Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

"Hey!" Reen called to get a certain boy's attention. She didn't know if she would get to see much of him until they were ready to sail back after their vacation so she decided to stop by now before she would go get ready to leave with her family. 

Ning Zichu surprisingly had a free time. He wasn't rolling a cart or cleaning or even wearing a uniform. He was inside his room, staring out the window. He wore a simple shirt and trousers. She realised it was her first time seeing him wearing something else. 

When he turned around and saw her there, his eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. One, because she was making an effort to talk to him. Two, because she was right outside his room! How did she get there in the first place.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in almost a whisper as he hurriedly walked towards her to look behind her and also to look at both sides, checking if anyone was watching. And yes, they were a few eyes staring at them. Those eyes belonged to other employees just like him who were moving to and fro but could not help but watch since it was the first time a young mistress came here to find someone. 

"How did you get here?" He added to his question when she didn't answer the first one but was looking inside his room. 

The room was very simple and plain. There was nothing fancy. There were two little beds inside, hunting that two people shared this room, a single desk and table and a wardrobe and another door which probably led to the bathroom. 

"I took the stairs down and walked down here—"

"Of course you know that's not what I meant..." Zichu interrupted.

"This area is only reserved for employees. What are you doing here?"

Was it that strange that she was here to see him? She remembered how surprised one of the employees she asked for direction had looked. She could also see how different eyes looked at them curiously. Why were they acting like slaves? This is 21st century for goodness sake!

She sighed before revealing her other hand that had been behind her since she appeared. Those who have been passing by must have assumed she came here to give him a Christmas gift since she was holding the gift behind her. 

"Why did you give me this?" She asked, simply sounding curious and not angry just like he had expected. 

"I... we... can't talk here. Please?" 

She noticed how embarrassed he looked especially when his roommate returned and had to enter inside their room. 

"Lead the way." Reen said with a shrug. He didn't need to be told twice. He felt the room while she followed behind him until they got to a more quiet area outside. 

"So?" She pressed when he just stood there without saying anything. 

"I just wanted to give you a gift for Christmas." He answered. 

"Because?" 

"Because... it's a season of love." He answered with an embarrased smile. "We should exchange gifts and show love to others. I... was taught that." 

Reen nodded, not pressing for more. "How are you? Still hurting anywhere?" She asked, changing the topic. 

Once again, he looked embarrassed since he remembered she had witnessed how weakly he behaved just the other day. The effect was still obvious under his eyes and on his lips. The bruises were still there, making him look awful.

Thankfully, the boy really seemed to take Reen's warning seriously and so the brat didn't bother him after their fight. It helped him stick to the lie that he tripped and injured himself when the managers and people asked what happened to his face. If they so much as suspect he had gotten into a fight and out of everyone, it had been with a VIP client, it would be over for him. They didn't care to know who was at fault.

"It hurts less." He answered, trying to sound indifferent even though the pain had almost killed him last night. 

Reen was a little curious about him. She wanted to know why he was working so hard during Christmas, ready to serve people the things he probably would never taste, while keeping a smile on his face and letting himself get bullied my others. Reen had always lived a sheltered life so she really didn't understand much about things like this. Her father, Luo Jaime had always been successful with his business so she was always treated like a princess even before he married Cixi and their families merged up. 

But as much as she was curious, she couldn't ask because that was private. It was his personal life and she was someone who respected people's privacy. 

"So I'm guessing you baked these cookies in this box for a lot of people? Since you know... it's a season of love." Reen asked, raising a brow at him. 

Zichu thought they were done talking about the gift. Why was she still raising it? But the most surprising thing was the fact that she guessed correctly about him baking it.

"How did you know I baked it?"

"Because no one in their right mind would pick up just one random cookie and gift it to someone on Christmas. I figured you must have made it yourself. Did you sneak into the kitchen?" 

That was another guess that surprised him. 

"I guess you did then." She said out when she noticed his reaction. "Aren't you going to get into trouble for it?" 

"I took permission from the chef in charge of pastries. He allowed me use—"

"On what condition?" She interrupted again. 

Zichu officially figured she was not only very pretty, a great athlete, from a respectable, wealthy and scary family, she was also very smart. 

How had she easily guessed there had been a condition? 

"There was no condition." He lied smoothly. 

She raised a brow again, clearly indicating she didn't believe him. 

"I used the kitchen at a time when it wasn't occupied so I didn't trouble anyone." He explained with a shrug. 

Reen looked at his face quietly, trying to figure out whether he was telling the truth. If he was, that was very thoughtful of him. If he was lying to her right now, it was also very thoughtful of him because it meant he had made some kind of deal just because he wanted to make her a gift. 

No one had actually showed her much care like this except her family.

He had baked for her instead of giving her a random one from the kitchen, and if he had done so at a time when the kitchen was not occupied, it only meant he had done that after midnight. And that was the time he was supposed to be resting since he was usually busy during the day. 

"Thanks for this gift. I like it." She said with a sincere smile. "But I'll have to leave now. Merry Christmas."

Hearing her say she liked it, he could not help but smile. A little thought had popped into his head saying she would hate his gift. When he saw her standing outside his door, he had thought for a moment that she would throw his gift back at him because it was too inferior. There was nothing she couldn't get. But he was baking her a cookie?

But a bigger part of his mind told him she wasn't like that. It told him she didn't behave like those other spoilt mistresses. Herself and her sister were both angels. He remembered how Joreen had gotten mad at Kyle on the first day of the trip, after he accidentally spilled some wine on her. 

"Thanks. And merry Christmas to you again." He said and watched her leave.

He prayed desperately that his Christmas wish would come true. 

His wish was quite big and people would call him nervy if they heard it. But he couldn't think of any other wish for Christmas but that. 

He wished... they would some day end up together. 

It was silly of him to wish so because he obviously couldn't give her anything, but he was going to try. Anything was possible. 

"Ning Zichu?" He snapped back to his senses when he heard his name and saw Reen had already turned to look at him.

"Hmm?" 

"Maybe... if you have a free time and you just want to hang around to look at the beach...." 

He waited. His heart was beating with anticipation as he waited for her to complete the sentence. 

"You can find me." 

Without waiting for him to answer, she turned around and walked away. 

He stood there for quite a long time, trying to make sense of what she had just said. She had just said if he was free and wanted to hang around, he could find her. He had heard that correctly right?

Was this... his wish already coming true?