บท 2: The next few days

It's been busy the passing few days, with upcoming new acquisitions of smaller construction firms to help with the construction.

"Boss, the next meeting is in about an hour's time. Do you want to freshen up before that?"

Lu asked me as I was reading a new contract sent over.

"Hmm... ok. Let's go home and come back. Order some sandwiches as well," I said in the hope to send Lu away. He knows I have been working overtime these few days and I really need a good rest.

The penthouse was decorated to my taste with a modern touch and simple furniture, with three bedrooms and two levels. Lu bought me some egg sandwiches with fruit juice. I had a nap for about thirty minutes before getting ready to go back to the meeting.

"Mom," I called her.

"Lan, how are you? Lu told me you had been working day and night these days"

"Yes, Mom... And Mom, I won't be coming home tonight."

"What about dinner?"

"I have some work to do and I haven't Yìchén in along time. So I thought of meeting him for a chat."

"Ok, dear."

"Bye, mom."

The meeting went on for almost two hours and it was tough to decide on the construction partner. Both were well reputed, but they both had some misleading material handling during their previous projects with other firms. After much consideration, we choose one group but I made a point the contract should include a clause for fine or compensation if they do any misleading acts either during construction or buying material.

After arranging to meet the contractor selected in two days I left back to the penthouse. Yìchén arrived at around seven just as I finished my shower.

"Come on in." I welcomed him into the home.

"You haven't changed anything here.." said Yìchén after looking around.

"No, I like it like this and you know I am like an old man.."

While preparing some tea, I asked him, if he loves to have a home-cooked meal or get something delivered.

"Let's cook together, for the old-time sake," said Yìchén.

We both use to live here when we were in the last years of the university. Those days were unforgettable. For an hour or so we talked about this and that and things from the past.

"Have you heard from Xue?" Yìchén asked suddenly.

Xue, a girl from the same batch at university. She was from a wealthy family rather spoiled, bright, and popular, but she ignored all guys coming after me and tried to stick to me all the time. This annoyed me to the core of my patience, that I had to report her action for invading my privacy. As soon after that incident, I went abroad for five years.

"No, I haven't. I left soon after that incident."

"Ah,... yes I forgot..I hear that she's already getting married to her third husband."

"No wonder, she didn't have a character but she only considered wealth, even those days," I said.

"Meaning?"

"If your family is richer than mine, she will come after you"

"Oh!... I see. Anyway, you don't like that kind of girl. It's good she left."

"So what about you, Yi?" He just smiled.

"There is someone I am considering, but still in friendly terms.."

"Oh!! really?" Yi showed me a photo of her. "She looks alright."

"Hmm... She is a simple innocent girl, happy with what she has."

"What does she do? Do your parents know?" I asked.

"She's into 3D architectural model crafting. She do all the dainty work by hand, so magical."

I laughed at Yìchén, for his expression as if he is really watching her making the models.

"Hi, come back to earth" I patted on his shoulder.

"Mom and Dad have heard of her. So they know I am interested in her. "

"Good luck to you, then.." I lifted the wine glass in wishing him.

My mind drifted to the girl I saw that day on the bench. If I am being frank, I have been thinking about her a lot. She is still a mystery to me. Did she come back again? What is she doing there? Is she in some kind of trouble and in need of help? What does she do? And does she have a boyfriend? My mind went on wondering.

"No, it can't be," I said absent-mindedly.

"Hi, Lan, what's up?" Asked Yi looking at my sudden expression.

"Nothing...."

After dinner, we discussed the project I wanted to be designed by Yìchén. After explaining Yi started to tell me his thoughts.

"Hmm... I think with the location you have, the scenery is so beautiful. So why don't we take elements from there to create the homes? "

"Yes, that's what I was aiming for. I want the building to blend into the surroundings. What do you think of having two floors for one apartment? Like bedrooms upstairs and the living, pantry below. So we can capture the sunset with i's best views"

"Give me a week and I'll send you a draft design first."

"What do you say, we go visit the site?" I asked him.

"Good idea. When do can we go then?"

"What about Saturday?"

"Ok...Then it's settled then."

"So your car or mine?" I asked him. He pointed at me.