A Stranger's Card

Sun Mei froze. Mrs. Lin, who had quietly walked over, was staring at her accusingly with her hands on her hips.

"Well?" she asked furiously.

"I ate it!" the man blurted out.

"What?" asked Mrs. Lin.

"What?" asked Sun Mei in a lower voice.

The gentleman in the suit cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lin. I just had a bite of this salad, but I found it so irresistible that I had to have it all. Your server tried to tell me to leave a portion for everyone, yet I behaved like a glutton. I even made a mess. Look at the state of my suit! My mother would be appalled by my table manners!"

Mrs. Lin looked down incredulously at the man's clothes. Sun Mei couldn't blame her. She would have found it hard to believe this story too.

"Well, I am surprised to say the least," Mrs. Lin said eventually. "My au pair is a pretty mediocre cook."

Mrs. Lin glared icily at Sun Mei as she spoke. Meanwhile, the gentleman stared at Sun Mei with a frown.

"Help Mr. Wu clean up, Sun Mei. Then go make another salad. Maybe two if Mr. Wu is not quite full yet," Mrs. Lin said as she smiled charmingly at the man, who was apparently called Mr. Wu.

"No need," said Mr. Wu. "I will be taking my leave soon. Thank you for your hospitality."

"My pleasure…" Mrs. Lin flashed him a brilliant smile before she disappeared down the hall.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Sun Mei turned to the man and expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you so much for covering for me, sir. You did not have to do that. It was my mistake…"

"Hold on a second. Mrs. Lin said that you are her au pair."

"I am." Sun Mei nodded. She looked down at the bowl in her hand to avoid his penetrative eyes.

"Last time I checked, there were no kids at this party."

"My boys are upstairs sleeping," Sun Mei said with a tender smile.

"Then what are you doing down here in an apron?" asked Mr. Wu, who looked more troubled by the minute.

"I… I sometimes help around the house when Mrs. Lin needs me." Sun Mei bit her lip to prevent herself from saying more. She did not want to badmouth her boss in front of this strange man. How could she tell for sure that he wouldn't tell Mrs. Lin everything that she told him the next day?

Mr. Wu was frowning deeply. He looked around them furtively before he told her in a low voice, "Forgive me if I'm being nosy, but I think your employers have been taking advantage of you."

Sun Mei neither denied this nor confirmed it. She just kept looking at the empty bowl in an effort not to cry or blurt out anything else.

"This is my card," Mr. Wu told her before he handed her a piece of paper. "I have a child too."

Sun Mei was at a loss for words. "Okay," she said eventually.

"I also have a housekeeper," Mr. Wu added with a grin. "So you will not slave away for me like you are doing for Mr. and Mrs. Lin. Think about it..."

Sun Mei watched him disappear before she glanced down at the card in her hand.

Charles Wu

Golden Horse Publishing CEO

She put the card in her pocket.