Old Shadows and New Traces
On August 25, 2010, an ordinary Wednesday, Ming Hanmin received a call from Sister Fang. "Mr. Ming, that man came again today. He took a look at the schedule and left."
Ming Hanmin made up his mind to go to the store to meet Jiang Wenqing on Sunday.
On the morning of Sunday, August 29, 2010, Ming Hanmin's arrival made the pre-opening preparations for the maternity and baby store seem particularly tedious, yet surprisingly efficient. Even after the store opened, Xiaofeng was still on tiptoe, arranging the shelves. All morning, the scraping of mops against the floor, the ticking of barcode scanners, and even the sound of tape being peeled off became uncanny, and everyone kept glancing at the door.
As Fang was counting the change in the cash register again, the wind chimes on the glass door suddenly made a sharp clanging sound. Ming Hanmin immediately stepped forward and handed over a business card. "Mr. Jiang, let's talk in the office."
Jiang Wenqing nodded slightly and followed Ming Hanmin toward the back office. His steps were steady. As he passed the formula section, his gaze swept across Xiaofeng, who stood frozen in place. Everyone followed them until they disappeared from view, until the office door clicked shut, and the maternity and baby store came alive as if the play button had been pressed. Customers' inquiries suddenly rose, the barcode scanners began to buzz, and everyone's ears remained fixed on the closed door.
"Mr. Jiang, what would you like to drink?" Ming Hanmin's fingers trembled as he gripped the teapot, as if it would drop at any moment. He tried to remain calm, his hand resting on the teapot, awaiting Jiang Wenqing's response.
"No, thank you!" Jiang Wenqing's refusal was like a paper cutter, precisely cutting off any room for pleasantries.
Ming Hanmin turned around, took a bottle of mineral water and placed it on the table, then slowly sat down. "Boss Jiang, do you have any instructions?"
"Am I affecting you?"
"Mr. Jiang, you're joking. If the clerk has any inconvenience, you can tell me and I will definitely satisfy you."
Ming Hanmin stared at every expression on Jiang Wenqing's face. Seeing that he didn't respond, Ming Hanmin continued, "We can provide VIP mother and baby package services, including..."
"Mr. Ming." Jiang Wenqing suddenly smiled, and this smile made the fine lines at the corners of his eyes pile up into unpredictable ravines. "The girl who came to work part-time today..."
The air suddenly froze. Ming Hanmin heard the throbbing of his temples. "Which one?"
"I only come on Sunday." Jiang Wenqing suddenly leaned forward.
Ming Hanmin's Adam's apple rolled: "Tall?"
“Not high.”
"That's my daughter's classmate." The stone hanging in Ming Hanmin's chest fell to the ground, but was shattered by Jiang Wenqing's words the next second -
"Can I talk to her alone?"
Ming Hanmin was a bit alarmed by Jiang Wenqing's request, a surge of uncertainty and a desire to protect him clashing fiercely within him. Either way, it meant huge trouble was looming for Xiaofeng. She had just lost her mother and was as fragile as a sheet of paper, unable to withstand any more blows.
"Can I ask why?"
"Don't worry, it will only take five minutes." Jiang Wenqing's voice was soft, but it revealed an unyielding firmness.
"Please wait a moment." Ming Hanmin stood up and walked out of the office and came to Rao Xiaofeng. Xiaoqi also ran to Xiaofeng like a gust of wind.
"Dad, what's going on?"
"Xiaofeng, he wants to talk to you alone. Is that okay?" Ming Hanmin watched Xiaofeng slowly put down the plush rattle.
Xiao Qi reached out and hit Xiao Feng's arm, words falling like beads, "Why did he look for Xiao Feng? Who is he? Xiao Feng, you can't see him alone..."
Xiaofeng calmed down at this time and said seriously, "Did he complain about me? I ran away when I met him last time. If this is the case, I should apologize." As he said that, Xiaofeng raised his legs and walked towards the office in the rest area, his steps becoming more and more steady.
"Dad, go and take a look."
"Okay." Ming Hanmin also walked towards the office slowly.
The office door was not closed. As soon as Rao Xiaofeng appeared at the office door, Jiang Wenqing stood up from his chair.
She counted Jiang Wenqing's footsteps as he walked toward her—three steps, each one a tread on her taut nerves. His frantic movements were accompanied by a gentle, watery voice: "You're here."
Rao Xiaofeng lowered his head and stopped as soon as he entered the office. He said in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang! Last time, I shouldn't have run away like that. It's my lack of service awareness. Please don't complain to the store. I apologize to you."
Before he could finish his words, Jiang Wenqing brushed past Rao Xiaofeng and closed the office door. As the door locked, Rao Xiaofeng's throat tightened. She took a half step back, her back pressed against the cold door. She looked up at the man. His face was as sharp as a knife, and his eyebrows were straight, giving him a gentle look. His eyes, like hers, were light brown. There was a smile in the corners of his eyes, warm and focused. His short black hair, with naturally drooping bangs and slightly fluffy sides, combined with his height of over 180 cm and his well-dressed appearance, made him look fresh and capable.
With just one glance, Rao Xiaofeng relaxed because the man in front of him seemed harmless.
"What time do you get off work?"
"Three o'clock." Rao Xiaofeng's response was almost swallowed by the hum of the central air conditioning.
"I'll wait for you to get off work and treat you to dinner tonight."
"After get off work, I'm going home to do my homework." Rao Xiaofeng hesitated and adjusted his posture.
"Then I'll wait for you to get off work and take you home."
"Mr. Jiang, is there anything else?"
"Leave me your phone number. I want to be able to reach you at any time."
Rao Xiaofeng felt her cheeks getting slightly hot: "Mr. Jiang...will this bother you?"
Jiang Wenqing smiled, and the fine lines around his eyes smoothed out. He took out his phone, unlocked it with the password, and handed it to Rao Xiaofeng, "Please save it for me."
During the ten seconds it took to enter the contact, the office was so quiet that only the humming of the air-conditioning vents could be heard.
As Jiang Wenqing retrieved his phone, his fingertips rested briefly on her palm—hers was cold. "Rao Xiaofeng, Helena..." He pronounced the English name with a distinct intonation, the second syllable dropping slightly.
"Mr. Jiang, it's no trouble. My brother will pick me up after get off work. It's nothing. I'm leaving first." Xiao Feng fled in panic.
At the office door, Uncle Ming was pacing and repeatedly unlocking his phone screen. Seeing Xiaofeng, he hesitated to speak and only gave her a questioning look. Xiaofeng shook her head and said, "Uncle, I have to go to work first."
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