-President's Office, Vintage Gems-
Xu Mey was engaged in work during the lunch break like a scrupulous person when Qin Hao knocked at the door and craned his neck inside to say, "President Xu, you have a guest."
Before Xu Mey could open her mouth to inquire about the guest, she heard a familiar voice making her stand up abruptly. "Move away and let me walk through." The owner of the voice pushed Qin Hao out of the way and walked inside elegantly.
"Xiao Mey!" Xu Mey just stared at He Jian's mother, Zhu Qinyang whose demeanour took a 180-degree turn, the moment her eyes fell on Xu Mey.
Xu Mey could only smile and wave at Qin Hao who was gaping at the side, to leave. "Auntie Qin-Qin, what a pleasant surprise!" When Xu Mey came forward to hug Zhu Qinyang that's when her eyes caught the figure behind.
Zhu Qinyang noticed Xu Mey's questioning eyes and explained, "I brought Susu here with me. She needs your help with something. Now, I'm very busy. So, Xiao Mey, take care of my favourite sister-in-law and I'll see you some other day."
Xu Mey arched her brows in confusion. "Auntie, you're leaving? Why don't you stay for some tea?"
Zhu Qinyang smiled delighted by and stroked Xu Mey's hair. "Xiao Mey, I would've loved to stay but I have a meeting with the Minister in about 30 minutes. I'm leaving her with you." Xu Mey pursed her lips and nodded.
Then Zhu Qinyang turned to her sister-in-law, He Susu and said, "Su, you can ask her to do anything. Xiao Mey is just like your own daughter, she won't deny you of anything. Okay?" He Susu smiled and nodded at her.
When Zhu Qinyang left the room, a strange silence prevailed around. Xu Mey was struggling inside about how to talk to her 'potential mother-in-law'. Oh, wait! Isn't she the 'actual mother-in-law'? Xu Mey was having a debate inside her mind. No, no… She won't be the 'actual' one until Ye Jie accepts her. For now, she's the 'potential' one.
She sighed inwardly. 'What complicated relationships, I have to deal with. What a hassle.'
Xu Mey cleared her throat and tried to start the conversation. "Why don't you take a seat, Ms-"
"You can call me Auntie Su. I won't mind." He Susu replied with a polite smile.
"Okay… So, Auntie Su, take a seat and be comfortable." After He Susu sat down at the couch, Xu Mey asked, "What would you like to drink?"
"Tea will be fine. Thank you!" He Susu replied.
Xu Mey smiled and ordered Qin Hao to send in some tea. While He Susu was looking around, Xu Mey's eyes were trained on her. She was like an elegant, well-bred lady. Beauty was just a single trait of her. Most of all, her personality was something that attracted people to her.
"What can I help you with?" Xu Mey inquired while taking a seat.
"Actually, it's my anniversary next month and I wanted your help with the gift." As soon as those words were said, Xu Mey was dumbstruck by the fact that both Zhu Chen and his wife were so damn in sync.
Her trance was broken when He Susu added, "Sis Qinyang suggested that I should ask you for help. Well, now I know why she said that you can help me."
"Huh?" Xu Mey didn't understand her meaning.
He Susu smiled again and went on, "You're the President of one of the fastest growing Jewelry brands. Obviously, you can help me."
Xu Mey could only laugh awkwardly at that comment. When Qin Hao came with the tea, there was again an awkward silence in the air. After he left, Xu Mey asked, "Do you have something specific in your mind for the gift?"
He Susu took a sip of her tea and nodded. "I plan on giving him a pocket watch."
'Do you need a Jewelry designer for that?' Xu Mey wanted to ask but didn't dare to.
Seeing Xu Mey frown, He Susu further added, "I need your help with its design."
"Ohhh…" Xu Mey dragged the world unnecessarily. "You have the design in your mind?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." She took a pause. "I want the cover to have some words engraved on it while the inside to have a sketch. Is it possible?"
Xu Mey pondered for a moment, "Well, it requires a bit of time but yeah, it's definitely possible."
He Susu heaved a sigh of relief and focused on her tea. "Xiao Mey, I can call you Xiao Mey, right?" She looked at Xu Mey who nodded in reply. "So, Xiao Mey, you're really like what my husband says about you."
"What does Uncle Chen say about me?" Xu Mey asked with a bit of curiosity.
"He told me that you're a very strange kind of person." Xu Mey frowned to hear that. "You're simple and yet twisted in your own way."
Xu Mey scratched the tip of her nose and asked, "Is that bad?"
"No. It makes you refreshing and real in your own way." She heard the reply.
"Say, if you could get a daughter-in-law like me, would you like it?" Xu Mey words somehow made He Susu a bit sad as she stared at the floating flower petals in her teacup. "I'm sorry. That was a dumb question."
He Susu shook her head and gave a sad smile. "To be honest, if I had my son with me, I would gladly want you to be my daughter-in-law."
Xu Mey spent a long time talking with He Susu about the design and about other random stuff. Xu Mey was glad that He Susu was a very easygoing person with no hidden agendas. She was mostly like Xu Mey herself, especially when it came to bluntness.
At precisely 5 o'clock, Ye Jie came to pick up Xu Mey from the office and the moment Xu Mey slid inside the passenger seat, she was pulled in for a kiss which took her by surprise. But she soon loosened up and responded to Ye Jie's kisses with delight.
Ye Jie reluctantly parted away from Xu Mey and said, "I missed you so much, baby."
Xu Mey buckled her seatbelt and said, "I can tell."
Ye Jie waited for her to say something else but she didn't, so, Ye Jie asked himself, "Didn't you miss me?"
"I'll tell you at home, how much I missed you Ah Jie." Now, that answer was on a whole level ambiguity for Ye Jie. He couldn't figure out the meaning.