Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

Inside the elevator a young girl kept staring at the handsome man in front of her. He was tall, his hair was dark and styled perfectly to the back with a few stubborn strands falling forward, he was dressed in a corporate-casual outfit with a long coat, and he looked really elegant in it. 

It wasn't difficult for her to recognize this person. She had seen him on TV, magazines and even on the internet when she browsed. A blush crept up her face as she considered saying hi to him, but she was too shy to do so. He looked very serious and from his expression, she could tell something was troubling him. Was work going bad? Maybe he had trouble at work which was the reason he looked like this? He had sighed a hundred times since he entered the elevator and he looked really lost in his thoughts. Maybe the price of shares in his company plummeted? She decided she was going to check online. Only something very serious was capable of making this majestic man frown like this. 

Meanwhile, Li Hoy kept wondering what had suddenly come over Joreen. Was her current attitude associated with the fact that she was officially becoming an adult on New Year's day? God! He wished she would never grow up and remain the little, adorable Joreen. That way, she would continue being around him and depending on him instead of acting the way she was now. 

Another person who was beginning to annoy the hell out of him aside from Mr Ping was Song Changyu. That woman seemed to he reveling in his discomfort. She always had a broad smile on her face whenever she was speaking with him but he wasn't stupid to not notice she was taunting him. He guessed she was the one coaching Joreen to behave the way she was.

He began to think of different ways to stop Joreen from being with that woman. Because the more Changyu was around Joreen, the less she depended on him. Whenever something happened, Changyu liked to react first before him like it was some kind of competition. It was another reason he didn't like things which concerned Joreen, leaking to the family because immediately she heard it, she would come as a 'superhero'. Joreen would then be staring at her with those big round happy eyes like she was a God while he would be forgotten and thrown in the sideline. 

"I will not let that happen!" He declared fiercely and almost hit himself in embarrassment when he realised he had said that aloud. 

It was the first time he noticed a girl inside the elevator with him. She was staring at him and it looked like his outburst just now had scared her. 

"I apologize." He said a bit awkwardly. 

She looked surprised he had just spoken to her. She quickly nodded and bowed while a blush appeared on her face again.. 

"It's... going to be fine." She said in a tiny voice.

He raised a questioning brow at her, wondering why she was talking to him..

"Work.. I mean. My father is a businessman so there are days he looks as frustrated as you look right now." 

"Oh..." It was a bit awkward for him but thankfully, the elevator opened and he quickly stepped out..

"Do not give up CEO Li! Fighting!" The girl cheered him on with a smile before the elevator door closed. 

"Give up?" He asked himself. The corner of his lips arched up in a smirk. "Of course I won't!" But the smirk slowly disappeared when he remembered Changyu. That woman seemed to be up to something. 

He had had a lot for one night. He just wanted to rest inside his room, enjoy some quietness and think. With that in mind, he opened his room's door.

"WHAT?! A TEACUP?" Mr Ping was yelling at the top of his lungs immediately Hoy entered inside the room. 

"Ah! I cannot believe this." 

Hoy had his own problems to deal with so he naturally ignored his friend who looked like he was ready to kill someone. 

Mr Ping appeared in front of him, eyes filled with disbelief as he raised the cup to show Hoy. "I used up my full salary for a month to get a really nice gift for someone and this is what I get?" 

"...."

"I knew it! Women are deceitful. They just look innocent and pretty but they have a evil heart. No wonder she was smiling at me like that. I should have known something was wrong. I bet you, she got this cup from her room. Oh! I will find her and kill her." He turned to look at his friend, "Do not try to stop me. I am going to return this gift and have her get me a new and better one, and I don't care how she is going to get one." 

"Tsk, shameless and petty." Hoy said as he walked past Mr Ping who was already leaving the room. But he actually agreed with him on one thing— Women are evil and deceitful. They can change overnight. 

Well, Joreen wasn't really evil since Changyu was the one leading her astray. He frowned when he remembered his conversation with her earlier, she had even threatened him!

"What do you think? Wasn't she extremely beautiful? Don't you think all the single men suddenly want her?" Changyu had asked him with an innocent smile.

"It's so wonderful how kids turn into women overnight. I almost didn't believe that was Jo. What do you think Hoy?" He pushed him for an answer.

"...." 

"Auntie, stop asking embarrassing questions like that." Joreen stepped up.

"Fine, okay. I won't. But just know you were such a dazzling beauty." Changyu winked at her. 

Joreen was smiling so brightly that Hoy could not help but stare.

"So who are you sharing your room with?" Changyu asked Joreen. 

"My room?" 

"Yes." 

"Uncle... Hoy? Are you interested?" Joreen turned to ask while blinking at him. 

"What? Me?" He asked, wide eyed. 

"I mean.. if you want, I can give the room up for you. I know it must be difficult sharing a room with Mr Ping." Joreen explained.

Her explanation made him a little embarrassed because he seemed to have thought very far..

"Aww.. Isn't she so sweet?" Changyu said with a grin while looking at Hoy. 

"It's your room, so you should stay there." Hoy managed to say after clearing his throat.

"But... I think my room is fine."

"So is mine." 

"No problem Jo. You should enjoy your room. It's your prize. Besides, there are a lot of people who wish to spend the night with you." Changyu chipped in.

"She is spending the night with Reen." Hoy cut in with a frown. 

"Reen? Why should she? She sleeps in the same room with Reen everyday besides, this is a special VIP room. She should spend it with someone else."

Joreen could see how heated the conversation was becoming. Hoy had a deep frown on his face while Changyu was still smiling but her tone was becoming more serious. She simply stood at the middle, while watching them argue. 

"Jo? That boy who gave you the flower earlier, I think he has a thing for you. Maybe you should share the room with—"

"That is not going to happen!" Hoy said, grabbing Joreen's hand. 

"And what right do you have?" Changyu asked, the smile slowly leaving her face. Joreen was becoming uncomfortable especially with the way Hoy was holding her hand tightly. 

"I have always been looking out for her."

"When you are at work. You are her boss at work but outside of work, you are just like... well... an uncle. She is here with her family and the rest of the family, you have no say here. Also, she is an adult."

"She isn't one yet."

"If I say she is..." the smile disappeared from her face, "...then she is." 

"She isn't" Hoy stood by his word firmly. 

"Ha ha." Changyu laughed dryly before pinching the bridge of her nose.

"It's been a while since someone tried to contend with me. I almost forgot how it felt like." 

She was smiling, but her smile was cold. Joreen was shaking her head at her aunt to calm down. Even though she knew Changyu was only trying to mess with Hoy, the aura around her was becoming scary. They had already spoken earlier and Joreen had given the key card to her parents to stay in the VIP room instead. Changyu was there when that was decided and had said something about acting a little drama later and she knew it was this. She didn't want her to take it too far.

"With all due respect auntie, Joreen is going to share a room with Reen." He said, trying to sound polite but it wasn't working. 

"You are almost acting like a jealous boyfriend. Or do you want her to share with you instead? Haha! I'm just joking. You don't have to give me that horrified look even though I know you may want to share a room with her deep down. Well... what do I know?" She raised her hands and shrugged. 

"Jo, let's go. There are some people I would like to introduce you to." 

Hoy refused to let her go. His hold around her wrist tightened. 

"You are hurting me uncle." Joreen called his attention to her hand. One look at her face, his hold around her hand loosened. 

Joreen pulled her hand away from him and hurried towards her aunt instead. 

She refused to look at Hoy but she could guess his facial expression was probably scary now. 

"I will go with aunt, uncle Hoy. Good night." 

Changyu gave a victorious smile before looking at Joreen with love in her eyes, "Why don't you excuse us for a moment? I will join you in a second." 

Joreen looked between her and Hoy. Hoy was looking at her. The look in his eyes looked like he was hurt.

Was he sick? She wondered as she relunctantly left. 

"What are you up to auntie?" Hoy asked, going straight to the point without trying to hide the displeasure in his voice. 

"Me?" She asked, feigning ignorance before taking a step closer to him. "You see..." she dusted a strand of hair on his shoulder, "By the time you come to your senses, I will not make it easy for you." With one final smile, she walked away, leaving a slightly confused Hoy. 

Joreen wanted to get away from him? Well, he was going to watch her try. But firstly, he needed to take a stroll to the VIP floor session. He had always wondered how it looked like there. He was just going to look at the place and leave. Nothing else.