No Time

I was wrong.

The whole week was full of meetings, meetings, and meetings. Meetings with people, meetings with researchers, meetings with the permanent construction crew.

I was so very happy and ready to run towards freedom when the GEM meeting date came. I put on a suit, borrowed a shaggy wig that covered my eyes from the auntie who was a hair stylist and had somebody give me a ride.

The GEM building was a skyscraper and reached high towards the sky. It had some greenery dotting the verandas that were arranged in a swirling pattern all around the building. Quite cool.

So Tse Bao was an executive here...

Some of the women and girls wanted jewelry from here, but only the girls were shameless enough to request it. Even though I was rich, buying several pieces of jewelry would still cause me to feel sad with that large amount of money being pulled out from my wallet...

No matter, I would get them some hairpins instead. They should be cheaper at least.

I went to the accountant and told her of my arrival for the meeting. A lady led me up to the floor where the meeting was going to take place.

11:00 AM. Just in time.

But maybe not?

The other executives were waiting for me. Did I get the time wrong?

"Mr. Shui, you are younger than we expected," said the man sitting at the head's chair, the CEO.

"Oh, and you are older than I thought. Aren't you supposed to be 52? You look like you're in your late 60's," I countered with a smile. I was being cheeky, I know, but I would definitely not let myself be bullied. I was using a deeper voice which I had mastered to fake my age.

The man showed no change in his expression but I could see the veins bulging on his clenched hands.

"And you've also probably gone senile and told me the wrong time. I forgive you for wasting my time."

"Mr. Shui, please sit down," the CEO said without missing a beat.

"Sure. Let me ask, who here is Tse Bao?"

"He's not here," was the answer.

"I see," I noted.

"Nevermind, enjoy your meeting," and with a swoosh, I left the place. I had only come to rekindle the old man and my friendship, not participate in some stupid conference. The rest of the men and women just stared at me and turned back to their meeting. They wouldn't care about some person who didn't bother to attend a meeting. They probably thought I was some rich stuck-up kid. But did they know that I held 3% of the shares? That might have changed their views.

Going down the elevator, I noticed that the map of the building had a shop on the underground level, so I clicked G3 to go there. The elevator stopped on the 1st floor and opened.

The person who came in was about to press the button when he noticed the G3 button that was lit up.

"Oh? I'm going to the same place as you," he said. He had a young voice, a kid?

I ignored him and kept my head down. On my phone, notifications had popped up and they were mostly from the children at the base.

I kept scrolling to see the whole list of snacks that the children wanted me to buy. And one little girl wanted a flower. Some kids wanted balloons. And some mothers wanted to get baby clothes for their babies.

The elevator made a noise and the doors opened.

"Then, let's part ways," the boy who rode the elevator with me said. And I ignored him again. Why should I talk to strangers?

I could hear his stiffened state with the way he stomped furiously, but who cares?

Uh, the shop should be here somewhere? Was my ability of not being able to understand maps turning up once again?

All around me was a parking lot. Where was the shop?

I could hear cursing from the boy who had tried to talk to me in the distance. There was no one down here, it was probably still working hours and the cafeteria provided free food. No one would go out for lunch. Maybe the man I ignored was going to the exit? At the very least, I could go to another shop and buy some jewelry for the women.

I followed the boy, and when he looked back, I hid behind a column. The parking lot had lots of columns, en, very useful.

And I finally found my way to the shop. Oh, what was this? Such a good interior design, the door was made of pink glass and the exterior of the shop was sparkling too from the smooth steel plates. I stood out at the entrance and analyzed the building. This design, after being tweaked a little, could be used to make a beauty spa. The women also had wanted this and some of them were beauticians, so I had written this on a list of "to build".

"So you did follow me after all!" a familiar voice said with an accusing tone.

Oh, the boy I followed. Now looking at him, he was very sweet looking. With slightly pudgy cheeks and an adorable angry look, he really was like a bun. And he was wearing a traditional little white shirt and black pants to match too, how cute.

"I don't know you."

I went inside the shop without looking at him while passing by.

I found a display case full of necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Where were the pins? Now that I saw, all of the jewelry were in display cases. And the place was like a hall. Maybe a showcase? Did I come to the wrong place?

No way, there was jewelry, so they would definitely be selling it.

I found some hairpins that were simple but had a certain charm to them. These would be for the older ladies who were too shy to ask for any more stuff. For the younger girls, charm bracelets were good. Next time, I would buy charms instead of expensive jewelry for them.

A person wearing a uniform told me that this was indeed a shop. And they would even pack up the things I bought individually in decorated packages and boxes. I pointed to the ones I picked out and handed the worker my card. Several other workers were called and they smiled at me, thanking me for coming.

But I wasn't done looking. I went further into the hall. This place was like a museum, with display cases, careful lighting, and prized possessions.

At the end of the hall, there was a single set of diamond earrings. They were very tiny, but they were also the most expensive things here. According to the description provided on the case, it was a pair of Rhodium earrings. It had a natural black diamond set in one of the earrings, while the other had a natural red diamond. Both were rare and the black diamond cost a little bit more than the red diamond and they were square cut.

"Don't buy it! That's mine!"

What was it now?

"You're plundering the whole place! But that one's mine!"

I looked at the price tag. 500 million yuan. Could this kid really buy it?

"I saved up a lot of money for those! Today's my birthday, I'm going to get it, you can't buy it!"

Well, I guess I'll give it up, it was the kid's birthday. Next to the black and red diamond pair, there was also a pale pink and pale blue diamond basket cut pair. It was only 300 million yuan, so I could get it instead, both pairs looked identical except with the pale pink & blue pair having platinum instead of the expensive rhodium.

So I bought the pink & blue pair. It was pretty and I wanted to wear it immediately. Getting my ears pierced wouldn't hurt with the technology these days.

"Customer, your card account only has a 410 million yuan," the accountant reminded the kid who was planning to buy the black & red pair.

"I've saved up all of my New Year's and birthday money for this year, are you sure it's only that much?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Maybe older cousin used my card... Ah, anyways, can't you give me a discount?" A rich kid asking for a discount... that's a first.

"I'm sorry, dear customer, if you aren't planning to buy, I'll take the next client." The kid was taken aback but stepped away from the register.

The person who carried the pink & blue earrings I wanted set it up and packaged it after swiping my card.

I looked at the kid who was sitting on a sofa and calling somebody on his phone.

"Cousin, did you use my card?"

"Oh, how did you know? I only used several million. Don't worry, I'll win it back for you."

"You went gambling again? Didn't uncle scold you last time for that?"

"You shouldn't make me remember such bad things. If you don't have anything else, I'm hanging up!"

"Wait, you have to return my money!"

The conversation sounded bad and it looked like the little guy had been taken advantage of.

While he was scolding his cousin over the phone, I motioned towards the black & red diamond pair.

"Pack that up for me too. And get me a paper and pen."

The accountant delightedly complied and packed it up with a wood ring case and placed it in a navy paper bag with fabric handles.

They gave me a pen and a classic stationery paper set.

I wrote quickly and put it in the bag.

"Hand it to the boy over there. Thanks." The accountant and people working on stuff all looked at me, surprised.

I coolly went out of the shop but remembered.

Where was the elevator again?