The Cage Of The Past

Friday afternoon.

Xiaoxi Chen is entertaining guests, while Rouzhen Gu and Zion Ni suddenly appeared in the restaurant where she worked.

"Hi! Xiaoxi, how are you?" It's been a long time since Zion Ni didn't see her. Last time they saw each other was in Gu Mansion, the day of Rouzhen's engagement announcement.

"Uh, bother Zion, CEO Gu, how are you guys?" Xiaoxi Chen cautiously greets them.

Rouzhen Gu only nodded his head slightly, without saying a word and his sight almost didn't stay on Xiaoxi's face.

He was dressed in a dark silver shirt and a black suit, fit and perfectly hugged his slender body. As usual, he looked dignified and handsome. His deep, unbiased eyes fell in the open elevator where they are about to ride in. Xiaoxi saw his reaction, that kind of cold look straight into the soul that makes people feel fear.

Rouzhen Gu stride towards the open elevator.

"Rouzhen, you go up first!" Zion Ni smiled at Xiaoxi Chen, his eyes full of concern. "Xiaoxi, you don't seem to get a good sleep lately. Have you been under a lot of pressure at work? Or did Weicheng give you an overloaded task?"

Rouzhen's who is already in the elevator heard what Zion had said, he was intrigued by Xiaoxi's response.

Xiaoxi Chen deliberately shook her head. "No, I am fine Brother Zion, you go now. I think your boss is waiting for you!"

"Xiaoxi, I'll pick you up after your work and treat you for dinner!" Zion Ni said because he missed her company for a long time. He thought of paying her back after saving him the last time when they were in Korea.

Xiaoxi Chen smiled and rejected him. "No need Brother Zion, today I will pick up my son at school. I wanted to spend my time with Chao,"

"Then that's great! Let's go together, I didn't see him for a long time and I miss your son too," Zion Ni take advantage to encourage her.

"Thank you sister Xiaoxi, after your work, I will come to pick you up and let's pick Chao at his school, do wait for my call later, okay?" Zion Ni very intimately taps on Xiaoxi Chen's shoulder, turned and go upstairs. When he got up on the second floor Rouzhen had a gloomy face and seems not in a good mood.

"Rou Rou what's wrong? You look not good. Did you hear my conversation with Xiaoxi? Wanna join us for dinner?" Zion Ni raises his eyebrows. He wanted to piss off Rouzhen Gu.

Xiaoxi Chen went upstairs to serve the other customers and at that moment she heard Zion and Rouzhen's conversation unexpectedly. She's about to walk pass through them but she can't help to look at Rouzhen's face. She saw Rouzhen looked at her seriously and his gloomy face resonates a hidden hatred towards her.

"I am not free for dinner!" Rouzhen Gu throws a sharp voice and then pick up the menu book.

Xiaoxi felt bad the way he acted. She somehow feels some sense of loss and doesn't know the reason why she's being upset about his rude reaction. Zion just shrugged his shoulders and called another waiter to take their order.

The entire time they spend their lunch at Weicheng restaurant, Rouzhen felt bad thinking that Xiaoxi easily accepts Zion's invitation while this woman often refuses him. He wanted to drag her somewhere else and give punishment to her.

At Xiaoxi's mind, she now felt relieved after Rouzhen ignored him. Finally, she can have peace of mind and a quiet life.

Evening.

Xiaoxi is preparing for Zion's arrival. She had promised to spend dinner with him. Xiaoxi suddenly received a message from Mr. Fox's "Come to villa number 15 after work!"

The man did not reply to her message so she thought he agreed on it.

When Xiaoxi Chen is about to leave she heard Weicheng called her. "Xiaoxi, can you do me a favor? Rouzhen ordered take away food, can you help me to drop it at his office since the bus you are taking with will pass by at the same road. Sister Xiaoxi, I hope you will agree because no other can do it, as you can see we still have lots of customers here and all the staff are busy!"

Xiaoxi can't refuse Weicheng's request, she simply nodded, "Okay, brother Weicheng. I will do it. I will wait for the food then drop it at Sir Rouzhen's office,"

Weicheng eyes delighted with her response, "Thank you sister Xiaoxi. Wait here, I will check if the food is done,"

She nodded and wait for a while. Suddenly she received Zion's call, "Brother Zion, I was about to deliver food to Sir Rouzhen, he ordered take away food and Brother Weicheng asked me to send it. You should wait for me at the main entrance, I am about to leave now!"

"You're coming here?" Zion asked.

"Yes, I will bring Sir Rouzhen's food. Wait for me, okay?"

"Alright! Then I will wait here, once you arrive, make a call. I need to hang up now, my secretary said I need to do some emergency task," Zion Ni sounds a little anxious. He hangs up immediately and returns to his table.

Xiaoxi Chen held a box of food. She entered at GU Corp building. She's now heading at the front desk. She felt a little awkward after a few weeks she left this company. The front desk staff was shocked to see Xiaoxi.

"Hi! Ah. I wanted to deliver this take away food!" she immediately said.

"You deliver food? Who ordered that one?" front desk woman asked.

"Sir Rouzhen Gu. He ordered it through my boss!" she smiled at her.

"I see. Okay, you may go upstairs. If sir Rouzhen ask it then, feel free to proceed his office,"

"Thank you!" The elevator opened and she politely bid farewell to the front desk staff.

As she arrived at Rouzhen's office, secretary Mei was shocked seeing her. "Sister Xiaoxi, you are here?" Mei ran quickly and hugged her.

"Sister Mei, this is the takeaway food that the CEO ordered. Please send it in!" She said immediately. The protocol in Rouzhen's office is to inform him first via phone call before someone can come in.

"Alright! You put it down I will inform sir Rouzhen, please wait for a while!" Secretary Mei pick up the phone at her working table.

"Sir Rouzhen, the takeaway food you ordered had arrived! I'll bring it in!"

She put down the phone and said to Xiaoxi, "Sister Xaioxi, sir Rouzhen said you bring this food inside! You go now, he is waiting!"

Xiaoxi got stunned and her body a little bit stiffened. "Sister Mei, can you do it and tell him I already left,"

"Sister Xiaoxi----!" Mei was cut mid-way.

Rouzhen Gu's door opened and he was standing in the doorway. His sight pass through both the two ladies. "Miss Chen, I never expected that the one who will bring my food would be you. Bring that food inside! Quick!"

Xiaoxi Chen nodded and pick up the food. "Sister Mei, I will bring it in. You go back to your work now,". Mei just nodded and returned to her table. Xiaoxi headed to Rouzhen's office. Push opened the door and standing in front of him.

"Close the door and bring that food," she heard Rouzhen's deep voice.

She did what he said and walked towards him. "Sir, here is your take away food," she put down the box and turn to leave but Rouzhen's voice suddenly came out.

"Why you're in a hurry Miss Chen? How are you recently?" Rouzhen Gu sits on his executive chair with a very calm look and lit a cigarette.

She paused for a while and turned around. She doesn't know why Rouzhen suddenly asks her this kind of question. She deeply breathes and replied, "I'm doing fine sir. Brother Weicheng told me to deliver your food, so I bring it here!"

"I have important things to do sir. May I take my leave now?" She said immediately because the atmosphere becomes awkward for both of them. She can't look at him because she afraid Rouzhen would see her real feelings. She missed him so much but she dare not say it. She knew that Rouzhen's engagement party got failed and it was all over the internet. For the past few days, her life becomes better and she had peace of mind.

Seeing him again today, reminded her that this man is not so annoying. She feels his loneliness the way he looks at her. She can't find the exact words to say to ease his sadness.

"Sit down!" He said. He put his slender legs on top of the table and a cloud of smoke spread all over. His handsome face was full of determination while waiting for her response.

"Sir, I've done my task. Your food was delivered on time. I'm sorry I need to go now!" she bowed her head to bid farewell.

"Miss Chen, come back to GU Corp. I want you to work with me again!" His voice sounds sad and he is gently begging.

Xiaoxi was shocked. She raised her head and said, "I enjoy my current job now and I got peace of mind. No more gossip and people around me treating me equal,"

"You work until 9 o'clock every day, you consider it good?" He said without hesitation.

She was stunned again, hearing what he said. How did Rouzhen know she works more hours every day? "Did you spy on me?"

"Yes, I did. Every day, I come near Weicheng's restaurant but I chose not to disturb you," he said casually.

She felt bad hearing what he said. After he had fired her, he will then ask her again to come back? It is not possible anymore because she's enjoying her current job even though she often took extra long hours at work.

She doesn't want to have any connection with him because the more she comes near to Rouzhen, her life will get into trouble. She smiled and turned around before Rouzhen Gu said anything.

Rouzhen opened his mouth to say something but Xiaoxi quickly left in his sight. He felt mad but he managed to control his anger. He exerted effort and asked Weicheng's favor to let her come into his office but Xiaoxi rejected him again.

Xiaoxi Chen took a deep breath after she came out from Rouzhen's office, she smiled at secretary Mei. Zion suddenly comes over and when he saw Xiaoxi, he said: "Sister Xiaoxi, I've called you but you didn't pick up your phone. I asked the receptionist if you had arrived, she said you sent the takeaway food to Rouzhen so I decided to come over,"

"I'm sorry Brother Zion, I put my cell phone inside my bag," she said.

"Are you done now?" Zion asked.

"Yes!" Xiaoxi nodded.

"Then let's go!" Zion smiled at her.

"Sister Mei, I will leave now! See you some other time!" Xiaoxi waved her hands to Mei who was puzzled with what she saw. She just nodded and behind her mind, she thinks something is going on between Zion and Xiaoxi.