Keep Your Friends Close ...

Qin Jingfei looked over at her cousin and asked with a voice full of disbelief: "Allergy man?!"

Although Qin Song maintained an outwardly cold expression; he cringed internally at being called allergy man. Yet again, Qin Song couldn't figure out what he had done to upset Li Xiuying. Maybe it's that time of the month?

A few of his friends who were married often complained that their wives would be more irritable and easier to anger when it's that time of the month. One term that was thrown around was "emotionally unstable."

Qin Jingfei saw that Qin Song was in deep thought and refusing to answer her. She turned to Elder Qin: "Uncle, why do you think Dr. Li got so angry? Did she want to go back to Emerald hospital? Maybe she still has feelings for that Ex- fiancé otherwise what difference does it make is she operates here or there?"

Qin Song felt his chest tighten and a bitter taste in his mouth. 'The reason Li Xiuying was angry was because she still has feelings ex-fiancé?!'

Qin Jingfei looked over at Qin Song: "Are you okay? You look very uncomfortable right now."

Qin Song rubbed his chest: "Acid reflux."

Elder Qin: "Why would she ask to have the article published?"

Qin Jingfei turned back to Elder Qin with a look of shock: "What?! Dr. Li was the one who asked you to publish the article?" Qin Jingfei thought back to the night that Li Xiuying asked to speak to her uncle alone.

Qin Jingfei: "Mmm, then it's definitely not residual feelings. Oh I've got it!"

Elder Qin: "What is it?"

Qin Jingfei: "Dr. Li probably wanted to exact some more revenge! She probably wanted that Chen family to come to her on their knees begging her to do the surgery."

Qin Song: "That is a possibility."

Qin Song felt the tightness in his chest disappear.

Qin Jingfei: "Of Course it is. Think about it. For years that cousin and ex-fiancé have been having an affair and flaunting their 'love' in public and she was still expected to still marry him. Do you think it's enough just to publish one article? Besides that article may have shamed those two adulterers but it also allowed them to be together. Would you want the people who betrayed you to be happily planning their future together?! Hell No! If I was Dr. Li I wouldn't stop until they vomited a sea of blood!"

Elder Qin sighed: "Xiuying must have been angry that she couldn't address her grievances herself."

Qin Jingfei stood up and poured tea for the three of them.

Elder Qin looked over at Qin Song. His tone serious: "Song. Why did Xiuying call you allergy man? And don't think I've forgotten that you haven't explained why she locked you in the office."

Qin Jingfei stirred her tea: "Dr. Li Locked Qin Song in her office?"

Elder Qin: "He was stuck in there for over 2 hours."

Qin Jingfei started laughing; "I've often heard women want to lock you in their rooms, but I always thought that it meant they wanted to be locked in there with you. I now know better."

Elder Qin started chuckling on hearing Qin Jingfei's mocking Qin Song and her infectiously laughter. The image of Qin Song's frustrated face when he went to go and unlock the office door appeared in his mind and caused him to laugh even harder.

Qin Song walked to the door and reached for the handle.

Qin Jingfei started speaking like a commentator: "Oh no! The CEO of Qin Enterprises Qin Song is faced with his arch nemesis ... A door! How will he ever overcome this obstacle?" This started off another round of laughter.

Qin Song pulled open the door and left; leaving behind the two laughing hyena's.

...

Li Xiuying's office

Li Xiuying was in a foul mood as she sat at her desk. She decided to take some time to readjust her mood and to think of another plan of attack to deal with Yang Zian.

Li Xiuying: "Jiang Huan. Contact B and F. B at 10:30. F at 12:30."

Jiang Huan was typing away at her desk replied: "Yes Dr. Li."

Jiang Huan spun her chair around so she faced Li Xiuying, she could tell Dr. Li was not in a good mood but she had something that she desperately needed to ask.

Jiang Huan asked tentatively: "Dr. Li I know you're busy but could I have a moment of your time? There was actually something I wanted to ask you."

Li Xiuying kept staring at her computer screen. Jiang Huan took Li Xiuying's silence as permission to continue.

Jiang Huan cleared her throat before speaking again: "Dr. Li, could I possibly leave work early today? You see I have a family gathering at 5 pm today; it's my two year old niece's birthday. I completely forgot about it until my mother phoned me this morning to check if I had forgotten about the party. Haha, she knows me so well considering that if she hadn't called I would have missed the birthday party entirely. So that's why I wasn't able to tell you in advanced.. erm... because I had completely forgotten." She laughed nervously.

Li Xiuying looked away fromm her computer screen and straight at Jiang Huan.

Li Xiuying assessed Jiang Huan who was currently nervously biting her bottom lip trying to avoid making eye contact.

She noticed that Jiang Huan had done her makeup differently and there was more of it. Jiang Huan had put on fake eye lashes as well as a darker lipstick. Her foundation looked thicker and she was wearing blush. Jiang Huan's eyeliner was more prominent highlighting her eyes. Her nails were done and painted a deep red. Jiang Huan's hair looked sleek and shiny and was framing her face.

Li Xiuying glanced at the office door. Hanging on the coat hook there was a full length zipped protective clothes cover. Similar to what you would get when picking up something from the dry cleaners.

Li Xiuying looked back at Jiang Huan and then at her shoes; she was wearing 6 inch pencil heels.

From Jiang's Huan's make up, extra outfit, nervous demeanor and over explaining/rambling Li Xiuying could easily deduce that Jiang Huan was lying. Jiang Huan was clearly going on a date. There were many holes and contradictions in Jiang Huan's story and her actions. One being if someone was going to a two year old's birthday would they were such seductive heavy makeup and high heels?

As the seconds slowly ticked by Jiang Huan became even more nervous under Li Xiuying's assessing gaze. She didn't want to lie to Li Xiuying, but how could she ask to leave early for a date?

2 minutes had passed and Li Xiuying still didn't speak a word. She was waiting to see if Jiang Huan's conscience would make an appearance.

Jiang Huan berated herself in her mind. 'I'm such an idiot! I should have pushed harder to change the time of the date! Dr. Li probably thinks I'm the worst employee ever.' This was only her fourth actual day at work and she had already been extremely late and caught making a personal phone call.

Li Xiuying finally spoke: "You may leave at four." Li Xiuying was interested in seeing what Jiang Huan would do in the future.

Jiang Huan felt relief immediately sweep over her.

Jiang Huan: "Thank you so much Dr. Li. I promise this won't happen again."

Jiang Huan turned back around to begin typing up the emails to send to B and F.

Li Xiuying looked at Jiang Huan's back. She knew that if her suspicions were correct about the rescuer then Jiang Huan would be used as a mere pawn.

Li Xiuying smirked a little 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'

She then turned back to look at her computer screen. Her face absent of any emotion.