At midday in Hao Yan Che’s office, Yuan Gun Gun ran to his chair and he lifted her onto his lap. She held his hands to rub her stomach.
‘Young master, it’s lunch time,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Feel how flat my stomach is.’
‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘It’s round.’
‘What do you mean?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.
‘It’s round,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun let go of Hao Yan Che’s hands, slid off his lap and walked to her desk.
Hao Yan Che walked to the pig fridge. He took out a platter of food and put it on Yuan Gun Gun’s desk.
‘Go reheat it and you can eat,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun’s sadness disappeared after she saw the delicious food on the platter.
‘Young master you’re the best,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Wait here. I’ll go reheat it.’
‘Today you’re eating on your own,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Hao Yan Che walked back to his chair, picked up his jacket and wore it. He walked to Yuan Gun Gun’s desk and pinched her sad face.
‘Where are you going?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.
‘To sign a contract,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Don’t eat dessert behind my back. You know what happens if you do.’
‘Oh,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Come back soon.’
‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said and kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s forehead.
Yuan Gun Gun heard the door closed, looked down at the platter of food and lost her appetite.
At twenty past midday, Yuan Gun Gun slowly ate and occasionally glancing at the door. She wondered why Hao Yan Che wasn’t back yet.
Yuan Gun Gun’s phone rang, and she was happy to see who called her.
‘Big brother Du!’ Yuan Gun Gun greeted.
‘Gun Gun, it’s always good to hear your voice,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.
‘Big brother Du, how come you’re free to call me today?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘Aren’t you busy at work?’
‘Do you miss me?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked.
‘Yes,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
‘Then come downstairs,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘I’m waiting for you downstairs.’
‘Wait for me,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. She ran to the elevators. ‘I’ll be right there.’
‘I’ll be waiting for you,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.
A minute later, Yuan Gun Gun ran outside Hao Yan’s company and jumped into Na Liu Ting Du’s arms.
‘Big brother Du,’ Yuan Gun Gun called.
‘I’m taking you to eat,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘I have something to tell you too.’
‘OK,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘But I need to get back to work soon. Let’s eat at the cafe near here. The egg tarts there are delicious.’
Yuan Gun Gun held Na Liu Ting Du’s hand and took him to Ting’s Cafe.
Yuan Gun Gun and Na Liu Ting Du sat at a table for two inside Ting’s Cafe.
‘Big brother Du, I’m sorry about what happened last time,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Young master has a fear of people touching him. He’ll kick anyone who touches him. Big brother Du, does your body still hurt?’
‘Gun Gun, who is he to you?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked. ‘Why are you saying sorry on behalf of him?’
Yuan Gun Gun smiled at Na Liu Ting Du’s cup of coffee on the table.
‘If he doesn’t let anyone touch him, why can you touch him?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked.
‘Hehe… because I’m special,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
‘Gun Gun, in my eyes you’re special too,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.
Na Liu Ting Du kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s lips while she was distracted by his confession. She was stunned frozen. His tongue parted her lips and he lightly bit her tongue. She could taste the coffee he drank.
‘Really sweet,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.
Yuan Gun Gun looked blankly at Na Liu Ting Du like he was a different person.
‘The egg… egg tart here is sweet,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
***
End of Chapter Eighty-Four
