The Hong Men Banquet (3)

"Don't be like this, Brother Xu Jing [pouting face]… Remember the articles of clothing that you left behind during our previous rendezvous? There are some that are quite private. I just wish to return them to you… Or would you prefer I come directly to your home to return them?"

When he read the thinly-veiled threat, Xu Jing knew his jig was up, his tail was caught.

Xu Jing knew Qing Qing was close enough friends with Joann to find out about her location before coming over. She would make sure to visit only when both Joann and he were at home. Therefore, it meant that confrontation was inevitable if the young woman had anything to do with it. He would be forced to make an explanation why his personal undergarment would be left at Qing Qing's place and Xu Jing really could not come up with an explanation that would make him sound innocent.

"Fine, what do you want from me?" Xu Jing's frustration could be heard through the words alone.

"Tomorrow, Spring Leaf Café, 3.30 pm. I hope to see you there, Brother Xu Jing. Should you arrive early, please be gentleman and remember to wait for me at the entrance [Smiley face]."

The message was like a curse calling for Xu Jing's life but there was nothing else he could do but follow it obediently. If Xu Jing was a more attentive person, he would have questioned why the time was different from the first message; and if Xu Jing was a more inquisitive person, he would have wondered why the direction was for him to wait outside the café instead of going into the shop directly should he arrive earlier, in any case, Xu Jing was not one of those things or rather, his current mood prevented him to be anything else but feeling down in the dumps.

There was no further reply from Xu Jing but Qing Qing was certain she had him in her grasp. She placed the phone down with an indulgent smile.

All the actors were in place and it was finally time for the show to go on.

…

Qing Qing stood at a hidden corner across from Spring Leaf Café, watching Joann and Lee Mu chatting amiably in the establishment across from her. She smiled because things were going smoothly as planned.

A few minutes ago, she received a text message from Joann asking about her location since she still had not showed up after the designated 3 pm.

Even though Qing Qing had already arrived and was standing on the street across from Spring Leaf Café, she replied Joann with the following, "I am so sorry, Sister Joann but I'm stuck in traffic and I don't think I will be there any time soon. I am so sorry."

Few seconds later, the reply came, "Don't apologize, Qing Qing, this is hardly your fault, no one can control the traffic situation. I understand. In any case, since Lee Mu is already here, I will try to get as many information as I can from him and see how he really feels about you. Don't worry, you can always count on your wing-woman!"

"Sister Joann, thank you. You are the best!" Then Qing Qing slid the phone into her back pocket with a wicked smile. 'Indeed, Sister Joann, you are the best…'

Through the window, Qing Qing saw Joann lean towards Lee Mu in a conspiratorial manner, probably fulfilling her duty as the wing-woman to get a feel out of the man with regards to his opinion about Qing Qing. 'She is making this way too easy for me. It is like she is trying her best to make sure that my plan works. This is just wonderful,' Qing Qing thought.

Qing Qing continued to observe for another 15 minutes and her target finally arrived. It was time to move forward to the next phase of her plan.

When Xu Jing got down from the taxi, Qing Qing made a call to the man. He reached into his pocket to pick out his phone and answer the call.

Qing Qing's innocent voice began, "Brother Xu Jing, guess where I am?"

Xu Jing replied tonelessly and with not a small hint of impatience, "I have no time for games. Where are you?"

"Brother Xu Jing, why are you acting so scary all of a sudden," Qing Qing cried pitiably, "but look to your left and you will see me…"

Qing Qing waited for Xu Jing to turn his head away from Spring Leaf Café and when their eyes met, Qing Qing said, "Tadaa!"

Xu Jing ended the call and strode purposefully towards her.

It was Qing Qing who spoke first, "Brother Xu Jing, thank you for coming along to this date. I am so happy!" There was a childish smile that lit up her small face.

Xu Jing replied with a stony voice, "This is not a date, it is hardly a transaction. Stop wasting my time. Where is my stuff?" He could not wait to leave, he had a feeling that staying any longer would not lead to anything good. This was a lesson he had learned from his previous experience dealing with the young woman.

Qing Qing's smile turned coquettish. She slurred in a sultry way, "But Brother Xu Jing, a man and a woman being together alone with no one else accompanying, if that is not a date, then how would you define a date?"

Xu Jing was not in the mood for any sort of crazy riddle. He just wanted to get his stuff and leave as soon as he could. He was about to say something when Qing Qing gasped with shock, "Wait a minute, isn't that Sister Joann and Brother Lee Mu?" After a moment to wait for Xu Jing to turn to look, she added in an innocent voice, "See, they are just like us. A man and a woman alone in an intimate setting. Wouldn't you agree that they're also on a date?"