Chapter 350 - Walk

After sitting down for a couple of hours with Zihao, the diner was already getting low on customers. It was her favorite time of her shift when she could be earning money by the hour despite not really doing much.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Qing Zihao asked her, lighting another cigarette.

"Only if you're not going to smoke."

He lazily smiled at her and it made her warm in the stomach. "You sat here all night not complaining about my smoking."

She leaned back her seat. "Well, I guess it's time for some fresh air."

"Alright," he said and took a long drag in his new cigarette before tossing it on the ground. "As you wish."

He stood up with unusual grace coming from a tall man that Christina was fascinated, a little envious. "Shall we?"

Christina got up from her seat and they walked side by side quietly. At the corner of the first street, she asked, "Are you not afraid to walk at night?"

"Why should I be?" he answered with a tone that it should not have been a question.

"Cause it looks dangerous here?"

Qing Zihao looked at her from the corners of his eyes. "Are you afraid to walk these streets?"

She shook her head. She knew what she was capable of. "Not really."

"Uh-huh. What made you say that you are not afraid?"

"I've been through a lot already," she answered simply. "I have been in far scarier places than a dark alley."

His eyebrow rose and it looked like he was about to ask something so she asked another thing. 

"You do not seem like you are from this part of the town."

"Why do you think so?"

"Well first, even though you are not wearing flashy things, you do know how to speak English. I do not think someone who grew in this part of the town could have afforded a tutor."

Qing Zihao took a breath so deep that she heard it when he took it. "We get by," he answered, not knowing how to explain their immense wealth.

"So are you, like, someone from a very important family? A politician's perhaps?"

He laughed. "If I were the son of a politician, would you think I would be able to get in this side of the town?" He shook his head. "No. I'm a son of a businessman."

"Is it why you always have bodyguards?"

"Partly."

"Because someone might kidnap you?"

He smiled. He would like to see some people try to kidnap him. "I think I am too old and big to be hauled in a huge SUV, you know?"

"We never know," she added as they round another corner. "So," she asked, "what's your story? Aside from you are some rich person's son?"

"Hmm," he thought, thinking of something that he could say to her without giving away too much. But he came up with nothing. "I do not have that much to tell. Maybe that is why I've been roaming around so much. I am trying to build my story."

"What, are you bored?" she scoffed.

"So much," he answered.

"Damn, you really are rich then. There is a lot of things that you can do with your money and yet here you are."

He spun on his heel and walked backwards, wanting to see her expression for his next question. "If you have my money, what would you do with it?"

She did not hesitate. "First things first, I am going to eat a lot. I would probably try every single dish that I could find."

"Okay, that would not cost that much." It would not even make a dent with the money in Qing Zihao's bank account. "Something expensive. Name one."

"I'd like to buy a house. Or have one built."

"How big of a house?"

She smiled at him and it looked like there were stars in her eyes. "A house big enough that when I speak, my voice would echo off the walls."

Most people who wanted that kind of house had never been to that kind of house. They lived on small cramped spaces which ignites their desire for more area of movement. "Okay…"

"What, does that not sound impressive?"

"It does!" he spun back on his heel, walking forward again. "What else are you going to do with money?"

"Buy a car, I guess. Buy all the clothes I can touch. Start investing or my own business. Or save it all up for my future family. When I finally have enough, I think I would donate."

"Donate?" he repeated.

"Well, what would a man do with a billion dollars? I don't think anyone would be capable of actually spending that amount of money."

According to all the business plans, the Qings were bound to reach their first billion within the next five years. Qing Zihao had no other thoughts for the money except use it to start another business venture.

"Enough about me," said Christina. "What about you? What do you want with your life?"

There was only one answer to that. An embarrassing one. "Nah."

"What? I told you mine! Between the two of us, you're the one who's most likely to achieve your dreams. So tell me what you want."

"Alright," he said, "I want this country to remember me. If possible, I want the world to remember me."

Christina laughed at it. That was okay, he knew she was going to. "How do you plan on doing that?"

He shrugged. "I don't know yet. But I know I'll find a way."

She nodded. "Well, I believe in you, Zihao."

"You barely know me."

"Yeah," she smiled at him. "Even then, I don't think I would be able to forget you."

**

That night after Qing Zihao had walked her back to the diner and paid his bill, Christina was ready to call it a good night.

Qing Zihao did not give her a ridiculous amount for her tip—which she would hate a lot as it would be like he had bought her time.

When he left, she still had to work until the morning but it felt like time flew so fast tonight. She did not even feel tired at all.

But then her mood turned sour as she was wiping down the table and she saw an envelope squeezed in between the seat cushions. She pulled it out, looking to catch up with the customer that left it when she froze.

It had her name on it. It was the letter that she was waiting for.