Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

When it was time for their batch to leave the ship, Reen looked more excited than Joreen because Joreen knew she was going to see Hoy and until now, she didn't know what her parents, especially her father had said to him. 

When they went on deck, they saw the rest of the family and joined them. "Wow! This place looks.... wonderful!" Reen said as she admired the house on the island. 

It was a large luxury beach house, painted in white with glasses used to decorate most parts of the exterior. But the glasses weren't transparent to the people outside, but the people inside could see outside.

There was enough land space around the house for people to stroll and Joreen could not wait to stroll around. Being in the ship for 3 days, although wasn't bad, but she missed land and the feeling of sand under her feet. She also could not wait to take a dip inside the waters.

There was an obvious sign far inside the beach which read, "Do not go beyond this point." So she guessed it was safe for her up to that point but the problem was... she didn't know how to swim.

"I cannot wait to see inside." Reen squealed. 

"Me too." Joreen drawled. Even though she hadn't been in the mood, seeing this place had put her in the mood to explore. 

Joreen tried not to look at anyone or anywhere else except the house she was going to. 

Through the corner of her eye, she could see Kyle looking at their direction and assumed he was staring at Reen. What was she going to do about this two people? 

Although Kyle was wrong in his part, this vacation was going to be terrible for the both of them if they continued to stay apart, she thought.

When they entered inside, Joreen's breath literally stopped and she guessed everyone else felt the same way. The place was exquisite and it looked far bigger inside than it looked outside. 

Most of the furnitures inside were all made of wood. There were several yellow lamps which was illuminating the place and a single gigantic chandelier in the center of the place that served as a common room. The staircase was also made of wood but the railings were glass. Everything looked beautiful. On the walls were various antiques and some sculptures decorated the room. There were several small sofas which were more than fifty, if not more. Some formed circles while some formed squares.

What made it more breathtaking was the Christmas decorations everywhere. There was even a big dummy of Santa Clause in the left side of the room while a very big Christmas tree was in the right side. It was decorated with lights and had a big star at the top.

"I finally smell Christmas." Reen said while taking a very deep breath. 

"Any-one is... allowed to come... here to relax. This is the common room." The man leading them inside said in a shaky voice. 

"Mister...?" Changyu asked.

"Mi..ster Bai..." He answered with a bow, almost bending up to ninety degrees. 

"Mr. Bai, you don't have to sound nervous. We aren't going to eat you. So just do your job and speak faster so we can go to our rooms. Okay?" Changyu said with a smile.

"O...kay.. Thank you madam." He bowed again. 

"On this floor, we have the common room, the kitchen, a general restroom which also serves as a changing room for those interested in using the 'beach'. There are also some rooms in this floor, but it's meant for the workers here. In case you need anything, you can meet whoever you find on that counter," He pointed at the right side of the room. 

While Mr Bai spoke, Mr Ping spent his time staring at the angel who had appeared in his dream last night. 

"She is so pretty." He muttered with a dreamy look in his eyes. 

"Hmm." Li Hoy nodded slowly in agreement. 

Mr Ping was surprised Hoy was agreeing with him instead of yelling about how crazy he was. 

When he turned to look at his friend, Li Hoy's head also snapped to the side to look at him, 

"Who were you talking about?" Hoy asked with a slight frown but he kept his voice in a whisper. 

Mr Ping used his chin to point towards Changyu. Her husband was whispering something to her while she was smiling like a little girl.

"Are you insane? You are still talking about this?" Hoy asked, feeling the urge to smack his friend's head. 

"What is wrong with appreciating beauty? Besides, you agreed with me. Or... did you think I was talking about someone else? Someone... you were probably staring at...?" Hoy narrowed his eyes to ask him suspiciously. He also made sure to speak in whispers. 

"Just shut up." Hoy said sternly before looking ahead. 

Mr Bai gestured towards the stairs. 

"Just like how you were paired on your trip here, we used the same list to reserve the rooms. Please join me." Mr Bai said. He sounded more confident now. Standing in the midst of all these people was quite intimidating. They could easily wipe out his existence and that of his generation and no one would be able to do a thing about it. 

Hoy sighed rather loudly when he heard that and everyone guessed it was because he also had to share a room with Mr Ping. 

"Can we get an extra room?" Changyu asked Mr Bai. "There was a little misunderstanding so he is sharing a room with his friend. I think it is quite inconvenient." She gestured at Li Hoy and Mr Ping as she spoke. 

"Uh... I.. will speak to the people in charge of it and... get back to you through the manager of this place." 

Once again, Mr Ping was staring at Changyu like she was the prettiest thing he had ever laid his eyes on. She had addressed him as Hoy's friend instead of his secretary which a lot of people called him. 

"She is so considerate." He said under his breath as they took the stairs to the next floor. 

"Apologies... there are only staircases here, no elevators. So this floor is meant for the older people, older couples and little children. The next floor," He pointed at the other staircase which is going to lead them to the next floor, "... that is for the younger people and young couples." 

After handing the keys to those who would be staying here, (which includes First Madam Li and her husband, the second madam Li and her husband, Changyu and Jianjun, Cixi and Jaime, the two nannies who looked after the three little kids) he led the others towards the other staircase (which includes, Li Muchen and Wang Sara, Li Minde and his wife Kim Eva, Li Heya, Luo Joreen, Luo Reen, Li Hoy, Mr Ping and Kim Kyle.)

He showed each of them their rooms. This time, They were all staying in the same floor. Joreen and Reen's room wasn't directly opposite Hoy's room this time, instead, they were beside each other. 

Joreen still didn't spare neither Hoy nor Kyle a glance as she entered inside her room. She only promised Heya she was going to visit her often which Heya agreed to. 

~~~~~~

Li Hoy had been asked by his older brother to join him in the common room by 8pm. So by 8pm, he joined his brother and cousin Muchen, who were already sitting down with wineglasses in their hands. 

He took the empty seat beside his cousin and sat there. 

His older brother poured him a wine which he gladly took.

They talked mostly about work, about some people they met during this trip, et cetera. 

Hoy's mind was occupied most of the times when they spoke and he rarely contributed but he tried to pay attention incase they asked for his input. 

"Look, whoever took those pictures of you and Joreen, we are going to find him or her. You don't have to look too worried." His older brother assured him.

It took Hoy a few seconds to process it. His brother thought he looked worried because of that? Well, it was safer for him to think so than for him to know the reason he was actually worried. He was certain his brother and cousin would be disappointed in him if they knew. 

"Jo, hurry up!" 

The three men turned to look at the stairs when they heard Reen's voice. 

Joreen was coming down from the stairs in a very tiny short, a tank top and slipper. She was tying her hair with a hair band as she got down from the stairs so her underarm and sideboobs became quite obvious as she kept trying to tie her braids. Hoy choked on his drink and began to cough when he saw her. 

Joreen, who was oblivious to three pairs of eyes staring at her from a corner allowed Reen to pull her with her while she kept grumbling about how late it was. 

Li Minde turned to look at Muchen and back at Hoy who was still coughing, before cracking up,

"That was too much for you to take eh?" Minde asked with a teasing smile. 

"What... do you mean?" Hoy asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Minde shrugged but the teasing smile didn't leave his face. He simply picked up his wineglass and took a sip. 

Hoy looked at his cousin who kept a straight face but once their eyes met, Muchen snickered and also picked up his wineglass.