To Assess The Woman Kang Jun Wanted

In the lounge, Lu AnLing said good morning to all of her new co-workers before she approached Madame Liu with a smile.

Madame Liu smiled back.

The majority of the week was spent teaching Lu AnLing proper etiquette on how to deal with customers and some vocal training. Madame Liu was glad that Lu AnLing's voice was better than it had been on the day of the audition.

At the end of the week, Madame Liu allowed Lu AnLing to sing a couple of time, but before she did, Madame Liu looked over Lu AnLing. The girl felt a bit violated, but she didn't speak up.

Madame Liu rubbed her chin and then handed Lu AnLing a key.

"Go get changed. The changing room is right outside the lounge doors. Just turn left, and then use this key to open the third door."

Lu AnLing gave Madame Liu a strange look. "Change into what?"

"There is an assortment of dresses. Don't worry, they should more or less be in your size."

Lu AnLing looked down at her chest. 'Are you sure?' she wanted to ask but she shut her mouth.

"Also, take off your glasses and apply some makeup."

Lu AnLing held back a sneer. She understood why this was necessary but it made her feel ugly when people would say such things.

With that said, Madame Liu and Lu AnLing parted ways.

Quickly, Lu AnLing went and changed. It was easy to find the room, and it didn't take her long to change and to put on some makeup. Walking out, Lu AnLing held her head high.

Without her glasses, she looked a lot more confident and her sharp eyes exuded a sensual coldness but what really caught the attention of so many was the long red cocktail dress she wore. Other than the monochromatic of black and white, red was Lu AnLing's favorite color. It was bright and passionate and it reminded her of how she was when she was a child. Always playing with the boys and getting hurt, always singing, always arguing with her father...

Now, was a completely different story.

Walking past the lounge's opened door, Lu AnLing attracted many gazes. They were mostly from a couple of men. Even some of her coworkers couldn't help but look at her. At the corner, near the bartender, a male and a female server spoke.

"Who's that?" The man said tilting his head to check Lu AnLing out.

The girl rolled her eyes. "It's that girl, you know, the new singer."

"She's hot. I kinda want to ask her out now."

Putting her hands on her hips, the girl frowned. "What's the point of dating someone you literally didn't pay any attention to when she was not wearing makeup and a dress?"

Lu AnLing heard them loud and clear but she didn't react. She just walked up to Madame Liu who was speaking to a tall woman in a simple platinum dress.

Seeing Lu AnLing, Madame Liu nodded in acknowledgment.

By Madame Liu's side, the woman turned.

It was Xiao Mian.

Xiao Mian walked up to Lu AnLing and gave the girl a big hug.

The three women began to engage in small talk. Though, for the most part, Lu AnLing spent her time in her own bubble. Listening to the two women talk, Lu AnLing found out many things about what happened in Xiao Mian's life when she wasn't around. And she also found out why Madame Liu was so close to Xiao Mian. The woman was a close family friend of her mother and she had promised to look after Xiao Mian and her sister, Xiao Ran.

Hearing this, Lu AnLing finally understood why Xiao Mian's words had been able to get Lu AnLing the job.

As the conversation wandered, Xiao Mian and Madame Liu began to talk about Xiao Mian's engagement party that was being thrown in the lounge.

Turning to Lu AnLing, Xiao Mian touched her shoulder. "Don't worry, that day a lounge singer isn't necessary, so you can just enjoy the party."

Lu AnLing smiled at the girl but she didn't say a thing.

Then, Xiao Mian gave Madame Liu a curious look. "How's she been doing so far?"

Madame Liu smiled. "She's been great, amazing, actually. I'm glad I took your words to heart. I don't think anyone else would have been as good of a pick."

Listening to Madame Liu, Lu AnLing wanted to frown. She knew that the woman was just flattering Xiao Mian. This wasn't because Lu AnLing didn't find herself to be good enough but as she listened to those who were able to audition that day, she knew that with Madame Liu's training, any of them could have been amazing lounge singers.

"You should go up now." Madame Liu said as she gestured to Lu AnLing.

The girl nodded and then she began to make her way up the stairs, but before she could get too far, Xiao Mian stopped her.

The two girls met each other's gaze.

"I don't know if Shuya told you but, my bachelorette party is in a couple of days, I would love if you could come. I know that you might not want to, but I would still love it if you could come."

Madame Liu was watching the girls with eagle eyes.

Under the woman's unwavering gaze, Lu AnLing had no choice but to say, "Yes, I'll go. Just sent me the time and place and I'll be there. "

Smiling softly, Xiao Mian gave Lu AnLing another hug before she left. Once Xiao Mian was gone, Lu AnLing stood tall on the stage, and she began to sing.

From a corner, on the side end of the lounge, an old man sat with his eyes glued on the stage.

This man was Elder Kang. Sitting still, with his cane between his leg and his head down, the elder was like a statue.

Since Lu AnLing had walked in, the man had been watching her. Though, this wasn't strange in the slightest, because actually, the man had been there for a whole week!

But one couldn't blame him.

There was so much that he could learn from Secretary Rong's information and he knew he wouldn't get anything from Kang Jun. So, the old man took advantage of the fact that Secretary Rong was called upon by his wife, to assess the woman Kang Jun wanted to make his wife.

A waitress passed by the old man, "Would you like something to drink?"

It was the 5th time the woman had asked him today, and she did so every day.

Taking his eyes off the stage, the old man gave the waitress a charming smile and then he shook his head.

The waitress smiled back and then left.

Looking back at the stage, Elder Kang was disappointed to see that the girl was gone. It was early, so he assumed that she have taken a break, so he continued to wait.

Suddenly, a sweet voice spoke.

"Grandpa,"

Turning his head, Elder Kang found Lu AnLing wearing black pants and a black graphic tee. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. Looking at her well, Elder Kang believed that she looked young. Far too young to be in here.

Examining her in person, Elder Kang couldn't help but feel as if the girl looked fairly familiar to him. He wasn't sure where he had seen her other than in her file, but the familiarity was one he could not brush away.

"You've been here for a while, are you okay?" In her hand, she held a cup of water, which she then placed in front of Elder Kang. "You should drink something?"

"I'm fine."

Hearing this, Lu AnLing fought back a frown.

When she was young, Lu AnLing had inquired about her grandparents but what she'd gotten for her persistent questioning was a slap. Her father had told her that he never wanted to see nor speak about 'those people' again. And that was the end of that.

Since then, she'd always imagined that her grandparents would one day come to find her, but that childish fantasy had been eradicated the older she became.

When she observed that the old man was staring at her on her second day on the job, Lu AnLing wasn't sure how she felt about it. It was strange but she had seen many people do the same. Though, when it came to an old man, it made her feel very very uncomfortable.

However, seeing that he was observing her, she had begun doing the same to him and, by the way, he treated those around him, she found him to be non-threatening but also, very irresponsible when it came to his health.

The old man was skinny, and he sat at the same table every day, ordered one glass of water in the morning, before Lu AnLing even clocked in, and then staying there until her first shift ended at 3 o'clock.

Seeing this, Lu AnLing was reminded of her grandmother. Were all old people irresponsible when it concerned their health?

She couldn't help herself from approaching him.

"I really think you should drink. At least a little bit of water, you've been here all day."

Elder Kang's expression was one of shock. Many people had come and gone from the lounge but the girl had noticed him?! Plus he had chosen a place out of eyeshot from the stage.

Though what the old man hadn't realized was that he was the oldest person in the room, so he stood out.

"Well then, thank you for your concern, I'll accept this, but I'm fine. Actually, I need to go home now. The misses is waiting." Elder Kang laughed jovially as he lied with no shame.

Seeing the smile on the old man's face, Lu AnLing smiled herself.

"Alright, goodbye then, and please take care of yourself. The weather is beginning to get colder. You must bundle up and take care of yourself. My grandmother is so reckless, I hope you aren't the same."

The way she spoke her words sounded like a granddaughter scolding her grandfather.

Elder Kang's heart warmed.

He wasn't sure why the girl had come up to him but he didn't complain. He had wanted to talk to her for a while anyway.

Lu AnLing walked the man out. As they slowly walked towards the exit, they had a small conversation. Elder Kang's questions were strange sometimes but Lu AnLing answered with the best of her abilities.

Once outside, the elder was reluctant to leave.

Lu AnLing: "Next time you come, make sure you drink some water. It's best to drink some every hour. Also, sit in the front, it had the best view of the stage."

What a charming girl!

Elder Kang laughed once more before he got in the taxi. Waving to him, Lu AnLing waited outside until the old man's car drove away.

Watching the girl, a wide smile appeared on the Elder's face.

So far the girl seemed nice but, surely not Kang family material. She wasn't strong, nor charismatic. In fact, to the old man, she seemed frail and kind. She seemed like the type that could easily get hurt…

She would need to be protected.

He hoped that Kang Jun wouldn't make the same mistake the old man had committed in his youth.

Thinking back, Elder Kang remembered a person from his past.