9.

                                    

                                          
The meeting room was tense, with everyone watching to see who would get the deal.
So, that rat head Wang could never get the deal, so he sent this troublemaker, Mr. Li said.
Wang Yibo burned with anger and stood up to confront him.
“What did you call my dad, you bastard?” Wang Yibo shouted, landing punch after punch on Mr. Li.
“Yibo, please stop,” someone said.
“Liam, stay back. How dare he insult my father?” Wang Yibo continued to hit Mr. Li, who now looked disheveled.
“I know how to get your deal, Mr. Li,” Wang Yibo yelled.
After the presentation and many years of waiting, Wang Yibo finally got the deal.
Everyone clapped, but Mr. Li was seething with anger.
Wang Yibo smirked and said, “Mr. Li, you’re not going to congratulate me?”
Mr. Li stood up, congratulated Wang Yibo, and hugged him. “You’ll soon see what happens when you mess with me,” he warned.
“Try your best,” Wang Yibo replied.
********************
Xiao Zhan was bored. He used to work from early morning until late at night, but without work, he felt odd.
He went to the kitchen.
“Sir, do you need anything?” a fifty-year-old cook asked.
“No, I don’t need anything. I was just... I mean, since no one’s home, I...” Xiao Zhan trailed off.
“Yes, you must be bored,” the cook said.
“If you don’t mind, can I help you with cooking?” Xiao Zhan offered.
“Sir, you’re a guest,” the cook replied.
Xiao Zhan’s face fell.
“Sir, are you okay? If you want to talk, just let me know,” the cook said.
“Thank you, Uncle,” Xiao Zhan said with a smile.
“Welcome, sir,” the cook replied.
“Sir, why do you seem angry? Did I do something wrong?” the cook asked, checking all the dishes.
“Yes,” Xiao Zhan said with irritation.
“I’m sorry, sir. Please tell me what I did wrong,” the cook said, looking concerned.
“Uncle, relax. You didn’t do anything wrong. Just don’t call me ‘sir.’ My name is Xiao Zhan. If you call me by my name, I’ll feel better.”
“Oh, Xiao Zhan,” the cook laughed.
******************
“So why do you look so tense? After all, you got what you were waiting for. Why is this?”
Wang Yibo was smoking and looking out through a huge glass wall.
“Nothing, Liam,” Yibo said.
“Then why are you smoking?” Liam asked.
“I don’t know, Liam. My heart feels like something bad is about to happen,” Yibo replied.
“Nothing has happened,” Liam said.
“Have you told Uncle?” Liam asked.
“No, Liam. I’ll surprise him in two days, on his birthday,” Yibo said.
“Oh, that’s a really good idea,” Liam said, giving Yibo a hug.
*************
Wang Yibo returned to find his father sitting alone in the garden. He walked over and gave him a hug.