"

"What's up, Lan"

"Do you have some free time these days Yìchén"

"I think on Wednesday I will have some free time in the evening. So how are things with you?"

"Let's meet up for dinner at my place then. We couldn't meet up recently because of this new project at hand. I had been working continuously."

"You need to take a break, Lan. Working too much is not good for your health. So what's bothering you?"

"I got three architectural designs done for the new residential project. But I am not happy with the designs so far. So I thought of asking you to do a design, Yìchén."

"Oh ok.. I will help you with the design. Let's meet up."

After the call, I went to have a shower. I came back to the window while drying my hair. I saw a girl seated on the bench. I have never seen her before. I called my cousin, Lu, who is also my personal assistant and my best friend.

"What's up bro?" who has already had a shower and is in casual clothes.

I pointed at the bench.

"Hmm... this is an odd sight," he said, as he and I both know no one has ever sat on the bench before at least in our lifetime.

"So is this why you declined the dinner?" he asked looking at me.

"I just felt something was odd today."

We spent a few minutes looking at the beach.

"Do you think you can figure out who she is?" I asked Lu.

"Hmmm... I am not sure.. I don't think I have seen her before, Lan. Who could it be?" Lu asked.

"I also don't remember anyone with black long wavy hair around," I said.

"Do you want me to find out?"

"No need, she must be someone who came for a walk and got tired.."

".. who wanted to rest for a while right?" Lu teased me.

I had a few documents to finish off and it was almost midnight when I went to bed. But I was unable to sleep a wink. I kept wondering about the girl I saw in the evening.