The Cage Of The Past

Xiaoxi knew that yesterday's words made him feel insecure. He was having a nightmare all night, her heart feels the sudden pain which cut like a knife. At the entrance of the school, Chao lowered his head while giving his hug to her.

"My baby, Mommy got off to work. I will pick you up after work and let's come home together. Starting today Mommy will pick you up every day, okay?" Xiaoxi Chen planted a kiss on his little face. "Hey forget about what you heard, you're my little boy!"

"Mommy!" Chao quietly lifted his head and a sudden voice comes out seems to have something to ask.

Xiaoxi was sad seeing him like this, she hugged him again and said: "Mommy is going to work, Chao is Mommy's one and only baby. I will always love you!"

Chao nodded. "Mommy goodbye!" Chao's face planted a quick kiss of her cheeks. Then he let go of her but anymore who can see his strange reaction can guess he is not happy, the vibrant attitude of him was gone.

At work, she is still bothered by what had happened yesterday. Weicheng approached her, "Xiaoxi what had happened yesterday that makes you sad? You look like not okay!" his words interrupted her.

"Yesterday Rouzhen suddenly called me asking me to permit you to take leave. It doesn't matter, it is a good thing to discuss the details with him as we are going to serve his family this weekend. He is the one who recommends our restaurant to his father for the coming banquet. Is the discussion good?" Weicheng is interested in hearing her report. She realized that Rouzhen and Weicheng had been friends for a very long time. She wants to ask if it's true that Rouzhen will be going to meet someone to become his wife but she dare not asked Weicheng.

Xiaoxi nodded and said: "All of the details were discussed. I will tell our chef immediately, don't worry about it."

"Good!" Weicheng nodded and show his gentle smile." Xiaoxi, you are very smart, I repeatedly praise you, I know that you encountered a lot of hardships, learning new things would be very easy for you! After discussing the menu to be served on that day, you go with Manager Kristine, she will teach you how to run the operation and how to receive guests' request. It is important to please our valued clients as they will be our solid proof that we give good service!"

"Brother Weicheng, I will try my best to learn faster. I will study hard to know how the entire operation works," Xiaoxi pulled a shy smile in the corner of her lips.

"I know you can learn it quickly. I have the confidence to trust you!" Weicheng said with a smile.

Lunchtime at Weicheng restaurant.

Many guests are coming in. Xiaoxi had been following Kristene in the lobby. She thought that Manager Kristine is a middle-aged woman in her 40's. Although she is not young her like she saw that she had a proper etiquette and noble temperament of a mȧturė woman. She taught her a lot of procedures to entertain guests who are coming in.

She was left alone in the lobby as Manager Kristine led a group of people upstairs to have dined in a private room exclusively for the elite.

Suddenly a tall figure of a man appeared in front of the restaurant. Wearing a black suit and emphasized his dignified personality. Xiaoxi's pleasant smile was gone after she saw him coming walking towards her direction. How could this man never stop chasing her, she silent thought!

Rouzhen's eyes had a hint of naughtiness when he saw her shocked reaction. He is the CEO of GU Corp and he still remembered she said they should pretend that they never met before. He was rejected by her several times but he can't let her go because of their son. He wanted to have a family and she's a qualified candidate to be the mistress of GU Family, not the woman his father wanted him to marry. He can't let his son have another woman to be a mother.

Looking at her right now, he knew she wanted to pretend she doesn't know him. This naive woman challenges his patience and ego.

Xiaoxi preparing herself to pretend not to know Rouzhen and she pulled a sweat smile like what she did to every customer coming in. Rouzhen feels a little annoyed with the way she smiles but he never says any words.

"Welcome, Sir! Is this the first time you come to our restaurant? Would you like me to introduce our special service?" Xiaoxi is completely polite to him as a stranger.

He glimpsed, damn she pretends not to know him!

She is praising herself silently after she succeeded to pretend and she feels a little victory.

A playful smile broke in Rouzhen's handsome face and he instantly said in a cold tone, "Miss, sorry to disappoint you but this is the second time I came here. Now, you've mentioned a special service, prepare me a cup of coffee made by you, I kinda miss the taste of your coffee! Or should I bring you back into my villa and serve me a cup of coffee at home!" he whispered when you stopped in front of her.

She blushed hearing his words. Xiaoxi was stunned and a bit annoyed the way this cunning fox chased him. Her legs trembled and almost lost her balance. She slammed her head down and didn't want to meet his gaze.

At this moment, she wanted to leave him as she couldn't continue pretending like a stranger. She doesn't want to get entangled with him. "Sir, I am sorry, this restaurant does not have the kind of service you are looking for!"

"Is it? How about you call your boss! Let me ask him directly!" Rouzhen said coldly and took a big step inside the restaurant.

Xiaoxi feels nervous after Rouzhen walked inside, she's now in a panic.

Manager Kristine came downstairs and looked for her. Xiaoxi notices a sour reaction in her face and eyebrows were frowning walking towards her direction, "Xiaoxi, why didn't you accept the guest?"

Rouzhen just stopped at the back of Manager Kristine. Xiaoxi knew he had said something to the manager. "Sir, we sincerely apologize for the way our new employee treated you. As our boss's friend who came here often, please forgive her manners!"

"Well! This lady, I asked her to make me a cup of coffee but she refused, I don't understand why she didn't follow client request!" Rouzhen said it in a very light tone but a naughty smile drew in his handsome face. "Should I ask Weicheng directly, tell me, Manager Kristine?"

"Sir, no need to do that this is not too much request, ah, since you're our boss close friend, Miss Chen can do that immediately," Manager Kristine was looking at her in a piercing look signaling her to act quickly. Her fake smile towards Xiaoxi was a command to obey clients' demands.

Rouzhen casually inserted his hand in his trousers pocket and turn to leave, "Well! Then I will go up first! Tell the new employee that I need my coffee immediately,"

"Xiaoxi move quickly, bring Sir Gu's request!" Manager Kristine sneered at her.

"Yes!" Xiaoxi Chen spits out a word but her a swear running in her mind against Rouzhen. She knows he did it on purpose to embarrass her. Looking at Rouzhen back Xiaoxi wanted to scream loud at him.

Xiaoxi prepared a cup of coffee and personally sent it to Rouzhen's table. At this time, she saw Weicheng chatted with him. Manager Kristine had told him that Rouzhen had come to their restaurant and wanted to speak with him.

"Sir your coffee!" she put down the coffee in front of him.

Rouzhen stared at her seriously and suddenly smile. "Thank miss, I guess I love to taste your coffee!"

"Xiaoxi!" Weicheng called her quickly when she's about to leave. "You've worked in GU Corp before, am I right? Yesterday, when Rouzhen had called me telling he will discuss all the details of the banquet which will be held this Saturday, I quickly agreed because I remember you've worked with him! Today, it's weird you both acted like strangers from each other,"

"No, brother Weicheng I never bumped in with the higher boss in GU Corp. I am just a nobody employee working for a short period in that company in one of the departments," she answered immediately.

Rouzhen suddenly sat in a formal posture and his mouth was drawn a dangerous smile with a touch of play. He wore a black classic suit and his tall figure dominates. His cold eyes seriously looking at her as his prey. The smile on the corner of his mouth and the deep radiance of his eyes made her discomfort.

Xiaoxi subconsciously bowed her head. His domineering exudation seems to be natural of him, he stares at Xiaoxi without blinking. His eyes are flowing a wave of fire that makes her feel trembled. His eyes are raging and there is a feeling of shuddering involuntarily that awakens in Xiaoxi's senses.

Weicheng was shocked by hearing her words. He is thinking that Xiaoxi might lie to him because the way Rouzhen and her look at each other was a bit strange.

"Yeah, this lady seems to have worked in our company, but I haven't seen her before, my company had huge of employees in different departments. Right, Miss?" Rouzhen looked at her with a narrow eye. Xiaoxi felt more nervous in front of them.

She stood at the table near them and her strange reaction made Weicheng feel doubt. She didn't say anything on Rouzhen words then she quickly nodded.

"He is right, I don't know the GU Corp higher boss! Never got a chance to see him too!" Xiaoxi muttered but her heart suddenly in pain after hearing Rouzhen denial. She thought he must forget her and it is a good sign that she will no longer get entangled with him.

"I see, I thought you both know each other! It seems I got mistaken! Well anyways, Xiaoxi you back to your work now!" Weicheng said and gestured his hand a dismissal.

"Sir, Brother Weicheng, if there is nothing more needed, I will go down first!" said Xiaoxi, politely and alienated.

When she's about to leave Rouzhen voice called her, "Wait, beautiful lady!"

She was amazed at the same time shocked with his words, she couldn't help but give Rouzhen a lot of times to talk and her heart feels a sudden happiness, but she still had to look up with a polite smile and ask, "Is there something you want to say sir or you need additional order?"

Rouzhen hooked up his lower lip and a sweet drawn in the corner of his mouth. "No! Miss, the coffee you made for me taste so good! I hope I can still taste it again when I come back here!" He wanted to hold her hands but he can't do it because this woman pretended not to know him. He misses her a lot that made him crazy, back then he remembered Xiaoxi gave him so many sleepless nights. He can't forget her after she had gone into his life, she's the reason why his feelings to his fiance changed after the night he spent with her. He just can't let go of her, he wanted her desperately.

"Thank you, sir!" Xiaoxi politely bowed her head and appreciate his compliment. "Can, I go now?"

Rouzhen's cold heart and appearance suddenly burst and he became warm towards her. A little disappointment lingered in his mind and thousand of pins seems stabbed into heart seeing her pretended not to know him. He loves this woman but she refused him several times.

Weicheng feels a wrong strange atmosphere while looking at both of them. He knew there was something between these two persons that he can't figure out. He saw how Rouzhen looked at Xiaoxi and her reaction was too obvious. Weicheng saw Xiaoxi was blushing when Rouzhen stares at her.

Rouzhen suddenly said: "Miss, I want a steak! Half cooked and mashed potato!"

"Okay, sir!" Xiaoxi replied and her beautiful small eyes showed a shy smile. "If there's an additional order please let the counter know sir!"

"I think like a restaurant staff it's your obligation!" Rouzhen suddenly said and make her burst into anger silently. This cunning man started to bully her again in front of her boss.

"Rouzhen Gu!" Xiaoxi slammed him. If he didn't provoke her she wouldn't call his name and showed her annoyance. But she was so angry to endure his arrogance, and his provocative manner triggered her patient.

Rouzhen Gu was somewhat disappointed hearing her drastic way of calling his name. He quickly stood and walked towards her, ignoring Weicheng's presence in front of them, "Well, Miss, do I know you? Who do you think I am that you can easily show your rude attitude. Am I not a client of this restaurant?"

Xiaoxi's face was shocked by his sudden reaction, this man is simply the embodiment of the devil.

She is very upset with the way he showed his rudeness. She felt furious but she can't provoke him in front of her boss.

Rouzhen Gu saw her silent and called the waiter in the counter, "Please get my order from her and serve it to me!"

"Yes, sir!" The waiter looked at both of them after seeing what had happened. Everyone's inside the restaurant saw Rouzhen's sudden behavior of impatient. Xiaoxi felt embarrassed for a moment but she managed to control herself not to create any scene. She frowned for a while in an instant, and calm herself quickly.

Her eyes looked at him so calmly and said: "Sir slow down, I am going to do my job very well! I will serve your order, excuse me!" she turned to leave but she heard Rouzhen's voice.

"Since the lady called my name, I wanted to know your name. Care to introduce yourself and don't be rude in front of your boss special visitor," he said arrogantly.

Xiaoxi suddenly felt her heartbeat speeding up. Under his deep eyes, there was a feeling of being seen through. They both pretend to be strangers with each other after what had happened at her home. She hated the fact that this man bullied her and used all his means to provoked her even though she's at work, their strange atmosphere makes her feel a little discomfort.

"Hey, I thought you guys don't know each other. What's going on here?" Weicheng asked.

"Brother Weicheng allow me to leave now! My sincere apology to you. Mr. Gu special service doesn't include in this restaurant and everyone who came here is all clients. Using your connection as my boss's friend will not work for me!" Xiaoxi turned and left after she expressed her opinion. She doesn't want to burst out of her anger toward him in front of Weicheng.

Rouzhen casually pulled a smile but his gaze was unbiased to look at the figure behind the pillar.

Weicheng knew that there was something between the two of them but he dare not speak of it, "Rou Rou you seem to have some interest with Xiaoxi!"

Rouzhen leaned against his back at the chair, picking up his coffee and sip it directly. His gaze is like an eagle, locked the back of Xiaoxi like a prey, who just left a while ago.

The charm that comes out from his body something which is normally attracting women visible in his face.

"I don't know her!" He said with deep eyes to Weicheng.

"Oh?" Weicheng only felt speechless.

"Forget about it, let's talk about another topic. I wonder why you chose to open a restaurant rather than working in your own company?" Rouzhen opened a new topic.

Weicheng smiled and he slightly picked lips. "It's a hobby that I opted to do!"

"I am so happy to see you doing your hobby. It's just that I feel something is behind the name of your restaurant. You name this, Waiting! Why? Did you wait for someone?" Rouzhen asked.

"It's just a name which I think could attract people!" Weicheng pulled the corner of his lips and stared at him. " Waiting someone is a torment, chasing someone cause emotional damage. Waiting is a form of helplessness. We don't know what the future is but we still hope and wait mostly if there are lots of memories you have with that person.

"When did you become poetic?" Rouzhen Gu stirred the coffee again and then asked him that question. He never thought that his friend had the same agony as him. He felt they're been into the same path, chasing someone who didn't love them.

"Hey, Rou Rou, I heard that on Saturday you will going to meet your future wife?"

"You gossip too much, where did you hear it?" Rouzhen asked.

"Uncle Lui! He had ordered food to us that's why I sent Xiaoxi into your home yesterday,"

"Father had arranged a dinner with some rich family at home. He said the woman is from the noble family!" Rouzhen hooked his lips, looking to Xiaoxi's direction subconsciously and saw that she was leading a group of people towards each respective table.

"I think uncle Lui did the right thing. Your son must have a stepmother!" Weicheng sighed with relief. "Poor child, Han has been with your father's house and you seldom come home!"

"It's not necessary, finding another woman is not worthy!" Rouzhen did narrow his eyes toward him.

"Why? Did you find your child's mother?" Weicheng seems to be interested in and ask him immediately. "Rou Rou who is Han's mother?"

"A woman who refused me several times!" Rouzhen held the handle of the cup tightly, raised his lips and his cold eyes showed so much loneliness. Looking towards the woman who seems so busy entertaining the new customers inside the restaurant.