a rose

-----

At breakfast in another villa.

"Husband, when will you retire, you are getting old", said a lovely woman who's attending to her husband.

"Who's getting old? We are just the same age", replied Mr. Wong who was reading the morning news. "I can retire any moment, YaoFeng is doing very well and I am very proud of him. When I supported him, I did not expect that he could go this far. Now I am peaceful."

"Ah Yao is a good child. I hope that he can find a good partner too, like me", said Mrs. Wong lovingly.

This couple is a good pair. Few years ago, they invested their money in the Ming Corporation that was not that stable before. It was Elder Wong who guided and trained Ming YaoFeng.

Although he was not that powerful, he has connections and a good reputation in the industry thus playing a big role in Ming YaoFeng's success.

"My sister's niece-in-law visited me yesterday', she mentioned about starting her own business here. Do you think we can help her?" she asked.

"I'll have to see her business plan. If I see no problem, I'll talk to YaoFeng about it, then I'll retire to spend some peaceful time with my lovely wife", he said dotingly.

The two old couple did not know that the person they are helping has another intention, to be close to Ming YaoFeng.

--

That day same day.

"I'm so happy hanging around with another woman Aunt Rong. Too bad I did not have a sister. " she said sadly.

"Me and my sister used to go shopping too during our younger years," she said.

"You have a sister? Why aren't you calling her? Hurry aunt, this is a good time to shop together," she said coyly.

With so much pleading, He Rong called her sister and soon three women were happily chatting in a cafe after dropping their shopping bags at the side.

Cheng MeiMei was well practiced in making older people happy and pleased with her. Being in a family of power, she knew the people with kind hearts are the easiest to manipulate.

---

In the office.

Li Haoran had been waiting every morning in the lobby to bump into Ming Yuyu. However, not a single day did he saw her during his waiting.

Because of his everyday pursuit, he already made friends with the receptionists and the guards.

"Haoran, are you sure the person you are waiting for works here?" asked one of them.

"Of course!" he said confidently. Didn't she attended the quarterly meetings? And besides, her last name is Ming. He heard that she's training under the CEO so there's no way she doesn't work in the building.

As they were chatting, Elder Wong, who's very kind to greet all employees passed by.

"Haoran, what are you doing here so early in the morning? Stop pestering these girls." he lectured the junior advertising personel.

"Elder Wong, good morning. I'm waiting for someone to give this",

he showed elder Wong a freshly cut pink american rose with a ribbon tied on its stem.

Elder Wong smiled and patted him on the back, "Alright, good luck to you. Get back to your position on time." he reminded him and proceeded to the elevator intended for executives.

Remembering something, he chased after him.

"Elder Wong, do you know what floor is Ming Yuyu working? The one that hangs around the CEO?" he described in a very specific manner.

Elder Wong stopped and knit his brows. "You want to give her that?" he looked at the flower in his hands.

"Yes Elder Wong. Can I see her?" he asked eagerly.

"The people around her will not let her see you. Plus, it's almost time. You can give me that and I can pass it to her since I have a meeting but this is just a one time favor. I will not help you in the future." he said.

Li Haoran immediately fish out a calling card and inserted it on the wrap holding the flower.

"Thank you Elder Wong, I really appreciate." He bowed half of his body as elder Wong's elevator came and he left the unlucky man on the lower floor.

He looked at the flower in his hand and felt sad for him. How can he beat a CEO, plus, how can he be equal with a genius like her. If it was not for that morning that he took over a phone call from Assistant Xu, he would never know that it was Xiao Yuyu who's helping the company. But of course, if Xiao Yuyu would like to entertain that junior, he cannot stop her.

When the elevator stopped at his floor, he did not get off the lift. Instead, he pressed another button to go to the top floor.

Every one is busy at the top floor.

The two rows of secretary stand up to greet him.

"Good morning Elder Wong"

"Good morning everyone. Are the two Mings already inside?" he asked.

"Not yet Elder Wong." answered Secretary Lun. She is the head secretary and mostly in charge of surprise visits like this.

"Alright. Good thing I will not see our CEO. Put this on Xiao Yuyu's table before the CEO arrives. Don't ask or else, you will answer back later when the CEO asks." he smiled at them as if knowing how possessive is the CEO to keep Yuyu inside his office.

He went to his office as normal.

--

Li Haoran was left with happiness that his flower will reach Ming Yuyu, but he forgot to ask her floor! He knew he can no longer pester Elder Wong so he headed to the regular elevator together with the other employees coming to work.

Inside the elevator.

"I'm just glad the game ended, or else we will lose our jobs."

"Should we kick Xiao Yuyu from the team then? Would the CEO be happy?"

"Yeah. Let's kick her out. Then CEO Ming will be in favor of us."

"Idiots." it was Long Fei who rarely talks.

They looked at him and remembered how he blacklisted Xiao Yuyu and he was unable to access his accounts for a week. Only after being friends with her again did his life became normal.

"Let's not kick her out then. Let's just pretend we are busy when she call again."

The three of them agreed.

Li Haoran watched as the three left the elevator. Their working clothes are not on the same level with Ming Yuyu and him at the very least. How come they talk as if they were close? Or are they really close?

Today, he met two people at the elevator who knows Ming Yuyu. Would he learn more about her if he hang around the elevator instead of the lobby? He thought to himself.

--

Three people arrived at the same time on the top floor.

Assistant Xu is wearing a very positive vibes as the two person before him were chatting amicably about the release of Yuyu's first batch of experimental formula.

The tests are almost complete and it will be out in the market on the next week to come.

"Good morning CEO Ming" everyone greeted.

He nodded at them with a smile as he continued to talk.

"Alright. This is your first time with them, call me if there's anything," he was reminding her as they near the door.

"I'll just grab something from the lab and I'll be off", she sneak on the door and went to her lab.

The CEO stayed at the door to make some reminders.

"Yuyu will be with the marketing team. Xu Heng, you go with her and Secretary Lun will replace you for today. call me if there's anything." he was making the assignment and Yuyu came back.

"See you later, Boss" she emphasized on the 'boss' as she doesn't want him to kiss her in front of the secretariat. He smiled and got what she mean. I'll let you pass this time, he thought.

Assistant Xu and Yuyu departed and he went inside the office.

As soon as he sit on his chair, he saw a pink rose sitting on her desk.

His brows knitted and turn to his computer but decided to call someone from the outside.

It was Secretary Lun who came to attend to him.

"Please ready my computer," he said pretending to read some reports.

Secretary Lun was talking to herself, just pressing the power button? She cannot believe her boss until,

"who puts the flower there?" he normally asked. She watched the boss reading the folders with crossed legs as if he is not bothered. But Secretary Lun knows already what's happening.

"Someone passed this early in the morning. Maybe its from one of her friends. Let's just wait for her to see if she knows the person." she explained.

The man snorted and typed in his password.

"Call me if there's anything Ah Yao." Secretary Lun left smiling wickedly. The boss is jealous because of a flower? Will he fire the sender? hehe

Ming YaoFeng cannot help but glance at the flower beside him from time to time as if it's going to bite him.

The day ended without Xiao Yuyu showing her face to him and he's getting frustrated until around three, she called him.

"I am almost done her. Should we get off work early or you want me to go up there?" she asked.

Looking at the disgusting rose, he casually said, "I am about to go down, don't go up." He hung up and left the office as if any moment the flower will eat him whole.