Will They meet?

Tang Feng apprehensively returned to Chen Mu Sheng's office and handed his report. He had looked into Yan Shu, but couldn't discover anything new.

She supposedly came from Country X, but there were no traces of her in there. She arrived in Country A 21 months ago, meaning that she arrived two months before the beginning of classes. Somehow, she managed to mix with Mr. and Mrs. San. How that came to be, he couldn't find out. And finally, she has two part-time jobs. One working for the Chen Groups at the city of Bozong, and another tutoring some boy named Hao Ren.

Chen Mu Sheng glazed over the folder before throwing it into the trash bin. "I'm not paying you to tell me what I already know. If you can't bring me some new info by Monday, then you don't need to come back."

His secretary nodded and quickly scampered out of the office.

Once again alone, Chen Mu Sheng bent down from his chair and picked the folder from the trash bin. He opened it and gazed at a photo of Yan Shu. He recalled the time when they met, twelve years ago.

In a small park, a seven years old Yan Shu played in the sand. Her chubby little face smiled as she built a sand house, her pigtails blowing in the wind. "Brother Mu Sheng, what do you think of my house?"

Chen Mu Sheng was just eleven years old at the time when they met. He looked up from his book and smiled at her, something unusual considering how serious he always was. "You built them, Yanyan, so they're obviously perfect."

"Really? Brother Mu Sheng, when I grow up, I'll build a lot of big houses for me to live."

"Is that so? Then will let me live there with you?"

She nodded vigorously, her pigtails bouncing back and forth. He couldn't help pinching her chubby cheeks. 

"It hurts," she complained.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I won't do it again. Now—"

"Hey!" another boy called out. He quickly ran to Yan Shu's side and took her hand. "Where were you? I've been looking all over for you." He then turned to Chen Mu Sheng. "And who are you? If you've bullied my sister, then I'll beat you up."

"Xing Gege, I got lost. Brother Mu Sheng was helping me. He even gave me chocolate and stayed with me while I played."

"Fine," her brother said. "Say goodbye to him then. We're leaving."

She did as told and then they both left.

Chen Mu Sheng smiled as he recalled their encounter. Her little chubby face, her pigtails blowing in the wind, and also the words she said.

His thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. He picked up the call and went back to business.

***

Yan Shu woke up from her nap, just in time to freshen up and leave for her part-time job.

The whole office was a mess when she arrived. Everyone rushed to clean their desks and put the office in order.

What was going on? She looked for her team leader to ask about it, and the woman told her that president Chen would be coming, so she had to go clean her desk.

She felt shocked at that. It was already evening, and, as far as she knew, he never came to the office after working hours. Why was he coming?

Yan Shu walked to her desk and did a quick cleaning. She always kept it tidy, so she didn't take much time to make it impeccable. After doing so, she focused on her work.