Branded By You

Pursuing Miss Chen.

The sun was indeed scorching as Muyang made his way to her car. Thankfully, it was parked right next to his. He had left along with the students once class was dismissed. Noon was her closing hour. She didn't have to work after 12 every day.

The plan was simple. Find her, ask her to lunch and woo her progressively. Simple, right? To be fair, he was a good-looking 36-year-old. Meaning there was a ten-year age gap between them. But he was confident in his looks. And although he had never actively seduced a woman in all his 35 years on earth, how hard could it be to get a woman when you own half the city and almost a quarter of the country's GDP.

He Muyang was the county's most eligible bachelor and had appeared on many magazines. Even kids born today wanted him. Plus, he was smart and serious about her. He was convinced that once she saw all his good points, the age gap could be bridged.

A bit of curiosity ran through his mind. What kind of person was she? Did she have someone already? He quickly brushed off the thought. “There was no ring on her finger the previous night.” he comforted himself. Even if there was someone, her records say that she was unmarried, he wouldn't let a measly boyfriend come in the way of finding his wife.

But then again, who wears their wedding ring to a casino? All good, he could easily confirm that today, it was a matter of only one question.

Just as he stood there thinking, he spotted her approaching the parking lot. She walked slowly, hips swaying from side to side, the evidence of which could only be seen from her tiny waist. As her petite figure approached, he felt tranced.

Her hair was held up. Her beautiful oval face and neckline came into view but, that damned blouse was there once more. All he could see were her fingers that gripped hard onto the keys in her hands.

“Cherry Chen?” he called out as some sort of confirmation.

“That would be me…. Have we met?” she answered gracefully. Her voice had him mesmerized. It was indeed her, his poker lady.

Invite her to lunch. That's the plan. It's a simple plan. Take her to a nice restaurant, woo her slowly. Take her to a nice restaurant, woo her slowly. Easy, right? Only two steps. Who could mess up such a simple plan?

Well, meet HE MUYANG.

…

“… you can get to know me over lunch.” For a man like He Muyang, this move was end game. his handsome face and charismatic voice and the offer to have lunch with a gorgeous man like himself. How could she possibly resist?

“No, thanks.” She said simply. Then she walked right past him and gets into her car.

The words hit him like a brick on a body of water. It took a minute to sink. By the time Muyang came to the realization that he had just been turned down, she had already started her engine.

He c****d a brow in disbelief, slowly turning around to watch her zoom off. A smirk crept up his lips. He was deeply amused and any feelings he may have had for her before now doubled in weight.

Mu Feiyu, who had been ordered to stay in the car in order to give his boss privacy, almost let out a loud laugh. This was the one thing he had omitted to mention last night. Chen chu chu had a nickname, not cherry Chen but shunning Chen.

She had a gift for turning people down with a straight face. Which was good for her because she was, like fourteen, getting hit on by 19 years old boys. But it seems she didn't let go of that spirit.

Mu feiyu slowly got out of the car, put on a straight face and called out to his boss. “Boss, it appears Miss Chen is single and has been that way for a while. She has quite a reputation for turning suitors down. Shall I ask the old chairman to speak to her father?”

“Mu feiyu,” Muyang said in a menacing tone. Slowly stalking a few steps toward the poor secretary. “Why do you want to get my grandfather involved? Do you think I can't do this on my own?”

“Of course, I don't doubt your efficiency, sir. I just thought this might be easier resolved if the elders got involved. I just found out Mr. Chen is a beneficiary of the five-dragon association.” Feiyu replied with his head bowed, taking a few steps back to ensure that the original distance between them didn't change.

“ That is too much. Let's get back to work now shall we ?” he said passive aggressively.

….

In another part of town cherry, walks into a car repair shop.

“bambi?”she calls out almost sweetly. the sound echos and reverbrates filling the place.

“you need to stop calling me that.” A mans voice rings through the shop. Its deep and sultry, a stark contrast to the sweet ness with which he had been called out.

“where are you, Child?” se called out again, unable to make out where his voice was coming from.

“right here.” He replies as he come up from under a car. His coverall was an unrecognizable color, stained with engine oil. Was a testament of his hard work and he always wore it so proudly. he worked tirelessly with his hands, he is not the type to sit abck and be looked after.

a smile creep its way onto her face once she saw him. The man was built like a gangster and his face was not too friendly either. But she called him bambi, he was her bambi. Her little baby.