A MONTH BEFORE THE NIGHT...
Wang Yun checked his watch impatiently. He always liked to keep to time and so he preferred it if everyone else did same.
For the past few minutes, he had been waiting at the airport owned by Mei Corporation, for his younger brother to come pick him up.
An important board meeting had made him leave Country C after relocating there years back to manage a branch of their company over there.
Now, he was back in Country B, and for some reason, he felt he was going to stay longer this time even though he had just one luggage bag beside him.
He checked his watch again for the umpteenth time and sighed. He regretted not making other plans to get to the hotel where his mother's 50th birthday party celebration was being held.
He always knew his younger brother, Wang Jinhai was not one to count on but he had thought he changed over the years.
"Big Bro!" Wang Jinhai waved from afar with a big smile on his face before racing over to meet his brother.
"Move it." Yun looked around in embarrassment as his brother wrapped him hands around him in a big hug.
He almost forgot Wang Jinhai was a very clingy person.
"I missed you so much." Jinhai declared before kissing his cheek excitedly, making Yun scowl at him.
"You are embarrassing me" Yun said through gritted teeth as he tried to hide his face from view.
"Tell me you also missed me else I'm not leaving you." Jinhai said with a big grin.
"Get lost! You are being creepy" Yun said with a frown but that only made Jinhai tighten his grip around him.
"Okay fine, I missed you too." Yun said in resignation and sighed in relief when Jinhai finally let him be.
Jinhai kept talking throughout the journey to the house, reminding Yun he had actually made a big mistake asking him to come pick him up.
Once they got to the family house, the maids welcomed him happily. His parents were not around since they were already at the party venue so he took a quick shower and changed into something before coming down.
"Ready to leave?" Jinhai who had been waiting for him asked.
"Sure." He said as they both went outside.
Before going to venue of the party, Wang Yun stopped by a luxury jewelry store to get something for his mother.
There were no much people inside the place, probably because it was 8pm already or because the jewelries were really expensive and most people could not afford it.
A saleslady came to him immediately he entered with all smiles on her face. All she could see as she looked at him was 'Money'.
"Can I help you sir?" She asked after sizing him up.
At that same time, a young lady entered.
The saleslady turned to look at her and frowned.
Mei Lijuan was busy with her phone so she absentmindedly bumped into Yun's back.
Yun turned around to look at her and frowned. "Sorry. My bad." She quickly apologized with an awkward smile and dropped the phone inside her little purse.
Mei Lijuan wore a yellow casual tee shirt with faded jeans and a black sneaker. Her hair was in a ponytail and her face was devoid of make up. No one could have guessed she was the young mistress of a really wealthy family with the way she looked.
Wang Yun didn't say a word, neither did he spare her another glance. He returned his attention to the saleslady to tell her what he wanted to buy.
The saleslady ignored Mei Lijuan and bestowed her attention on Yun. Her instincts told her the man had more money to spend than the tomboyish lady.
*************
Meanwhile, at the Mei family house...
"What do you mean by she is not in?" Chairman Mei glowered at Jackie.
"You were supposed to be by her side every minute!"
Jackie bowed his head in apology. "I'm very sorry Chairman Mei. I lost her by mistake and thought she already came home. I'll go search for her now."
"You better find her and bring her here this minute before she does something stupid outside." He warned.
Jackie bowed one more time before disappearing out of their sight.
"You should cut her some slack" Mother Mei who had been quiet finally spoke. "She is a big girl."
"Do not even try to annoy me. Because of you she keeps acting recklessly. Do you think—"
"So we are supposed to lock her up every time? She is 25 for goodness sake!"
"And she is a—" He let the words trail off and sighed.
"Let's hope she doesn't get into trouble this time. I am really tired of her soiling this family's name."
"You shouldn't blame her too much, it's not like she does it deliberately. Maybe if you tried to be more understanding..." Her mother started to say but stopped when her husband shot her an angry look.
"Understanding is me paying for everything she steals. Understanding is me getting her a guard every couple of months to keep her in check. What has she done in return? How can she keep running away from the guards who are supposed to keep her in check?" He asked angrily.
**************
Back at the Jewelry store...
"I saw her put it inside her purse." A saleslady said to the manager.
There had been a pandemonium inside as the lady accused Lijuan of stealing a ring while Lijuan adamantly refused to have done so.
"I really saw her. You can ask this man here." The saleslady pointed at Wang Yun who was about paying for the necklace he had chosen.
They all waited for Yun to say something. Yun looked at them with a straight face before turning to hand his credit card to the cashier.
He didn't like involving himself in things that didn't concern him.
He had actually seen her stealthily put the ring inside her purse but that wasn't his business. They should fix it without trying to drag him into the issue.
Lijuan secretly sighed in relief when he didn't say anything. Her heart was beating very fast. If they caught her, then it was over for her. Her father would kill her!
"I'm sorry ma'am, but we'll have to check you."
The manager said. Even though Lijuan looked like someone who could not afford the cheapest jade bracelet in the store, he always adressed everyone who came in with respect.
Wang Yun thanked the Cashier and left the store to go join his brother in the car.
"No problem" Lijuan surprisingly agreed to their demand.
"I'll let you check me and even go through the CCTV footage if you wish. But first, we have to agree on something." She said while trying not to sound nervous.
"And what is that?" The manager asked, wondering what right she had to bargain with him.
"If by chance... you do not find the ring on me, I'll make sure this store is closed down in the next twenty four hours." She threatened before forcing out a smile.
"Wh–at?" The manger exclaimed in shock.
Lijuan took out a black credit card from the back pocket of her trousers and flashed it at them.
"I'm sure you all recognize this card. Now ask yourself, why would someone who owns this card steal a cheap piece of jewelry?" She asked with a frown. Her heart was still thumping loudly. What if they do not fall for it? She asked herself.
They all gasped in shock when they saw it. Everyone who ran a business obviously recognized the black card. Only those top socialites had it. Maybe she wasn't so common after all.
"I just paid for a jewelry worth thousands of dollars and you dare accuse me of stealing something worth how much? A hundred dollars? Two hundred?"
"I am so sorry madam" The manager apologized while sending a dark glare at the saleslady who had accused her.
The saleslady frowned and opened her mouth to say something but the glare the manager sent her way shut her up.
Lijuan shot her a smile before walking out of the shop. She hadn't been very careful this time. Why did she have to pick it? She scolded herself.
While she had asked one of the sales clerk to show her the most expensive jewelries she had distracted him briefly by dropping her bag, and immediately he bent to help her pick it up she had taken the ring. She hadn't realized that the other saleslady had been looking her way.
She bit her lip as she thought of the man whose eyes had met hers immediately she had pocketed the ring. Why hadn't he said something?
She was certainly glad that he had chosen to mind his business, else she would be in serious trouble with everyone.
She suddenly felt sorry for Jackie who she had abandoned at a boutique under the guise of shopping for clothes. She had stolen the male outfits she was currently wearing and had snuck out of the boutique without his notice. He has been her longest standing guard so far, she couldn't help but wonder how much more he was willing to put up with for her sake.