MIDNIGHT FLOWER

CHAPTER 5: HIDING AND RUNNING AWAY FROM THE PAST

“Baby?” Shau’s voice was soft, almost uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure whether to believe what he was seeing.

Jenny’s heart raced, her mind scrambling for something—anything—to say. But the shock of seeing him so unexpectedly, here of all places, left her speechless.

For what felt like an eternity, they stood there, neither moving nor speaking, as the weight of everything that had happened between them hung in the air.

Finally, Jenny found her voice, though it was barely above a whisper. “Sh...Shau."

Shau blinked, seeming to come back to reality. "Shau?" he laugh because he was used to her calling him daddy. “Well, I didn’t know you worked around here.”

Jenny nodded slowly, the reality of the situation crashing down on her. The man she had been so desperate to avoid was standing right in front of her, and there was no escaping him now.

“I… I should go,” she stammered, her instinct to flee kicking in.

But as she turned to leave, Shau reached out, gently grabbing her arm. “Not so quick.”

Jenny stopped, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She didn’t know what to do, what to say. All she knew was that this was the moment she had been dreading—and now it was here, staring her in the face.

Jenny paused but didn’t turn around immediately. Her mind was racing, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions she felt. The hurt, confusion, and the unresolved feelings from being ghosted all bubbled to the surface. She had been so careful to avoid him, and now, here he was, standing right in front of her.

Shau took a step closer, his voice softening. “We can talk... in private,” he said that gave her shiver.

Reluctantly, Jenny turned to face him, her expression carefully guarded. “What’s there to talk about?” she replied, her tone cold and distant. The warmth and openness she once showed him were gone, replaced by a protective shield she had built around herself.

Shau’s brow furrowed at her coldness, but he didn’t back down. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, trying to bridge the gap between them. “I thought you were—”

“You thought I was what?” Jenny cut him off with a cold smirk. “A girl that only shows up at night?”

Shau winced with confusion at her words. “No, it’s not like that,” he started, but Jenny shook her head, her patience wearing thin.

“Sorry but I don’t have time for… this.” She waved her hand vaguely, indicating the tension between them.

Shau hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but unsure how to reach her. “What's wrong?"

She found herself laughing. He is asking what's wrong? And after all, he still don't even know what he has done. How many girls did he ever dump and still doesn't even know what he has done?

Jenny knew how badly she wanted to see those almond-shaped eyes again but still she manage the cold exterior she forced herself to adopt. She won't let herself be pulled back into his orbit again. The hurt was still too raw, too fresh.

“I need to go,” she said, pulling her arm free from his gentle hold.

Shau was about to halt her from going when his phone buzz. "Don't go. Stay here." He commanded before answering the call.

As Shau was talking over the phone, without another word, Jenny turned and walked away without him noticing.

When he ended the call, Jenny was gone. He tried to check around the area but she was not in sight anymore.

The coldness Jenny had shown him was her only way of protecting herself from getting hurt again.

As she went home, her heart ached with the weight of the unresolved emotions. There was no room for Shau in her life anymore, or so she told herself, even as her mind replayed the encounter over and over.

Office Break Room, Morning

The break room buzzed with the usual morning chatter, but today, there was an extra layer of excitement in the air. Jenny walked in, her coffee mug in hand, trying to shake off the lingering tension from her encounter with Shau yesterday. She hoped to blend into the background, but the animated conversation around her made it difficult to ignore what was being discussed.

“So, did you see him up close?” one of the employees, Gemma, asked, her eyes wide with excitement as she leaned over the table where a few others were gathered.

“Oh, I did,” another employee, Jessa, replied with a smirk. “He’s even hotter up close. I couldn’t stop staring.”

“Right? And he’s so composed and confident,” Marjorie chimed in. “I mean, the way he handled that meeting—it’s no wonder he’s the chairman’s son. He’s got that natural charm.”

Jenny tried to keep her expression neutral as she poured herself some coffee, but she couldn’t help overhearing every word. She felt a pang in her chest as the memories of Shau, both good and bad, came rushing back.

“And did you notice how his suit was perfectly tailored?” Gemma added with a dreamy sigh. “He looked like he just stepped out of a magazine. If he weren’t the boss’s son, I’d say he was model material.”

Kier nodded, clearly impressed. “It’s no wonder everyone’s talking about him. Handsome, rich, and powerful—a total package. I wonder how to be like a Shau Zhang. I want to be him."

Jenny took a deep breath, focusing on stirring her coffee, hoping no one would notice how the conversation was affecting her. The last thing she wanted was for her colleagues to see her discomfort.

“He even seemed approachable,” Jessa remarked. “I mean, he wasn’t arrogant or anything. Just… confident.”

Marjorie chuckled. “Well, the search for his executive assistant has already started! We gotta do our best to be choosen.”

"I hope it would be me!" Gemma dreamed.

"No. I'll make sure it's me!" said Jessa.

The group burst into fighting with the position, and Jenny forced a small smile, pretending to be amused as she took a seat at the edge of the group, hoping to be overlooked.

“I wonder if he’s single,” Gemma mused aloud. “Not that I’d ever have a chance, but a girl can dream, right?”

“Seriously,” Jessa agreed, her tone playful. “But with someone like him, I bet the line of women interested is already a mile long.”

Jenny felt a surge of unease. They were all talking about Shau as if he were just another office crush, unaware of the complex history she had with him. She silently prayed that no one would ask her opinion on the matter.

The conversation continued around her, the excitement palpable, but Jenny remained quiet, her thoughts far from the idle gossip. She couldn’t help but wonder how long she could keep her connection to Shau a secret, especially if he continued to make appearances at the office.

As the chatter moved on to other topics, Jenny excused herself, and made her way back to her desk. The reminder of Shau’s presence in her life, even if only through her colleagues’ words, was enough to unsettle her all over again.

"You really did skip the meeting yesterday, Jenny?" Kier went back to his cubicle beside her.

"My... my stomach ached."

"I am not convinced. You don't want to meet Mr. Zhang because you are still not over with your chinese."

"What? How did you come up with such conclusions?"

Kier glanced over at Jenny, then a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “So, have you guys heard about Jenny’s little heartbreak situation?” he said, not loudly enough for the whole office to hear, but certainly enough to catch the attention of those nearby.

Jenny’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Kier to bring it up, especially not in front of everyone. Her cheeks flushed as she braced herself for whatever was coming next.

One of the colleagues, Gemma, gasped softly. “No way! Jenny, you’re heartbroken? Who’s the guy? We thought you're single!”

Jenny forced a smile, trying to downplay it. “It’s nothing, really. Just...”

Kier couldn’t resist adding more. “He ghosted her, can you believe that? Left our sweet Jenny hanging after making her believe he was serious.”

The group gasped in unison, their expressions shifting from surprise to sympathy. “Oh, Jenny, that’s awful,” Jessa said, leaning in closer. “What a jerk!”

“Yeah, you deserve so much better,” Marjorie chimed in. “Honestly, who does he think he is, ghosting someone like you?”

Jenny waved them off, trying to change the subject. “It’s really not a big deal. I’m over it, I promise.”

But her colleagues weren’t ready to let it go. Marjorie, ever the planner, suddenly perked up. “You know what we need to do? We need to get you out there again! How about we go clubbing this weekend?”

The others immediately jumped on the idea, nodding enthusiastically. “Yes! A night out, just what you need to forget about that loser.”

I suddenly felt that what happened to my friend Anne before is now happening to me. I went to go clubbing with Anne when she was broken. And now, my colleague wants me to go clubbing to cheer me up.

“And we’ll keep an eye out for some eligible guys,” Kier added with a wink. “No more getting ghosted—we’ll find you someone who knows how to treat a lady.”

Jenny tried to protest, shaking her head with a nervous laugh. “I don’t know, you guys… I’m not really in the mood for that kind of thing.”

But Marjorie wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Come on, Jenny, it’ll be fun! Just one night to let loose and forget about everything. Plus, you’ve been working so hard lately—you deserve a break.”

The group began to discuss the details, planning the night out as if it were a done deal. They talked about which club to go to, what they’d wear, and how they’d make sure Jenny had the best time.

Jenny, feeling cornered but also touched by their enthusiasm, finally relented. “Okay, okay,” she said, holding up her hands in surrender. “I’ll go, but no promises on the matchmaking, alright?”

Suddenly, the chitchat in the room shifted. The soft clatter of keyboards and quiet conversations were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a door opening. Heads turned as Shau, the chairman’s son, walked into the department, accompanied by a few senior managers. His presence was like a magnet, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Jenny was so startled to see him inside their office.

A collective gasp swept through the department as heads turned and whispers began to circulate. Marjorie, who sat at the desk near her, nearly squealed in excitement, nudging the Gemma next to her. “Oh my god, he's here! He is so gorgeous!”

Jessa, sitting a few desks away, immediately leaned over to get a better view, her eyes wide with admiration. “I knew he was good-looking, but this is on another level. How can someone look like that and be so powerful?”

The buzz of excitement rippled through the department, with everyone craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the man who had suddenly become the center of attention. It was as if a celebrity had walked into the room, and the air was thick with anticipation.

But while her colleagues were gushing over Shau, Jenny felt her heart drop to her stomach. She had been focused on her computer screen, but the moment she heard the gasps and saw the looks on her coworkers' faces, she knew something was wrong. She slowly looked up, and the sight of Shau standing just a few steps away made her blood run cold.

What is he doing here?

Panic set in as her mind raced. Shau had no idea she worked for his family’s company, and she intended to keep it that way.

While her colleagues were practically drooling over Shau, Jenny was consumed by the need to disappear. She couldn’t let him see her, not here, not now. But with everyone so focused on him, sneaking away wouldn’t be easy.

What should I do?

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