Love At First Sight

Tensions are running high on the 14th floor of the Waterfront Tower in the small office of the recently formed digital publishing division of Xanadu Publishing. Shen QiQi, the creator of the popular new Webtoon, Bai Wants Romance, nervously fidgets sitting on an uncomfortable wooden chair from IKEA across from a visibly agitated woman, Lang Xue.

Recently transferred to this division, Lang Xue was put in charge of QiQi after her former agent quit citing mental health issues. Her supervisor reasoned that since they are friends she could control QiQi's unprofessional behavior.

The phone on the cluttered desk is ringing. Lang Xue ignores the incessant ringing when she sees the caller ID. Dammit! Why me? She looks at her best friend across the desk. "The deadline is today QiQi, can't you at least lie to me? Say the arc is almost finished...I only need a little bit more time...something I can tell the editor?"

Looking at the unsightly expression on her best friend's pretty face, QiQi regrets coming into the office instead of calling with the bad news.

"Wuuhuuu..."

"Shen QiQi! Can you stop crying! You are an adult!" Lang Xue tosses the crying girl some tissues across her messy desk.

Sniffle...sniffle.. "I had it almost completed and..and..."

"AND WHAT!"

When Lang Xue raises her voice several people in the cramped office look in their direction. Frustrated she snarls, "Hey!" Grabbing a small Pikachu plushie off her desk she flings it at a young man at the next desk who is gawking at them. "Don't you have work to do!"

She hands QiQi a bottle of water and in a soft tone says, "Okay sweetie, calm down...continue."

QiQi wipes her nose and blinks a few times hesitant to say what happened. "I.., I lost my laptop."

"Didn't you back up your work?"

QiQi crumples the tissue in her cold sweaty palm as she stares at Lang Xue then lowers her head...in a timid voice she responds..."Ah..well, nooo."

A line appears between her exquisite eyebrows as Lang Xue glances at the clock on the wall, "Do you know where you might have left the laptop"

Gazing at her angry friend she bites her bottom lip while summoning the courage to tell the story. "Well, don't get mad when I tell you. Really, in a way it was a...well...a work related disaster."

??? Lang Xue's face turns bright red. She leans forward across her desk, clenching her teeth, "Shen QiQi! I don't have time for this! We need to find your laptop or find a way to delay the witch without you or me being fired!"

QiQi takes off the large black framed glasses she is wearing and rubs her misty almond shaped amber eyes. "Let me finish. I was working at the coffee shop on 65th street. You know the one that has the best matcha cake...we went there last week.

There was this really handsome.. I mean..." Her red rimmed eyes light up and she clutches her friend's hand in both of her small hands. "Super handsome man. I noticed him when he walked in the door. He was wearing a tight fitting black t-shirt and camouflage pants. He was very tall, probably 6' 3.."

She blinks her eyes a few times and leans in further across the sleek modern desk, "Seriously, his legs were so long..."

Flustered listening to QiQi rambling, she interrupts as she snaps the pencil in her hand. "So you saw this handsome guy and then forgot your laptop at the coffee shop? We can call the shop and see if the laptop is still there."

She breathes a sigh of relief and picks up the phone, as she is dialing the number of the coffee shop QiQi replies, "Well no. Let me finish the story. I thought he would be perfect for Tang Johnny."

Lang Xue's deep brown eyes have a murderous gleam and the red pencil in her hand snaps in two. You don't have the second arc finished you idiot!

QiQi continues her voice filled with excitement, "He looks like he is in the military. The man has well defined muscular arms".

Her crystal clear eyes sparkle, " I could tell he has an eight pack under the tight t-shirt. His jet black hair is cut short and his face is angular, long nose, thin lips. I mean he looks like the perfect mode! l He even has dark soulful eyes." I would say I think I am in love but...Xue seems super angry right now.

"So, I started to sketch him when he sat down. Unfortunately, another man joined him, blocking my view. I was so pissed off! Do you know how long I have been looking for inspiration for that character!"

Lang Xue stares at her impetuous friend then sighs, it is no use... the girl is very beautiful and talented but a complete flake! Out of touch with reality...

She takes out two pain relievers from the desk and hastily swallows them, then unscrews the top of a water bottle chugging down the water.

QiQi is still describing the handsome man down to the way he wrapped his large hand around the coffee cup. Lang Xue finally says. "Where do you think your laptop could be?"

"In his Land Rover." QiQi points to her bandaged knee. "The handsome guy drove me to the hospital and I forgot the laptop in the backseat of the car."

Forgetting she is furious with her friend's unprofessional attitude, Lang Xue rushes around her desk worriedly asking, "What happened!"

QiQi smiles, "Don't worry... I am okay. I just have a mild concussion and scraped knee."

Lang Xue wants to strangle her simple minded friend. If the silly girl hadn't come into the office since she went to the hospital, I could easily push back the release.

Frustrated by the chaotic situation she grabs her purse out of the desk drawer and she motions for QiQi to get up. "I'm taking you home. I will talk to the old witch."

After she stands up QiQi smiles as she hangs onto her friend's slender arm, "So you aren't mad at me anymore?"

"..."

As they walk to the door Lang Xue asks, "Why are you wearing your old High School uniform and those ridiculous glasses ?"

"I went to the High School to sketch handsome boys wearing basketball uniforms during their P.E. class. Auntie said I could if I didn't cause a distraction."

She looks at her uniform, "So I posed as a student and sat in the bleachers."

Why does her family always cater to... Never mind. I will just get a bigger headache.

The man being enthusiastically described by her, Sun Zhi pushes the passcode as he approaches a formidable iron gate at the edge of his property. Once the impenetrable wide gate swings open he drives his black Land Rover up the steep road to his villa.

He bought the land five years ago and designed the villa along with an architect from the Clear Sky Architectural firm. When he got back from his undercover mission in Milan he moved into the spectacular house that overlooks Crystal Lake. The villa has an eco friendly design as well as high tech features designed by one of his companies, FutureTech. The spectacular villa blends both traditional Chinese architecture with modern minimalist features.

He immediately walks up the spiral staircase to his bedroom on the second floor. Once he takes off the heavy black boots and black t-shirt he slides the camouflage pants down his muscular legs.

Leaning back on the luxurious bed with his hands behind his head he closes his ink black eyes, after I finish my report I am going to sleep for three days! He only returned at noon after training men in the mountains for a week and is mentally and physically exhausted.

The intense Special Forces training involved not only survival skills in the wilderness but also sleep deprivation. He rubs his eyes then gets up to take a shower.

When he comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and drying his hair the phone in his pant's pocket rings. He picks the crumpled pants off the floor and takes out his cell. He grimaces, what the hell does he want?

He doesn't answer and puts the phone on the nightstand. Whatever it is, it can wait. I completed my mission. I don't need him anymore. He changes into a black cashmere sweater and a pair of jeans then goes downstairs.

A pretty young woman wearing a black skirt and a white long sleeve shirt hears him coming down the stairs. She smooths her hair and takes a deep breath then walks out of the kitchen, "Young Master, would you like me to bring you tea?" He looks around, "Where is Mrs. Tan?"

" She will arrive tomorrow with Butler Tan. My name is Ning, the Madam sent me."

He remains expressionless but inwardly sighs, why did I give my mother the passcode. I will need to change it tomorrow and send this woman back to the main house. "Very well. Bring the tea to the study."

Confident of her charm she restrains the urge to move closer to him.  I won't rush, eventually Sun Zhi will fall in love with me.

"I will prepare the tea now." Ning smiles politely then turns and walks back to the kitchen. Madam stressed the fact that her son isn't talkative and if I want to keep the job I can't attempt to get close to him. What he hates the most is chattering women fawning on him.