133 Still the Same

"CEO." She bowed. "Thank you for your help. My husband and I will forever be grateful."

Verdan Zhou nodded. "Are you here to report back?"

Michelle Park had a surprised look on her face.

Indeed, she was only on an indefinite leave. She was never dismissed from work.

However, her absence lasted for several weeks. A normal employer would have replaced her by then.

She composed herself. "CEO, though I am still the same on the scope of the work requiring intellect, I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to run errands right now. I am actually here today to confirm if I'm still part of ZFC."

"You are." He did not even think twice or hesitated before answering. He continued to browse through his files. Then he stopped and briefly stared at his shut office door as if he thought of something.

Michelle was relieved, but then could not help but follow his gaze. She furrowed her brows when it revealed nothing. She looked back at him, confused.

"Don't worry. The guy you saw earlier will be your assistant."

Her eyes widened. Is she not an assistant? How can she suddenly get one?

Before she could react, he continued speaking.

"You could report back tomorrow. Tell your husband that he is free to come and go here if he needs to take you. You can go now." He had a barely discernable smile on his face.

"Ah, yes! Thank you CEO!" She hurriedly bowed down, straining her injured lower back a bit.

She bit her lip to endure the pain and flashed a professional smile when she straightened up to face him before leaving.

___________________

"Mom! How can you allow this?!" Masaichi was furious when Midori did not say anything regarding her baby bump.

"She is still the same baby girl that I gave birth to and raised. Why would I not allow this?" Aoi Xiu decided to play with him for awhile.

Midori shot her mother a questioning look.

Aoi shrugged her shoulders at her, as if leaving the explanation to her.

Midori frowned and was about to retaliate. She is married for pity's sake!

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang from across the hall.

"Masaichi Xiu, how dare you raise your voice towards your mother?"

Everyone followed the voice. A pair of cozy slippers came walking towards them.

"O-otousan..." the siblings chorused.

"Sorry for being away for a long time." Xiu Jin had a warm smile, which he turned into a teasing frown. "However, that does not mean that you could verbally harrass your mother and sister." He eyed his son.

"But she did not even deny that she is pregnant!" Masaichi replied in defense.

"So? Why did you assume that she's carrying a child out of wedlock?"

"What? You secretly married someone?!" His interrogation was back to his sister.

"Don't say it as if I'm underaged! I had a wedding!" Midori got her strong presence back.

"You knew about this?!" He looked at his parents, hoping not to get confirmation.

"We knew for some time now." Aoi nonchalantly answered. "She did not invite us." She raised a brow towards Midori.

The atmosphere became even less serious when Xiu Jin laughed.

"Otousan...what's so funny now?!" Midori was irritated because she was in a predicament on revealing everything.

"I..." Xiu Jin continued to laugh until everyone was annoyed of it. "I just...remembered something." He could not help laughing more.

"You weird old man! Spill it out instead of looking like an idiot!" Aoi Xiu scolded him. She knew this habit of him laughing when recalling memories. However, at this point, she was curious what he was laughing about.

Wiping some tears at the corners of his eyes, Xiu Jin finally composed himself. "Masa-kun didn't know, but someone really close to him had the right to know. I guess he was indeed the bigger man!" He laughed again.

Masaichi's furrowed brows even became closer together. He does not have a brother. He does not even have a bestfriend! Who was the man who knew this before him?

Just then, something was tugging his pants.

He looked down and realized the answer.

"Tousan, when did you come back?" Manta was rubbing his still sleepy eyes.