CHAPTER 33

"Is it Li Jing?" Ding Jiaying asked.

"I was just about to tell you to take a wild guess. Yes, it is because of her and these useless employees of father. She came to the company before I did and they sent her out."

All of them shuddered at her words. If it was the Mistress of the Li family she was talking to, weren't they all going to be in a mess when their boss, Mr Li arrived?

"Oh, that? I thought it was something better."

0_0

Li Xiu could not believe her mother's words. Did she just say...

"Mother, how can you say that?" By now her face was contorted at her mother's lack of interest.

Was it that her mother was now abandoning her to her fate?

"Just listen to me and you would understand why."

She rolled her eyes at her mother as though she could see her.

It was now she noticed the workers were still standing there, watching her.

She used her other hand to cover the mouth piece of the phone before speaking.

"And what are you still doing here? Are you paid to eavesdrop?"

"Sorry ma," they chorused and dispatched, all except Hao Zhi Ruo.

"Mother, sorry. I didn't catch that. What did you say?"

"I said no need to bother about Li Jing for now at least. Your father called, he has postponed his arrival. Apparently, his failed business trip yielded fruit after the investors left, he got another company willing to invest. So he is going to stay back and work things out before coming."

"Are you serious!" Li Xiu half yelled into the phone. Her once sour expression changed completely and her face lit up with joy.

Her joy knew no bounds at this moment. First, she was happy about her father's breakthrough and second… that breakthrough just seemed to be her saving grace.

"Of course I am serious. Would I joke with news such as this?"

"No, sorry mum, I was just… You know... I...scratch that, wow!"

Hao Zhi Ruo had to cover her ears with her hands the moment Li Xiu screamed in excitement. Even her mother, Ding Jiaying could not help but close her ears as well and pulled the phone away to avoid her eardrums from going deaf.

"So no need to worry over that girl again. We would definitely find her before your father comes," Ding Jiaying assured her daughter after her screams died down.

"But mother, how long would it take before father arrives?"

"I am not so sure. He is not sure as well. He said it could take a month or more, depending on how things work and might be travelling to Sun Blur City from there."

"This is good news mother. We need to celebrate it. I am on my way back home."

"What about the company?"

"The company has people to take care of it whether I am absent or not."

"Okay hurry. I would ask for the best wine to be refrigerated before you come and cook something delicious."

"Yes, I can't wait."

She hung the call and without looking at her personal assistant, she handed her a flash drive. Hao Zhi Ruo who just witnessed everything got a pretty good idea what the mother and daughter discussed.

She took the flash drive from Li Xiu and that was when she raised her head to look at her.

"Handle things and cancel all my meetings for today. Have the Vice President see to these files. They are from my father. If there is anything, call me."

"Yes, ma."

With that, Li Xiu turned around and left. Hao Zhi Ruo let out an exasperated sigh. Even though she did not know the full details of the situation, she was more than glad to get a day or even some hours off, from being Li Xiu's personal assistant.

She was so demanding and if not that she needed the job and the pay was good, she would have resigned a long time ago.

Basically, she had been the only assistant to last this long with Li Xiu.

****

Back at the restaurant, Luo Jinhai finally popped the question after they had their meal. He had waited till now and watched her as she ate, trying to garner her reactions and see what was wrong.

Unfortunately for him, Li Jing who had skipped breakfast just so she could beat traffic and arrive at work on time, even though she was still fifteen minutes late was not in the mood to bother with what he was staring at her for and just ate the food.

She was not about to let such a sumptuous meal go to was now, was she? No.

"AHEM!" Luo Jinhai cleared his throat, getting her attention.

Li Jing raised her head so she could meet his eyes and asked what was wrong.

"Hmm, Li Jing what really happened at the office? What are you hiding from me? You know you can always rely on me," Luo Jinhai said in a calm voice. His worry was laced in his tone as he spoke.

"I know I can rely on you, but thanks. I am fine. You do not need to bother about me."

"And please do not lie to me. I can tell when you do, you know."

Seeing as there was no escaping him, she decided to tell him the truth. He was after all a close friend and has always been there for her in her time of need.

She was just the one who would refuse his help most times except on situations when she needed it the most.

"Okay. I would be truthful," Li Jing said. Her once smiling face became calm as she readied herself to recount what had happened.

"Duan Tian and I broke up."

"What happened, why?"

"I am getting there, but please let me finish at my own pace," Li Jing pleaded.

Luo Jinhai nodded at her, agreeing with her request and prompting her to continue.