A Fresh Start

Why did Bo Lifen have to ask him a question like that? Han Jing frowned at the woman in front of him. Despite the change of wardrobe, the more femininely robes that were wondrously enhancing on her well-endowed features… She was exactly as he remembered, but also quite different all at the same time.

She was still straight-laced, brutally honest and yet she also began to worry about small things now. How people viewed her, she had never cared that before. Perhaps this was growing up and being an adult. It meant that you had to take care and concern yourself of the qualms of other people.

 But she was still the same for giving him the power to choose.

Or perhaps the illusion of giving him a choice.

Han Jing scratched his head, pouting as he looked at his senior, "You know that when it comes to you... I don't want anything to reflect badly on you. Especially when it's because you hang out with me." 

"Ah, you're still soft-hearted like a marshmallow." Bo Lifen chuckled as she sipped some of her tea, "When you challenged me to that spar—you stopped midway from attacking me."

He felt his cheeks heat up at the memory, "I think my mom ingrained in me too much to never hit a girl. I mean, even when my sister Jinjing is being too bratty—I'm the one who has to be patient as a big brother."

"Ah, right you have a little sister, you should bring her some time with you." She placed her cup down and propped her hands underneath her chin. "I have a little brother, my youngest one—they'd probably be cute together."

"...are you shipping our siblings with one another?"

"What, heavens no! Maybe just a playdate though~" She gave him a grin. "Think about it, the two of them could run and play tag. Or pretend house, or they could start playing with dolls or something?"

Han Jing bit back a chuckle and looked at her. "I keep forgetting that you have this girlish side to you."

Bo Lifen blinked as she pulled away and laughed, "It must be because of my age, I'm at the stage where I think having little kids would be nice." There was a flustered look on her face, she was actually blushing red as she spoke.

This time, he was the one to blink at his senior's declaration. "What? Marriage? Kids? Are you serious?" He hoped he didn't sound too negative but Bo Lifen simply smiled.

"If I'm not the serious one, then it's my parents who are the ones looking for a grandchild." She sighed a bit, a tired smile on her face. "They want me to run this business and look for a husband to marry? I can't be at two places at once!"

"Maybe they want you to marry a client here?"

"...er, probably."

Han Jing frowned slightly, he wouldn't want to say it aloud—but despite not being as affluent as his senior here, at least he wasn't being pressured like this one. "But don't the people who visit here are a bunch of old people? They want you to marry some rich but gross old man?"

"Don't be like that, Han Jing. You don't want your feelings to get hurt when you're old and gray do you?" Bo Lifen tsked and shook her head. "These rich 'gross' old men probably have grandsons they'd want to marry off. Still quite traditional as ever and quite a deal for future business merges too." A wry smile played on her lips. "I sometimes fear that those young grandsons might be scared of some old woman like me."

"Psh, you're not that old." Han Jing gave her a wink, "Besides, some younger men like older women."

A crooked smile formed on her lips, "Ah, perhaps some do. But anyway, I still want to thank you for visiting this senior of yours. It's been awhile since I had company that wasn't so stiff." She flicked a wrist and motioned to their surroundings, "Taking care of this business and ensuring that things run smoothly is a bit tiring."

"Hey, if you don't mind, I'd visit you every now and then—wait I can drop by here and help you out. Maybe an assistant manager? Give me about 30% of your salary."

She gave him a blank stare.

"...How about 15%? Er, dishwashing?" Han Jing nervously laughed and scratched his head. "Maybe pluck you guys some tea leaves?"

"We order them from plantations." Bo Lifen answered with a smile.

Han Jing crossed his arms over his chest and sighed for one moment. He returned her smile. "Drats. I guess I don't have a chance with this one too, and I really wanted to beg you before I tried for some other part time jobs."

"Han Jing, I don't want you putting yourself down like that. I can actually hire you and I think you'll do great, but would you really want to work as a dishwasher? She eyed him with a small frown before it turned to a more gentle smile. "Or even be an assistant without actually getting what a regular assistant manager would make? Dream a little bigger, Han Jing. I know you can do it."

"You put too much trust in me." Han Jing laughed and scratched his cheek. "I'm not all that great as you say I am."

She raised a brow and leaned forward towards him. "Have a little more faith, unless you're belittling my ability to gauge people?"

"Of course not!" Han Jing raised his hands up in self defense. "You're definitely the best at that. I mean, I don't get why you hired that girl from earlier—"

"Ning Bi? She's a little rough on the edges but she's a nice girl." Bo Lifen shook her head, "But let's not talk about other people right now. You shouldn't dawdle any longer, if you're looking for a job—go find one right away. Do you need a resume? Someone to be your person of reference? Let's go to my office and start with that."

Han Jing's brows furrowed, "What about your work?"

Bo Lifen pulled herself up from the floor and grinned, "I am the manager, aren't I? Let this senior sister support you for today, alright?" She stretched out a hand towards him.

"Alright, thanks!"