The Energy of Youth

"Of course. Let me just go and get my bag," Joann said with a mischievous smile as she turned around to reach for her bag. One was her friend and the other was her junior, this was a pairing that she would not mind.

Joann rummaged through her bag to find her make-up kit. She pulled the kit out and handed it over to Qing Qing, saying, "Here you go." Joann's hand was extended towards Qing Qing but her eyes were still peering inside her bag.

A frown formed at the space between her brows. As Qing Qing took the make-up kit away from her, Joann reached back into the bag to continue to rummage through it.

Very naturally, Qing Qing asked in a concerned voice, "Sister Joann, what's wrong? What are you searching for?"

"My leather purse which contains my keys. It is missing. I can't find it," Joann answered while she continued her search.

"Are you sure you have it on you to begin with, maybe you accidentally left it back at the house?"

"That is impossible. I drove here so I definitely had it on me because my keys are placed inside that purse, but it is missing now," explained Joann.

"That is horrible," exclaimed Qing Qing in horror as she turned her head left and right, making a show of looking around even though she knew very well where that purse was.

"Sister Joann, perhaps you should empty the contents of your bag on a table, it will be easier for us to look," suggested Qing Qing.

Taking the woman's advice, Joann walked over to the nearby table and upended her bag. The contents of her bag clattered noisily as they were dumped into the open. There were receipts, packs of tissue, a wallet she used to carry her important documents, cards and money, snacks for the downtime between shots, as well as a protective talisman that was kept inside a red packet but the leather purse was nowhere to be seen.

Qing Qing helped Joann scour through the mess but she took her time with it. She needed to drag this out for as long as she could.

Soon enough, the director returned and with a clap, he announced, "Alright, people! It is time for work! Everyone back to their places! Lights, camera…"

"Sister Joann, perhaps we should inform the director of your missing item. Maybe he will give us some more time or mobilize the whole crew to go look for it," Qing Qing suggested.

"That won't be necessary. I do not want to drag the whole shoot's progress. Furthermore, my car has a double lock, it won't be stolen that easily on the off chance my purse was stolen. But I believe I merely have misplaced it somewhere. On top of that, my car is parked in the studio's underground parking lot. There are guards and security cameras so I am not that worried. Work is more important, we can continue to look after the shoot is over. In fact, someone might have found it while we are working, you can never know," Joann told Qing Qing as she shoved the stuff on the table back into her bag.

'Everything is going as planned,' thought Qing Qing. She knew she could always count on Joann's professionalism.

"Hopefully you are right, Sister Joann," Qing Qing said but internally she wished otherwise.

…

"Thank you everyone, that is a wrap! I am sorry the shoot drags on far beyond the expected time but we do not want half-finished product, do we? At least we have a marvelous dinner to look forward to!" announced the director as he snapped the clapboard.

Joann looked at the time, it was one and a half hour away from the start of the party. No one had come forward to claim they had found her purse. As she looked up, her eyes caught Qing Qing who was surreptitiously glancing at her watch.

'The girl probably do not want to be late. After all, this place is her recommendation. It is only fair that she wants to arrive early to make sure everything is in place so that it won't disappoint anyone,' thought Joann.

With a sigh, she walked over to Qing Qing. The first thing that came out of the young woman's mouth was, "Sister Joann, have you found the purse?"

After Joann shook her head, Qing Qing continued, "Where have you been before arriving at the set? Perhaps we should split up, that way the search can cover a wider area."

Joann was touched by her concern and enthusiasm. With a serious tone, she said, "Qing Qing, it is my carelessness for losing the purse, it is not your responsibility to help me find it. You should go to the party, in fact, ask Lee Mu to drive you. I am sure he is more than willing to do so."

"But Sister Joann…" Qing Qing began to retort but she was immediately cut off by Joann, "Qing Qing, I insist."

Qing Qing's face scrunched up into a pout but in the end, she sighed and said, "Alright, if you say so, Sister Joann. You should retrace your steps, that is what my mum used to tell me when I lost something. I am sure the purse will turn up soon enough."

Joann could not help but smile at the young woman's childlike innocence.

Qing Qing added, "Sister Joann, don't worry, I will definitely save you a good seat at the party. That is the least I can do."

"Then, I shall thank you in advanced." Joann appreciated her junior always thinking about her no matter the occasion.

Qing Qing said in parting, "Sister Joann, call me if you need any help. I will definitely come running back!" Then she ran away while waving.

Qing Qing's display of youthful energy brought a smile to Joann's face. She enjoyed seeing that in others especially after she felt she had lost that springiness in her own steps.